Transactional Data Reporting (TDR): What GSA Contractors Need to Know
As we delve deeper into the General Services Administration and its various components, we will tackle topics that are a bit more complex and challenging to understand, such as what GSA Advantage is and why you should be on it.
Today, we are taking a look at Transactional Data Reporting: what it is, why you need to know it, and what you need to do about it.
Introduction to Transactional Data Reporting
Transactional Data Reporting, or TDR, is not a program; it is a reporting mechanism. TDR is a component or a task of a program. TDR is a function that is performed in the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (GSA MAS) program to determine what the government is spending money on analytically.
Its purpose is pretty straightforward: to enhance pricing transparency, alleviate CSP burden, and facilitate data-driven procurement. Remember that government procurement is always conducted with fiduciary responsibility as the cornerstone of all purchase activities.
To make sure that is what is really happening, data analytics is employed to scour what the government is buying, why, and for how much. This seems simple enough, but the government spends billions upon billions of dollars on contracts.

Why Did the GSA Create the TDR Program?
E-commerce is a rapidly evolving process that continually pushes the boundaries. The GSA developed TDR as part of the broad initiative to modernize and ultimately streamline the Multiple Award Schedule program. The goal was to identify longstanding inefficiencies in price oversight, contract compliance, and market visibility for both the contractor and the federal buyer.
Here are a few of the reasons why the creation of TDR was so important:
- To Modernize Sales Reporting Under MAS
Before implementing TDR, GSA Schedule contractors were required to report only aggregate monthly sales and maintain complex disclosures in accordance with the Commercial Sales Practices (CSP) format. Also, the Price Reduction Clause was enforced. These legacy requirements were a regulatory burden and never provided the detailed data to support a more innovative federal procurement and acquisition strategy.
- Help Agencies Make Smarter Buys With Real-Time Pricing Trends
With transactional data available, GSA and ordering agencies gain access to real-time, item-level pricing trends. What does this mean in real terms? TDR is monitoring the trends of any individual item, like a ground power unit (GPU). Data like this helps monitor items across the entire federal government landscape to identify trends and pass along useful information for procurement budgeting. Agencies can quickly see what others are paying for the same goods or services, which helps create greater price competition and ultimately value for the taxpayers.
- Reduce Contractor Compliance Risks (CSP and PRC)
Under traditional rules of the MAS, contractors had to submit detailed CSP disclosures and adhere to the PRC, which required price monitoring against their “basis of award” customers. These rules proved to be complex, high-risk, and often caused confusion and unintentional noncompliance. The TDR program pilot eliminates the requirement for CSP disclosures and PRC tracking for participating contractors. This simplification encourages more commercial vendors, especially small businesses, to participate in the MAS program.
Who Can Participate in TDR?
Only contractors who hold a GSA MAS contract that includes TDR-eligible SINs can participate. Initially, the pilot covered a limited number of SINs, which were typically those that involved non-configurable product types (i.e., office supplies, tools, etc.). That list has expanded over the years, and each year it grows a little larger.
As of right now (June 2025), the GSA announced a major expansion of 62 more SINs, including product and cloud services that are being added at the end of June. Starting next Fiscal Year, all SINs will be subject to TDR, and participation for eligible SINs will be mandatory, not optional.

Monthly Reporting Requirements Under TDR
Participation in the GSA’s Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) program is currently limited to contractors with eligible Special Item Numbers (SINs) under the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS). GSA has been rolling out this list, and full adoption is coming soon.
TDR Applies to Select SINs
Not all SINs are eligible. Only those that GSA has designated as part of the TDR program. These are primarily product-based or commoditized services SINs, such as office supplies, IT products, tools, and specific cloud solutions. GSA is rolling out the list in phases through solicitation Refreshes.
Opt-In During the Offer or Modification Process
Contractors can opt in one of two ways:
- During Initial Offer: If your proposed contract includes TDR-eligible SINs, you may be required to accept TDR participation as a condition of award.
- Via Contract Modification: Existing MAS contractors can opt into TDR by submitting a modification through the eMod system. The modification must coincide with the start of the next fiscal quarter (January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1).
Once a contractor opts into TDR, participation remains mandatory for the duration of the contract, unless the contractor removes all TDR-eligible SINs.
GSA Publishes the Full SIN List
GSA maintains and updates the list of TDR-eligible SINs. The latest list is in the MAS solicitation and also in the GSA eLibrary. Contractors should check the most recent solicitation Refresh to verify eligibility.
Benefits of Transactional Data Reporting
For contract vendors, time is money. One of the hardest parts of working with the government is that, in the world of government buying, unless it is an emergency for disaster relief or other extremely time-sensitive purchases, the process is painfully slow. Additionally, in cases of problems, the entire procurement process can be scrapped altogether, and the process starts over from scratch. So, here are the main benefits:
- Reduced administrative burden: The previous method of tracking (CSP and PRC) imposed a considerable administrative burden on the procurement process without yielding any significant benefits. TDR makes monthly data reporting simple and straightforward, rather than the manually intensive traditional data tracking.
- Exemption from CSP disclosures and PRC: This starts to emerge as a theme. TDR removes the demand for contractors to track the relationships between their Basis of Award customer pricing and their GSA pricing. Also, contractors no longer have to report price reduction violations.
- Stronger market positioning through sales intelligence: The primary goal of TDR is to benefit government buyers and ultimately enhance the efficiency of government procurement. But the data collected is also beneficial for contractors by providing market intelligence. Transactional Data Reporting data is made available to contractors as part of the pilot program, and it is beneficial to understand the overall pricing strategy for your particular market.
Transitioning from CSP to TDR
It might be in your company’s best interests to get away from the manually-intensive CSP and transition to TDR if your SINs are eligible. If you determine this is the best move to make, there are a few steps you will need to follow.
First, you have to switch via a contract modification. Current GSA Schedule holders can initiate a transfer by submitting a “Participate in TDR” modification through the GSA eMod system. This type of modification is classified as a terms and conditions modification to your schedule.
There are several specific documents that you will need to submit for TDR transition approval. First, submit a cover letter, then a copy of your most recently approved Price Proposal Template, and finally, a copy of your current Commercial Price List or Market Rate Sheet.
Transitioning to the TDR will save you a lot of administrative burdens, and also allows for more flexibility in commercial pricing without the need to update your GSA Schedule contract through modifications. The primary concern to consider is that TDR is a one-way transition, and once it is completed, you cannot revert to CSP reporting.

Final Thoughts: Should You Opt Into TDR?
So, should you opt into TDR? There are a lot of upsides for contractors, but remember that it is one-way, and once it is done, it is done. Also, always remember that these programs are created by and for government agencies, benefiting them. You can always work within those programs to benefit your business, but the programs are not made to benefit contractors. These are the questions you need to answer first:
- Is your SIN eligible?
- Are you looking to simplify CSP/PRC compliance?
Once you have answered these questions, you are ready to either move forward with TDR, or you have the choice to remain in the legacy system.