The GSA Star Mark is the official graphical identifier of our agency. You must not use it for any purpose without explicit permission. If you are not a GSA employee, you must not use this image on products, publications, or web pages that we did not sponsor. You may not use this image to imply endorsement or support of an external organization, program, effort, or persons.
We registered the GSA Star Mark trademark so all use outside of the agency must follow all U.S. trademark laws. The Office of Strategic Communication approves in writing all non-GSA usage of the Star Mark. We will never approve use of the GSA Star Mark when it creates the appearance that we have endorsed (either implicitly or explicitly) a private company, service, product, or activity.
Policies for contractors or other non-GSA entities
Description of the GSA Star Mark
The GSA Star Mark is inspired by the American flag. The blue square and star evoke the flag’s blue field and white stars. In the flag, the stars represent the 50 states. In the GSA Star Mark, the single star stands for each of our employees, who are the core of the GSA organization. By featuring the GSA Monogram as a part of the Star Mark, we clearly identify ourselves. You must always include the GSA Star Mark registered trademark symbol.
Usage of GSA Schedule and Contract Holder logos
We created special logos based on the Star Mark (referred to as a “sub-brand”) for you to use if you have a contract with us. You can only use the sub-brand that applies to you. You can download the GSA Advantage, GSA Contract, and GSA Schedule sub-brands depending on which contract you hold.
If you use these sub-brands, you are still required to comply with the provisions of the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation clause 552.203-71, Restriction on Advertising. You can use the designs in an advertisement directed to federal government contract users if that advertisement does not state or imply that the product or service is endorsed or preferred by the government.
If you have questions, contact Max Stempora at max.stempora@gsa.gov.
This policy applies to the use of our Star Mark, including all GSA-registered Star Mark logos and its sub-brands, namely the Schedule, Contract holder and GSA Advantage logos, on all contractor-produced materials, including advertising and other promotional writing, presentations, correspondence, websites and business cards.
1. General guidance
If you have a contract, you can use these sub-brands as long as they do not take prominence over your company’s name or logo on your materials. You must register with GSA Advantage before you use that sub-brand. Except for the limited exception to link a web page directly to the GSA portal, you cannot use the GSA Star Mark without an identifier. Here are the acceptable logos and their identifiers:
All of our contracts include this clause
GSAM 552.203-71 Restriction on Advertising (Sept. 1999)
The contractor must not refer to the GSA schedule or contract in commercial advertising or similar promotions in such a manner as to state or imply that the product or service provided is endorsed or preferred by the White House, the Executive Office of the President, or any other element of the federal government, or is considered by these entities to be superior to any other products or services. Any advertisement by the contractor, including price-off coupons, that refers to a military resale activity, must contain the following statement: “This advertisement is neither paid for nor sponsored, in whole or in part, by any element of the United States Government.”
Our official logo is only for use by GSA employees; not contractors. You cannot use it.
2. Web pages
Your main web page cannot include our logo unless all products and services on succeeding pages are part of your contract with us. If not, you can put the logo only on the page that’s applicable to the contract.
You cannot animate the GSA Star Mark.
3. Promotional materials, fliers, presentations, and the like
You can only display the sub-brands on advertising or promotional materials that promote items on a GSA schedule or contract.
4. Business cards
We do not recommend putting the sub-brands on your business cards. If you do, do not put the sub-brands near your logo. Your logo must be more prominent than the Star Mark. The sub-brands must be in the lower right-hand corner.
5. Contractor catalog
You cannot display the sub-brands on the cover of your catalog unless all item(s) in the catalog are under a GSA schedule or contract. If not, you have to put the logos to the right of the applicable item.
6. Graphic standards
Color: Consistent use of color promotes maximum recognition for the GSA Star Mark.
Primary colors: Pantone 541 C is the preferred color for the GSA Star Mark and must be used wherever possible, with the GSA name reversed out in white. Use Pantone 2945 U when printing on uncoated stock. Because uncoated stock absorbs more ink, causing a slight variation in color, Pantone 2945 U means a closer color match to GSA Blue. Use Pantone 541 C for coated paper. The sub-brand text must be 70% black.
Two-color: If you’re not using GSA blue for the logo, the only other color you can use is black. The Star Mark must be reproduced as a 70% tint of black, with the GSA name reversed out in white.
Single color: Materials printed in a single color must be either Pantone 541 C blue or black. When using black, if the work is professionally printed, the GSA Star Mark must be 70% black. You can only reproduce the Star Mark in solid black for laser-printed jobs.
Clear space: The Star Mark must always be surrounded with at least a half-inch of clear space between it and other graphic elements (typography, charts, photos and illustrations, and the like.). Use as much clear space as possible, but never less than a half-inch.
Background color: The preferred color behind the GSA Star Mark is white. Do not reverse the GSA Star Mark if the background color is not white. The GSA lettering within the Star Mark is always white, not translucent.
Minimum size: To ensure that the sub-brands are always clear, do not reproduce them any smaller than one-half inch. This should ensure that the word “Schedule,” “Contract Holder,” or “Advantage” (and the contract number, if shown) is legible.
Download the GSA Contract Holder, Schedule, Advantage, and SmartPay Card logos
Request permission to use the official GSA Star Mark
Entities that do not have a contract with us can contact us at press@gsa.gov to request permission to use the GSA Star Mark.
U.S. General Services Administration