The GSA MAS Contractor Count refers to the total number of active contractors holding a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract at a given point in time, typically reported on an annual basis. This figure serves as a key metric for understanding the scale, competitiveness, and diversity of the GSA Schedule program, and it is monitored by acquisition professionals, policymakers, and vendors alike.
The count reflects the number of unique vendors with current MAS contracts and does not include expired, cancelled, or suspended contract holders. It is often published in GSA’s annual reports, Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) summaries, or as part of broader analyses tied to federal spending and acquisition planning.
Purpose and Significance of the Metric
Tracking the GSA MAS Contractor Count provides insight into several aspects of federal procurement:
- Market accessibility: Indicates how many vendors are authorized to sell to the federal government under the streamlined MAS process
- Competition levels: Helps assess how competitive individual SINs (Special Item Numbers) or categories are
- Policy effectiveness: Measures the impact of GSA initiatives, such as MAS consolidation, contract streamlining, and small business outreach
- Acquisition planning: Assists agencies in understanding the depth of supplier pools when preparing procurements or RFQs via eBuy or GSA Advantage
For contractors, this number provides useful benchmarking data to evaluate where they stand in a crowded or concentrated market.
How the Contractor Count Is Calculated
The GSA MAS Contractor Count typically includes vendors who:
- Hold an active MAS contract (not expired or terminated)
- Are listed in GSA eLibrary with an approved catalog
- Meet minimum compliance requirements, such as up-to-date reporting and registration
- Are eligible to receive task or delivery orders under the contract
Contractors listed under more than one SIN or category are counted once as long as they operate under a single contract number.
Where the Data Is Published
Data on the total number of active MAS contractors is made available through:
- GSA’s Annual MAS Reports
- Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS.gov)
- GSA eLibrary summaries
- Office of Governmentwide Policy (OGP) briefings
- GSA Interact blog posts or industry newsletters
These sources may present contractor counts broken down by:
- Large vs. small business
- Socioeconomic set-asides (e.g., 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB)
- SIN or category group
- Fiscal year
Recent Trends
In recent years, the GSA MAS Contractor Count has seen some fluctuation due to:
- MAS Consolidation (2019–2020), which merged 24 legacy Schedules into one unified MAS
- Stricter compliance and sales thresholds, leading to contract non-renewals for low-performing vendors
- Increased small business participation, driven by set-aside goals and outreach programs
- Rising interest in federal sales, particularly in areas like cybersecurity, health IT, and professional services
As of recent reports, the total number of active MAS contractors typically ranges between 12,000 and 14,000, though this figure may vary by year and reporting method.
Why It Matters to Contractors
Understanding the size of the MAS contractor pool helps vendors make informed business decisions:
- Assessing competition: In highly saturated categories, such as IT or office supplies, standing out requires stronger pricing, capabilities, or differentiators
- Evaluating SINs: Contractors can compare which SINs have high vendor volume versus niche participation
- Forecasting opportunity: A smaller contractor count in an emerging category may signal more open competition and market entry potential
- Justifying strategy: Contractors preparing marketing plans, partnership proposals, or bid/no-bid decisions can reference the total pool as context
Some contractors also cite the MAS Contractor Count in capabilities statements, executive briefings, or government-facing outreach to position themselves in the broader market landscape.
Use in Acquisition Strategy
For agency buyers, the GSA MAS Contractor Count helps:
- Determine if adequate competition exists under a particular SIN
- Justify the use of GSA MAS as a primary acquisition channel
- Support internal planning for eBuy RFQs, BPAs (Blanket Purchase Agreements), or Category Management initiatives
- Understand supplier saturation or gaps in key mission areas
This data supports acquisition planning in compliance with FAR Part 8.4 and OMB guidance on Spend Under Management (SUM).
Conclusion
The GSA MAS Contractor Count is a foundational metric for understanding the health and scope of the Multiple Award Schedule program. It provides visibility into how many vendors are actively participating in federal procurement through GSA and serves as a key input for acquisition strategy, industry benchmarking, and market research. For both buyers and sellers, keeping track of this number — and its year-over-year trends — is essential to navigating the evolving landscape of government contracting.
