The General Services Administration recently made initial awards on an IDIQ contract vehicle for both commercial and non-commercial services.  The program was open to qualified businesses of any size that had been in business for more than a couple of years, could show an ability to perform, and provide at least some level of price reasonableness assurance.  No company was required to offer non-commercial services or sign up for cost-type task order awards.  Sound somewhat familiar?  This wasn’t the Schedules program, though, but OASIS+.  If GSA can award these contracts for commercial and non-commercial services, why not add this capability to the Schedules program?  While the Schedules have traditionally been for commercial item and service acquisitions, the line of what constitutes “commercial” is constantly in motion.  Congress acknowledged as much when it defined commercial services as those being “of a type” that are sold commercially.  Indeed, many current Schedule contract holders have been able to obtain these commercial-type contracts even though they sell mostly or entirely to government customers.  Schedule contracting officers have developed sound business paths to enable these actions.  The next logical step is to formally add cost-plus capabilities to Schedule contracts to allow those contractors that can do business in this way to sell their offerings via  Schedule contracts.  No company would be forced to add a cost-plus option.  Similarly, only those with proven cost-plus capabilities could pursue it.  The benefits to federal customers would be substantial.  A new way to use Schedule contracts that are already growing in popularity (see article below) and enhanced competition by giving more companies more ways to reach federal customers are just two of these.  As a new administration comes into office, regardless of the election outcome, now is a good time to seriously consider adding non-commercial capabilities to the Schedules program.  GSA, OMB, and Congress should all consider this option, while contractors that support it should make their voices heard.