Government

What’s New in FAR Part 8 and Part 12—and How It Speeds Buying from GSA MAS

October 7, 2025

Highway signs labeled GSA MAS and Open Market over traffic, symbolizing government buyers choosing faster procurement under FAR Part 8 and Part 12 updates.

Summary: The FAR overhaul simplifies federal procurement by updating Part 8 (Required Sources) and Part 12 (Commercial Products and Services). Learn what changed, how it impacts you, and why buying through GSA MAS is faster than ever.

Why This Matters for Government Buyers

The FAR Council’s rewrite of Parts 8 and 12 is designed to make the acquisition of commercial products and services easier, more efficient, and aligned with market practices. If you purchase through GSA MAS, these changes mean fewer steps, less paperwork, and faster awards.

✅ FAR Part 8: Required Sources of Supplies and Services

Before buying from open-market vendors, FAR requires buyers to check mandatory sources in a specific order.

Side-by-Side: What Changed in FAR Part 8

Old Part 8	New Part 8
Organized in fragmented text with separate lists for supplies and services	Streamlined and reorganized into a single, logical flow by acquisition phase
Buyers often misunderstood priority sequence for mandatory sources	Clear procurement hierarchy: Agency inventory Excess from other agencies Federal Prison Industries (FPI) AbilityOne products/services Wholesale supply sources (GSA, DLA, VA) GSA MAS contracts Commercial sources
GSA MAS referenced as optional	Explicit emphasis on GSA MAS as the next step after mandatory sources

Impact for Buyers:

✔ You can move quickly to GSA Schedule contractors—like Aldevra—once you rule out FPI and AbilityOne.

✔ No need for open-market posting if MAS fits your need.

✅ FAR Part 12: Acquisition of Commercial Products and Services

The rewrite focuses on making commercial buying look and feel like the commercial marketplace.

Side-by-Side: What Changed in FAR Part 12

Old Part 12	New Part 12
Disorganized structure made navigation difficult	Four clear subparts: Pre-Solicitation, Solicitation/Evaluation, Post-Award, Micro-Purchases
No strong link to simplified procedures for higher-dollar buys	Simplified procedures embedded: Up to $7.5M (or $15M in emergencies)
Heavy reliance on standard clauses without clear tables	Clauses streamlined and consolidated into easy-to-use tables
Limited guidance on tailoring	Encourages commercial-friendly terms and tailoring for efficiency

Impact for Buyers:

✔ Fewer steps: No formal evaluation plan or technical volumes for SAP buys.

✔ Speed: Orders under $7.5M can use simplified acquisition methods.

✔ Clarity: Clause tables and award method selection simplify compliance.

✅ What This Means for You

Start with mandatory sources (FAR 8) → Move to GSA MAS if none apply.
Use eBuy.GSA to post RFQs or compare vendors under MAS.
Simplified Acquisition Procedures now reach $7.5M—skip unnecessary complexity.
Pay with GSA SmartPay for faster processing.

Why Aldevra Is Your Best Option

GSA MAS Contract: GS-07F-175AA
Pre-negotiated pricing for commercial products and professional services
Fully-burdened GSA Rates 2025 tied to defined labor categories for transparency
SDVOSB & 8(a) for meeting socioeconomic goals

The Bottom Line

The FAR overhaul is about one thing: buying smarter and faster. With GSA MAS, price reasonableness is already determined, clauses are simplified, and streamlined evaluation means fewer headaches.

📌 Ready to start your next order?

✔ Find Aldevra on GSA Advantage

✔ Email: sales@aldevra.com

✔ Call: (269) 350-1337

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