GSAR Change

A GSAR Change refers to an official update or amendment to the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) — a specialized set of procurement rules that supplement the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and govern acquisitions conducted through the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). These changes may include the addition of new clauses, revisions to existing policies, or the elimination of outdated provisions. They are issued through a formal rulemaking process and have a direct impact on how GSA awards and administers contracts under its programs, including the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS).

Understanding GSAR changes is essential for federal contractors, contracting officers, legal counsel, and acquisition professionals who operate within GSA’s procurement framework. These changes reflect evolving policy goals, regulatory adjustments, legal rulings, and industry feedback — and they shape the rules of engagement for one of the government’s largest buying platforms.

What Is the GSAR?

The General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) is the GSA-specific supplement to the broader Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). While the FAR provides the foundational rules for all federal executive agencies, the GSAR adds GSA-specific provisions, tailoring the general guidance to the unique structure, mission, and acquisition programs of the agency.

GSA oversees a wide range of procurement activities — from IT solutions and professional services to real estate and fleet management. To manage this diversity, the GSAR introduces additional clauses, policies, and administrative procedures that are directly relevant to GSA-managed contracts.

The GSAR is codified in Title 48, Chapter 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). It includes parts that cover everything from acquisition planning and contract financing to solicitation procedures and contract clauses. It also governs key programs such as the MAS program, governmentwide acquisition contracts (GWACs), and real property leasing.

Why GSAR Changes Happen

Changes to the GSAR are not made arbitrarily. They are typically driven by shifts in legislation, executive policy priorities, changes in the FAR itself, or operational feedback from contracting officers, vendors, and stakeholders. In some cases, GSAR changes are part of larger government-wide modernization efforts aimed at making acquisition processes more efficient, competitive, or transparent.

For example, recent GSAR changes have addressed issues such as:

• Requirements for cybersecurity and supply chain risk management
• Sustainable acquisition and climate-related procurement mandates
• Enhancements to commercial sales practices and price transparency
• The integration of new technologies or services into the MAS program
• Implementation of socio-economic equity initiatives across GSA contracts

GSAR changes often mirror FAR updates but provide GSA-specific interpretations or implementation guidance. In other cases, they introduce entirely unique provisions that apply only to GSA and its contracting vehicles.

The GSAR Rulemaking Process

GSAR changes are made through a formal rulemaking process governed by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). This process includes multiple stages to ensure transparency, public participation, and legal compliance.

The key stages of the rulemaking process typically include:

1. Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) – In some cases, GSA may publish an ANPR to gather preliminary public input on a regulatory issue before drafting a proposed rule.
2. Proposed Rule – GSA publishes the proposed GSAR change in the Federal Register. The public is invited to comment during a defined period (usually 30–60 days).
3. Public Comment Review – GSA reviews and considers all submitted comments. Based on this feedback, the proposed rule may be revised before finalization.
4. Final Rule – After addressing stakeholder input, GSA issues the final rule, which includes an effective date and responses to major comments. The rule becomes binding as part of the GSAR.

This process ensures that GSAR changes are subject to rigorous scrutiny and that contractors, industry associations, and other stakeholders have an opportunity to weigh in before a rule becomes enforceable.

Impact of GSAR Changes on Federal Contractors

Each GSAR change can have a material impact on the way contractors do business with GSA. These changes may alter how offers are submitted, how contracts are negotiated, what terms and conditions must be accepted, or how compliance is monitored.

For example, a GSAR update may:

• Add new mandatory contract clauses that affect pricing, deliverables, or reporting
• Revise definitions that impact eligibility for certain contract types or programs
• Clarify rules on data rights, performance evaluations, or subcontracting
• Introduce new compliance obligations such as sustainability reporting or cybersecurity attestations

Failure to understand and implement GSAR changes can result in non-compliance, proposal rejections, delayed contract awards, or even termination for cause. That’s why it is critical for contractors to monitor regulatory activity and review final rules carefully before they take effect.

How Contracting Officers Use the GSAR

For GSA contracting officers, the GSAR serves as the primary regulatory framework guiding daily procurement activities. It provides agency-specific interpretations of FAR rules and defines the procedures unique to GSA contracts.

When a GSAR change is issued, contracting officers must:

• Update solicitations to reflect new clauses or requirements
• Modify contract templates and internal workflows
• Inform vendors of the changes, especially in cases where mass modifications are required
• Ensure contract awards and modifications are consistent with the updated regulatory language

GSA also provides internal training and guidance documents to help acquisition professionals interpret and implement new GSAR rules. In some cases, updates to eOffer/eMod and other GSA systems coincide with GSAR changes to ensure seamless compliance.

How to Stay Informed About GSAR Changes

Staying informed about GSAR changes is essential for success in the GSA contracting space. Contractors and industry professionals can track updates through several official channels:

• Federal Register – All proposed and final GSAR rules are published here, along with public comment deadlines and rulemaking rationale.
• GSA Interact – GSA often uses this platform to explain upcoming GSAR changes in plain language and invite industry feedback.
• Acquisition.gov – The centralized hub for the FAR and all agency-specific supplements, including the GSAR.
• GSA’s Regulatory Affairs Division – Occasionally publishes updates and summaries of major regulatory changes.
• Professional Associations – Industry groups such as the Coalition for Government Procurement often provide analysis, webinars, and alerts on significant GSAR updates.

Contractors should designate a regulatory compliance lead or legal advisor to monitor these sources and assess how each GSAR change might impact current or future contracts.

GSAR Change vs. FAR Change: Key Differences

While both GSAR and FAR changes affect federal contracting, they differ in scope and applicability. A FAR change applies across all federal executive agencies, whereas a GSAR change is specific to GSA. However, many GSAR changes are initiated in response to FAR updates, and vice versa.

Understanding these distinctions is important because GSAR rules often go further than the FAR, particularly in areas where GSA operates specialized procurement programs or where additional compliance is necessary. For example, the MAS program may include GSAR clauses related to commercial sales practices or economic price adjustments that have no FAR equivalent.

Conclusion

A GSAR Change is more than just a policy update — it’s a regulatory shift that can affect how billions of dollars in federal contracts are awarded and administered through GSA. These changes reflect the agency’s response to legal mandates, technological shifts, market conditions, and public policy goals. For contractors, contracting officers, and acquisition professionals, staying current with GSAR updates is not optional — it’s a critical part of doing business within the GSA ecosystem.

By actively monitoring GSAR changes and understanding their implications, stakeholders can remain compliant, competitive, and aligned with the future of federal procurement.