GSA Announces Changes to SAM.gov Amid FAR Overhaul

What's Happening?

The General Services Administration (GSA) has announced significant changes to the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) as part of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) initiative. The overhaul will impact the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), specifically affecting the types of certifications and representations collected by SAM.gov. Currently, SAM.gov gathers three types of certifications: entity-level, procurement-specific, and by submission of offer representations. Under the new changes, SAM.gov will continue to collect entity-level certifications but will cease collecting procurement-specific and by submission of offer certifications. These will instead be included in individual solicitations and resultant contracts. The changes are expected to be implemented by January 2026, with the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy working alongside the GSA to evaluate the impacts and plan system changes.

Why It's Important?

The RFO initiative is poised to streamline the federal procurement process, benefiting both government and industry stakeholders. For industry participants, the changes promise a more efficient registration process on SAM.gov, reducing the frequency of updates required for company information. This shift is expected to enhance the accuracy and traceability of terms and conditions specific to each procurement. For the government, the initiative aims to improve the procurement process by ensuring that terms and conditions are more accurately tailored to individual solicitations. This could lead to increased efficiency and reduced administrative burdens, potentially fostering a more competitive and transparent procurement environment.

What's Next?

As the FAR Council prepares to issue plans for system changes and implementation timelines, companies may still be required to submit information that will soon be obsolete. Contracting officers will need to adapt to updated clauses and provisions as agency RFO deviations are issued. The GSA and related agencies will continue to work on refining the model deviation text for various sections of the FAR, ensuring that the transition to the new system is smooth and effective. Stakeholders in the federal procurement process should prepare for these changes and adjust their practices accordingly.