Tag: GWAC

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Update to Better Contracting Initiative 2

In an earlier blog post, Transforming Government IT Procurement: Better Contracting Initiative Priority 2, I introduced the Better Contracting Initiative (BCI) as a driving force behind our ongoing efforts to modernize government IT procurement. 

I described the Governmentwide Acquisition Strategy initiative led by the IT Vendor Management Office (ITVMO) to centralize engagement with critical Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and negotiate universal contract and process improvements to ensure that all agencies benefit from best-in-class terms and pricing as “One Customer.”

Today, I’ll provide details on the ITVMO’s Governmentwide Microsoft Acquisition Strategy (GMAS), an unprecedented initiative to forge a strategic partnership between the government and Microsoft, and provide immense value to the government and one of its critical IT suppliers.

The GMAS origin

In 2023, the ITVMO launched the GMAS initiative to help standardize government contract terms and pricing for Microsoft products and services, offered by many resellers, regardless of where or how agencies acquire them. The goal was to consolidate best-in-class terms into a universal term sheet that agencies could apply to any government buying vehicle. With best-in-class terms and enhanced cybersecurity standards, all government agencies, large and small, would benefit from the U. S. government’s size and weight, and avoid the inefficiencies of negotiating certain contract terms at each procurement. The process was designed to be collaborative, both across the government and with Microsoft, to generate efficiencies for all parties.

Comprehensive due diligence and preparation

After reviewing Microsoft contracts from each of the 24 Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act agencies, the ITVMO compiled a list of 150+ contract terms and conditions worthy of standardization due to their varying language and benefits. ITVMO also performed an extensive price analysis that revealed substantial variance in pricing from resellers due to factors not always driven by “size of the prize.”

These contractual and price variances revealed an opportunity to capitalize on identified flexibilities, establishing best-in-class contract elements to apply to all government contracts.

With every CFO Act agency participating, the ITVMO hosted a Civilian Services Acquisition Workshop (C-SAW). Over two days, the group collaboratively concentrated the original list of terms and price reduction concepts down to 24. These 24 items comprised the foundation of the GMAS initiative.

Partnership with Microsoft

Over the course of several months, the ITVMO, Office of Management and Budget, and Microsoft’s Federal Division discussed the government’s requests and proposed additional ways to establish a strategic partnership. 

The teams walked through each item to understand the specific requests and the underlying challenges. Stakeholders from Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) engaged with Microsoft’s cybersecurity teams to discuss the critical security elements and standards that GMAS aimed to achieve. 

Recently, the government provided a detailed compendium of solutions for Microsoft to formally consider at the corporate level, as many of the items require updates to long-standing corporate policies. Considerations and discussions on the original 24 challenges are ongoing as of October 2024.

Looking ahead

Microsoft has committed to working with the ITVMO to advance the initiative’s progress. We will continue to work with Microsoft to finalize a path forward.  Throughout the project, Microsoft has acknowledged how implementing consistency across contracts between agencies and resellers would improve its performance as a product and service provider. 

Having spent the last six months working with Microsoft, the government is pleased with the emerging alliance. Clearly, both sides value the other as a critical partner, as demonstrated by the willing collaboration of the GMAS effort. The government is confident that this project will yield unprecedented success and pave the way for more strategic endeavors with other critical IT industry partners.

The GMAS initiative is truly a first-of-its-kind effort to solidify the government as “one customer” in the eyes of a critical industry partner. Building on the anticipated success of GMAS, the ITVMO intends to launch similar efforts with other IT OEMs in FY25. 

Stay tuned for more updates on GMAS and upcoming ITVMO initiatives to improve IT buying conditions for the federal government.

Visit our website to learn more about how GSA’s Office of Information Technology Category addresses the BCI through the ITVMO.

Please follow us on LinkedIn to join our ongoing conversations about government IT.

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Transforming Government IT Procurement: Better Contracting Initiative Priority 2

As part of our ongoing efforts to modernize government IT procurement and management, the Better Contracting Initiative (BCI) has been a cornerstone of our strategy at the Governmentwide IT Program Management Office. Today, I am excited to discuss the strides we are making under the BCI, particularly Priority 2, which focuses on negotiating common enterprise-wide software licenses.

We’ve embarked on a journey to streamline how our federal government procures and manages its software assets. Our new Governmentwide Acquisition Strategy initiative not only aims to enhance operational efficiencies but also to achieve substantial cost savings and increase buying efficiencies.

Strategic collaboration and enhanced efficiency

Our approach under Priority 2 of the BCI involves collaboration and strategic negotiation directly with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), which are essential in managing the government’s vast array of IT resources. By centralizing our engagement processes and encouraging industry to view government agencies as “one customer,” we are ensuring that all government agencies, large and small, benefit from the best possible terms and prices, avoiding the inefficiencies of fragmented and duplicative contract terms.

