Does the Service Contract Act apply to janitorial contracts?

Federal service contracts over $2,500 are covered by the Service Contract Act, which requires prevailing wages and fringe benefits set by the Department of Labor. Custodial work on federal contracts is commonly covered.

What GSA SIN covers MRO supplies?

SIN 332510C covers hardware store, industrial supply and MRO distributor catalogs, and SIN 332510S covers store-front operations. Facilities maintenance services use SIN 561210FAC.

Why do some federal janitorial contracts go to AbilityOne nonprofits?

Under FAR 8.603, federal agencies must buy services on the AbilityOne Procurement List from AbilityOne nonprofits first, and custodial work is one of the program's main services.

How big is the school facilities maintenance need?

GAO estimated in 2020 that 41 percent of school districts needed to update or replace HVAC systems in at least half their schools, about 36,000 schools.

How long does it take to sell facilities maintenance to government?

It depends on the size of the purchase and how it's bought. Small purchases under an agency's threshold, or buys through an existing cooperative contract, can move quickly. Purchases that need a formal bid or a new budget line usually take longer, often a full budget cycle.

Can KSG help us sell facilities maintenance to government?

Yes. Kensington Sales Group provides outsourced SDRs who research target agencies, reach the right program owners and purchasing contacts, and book qualified meetings for your sales team. Book a 30-minute call to talk it through.

Selling Facilities Maintenance to Government: A Guide

Key takeaways

An estimated 41 percent of public school districts need to update or replace HVAC systems in at least half their schools, about 36,000 schools nationwide.
Common ways agencies buy facilities maintenance: GSA MAS SIN 332510C Hardware Store, Home Improvement Center, Industrial or General Supply Store, or MRO Distributor, GSA MAS SIN 561210FAC Facilities Maintenance and Management, GSA MAS janitorial supply SINs (325611, 325612, 333318F, 339994, 322291).
Rules to plan for: Service Contract Act (McNamara-O'Hara), AbilityOne priority for services (FAR 8.603), AbilityOne Procurement List (supplies).
A contract vehicle or vendor registration makes buying easier, but it doesn't create demand. The vendors that win reach program owners before budgets and bids are set.

Who buys facilities maintenance in government

Purchases of facilities maintenance happen across federal agencies, states, counties, cities, school districts and colleges, hospitals, tribal governments, special districts and public utilities. The people you'll deal with usually include:

Federal facility managers and GSA Public Buildings Service property managers
Military installation public works and base operations offices
State facilities management and general services departments
City and county public works and building maintenance directors
K-12 facilities directors, maintenance supervisors and custodial managers
University facilities and physical plant directors
Hospital environmental services and facilities managers
Special district and utility plant maintenance managers
Purchasing agents who manage MRO and janitorial supply contracts

The purchasing office runs the process, but the program owner who has the problem usually decides what gets bought. Reach both. See government buyer roles for how they work together.

The government facilities maintenance market

An estimated 41 percent of public school districts need to update or replace HVAC systems in at least half their schools, about 36,000 schools nationwide. (GAO-20-494, K-12 Education: School Districts Frequently Identified Multiple Building Systems Needing Updates or Replacement (June 4, 2020))
An estimated 54 percent of public school districts need to update or replace multiple building systems or features in their schools. (GAO-20-494 (June 4, 2020))
The AbilityOne Program delivered more than $4.7 billion in products and services to the federal government in FY 2025; its offerings include custodial services and cleaning supplies. (U.S. AbilityOne Commission, 2026 AbilityOne Fact Sheet)

How agencies buy facilities maintenance

Small purchases under an agency's threshold can often be made with a quote or a purchase card. Larger purchases need a formal bid or an existing contract. These are the contract vehicles agencies commonly use for facilities maintenance:

Contract vehicle	What it is
GSA MAS SIN 332510C Hardware Store, Home Improvement Center, Industrial or General Supply Store, or MRO Distributor - Catalog	MAS SIN for broad-line MRO and hardware catalog distributors (SIN 332510S covers the store-front version).
GSA MAS SIN 561210FAC Facilities Maintenance and Management	MAS SIN for facilities maintenance and management services.
GSA MAS janitorial supply SINs (325611, 325612, 333318F, 339994, 322291)	MAS SINs for Cleaning Products; Disinfectants, Sterilants and Deodorizers; Floor Care Cleaning and Equipment; Hand Floor Cleaning Equipment; and Restroom Products.
NASPO ValuePoint Facilities MRO and Industrial Supplies	Multi-state MRO contracts led by Kentucky with suppliers including Fastenal, Lawson Products and Grainger (term from January 1, 2025).
Sourcewell 082724 Janitorial and Facilities Supplies	Cooperative contract with Staples covering janitorial, facilities and breakroom supplies and floor scrubbers, maturing February 2, 2029.

Thresholds differ by state and agency; see our state procurement thresholds. For which cooperatives cover which categories, see cooperative contracts by category.

Rules and requirements for selling facilities maintenance

Requirement	What it means for you
Service Contract Act (McNamara-O'Hara)	On federal service contracts over $2,500, such as custodial and maintenance work, contractors must pay at least the Department of Labor's prevailing wage and fringe benefit rates in the contract's wage determination.
AbilityOne priority for services (FAR 8.603)	For services, federal buyers must go to AbilityOne nonprofits first, and custodial and groundskeeping are common AbilityOne services, so some federal janitorial work is not open to commercial firms.
AbilityOne Procurement List (supplies)	Many cleaning supplies and disposable gloves are on the AbilityOne Procurement List and must be bought from AbilityOne sources by federal buyers.
Trade Agreements Act (FAR Subpart 25.4)	MRO and janitorial products sold on GSA schedules generally must come from the U.S. or a designated country, which can rule out some catalog items.
NASPO Participating Addenda	State and local buyers can use NASPO MRO contracts only where their state has a Participating Addendum, and some states remove suppliers that fall out of compliance with state law.

Requirements vary by agency and contract. Read each solicitation's terms, and check with the buyer when in doubt. This isn't legal advice.

Buying signals to watch

These events often mean an agency will buy facilities maintenance soon:

A facility condition assessment or deferred maintenance report is released
A bond measure or capital improvement plan is approved
An incumbent custodial or facilities services contract is nearing its end date
New buildings are opening or square footage is being added
Leadership changes in facilities or a move to outsource custodial work

For more, see our guide to government buying signals and the contract expirations guide.

A sales process for selling facilities maintenance

Register. Get into SAM.gov for federal work and each state or local vendor portal you'll sell into. Use our vendor registration checklist.
Pick your path to purchase. Decide which contract vehicles above fit your target buyers, and whether a reseller or partner already holds one.
Build the target list. Identify the agencies with the need, the budget and the buying authority, and the people who own the problem.
Start conversations early. Reach program owners while budgets and requirements are still being written, not after an RFP is posted.
Follow through to purchase. Help the buyer pick the method, whether a cooperative purchase, quote or formal bid. When a bid comes, use our RFP response guide.

How KSG helps you sell facilities maintenance

Kensington Sales Group runs outbound sales development for companies selling to the public sector. Our SDRs research your target agencies, find the program owners and purchasing contacts, and book meetings for your sales team across Federal, SLED, K-12 and higher ed, healthcare, tribal, special district and utility markets. We also run bilingual English and Spanish outreach across the Western Hemisphere.

See how our outsourced SDR service works.

Sources

Checked November 2, 2026.

Selling facilities maintenance to government.