
Procurement Vehicles That Can Help SaaS Vendors Sell Faster
You’ve got the solution. Now here’s how agencies can actually buy it—without 18 months of red tape.
Here’s the truth most SaaS founders learn too late:
Federal agency buyers don’t just need your product to be secure.
They need a way to buy it quickly, cleanly, and compliantly.
If you don’t give them a path, they’ll pick someone who does.
That’s where procurement vehicles come in.
These are the pre-approved acquisition channels that let government agencies skip long RFP cycles and buy SaaS faster.
At Knox Systems, we help FedRAMP-ready SaaS vendors tap into the right vehicles at the right time—so deals move forward without bureaucratic stall-outs.
Here are the top ones you need to know:
1. GSA Schedule (MAS – Multiple Award Schedule)
The GSA Schedule is the OG of federal procurement.
- Used by almost every agency
- Supports software, cloud services, and subscriptions
- Offers pre-negotiated terms and pricing
- Great for long-term, repeat sales
Best for: SaaS companies with steady federal demand and a defined pricing model
Watch out for: Long onboarding time (6–12 months) unless you partner with a reseller
Hint: Already “In Process” with FedRAMP? Mention it—agencies look for that when sourcing from GSA Advantage.
2. SEWP (Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement)
Run by NASA, but used across the federal government.
- Covers cloud, software, hardware, and services
- Very popular with DoD and civilian agencies
- Easy to access if you team with an authorized SEWP contract holder
Best for: Emerging tech, platform-as-a-service, and packaged solutions
Hint: You don’t need your own SEWP contract—partner with a prime or distributor who has one.
3. OTAs (Other Transaction Authorities)
The fast lane for innovation.
- Designed for R&D, prototypes, and emerging technologies
- Avoids FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations)
- Faster procurement cycles—weeks, not months
- Often led by DoD and tech-forward civilian agencies
Best for: AI, cybersecurity, zero trust, and next-gen SaaS
Watch out for: Not all agencies have OTA authority—do your homework
Hint: Knox vendors who are FedRAMP “In Process” often use OTAs to get early adoption before full authorization.
4. BPAs (Blanket Purchase Agreements)
Think of this as the “set it and scale it” option.
- Once you’re on a BPA, agencies can issue orders without re-competing
- Streamlines procurement for recurring or scalable purchases
- BPAs can be single-agency or multi-agency
Best for: SaaS companies expecting multiple task orders or agency expansion
Hint: Pairing a BPA with a FedRAMP-ready platform like Knox makes expansion low-risk and procurement-ready.
5. StateRAMP & Local Purchasing Co-ops
Don't forget the state and local market:
- StateRAMP is gaining traction as a cloud security standard
- Purchasing co-ops (like NASPO ValuePoint) help states and municipalities leverage shared contracts
Best for: SaaS vendors targeting SLG (state/local government) alongside federal
FACT: CMX helps align your documentation across both FedRAMP and StateRAMP with shared evidence and control mappings.
How Knox Helps You Move Faster
Procurement vehicles move faster when your:
Security posture is strong
Compliance evidence is ready
Infrastructure is FedRAMP-inheritable
SSPs and POA&Ms are auto-generated in OSCAL
That’s what Knox + CMX gives you—so you show up ready to buy, not just “interested.”
TL;DR
Your SaaS is secure.
Your pricing is competitive.
But if agencies don’t have a way to buy you quickly, you’re stuck.
GSA, SEWP, OTAs, BPAs = Faster lanes to federal sales
Knox + CMX = Trusted infrastructure + real-time compliance artifacts
Partnerships = Entry into vehicles without red tape
Waiting for the next RFP cycle is out.
Fast-track procurement is in.
Let’s open the lanes—and get you in.