IT Vendor Management Office’s role in the Governmentwide Acquisition Strategy initiative

The IT Vendor Management Office (ITVMO) has been instrumental in this effort, spearheading direct engagements by developing partnerships with OEMs, conceptualizing solutions for governmentwide challenges, negotiating resolutions, and establishing guidelines that will serve as the benchmark for software procurement across federal agencies. The Governmentwide Acquisition Strategy initiative is truly a governmentwide endeavor.

Steps to success

The ITVMO first identifies target OEMs by soliciting quantitative and qualitative data from all 24 Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act agencies. Using analysis of governmentwide spend and the gravity of common OEM-specific challenges, the ITVMO recommends an OEM to address, which is then validated and approved by government leadership.

The ITVMO then collects contract data from all 24 CFO Act agencies and performs significant analysis on terms and pricing to identify inconsistencies and abnormalities (both good and bad). With the help of a Governmentwide Integrated Project Team, the ITVMO builds a list of best-in-class terms and target pricing to pursue via a variety of recommended solutions.

After a comprehensive review and discussion of these recommended solutions through a Civilian Service Acquisition Workshop, which further supports implementation of BCI through Prong #3 focusing on getting requirements right the first time which will avoid waste and save financial resources, the CFO Act agencies and the ITVMO works to finalize a set of governmentwide requests for the OEM.

Finally, the government engages the OEM in a collaborative fashion by walking decision-makers through the government’s challenges and recommended solutions for the purpose of cooperative adjustment and, ultimately, acceptance of our governmentwide concepts through modifications to all governmentwide acquisition vehicles so that all federal entities get the benefits of our “one customer” approach.

Consistency in contracts = Better contracting

The initiative is part of a broader effort to not only manage costs but also to ensure that the software we procure is secure, reliable, and meets the diverse needs of the federal workforce. To that end, we’ve made significant progress in identifying key areas where terms and conditions can be standardized to benefit all agencies. Our focus has been on improving license flexibility and mobility, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and implementing cost-effective pricing strategies. The feedback from various stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive, indicating strong support for a more unified approach to software licensing in the federal sector.

Looking ahead

As we continue to advance this initiative, the insights gained from our ongoing discussions and negotiations will inform our strategies, ensuring that the federal government remains a prudent and effective purchaser of IT resources. To that end, the ITVMO is putting together a guide for agency acquisitions, specific to critical OEMs, to ensure broad recognition and adoption of the best-in-class practices we learned about throughout the Governmentwide Acquisition Strategy process. The goal is not only to save money but also to improve our IT infrastructure, making it more responsive to the needs of our agencies and the public.

The Better Contracting Initiative is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence in government IT procurement. With Priority 2, we are setting new standards for how the government collaborates and negotiates in the IT realm, ensuring better outcomes for all our stakeholders. Stay tuned as we continue to make strides in transforming government IT procurement for the better.

Visit our website to learn more about how ITC is addressing the BCI through the ITVMO.

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Enabling technology innovation for national security: How GSA partners with the Defense Innovation Unit

GSA’s Office of Information Technology Category (ITC) is committed to fostering innovation and driving IT modernization across the government. We work with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to accelerate the integration of cutting-edge commercial technologies into federal operations, particularly for purposes of increased national security.

Purpose of the partnership

DIU and GSA work together to quickly move successful technology prototypes into scalable solutions for the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies.

DIU focuses on solving national security challenges by engaging commercial technology providers, especially nontraditional defense contractors. By using the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process, DIU can quickly prototype and acquire dual-use technologies.

While the DIU-GSA agreement was created to encourage new-to-government industry participation, these opportunities are also open to existing GSA industry partners too. Existing GSA contract holders’ products and services may serve as a foundation, but DIU’s CSO process is geared towards prototyping technologies for potential DoD use.

Opportunities for GSA industry partners

Under the DIU-GSA partnership, GSA will move successful DIU prototype solutions to GSA contract vehicles. DoD and the broader U.S. government will be able to adopt innovative commercial technology solutions faster.

The DIU-GSA partnership streamlines access to leading-edge commercial technology. It also maximizes opportunities and minimizes barriers for small and/or underserved businesses and nontraditional vendors seeking to do business with the government.

GSA ITC has designed an onboarding process for DIU’s commercial prototype partners to pursue four potential pathways:

  • Partnership agreements: Develop partnerships as subcontractors or through joint ventures with companies on GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program.
  • Reseller agreements: Obtain reseller agreements with companies on GSA’s MAS program.
  • Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC): Consider GSA’s GWAC program during open periods.
  • GSA MAS contracts: Secure a spot on GSA MAS.

As part of its onboarding process, GSA’s ITC supports and educates DIU commercial prototype partners on how to advertise and market solutions to federal, state, and local government entities.

Also, GSA’s MAS ITC developed a pilot program to streamline the process for DIU’s commercial partners in parallel with the FASt Lane: Making It Easier initiative.

