U.S. General Services Administration

Reference Guide 

for Using GSA’s 

Special Procedure for 

Consumption-Based 

Ordering

This ordering procedure reference guide 

is specific to the GSA Multiple Award 

Schedule (MAS) Information Technology 

(IT) Special Item Number (SIN) 518210C, 

Cloud Computing and Cloud Related IT 

Professional Services
Introduction to GSA’s Procedure for Consumption-Based Ordering

GSA’s special ordering procedure for consumption-based ordering – exclusively available on Multiple 

Award Schedule (MAS) Information Technology (IT) Cloud Special Item Number (SIN) 518210C, 

referenced in this document as the “Cloud SIN 518210C” – offers agencies the benefit of enhanced 

agility in responding to your changing business needs. 

Cloud SIN 518210C allows for consumption-based ordering within regulatory guidelines using 

requirements task orders when precise quantities of cloud services (i.e., Infrastructure as a Service 

[IaaS], Platform as a Service [PaaS], Software as a Service [Saas], Cloud Related Professional Services) 

cannot be predetermined. This special ordering procedure was implemented in 2022 and is outlined 

in detail in the GSA MAS Cloud SIN Ordering Guide at www.gsa.gov/cloudsin. This short reference 

guide provides a basic example for cloud acquisitions and how to use the special ordering procedure 

applicable only on the Cloud SIN 518210C for procuring cloud services on a consumption basis.

When and How to Use the Special Ordering Procedure 

The added flexibility of consumption-based procurements may not be a fit for all cloud requirements. 

The special ordering procedure outlined here does not replace other established procurement practices 

and does not supersede the ordering activity’s contract funding policies. Task orders awarded against 

the Cloud SIN 518210C may include multiple Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) types (e.g., hybrid 

contract types), such as fixed-priced CLINs, labor-hour CLINs, and requirements task-order CLINs 

based on your requirements. Task-order performance is managed directly by the execution and funding 

of base CLINs and optional CLINs, based on your agencies’ requirements. Requirement task-order 

CLINs are considered fixed-priced CLINs.

If your agency plans to use requirements task orders, it is recommended that you highlight GSAR 

552.238-199 in solicitations and CLIN structures.
How to Set Up a CLIN Structure for Requirements Task Orders

Table 1 shows a sample CLIN structure for the acquisition of cloud compute services (i.e., Infrastructure 

as a Service), based on GSAR Clause 552.238-199 Special Ordering Procedures Applicable when 

Procuring Cloud Computing on a Consumption Basis. The example is not exhaustive and is meant 

to provide only the concept of what’s possible. The CLINs (i.e., IaaS) identify the scope of the services 

and track your “Ceiling Price,” while sub-CLINs identify the specific, within-scope service items of 

the CLIN with associated “Unit Price” and consumption-based “Unit of Measure.” This same CLIN 

structure can also be applied to labor-scoped CLINs (e.g., application rationalization services) with 

sub-CLINs for specific labor categories (e.g., cloud applications engineer).

Table 1: Sample CLIN Structure

CLIN Type CLIN CLIN Scope/ 

Service Item 

Unit 

Price Unit of Measure Quantity Ceiling Price Funded

CLIN 1000 IaaS $82,500 $82,500

Sub-CLIN 1001 Medium Server $0.37 Compute Per Hour — — —

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Sub-CLIN 1099 Object Storage $0.01 GB Per Hour — — —

CLIN – Optional 2000 IaaS $13,505 $0.00

Sub-CLIN 2001 Medium Server $0.37 Compute Per Hour — — —

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Sub-CLIN 2099 Object Storage $0.01 GB Per Hour 150,000 — —

How CLINs Can Help Manage Consumption and Costs

Table 2 shows an example of a monthly invoice tracking service consumption and cost. All sub-CLINs’ 

“Costs” 1001 to 1099 are summed each month and tracked against the “Funded” amount of 

CLIN 1000. When “Costs” equal the “Funded” value of CLIN 1000, the CLIN ceiling has been reached. 

You will not be obligated to pay more, and the contractor will not be required to continue providing 

services unless an optional CLIN (i.e., CLIN 2000 from Table 1) is exercised for the services. 

The contractor is required to provide access to tools to track consumption-based usages or notify 

the Contracting Officer when total consumption reaches 50% and 75% of the “Funded” value for 

each CLIN, or other milestones as agreed upon. See additional examples in the GSA MAS Cloud SIN 

Ordering Guide at www.gsa.gov/cloudsin. 

Table 2: Sample Invoice

CLIN Type CLIN CLIN Scope/ 

Service Item 

Unit 

Price Unit of Measure Quantity Funded Costs

CLIN 1000 IaaS $82,500 $31,500

Sub-CLIN 1001 Medium Server $0.37 Compute Per Hour 81,081 — $30,000

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Sub-CLIN 1099 Object Storage $0.01 GB Per Hour 150,000 — $1,500
Ordering is Easy

You can order from Cloud SIN 518210C through GSA’s eBuy system. You’ll need to prepare a 

Request for Quotation (RFQ) and post it on www.ebuy.gsa.gov, selecting only Cloud SIN 518210C. 

This will release the RFQ to all Cloud SIN 518210C contractors who provide cloud services that 

meet the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) definition of cloud and notify Cloud 

SIN 518210C contractors that your solicitation has been posted and is ready for their review and 

proposal submissions. When submitting an RFQ on eBuy that includes a requirements task order 

but also includes other requirements, select only Cloud SIN 518210C and state in the RFQ that 

authorized contractors may use other SINs to create a complete solution. Federal, state, local, tribal, 

and territorial (FSLTT) governments, including instrumentalities as well as other eligible non-federal 

entities, can purchase cloud services and cloud-related IT professional services using SIN 518210C 

through the GSA Cooperative Purchasing Program. 

GSA is Here to Help

For more support on cloud-specific requirements, reach out to us at cloudinfo@gsa.gov.

www.gsa.gov

May 2023

05-23-00490

Access publications via 

www.gsa.gov/cmls.