Using GSA Schedule During a Continuing Resolution
A Continuing Resolution (CR) is a temporary spending measure passed by Congress when an annual appropriations bill is not enacted by October 1 (the start of the federal fiscal year). CRs typically fund government operations at the prior year's spending rate for a defined period. For GSA Schedule contractors, CRs create specific patterns of spending behavior that affect how and when orders flow during the affected period.
How CRs Affect Agency Spending
Under a CR, agencies are generally funded at a rate not exceeding the prior year's appropriation — typically pro-rated to the CR period. This constraint limits agencies' ability to start large new programs or make multi-year commitments that require full-year funding. Agencies also operate with uncertainty about how long the CR will last, which makes contracting officers cautious about initiating new acquisitions. The result: agencies tend to make smaller, shorter-term orders during a CR and defer larger acquisitions until a full appropriation is enacted.
What CRs Mean for Schedule Sales
GSA Schedule contractors typically see a slowdown in new task order awards during a CR period, particularly for larger engagements. However, smaller orders — under the micro-purchase threshold ($10,000) or in the simplified acquisition range — continue to flow because they require less planning and commitment. Services already under contract continue under existing task orders regardless of CR status. The most significant impact is on new awards and on agencies that were planning to launch major new programs that required full-year funding commitment.