A MAS Catalog is the official list of a contractor’s approved products, services, pricing, and associated contract data under the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. This catalog is the public-facing representation of what a contractor is authorized to offer to federal buyers through their GSA contract. It is maintained and submitted using either the FAS Catalog Platform (FCP) or the legacy Schedule Input Program (SIP), and it is published on GSA Advantage!, where agency buyers search for and purchase commercial offerings.
The MAS Catalog is a core compliance component and a key marketing asset that directly influences visibility, competitiveness, and sales within the federal marketplace.
Purpose of the MAS Catalog
The MAS Catalog serves several critical functions for both government buyers and contractors:
- Provides government customers with access to pre-approved, pre-priced contract offerings
- Enables fast, compliant procurement through the MAS contract
- Acts as a central source of truth for contract pricing, terms, and descriptions
- Connects to GSA Advantage!, allowing for digital search and ordering
- Supports contractor compliance with MAS terms and the Trade Agreements Act (TAA)
A well-maintained catalog ensures accurate representation of a contractor’s offerings and facilitates trust and ease of procurement for federal agencies.
Key Components of a MAS Catalog
Each MAS Catalog contains structured information about the contractor’s offerings. Key components include:
- Product or service titles
- Descriptions that match awarded SIN scopes
- Contract-approved pricing (unit rates, hourly rates, volume discounts)
- Part numbers or SKUs for products
- Awarded Special Item Numbers (SINs)
- Delivery terms and geographic coverage
- Contract number and contractor details
- Applicable labor categories (for services)
- Compliance tags such as TAA status, environmental attributes, and AbilityOne status
All catalog elements must be consistent with the terms awarded in the contractor’s GSA contract.
Catalog Management Systems: SIP vs. FCP
Contractors manage and update their MAS Catalog through one of two systems:
FAS Catalog Platform (FCP)
- The modern, cloud-based system being phased in as the replacement for SIP
- Integrated with GSA systems for validation and submission tracking
- Offers a guided, form-based interface for managing catalog actions
- Allows for more accurate uploads, better compliance checks, and fewer formatting errors
- Required for all new contracts awarded after late 2022, and legacy contractors are being transitioned in phases
Schedule Input Program (SIP)
- The legacy desktop software tool used to upload catalog files
- Still in use by contractors who have not yet transitioned to FCP
- Requires manual formatting of text and data files
- Known for being less user-friendly and more error-prone compared to FCP
Regardless of the tool used, the content of the catalog must match what has been officially awarded through the MAS contract and approved via the eMod system.
Publication on GSA Advantage!
Once a catalog is uploaded and approved, it is published on GSA Advantage!, the government’s primary e-commerce portal for commercial products and services. Buyers use GSA Advantage! to:
- Search for offerings by keyword, SIN, vendor name, or part number
- Compare pricing and specifications across contractors
- Add items to a cart and place orders (for products) or RFQs (for services)
- Confirm whether a vendor’s catalog matches their mission need and budget
Accurate, well-structured MAS Catalogs improve search rankings, buyer confidence, and conversion rates on GSA Advantage!.
Catalog Modifications
Contractors must keep their MAS Catalogs up to date. Common catalog changes include:
- Adding or deleting products or services
- Updating pricing to reflect EPA adjustments or market changes
- Correcting product descriptions or specifications
- Reflecting contract modifications approved via eMod
- Updating compliance tags or digital images
Every catalog update must be tied to a valid contract modification. Unapproved changes or discrepancies between the catalog and awarded contract terms may result in rejection, suspension from GSA Advantage!, or compliance findings during audits.
Best Practices for MAS Catalog Management
- Ensure that all descriptions and pricing match the approved contract
- Regularly review and clean your catalog, removing discontinued items
- Use keywords and clear formatting to enhance discoverability on GSA Advantage!
- Monitor and respond to catalog issues flagged by GSA
- Transition to FCP when eligible for improved accuracy and management tools
- Coordinate with compliance staff to ensure all catalog changes are contractually approved
Conclusion
A MAS Catalog is far more than a product list—it is a strategic tool for visibility, compliance, and sales success in the federal marketplace. Published on GSA Advantage! and managed through FCP or SIP, the catalog represents your company’s official offerings to the government. Contractors who maintain accurate, searchable, and up-to-date catalogs are more likely to build buyer trust, win more task orders, and ensure full GSA contract compliance.
