Attend the 2024 Annual ITVMO Summit on June 11, 2024

Last year, the governmentwide IT Vendor Management Office (ITVMO) worked with the American Council for Technology (ACT) and Industry Advisory Council (IAC) to host the first annual government-industry ITVMO Summit. Back by popular demand, this premier in-person event is the gathering place for anyone involved in the Federal IT Marketplace.

From government procurement officials, to industry IT solution providers, to small businesses and more, this is where we come together to review best practices, discuss new solutions, and form valuable connections. At the summit, we will decide on the next steps to take together as we build a more equitable, accessible, and secure Federal IT Marketplace.

This year we have a PACCKed agenda, where you’ll gain access to:

  • Peer networking
  • Actionable insights
  • Community building
  • 4 Continuous Learning Points (CLP) for eligible attendees
  • Knowledge of the latest resources and advances

Bringing together government and industry, this year’s 2024 Annual ITVMO Summit will focus on uniting technology, people, and processes to transform Federal IT acquisitions.

We want your voice in the conversation, so register now!

If you have questions about the summit or are interested in learning more about our IT Buyers Community of Practice of the ITVMO, please contact ITVMO@gsa.gov

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Announcing the Next Generation Network Infrastructure Strategy and Industry Day on May 30

This is a guest post by Jake Marcellus, Executive Director, Office of Enterprise Technology Solutions.

Next-Gen Network: Riding the wave into the future

Greetings, tech enthusiasts and future-forward thinkers! Are you ready to dive into the exciting world of Next Generation Network Infrastructure (NGNI)? This isn’t just another IT telecommunications program; it’s the transformational blueprint for tomorrow’s federal IT network and telecommunications landscape.

Why NGNI? Staying ahead of the game

Government agencies rely on enterprise telecommunications and infrastructure every day to accomplish their missions, and the technologies and marketspace are constantly evolving. Enter NGNI – our vision to ensure the government isn’t just keeping pace but setting the pace in the IT network and telecommunications landscape.

Learning from the past, building for the future

NGNI is drawing inspiration from the past while eyeing the possibilities of tomorrow. It’s about simplifying the complex, embracing innovation, and ensuring the government has the tools it needs to serve the American people efficiently and securely.

Mark your calendars: Industry Day is coming!

Circle May 30 on your calendars for our upcoming Industry Day. Whether you’re looking to learn more about GSA’s current Enterprise Technology Solutions contracts or for information on where you can contribute ideas or to just soak in the vision, this is where you’ll want to be.

Visit our GSA Enterprise Technology Solutions Industry Day webinar registration to sign up for the event. Industry Day participants can contribute ideas through this NGNI Feedback form until June 14, 2024.

Visit our website to learn more about EIS or use our IT Solutions Navigator to find the vehicle that’s right for you.

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Alliant 2 Industry Partners: Meeting the Federal Government’s AI Needs

Artificial intelligence (AI) is actively transforming the way we personally and professionally complete tasks of varying complexity. Noted for its ability to enhance productivity, the AI we know today is built on decades of groundbreaking work and has many practical applications. From virtual assistants to smart automobiles to business processes and workflows, artificially intelligent systems are making our lives easier.

GSA is at the forefront of leveraging emerging technologies like AI to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of federal services for the American public. By prioritizing safety and privacy, GSA ensures that AI advancements help improve government operations while mitigating risks. GSA also plays a vital role in supporting the AI Executive Order, reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to the responsible and effective use of AI​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.

While recent advances in generative AI have brought renewed attention to the importance of safe and effective AI deployment, it’s worth noting that for years, GSA’s industry partners have been helping agencies responsibly work with previous generations of AI technologies.

GSA’s industry partners delivering AI solutions

Since its 2018 inception, the Alliant 2 Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC), one of the most successful IT Services GWACs in federal government history – and a designated Best-in-Class (BIC) vehicle – has delivered high-value IT services to our customer agencies. Alliant 2 is well-positioned to bring critical, real-world AI solutions to the federal government, particularly regarding national defense, health care, and environmental protection.

