GSA Certification
What is GSA Certification?
Short answer: There is no separate GSA certification. When a company is called “GSA certified,” it means it holds a GSA Schedule (Multiple Award Schedule) contract, which GSA awards after evaluating the company as a responsible contractor: its finances, performance record and integrity (GSA). With GSA Focus, most clients are awarded in about 6 months.
Last updated: October 2026 · By Josh Ladick, GSA Focus
Completing the GSA Certification process means that a Contractor has been awarded a GSA Schedule Contract. A GSA Schedule Contract is not tied to any actual purchases, it is simply an established contract vehicle, or a “License to Hunt.” This long-term contract with the General Services Administration’s Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program, allows federal agencies to purchase from a company much easier than without.
GSA Certification helps Contractors to be found by federal buyers in order to buy products and services. With pre-negotiated prices, delivery terms, warranties, etc. GSA Certification makes the complicated federal acquisition process simpler and less dangerous for government buyers. By going through GSA Certification, a Contractor is viewed as pre-screened and validated, which makes them more trustworthy to buy from.
Related: What is a GSA Contract?
The Benefits of Getting GSA Certified
Now that you know what GSA Certification is, you are likely asking how it can benefit your company. In the eyes of a government buyer, GSA Certification legitimizes a Contractor as a trusted source. You are not required to get a GSA Contract to do business with the government, however many buyers favor the use of GSA over other options. Contractors with GSA Certification have completed many parts of a Purchase Order already, which cuts-down the paperwork effort required for a buyer.
Many businesses experience rapid growth through a GSA Contract, but it is not easy. You must still work very hard to connect with buyers, and compete. Contractors with GSA Certification enjoy access to online GSA systems, such as GSA Advantage!, GSA E-Buy, GSA Reverse Auctions, and are easily found by buyers seeking out a particular product or service. So, access to these systems is a very large advantage.
Related: Why Get GSA Certified?
How to Get GSA Certification
Getting GSA Certification involves a lengthy proposal process. Initially, a document package, called an “”offer”” is prepared and submitted electronically to the GSA for review. After the GSA has had time to review the large group of documents, they commonly respond with several clarification items, which must be addressed hastily. After the offer documents are deemed acceptable by the GSA.
Negotiations are then scheduled to determine final GSA Contract Pricing. The final terms and conditions agree upon in Negotiations are wrapped-up in the Final Proposal Revisions document, then the GSA Certification is completed (GSA Contract Award). GSA registrations in the GSA systems can now be completed, and the GSA Contract can be used to conduct federal business.
Related: The 5 Steps to Get a GSA Contract
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GSA Certification FAQs
How do you get GSA certified?
There is no separate GSA certification. What people mean is being awarded a GSA Schedule contract. You register at SAM.gov, choose the Special Item Numbers matching what you sell, submit pricing and past-performance documentation through eOffer, and GSA awards the contract after review.
Is GSA certification a real thing?
No, and the wording matters. GSA does not certify companies the way a trade body issues a credential. It awards contracts. Anyone selling you a “GSA certification” separate from a Schedule award is selling something that does not exist.
How hard is it to get GSA certified?
The difficulty is administrative. Nothing is conceptually hard, but every form must reconcile exactly, and one mismatch restarts the review. Companies using a consultant are typically awarded in about six months and spend about three hours of their own time. Going it alone commonly takes two years or more.
What does GSA certification cost?
GSA charges nothing to submit an offer. Your costs are your own time and, if you use one, a consultant. After award you remit an Industrial Funding Fee of 0.75% of your GSA sales, reported after each reporting period.