The FAS Catalog Platform (FCP) team recently issued a reminder encouraging GSA MAS contractors to review the CHANGES tab before submitting catalog modifications.
It’s a simple step, but one that can help prevent unnecessary delays and correction requests.
The CHANGES tab provides a side-by-side comparison of your currently awarded catalog and your proposed updates, making it easy to verify that your modification contains only the intended changes.
Why does this matter?
- Helps identify accidental pricing or data changes
- Reduces correction requests and resubmissions
- Supports faster processing of your modification
- Provides a final quality-control check before submission
Some common examples include:
- Permanent Price Reduction (PPR) – Prices should only decrease, never increase.
- Descriptive Modification – Pricing should remain unchanged.
The CHANGES tab can also help identify updates that generally should not be made to existing awarded line items, such as:
- Unit of Measure – Only update to correct an error or make it more specific (for example, changing “Each” to “Pair” when the product has always been sold as a pair). If the actual product changes, submit it as an Add Products/Services modification instead.
- SIN Changes – Awarded line items should not be moved between SINs. To offer an existing item under a new SIN, use an Add SIN or Add Products/Services modification.
What can you review?
For Product Catalogs, the PRODUCT_CHANGES tab lets you verify:
- Commercial, MFC, and GSA pricing changes
- Percentage differences calculated by the system
- Changes to product information and other fields
- Updates to Options, Accessories, and Quantity/Volume Discount tabs
- Compliance & Pricing (C&P) flag summaries
For Services Plus Catalogs, the PRICING_CHANGES tab displays:
- Side-by-side comparisons of awarded and proposed values
- Percentage changes for pricing fields
- Changes to titles, SINs, EPA rates, and pricing years
- Other field updates summarized in a single location
One important reminder: The CHANGES tabs are read-only. If you find an issue, return to the PRODUCTS or PRICING tab, make the correction there, and review the CHANGES tab again before submitting.
Taking just a few minutes to review your proposed changes before clicking Submit can save days of back-and-forth with GSA and help keep your modification moving through the review process.
Has the CHANGES tab helped you catch an unintended update before submission? Share your experience in the comments.