We recently polled our Alliant 2 Shared Interest Group to learn about some AI projects they’ve implemented for federal agencies. Let’s take a look at a few of those examples.

A more efficient defense

The general welfare of citizens and their protection from external threats is among the federal government’s greatest duties — a confident and stable national defense is critical.
Federal agencies can now take advantage of notable advancements in the AI space of wargaming and simulation training tools. These training methods rely on realistic simulations to perform varied wartime exercises using diverse war zones, equipment, strategies, and conflict scenarios. For context, think of a military simulator home video game on super steroids – adding to it prospective real-world consequences.

Rapid retraining of computer vision modeling is another AI process that can support national interests. It involves the use of AI to markedly increase the accuracy of those models, eliminating potential issues. The Department of Defense has employed this technology to improve the performance of autonomous reconnaissance vehicles.

Our talented Alliant 2 industry partners also offer geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) and systems intelligence (SIGINT) experience. GEOINT blends machine learning with visualizations to analyze activities on Earth for national security purposes, and SIGINT involves the monitoring and interception of signals from systems used by adversarial targets. Both of these intelligence functions are independently significant. However, as a unit, GEOINT and SIGINT offer a robust approach to national security.

Impacts on health outcomes

Alliant 2’s AI capabilities extend beyond national defense; they also include protections for the health and welfare of U.S. residents. Our industry partners have contributed to many advancements in health care, including the use of AI for COVID-19 research and development. They are also involved in efforts to improve cancer diagnostics and drug labeling review processes using AI.

Different approaches to environmental protection

Executive Order (EO) 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, directs the federal government to protect the environment. The EO expressly states that “an environment that is healthy, sustainable, climate-resilient, and free from harmful pollution and chemical exposure” is a fundamental responsibility of the federal government on behalf of its citizens.

Our industry partners actively support the resolution of climate-related concerns addressed in EO 14096. One effort involves the use of AI to accelerate the speed and accuracy of weather forecasts. During the process, scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration evaluated data collected from the climate models to predict weather events that could occur weeks to decades into the future. This is significant, as this technology is also helpful in disaster preparedness and forecasting natural disasters.

Winning partnerships

Alliant 2’s BIC status signifies its relevance as a top-tier IT services vehicle that is propelled by the best and brightest in the industry. We are very honored to partner with companies that are well-vetted and highly qualified to move us into the future of IT services, always keeping us ahead of the curve.

Moving forward with AI

AI is beginning to play a significant role in how the federal government gets things done. Its significance is becoming more evident by the day. Whether improving the effectiveness of our military, improving health outcomes for U.S. citizens, or keeping our water safe, federal agencies are using AI to enhance our well-being. GSA and our Alliant 2 industry partners continue to move that needle, and we look forward to continuing to serve the AI and IT services needs of our customer agencies. To become familiar with other federal government AI projects, please visit ai.gov.

For more information on the Alliant 2 GWAC, please click here.

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It’s survey season! Help us improve your experiences in 10 minutes

Every year, the General Services Administration sends out the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Customer Survey and Industry Satisfaction Survey to our partners to gauge your experiences working with us.

Many of you will receive a personalized link to complete one of the surveys in the coming weeks – it takes ten minutes to complete, and the intelligence we gather from your responses will be used to improve your experiences moving forward.

For example, the data collected from the 2023 customer and industry surveys led to:

  • Improvements on the IT category and Multiple Award Schedule web pages.
  • The addition of USAccess locations to get your PIV cards activated – a governmentwide program that GSA manages.
  • Updates to our Buyer’s Guides and Fact Sheets to help you find and understand our solutions better.

We greatly appreciate the time you take to share your experience. Surveys like this, along with feedback you provide through other channels like webinars, trainings, and direct conversations with GSA staff, helps us understand where the pain points are so we can address them with urgency.

If you have questions about the survey or our improvement initiatives, please contact surveys@research.gsa.gov.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

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