U.S. General Services Administration
Buy products and services outside a contractor’s MAS contract
Order-level materials, or OLMs, are supplies or services acquired in direct support of an individual task or delivery order placed against a MAS contract or BPA, when the supplies or services are unknown at the time of the MAS contract or BPA award. The prices of OLMs are not established in the MAS contract or BPA. OLMs include direct materials, subcontracts for supplies and incidental services for which there is not a labor category specified in the MAS contract, other direct costs, and indirect costs. MAS includes a dedicated OLM SIN which may only be used in direct support of another awarded SIN.
- Review which MAS subcategories may have authorized OLMs.
- Learn how to place orders for OLMs, including sample language.
- Learn how to administer MAS contracts with OLMs.
- Review OLM best practices for contractors.
How OLMs benefit you
- OLMs provide a total solution to meet your requirements.
- They reduce your agency’s procurement and administrative costs.
- There is increased competition, which saves you money.
- All MAS terms and conditions apply, so you know your buys are compliant with FAR and other regulatory guidelines, such as Trade Agreements Act or environmental attributes clauses.
- It’s cumbersome for ordering activities to add non-MAS (open-market) supplies or services to a MAS order under FAR 8.402(f) procedures.
- OLMs increase your flexibility to purchase supplies or services necessary to support MAS orders.
- They reduce administrative costs related to contract duplication.
- Agencies can better use the MAS program for total solutions.
- OLMs enhance competition under the MAS program
Other direct costs
In most scenarios, the new OLM authority is the most streamlined method of acquiring ODCs. You can acquire ODCs through:
- OLM authority
- Ancillary SINs
- Contractor team arrangements
- Open-market procedures using FAR 8.402(f)
This table summarizes the support item types.
| Feature | OLM SIN | Ancillary supplies and services SIN | Open market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authorized subcategories | See OLM table | All | All |
| Designated schedule SIN | Yes | Yes | No |
| Schedule contract item | Yes | Yes | No |
| Price evaluation/Fair and reasonable determination | Ordering activity CO | MAS CO | Ordering activity CO |
| Order types | Limited to T&M, LH CLINs | FFP, T&M, LH | All |
Authorities and regulations
- FAR 8.403(b)
- Administrative Updates to GSAR — April 1, 2022
- GSAR Case 2016-G506 Federal Supply Schedule, Order Level Materials — Final Rule — January 21, 2018
- Technical Amendment to Final Rule — August 16, 2018
Scope
GSAM Subpart 538.72 defines OLMs and describes how to award, change, and administer contracts for OLMs.
| MAS subcategory | OLMs |
|---|---|
| Apparel | Authorized |
| Audio visual products | Authorized |
| Audio visual services | Authorized |
| Awards | Authorized |
| Background investigation | Authorized |
| Business administrative services | Authorized |
| Compensation and benefits | Authorized |
| Document services | Authorized |
| Electronic commerce | Authorized |
| Environmental services | Authorized |
| Facilities maintenance, management, and repair | Authorized |
| Facilities services | Authorized |
| Facilities solutions | Authorized |
| Financial services | Authorized |
| Fire, rescue, safety, and environmental protection equipment | Authorized |
| Fitness solutions | Authorized |
| Flags | Authorized |
| Flooring | Authorized |
| Fuel management | Authorized |
| Furniture services | Authorized |
| Health care furniture | Authorized |
| Household, dormitory, and quarters furniture | Authorized |
| Human resources | Authorized |
| Identity protection services | Authorized |
| Industrial products | Authorized |
| Industrial products and services maintenance and repair | Authorized |
| IT hardware | Authorized |
| IT services | Authorized |
| IT software | Authorized |
| IT solutions | Authorized |
| IT training | Authorized |
| Language services | Authorized |
| Legal services | Authorized |
| Logistical services | Authorized |
| Machinery and components | Authorized |
| Mail management | Authorized |
| Marine and harbor | Authorized |
| Marketing and public relations | Authorized |
| Media products | Not authorized |
| Media services | Not authorized |
| Medical equipment | Authorized |
| Miscellaneous furniture | Authorized |
| Musical instruments | Authorized |
| Office furniture | Authorized |
| Office management, maintenance, and repair | Authorized |
| Office services | Authorized |
| Office supplies | Not authorized |
| Packaged furniture | Authorized |
| Printing and photographic equipment | Authorized |
| Protective equipment | Authorized |
| Records management | Authorized |
| Search and navigation | Authorized |
| Security animals and related systems | Authorized |
| Security services | Authorized |
| Security systems | Authorized |
| Signs | Authorized |
| Structures | Authorized |
| Technical and engineering services (non-IT) | Authorized |
| Telecommunications | Authorized |
| Testing equipment | Authorized |
| Training | Authorized |
| Transportation of things | Authorized |
| Automotive body maintenance and repair | Not authorized |
| Cleaning supplies | Not authorized |
| Complementary special item numbers | Not authorized |
| Employee relocation | Not authorized |
| Facilities supplies | Not authorized |
| Food service equipment | Not authorized |
| Hardware and tools | Not authorized |
| Laboratory animals | Not authorized |
| Laboratory equipment | Not authorized |
| Lodging | Not authorized |
| Motor vehicles (non-combat) | Not authorized |
| Package delivery | Not authorized |
| Packaging | Not authorized |
| Packaging services | Not authorized |
| Personal hair care items | Not authorized |
| Scientific services | Not authorized |
| Social services | Authorized |
| Test and measurement supplies | Not authorized |
| Testing and analysis | Not authorized |
| Travel agent and miscellaneous services | Not authorized |
Get help on OLMs
Read answers to frequently asked questions about OLMs.
If you have questions or need more help, email olmquestions@gsa.gov.