The Complete Guide to Securing a CMAS Contract in California

Demystifying the CMAS Program

The California Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS) is a Leveraged Procurement Agreement (LPA) managed by the Department of General Services (DGS). It allows local and state agencies to bypass lengthy formal bidding processes and buy directly from your approved price list. To qualify, you typically need an existing, competitively awarded base contract—most commonly a federal GSA Multiple Award Schedule.

The Fast Track to Public Sales

Unlike a traditional open-market solicitation, getting a CMAS is an application process, not a competitive bid. You submit your base contract pricing, and DGS applies California's terms and conditions. CMAS covers a wide range of goods and services, including:

• Information Technology (IT): Software, hardware, and cloud services.
• Non-IT: Consulting, training, maintenance, and physical commodities.

The True Cost of a CMAS

Applying for a CMAS is free. However, if you sell to local government agencies (cities, counties, school districts), DGS charges a 1.2% incentive fee. Crucial Exemption: If your business holds an active California Small Business (SB) certification, this 1.2% fee is completely waived!

The $10,000 RFO Rule

A CMAS gets you on the approved vendor list, but it doesn't guarantee immediate sales without effort.

• Under $10,000: Agencies can make direct purchases from a single CMAS contractor if the price is deemed fair and reasonable.
• Over $10,000: The buyer is legally required to issue a Request for Offer (RFO) to at least three CMAS suppliers. While competition is restricted to CMAS holders, you still must provide a competitive quote to win the order.