Retired SIN

A Retired SIN refers to a Special Item Number (SIN) that has been formally removed from the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program and is no longer available for new offers, contract modifications, or ordering activities. Once a SIN is retired, it is excluded from the current MAS solicitation, and contractors may no longer use it to list or categorize offerings on their GSA Schedule contracts.

Retired SINs are typically the result of structural updates, policy changes, or consolidation efforts within GSA aimed at streamlining the MAS program and aligning SINs more closely with evolving federal procurement needs and industry standards.

While existing contracts may be temporarily grandfathered under a retired SIN, all future activity must be transitioned to active, valid SINs defined under the current solicitation structure.

The Role of SINs in the MAS Program

To understand the significance of a Retired SIN, it’s essential to first grasp the role of Special Item Numbers in the GSA MAS program. SINs serve as categorization codes that group commercial products and services by industry, function, or market need. Each SIN:

• Defines the scope of offerings allowed under it
• Aligns with specific NAICS codes and regulatory requirements
• Helps contracting officers locate eligible vendors and structure procurements
• Forms the basis for pricing, terms, and compliance reviews

Contractors are awarded SINs based on their capabilities, and GSA uses SINs to structure the overall MAS contract environment. As market needs shift or policy evolves, some SINs are updated, restructured, replaced, or retired altogether.

Why SINs Are Retired

A SIN may be retired for several reasons, including:

• Overlap or duplication with other SINs
• Changes in government buying patterns or technology evolution
• Reclassification under a different Large Category or Subcategory
• Consolidation of similar services or products into broader SINs
• Regulatory or policy changes (e.g., moving from legacy procurement models to modern frameworks)

One of the most significant catalysts for SIN retirement was the MAS Consolidation initiative, launched in 2019 and fully implemented in 2020. This reform effort reduced the number of legacy SINs by eliminating redundancy and creating a streamlined set of unified SINs under a single solicitation.

As part of this process, many legacy SINs were either retired or merged into new, consolidated SIN structures.

What Happens When a SIN Is Retired

When GSA announces that a SIN is being retired, the following typically occurs:

1. Advance notice is issued via GSA Interact, solicitation refresh bulletins, or mass modifications.
2. Contractors holding the retired SIN are notified and given instructions on how to transition to a new SIN, if applicable.
3. The retired SIN is removed from the MAS solicitation, GSA eLibrary, and eOffer/eMod systems.
4. Any new offers or modifications referencing the retired SIN are rejected.
5. GSA may map the retired SIN to an updated SIN, helping contractors maintain continuity of business.

Contractors may be required to submit a modification request to delete the retired SIN and add the appropriate replacement SIN(s). In some cases, vendors must also revise pricing templates, technical documentation, or Letters of Supply to reflect the new SIN structure.

Examples of Retired SINs

Many SINs have been retired over the years as GSA has modernized its Schedule. Some notable examples include:

• SINs related to Schedule 70 (IT) or Schedule 84 (Security) that were consolidated into new IT or Professional Services SINs
• Legacy SINs with narrow scopes that were merged into broader, multi-purpose SINs
• Duplicated SINs that offered overlapping services under different Schedules prior to MAS Consolidation

For instance, SIN 132-51 (Information Technology Professional Services) from Schedule 70 was retired and replaced by SIN 54151S under the MAS consolidated solicitation.

Impact on Contractors

The retirement of a SIN can have significant implications for contractors, particularly if it’s tied to a core offering. Key impacts include:

• Ineligibility to submit new offers under the retired SIN
• Need to realign offerings under a new SIN that may have different scope or requirements
• Potential administrative burden to revise pricing, documentation, and catalogs
• Temporary loss of visibility in GSA eLibrary or GSA Advantage! if transition is delayed
• Shift in competition, as offerings are consolidated into fewer, broader SINs

Contractors must actively respond to SIN retirement notices by updating their contracts and ensuring continued compliance under the new structure.

How to Respond to a SIN Retirement

When a SIN is retired, contractors should take the following steps:

1. Review official GSA communication (e.g., solicitation refresh, GSA Interact post) to understand the retirement rationale and timeline.
2. Identify the new SIN that best aligns with the retired offering. GSA often provides mapping guidance.
3. Submit a modification through eMod to delete the retired SIN and add the replacement.
4. Update all related documentation, including pricing proposals, catalogs, product specs, and CSP disclosures if applicable.
5. Monitor for system updates to ensure the new SIN is reflected on GSA eLibrary and GSA Advantage!

Contractors should also communicate the change to their sales, marketing, and proposal teams, especially if the SIN is commonly used in agency-facing materials or capture efforts.

How Contracting Officers Handle Retired SINs

Federal contracting officers must ensure that awards and task orders are based on active SINs listed in the MAS solicitation. A retired SIN:

• Cannot be used in RFQs or solicitations
• Will not appear in eBuy or eLibrary searches
• May invalidate task order eligibility if referenced improperly
• Requires contracting officers to redirect requirements to updated SINs and vendors

If a CO inadvertently references a retired SIN, the procurement may need to be amended or re-competed, causing delays or compliance risks. As such, understanding SIN status is critical for both contractors and acquisition personnel.

Staying Informed About SIN Changes

GSA provides several resources to help contractors stay updated on SIN retirements and related changes:

• GSA Interact – Official announcements, refresh summaries, and transition guides
• SAM.gov – MAS solicitation refresh postings
• eMod / eOffer dashboards – Alerts and prompts during contract actions
• GSA eLibrary – Updated SIN listings and scope definitions
• GSA Vendor Support Center (VSC) – Additional guidance and training

Proactively monitoring these sources ensures that vendors can respond quickly to retirements and avoid disruption in contract activity.

Conclusion

A Retired SIN represents the natural evolution of the GSA MAS program — a reflection of GSA’s ongoing effort to modernize, simplify, and align its contracting structure with the current needs of federal buyers and industry partners. While the retirement of a SIN may introduce some administrative adjustments, it also opens the door to more efficient contract alignment, broader opportunities, and clearer procurement pathways.

For contractors, staying informed, responsive, and proactive is key. Timely adaptation to a SIN retirement ensures continued eligibility, compliance, and visibility within the federal marketplace.