Moreover, GSA’s pilot program, Effectively Awarding & Streamlining eOffers (E.A.S.E.), launched in July 2022, provides presubmission assistance to DIU commercial partners pursuing a GSA MAS contract. This initiative aims to increase collaboration, reduce processing workload, and expedite the contract award process.

Bringing innovation to government

This collaboration between DIU and GSA is yielding tangible results. A recent milestone in this partnership is the award of a multimillion dollar contract to a MAS-IT contract holder to advance an AI-driven social media analysis tool for the U.S. Army. This is but one example that shows that this partnership results in innovation.

The awarded AI tool transforms the implicit human domain knowledge of intelligence analysts into autonomously generated knowledge graphs. These graphs show the meaning of dynamic, unstructured social media data according to user-defined ground truth. This AI-driven system enables the tool to reason, understand, learn, remember, collaborate, question, predict, decide, and act in domain-specific ways at a superhuman scale.

In another example, GSA awarded a MAS contract, within the E.A.S.E. program, to a company that designs, manufactures, and operates a fleet of unmanned/uncrewed surface vehicles or ocean-fairing drones. Before the GSA MAS contract award, the company supported DoD requirements with its innovative solutions, allowing agencies and the science community to monitor and study severe storms and hurricanes in a new way.

Since the company’s MAS award, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has used the contract vehicle to support the agency’s hurricane efforts, as well as to support the U.S. Coast Guard.

Getting involved

The DIU-GSA partnership is committed to publicizing successful technology prototypes and granting access to these innovations through the DIU’s Commercial Solutions Catalog. This catalog makes it easier for government organizations to find and procure vetted, commercially available technology solutions.

Interested companies can sign up for newsletters and new solicitation notifications on the DIU website. You can also follow ITC on LinkedIn and subscribe for blog updates.

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Celebrating a major small business milestone

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is deeply committed to supporting small businesses, recognizing them as the backbone of our economy and a critical component of innovation and growth. GSA contract vehicles provide small businesses with unprecedented opportunities to compete for federal contracts, helping them to expand their capabilities, grow their operations, and contribute significantly to the nation’s economic vitality. By facilitating streamlined procurement processes and offering dedicated support, GSA ensures that small businesses can effectively meet the needs of agencies while achieving their own business goals. This commitment not only drives agency success but also fosters a diverse, resilient, and dynamic IT industry that benefits all.

The 8(a) STARS III GWAC exemplifies this effort. As the contract approaches its 1,000th task order, it’s a great time to highlight the remarkable achievements of this contract vehicle and the significant benefits it provides to federal agencies and small businesses alike. This milestone underscores the impactful contributions of our industry partners and the vital role 8(a) STARS III plays in advancing agency missions through innovative IT solutions.

Enabling agency success

8(a) STARS III is designed to provide federal agencies with innovative IT services solutions from highly qualified 8(a) small businesses. The contract supports a broad scope of IT services, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, IT help-desk support, and more. This flexibility allows agencies to address a wide range of IT needs efficiently and effectively.

One of the key benefits of 8(a) STARS III is its streamlined procurement process. By leveraging this pre-competed contract vehicle, agencies can save time and reduce procurement costs, enabling them to focus more on mission-critical activities. Additionally, the sole-source capabilities of 8(a) STARS III enable faster acquisitions and provide direct access to small disadvantaged businesses, enhancing efficiency and promoting socio-economic goals.

What our customers are saying

The success of 8(a) STARS III is a testament to the capabilities and innovation of our industry partners. Here are some real quotes from our recent customer survey that highlight the positive impact of this contract:

  • Standardization and compliance: “The 8(a) STARS III standardized labor categories, established labor rates, and pre-negotiated terms and conditions streamlined the acquisition process and helped to ensure compliance and reduce risk. Also, the step-by-step ordering instructions and the links to tools and resources on the website were an added benefit that were comprehensive and easily accessible.”
  • Ease of use: “STARS III was very easy to utilize. The list of industry partners allowed me to find capable vendors, and the ordering guide allowed me to streamline my acquisition and receive RFQ responses quickly.”
  • Enhanced efficiency: “The 8(a) STARS III sole source authority helped me streamline my acquisition and save time.”
  • Support for Small Business: “We needed an expedited award to a small business. 8(a) STARS III accomplished this with great rates!”

Achieving socio-economic goals

In addition to providing top-notch IT solutions, 8(a) STARS III plays a crucial role in helping agencies achieve their socio-economic goals. By awarding task orders to 8(a) small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), agencies can support small business growth and help meet the President’s goal of increasing the share of federal contracting dollars going to SDBs to 15% by FY2025. This contract vehicle not only drives agency success but also fosters a diverse and resilient IT industry.

The 8(a) STARS III GWAC is designated as a Best-in-Class contract by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), further affirming its value and effectiveness in meeting government-wide IT needs. This designation reflects the contract’s high standards, competitive pricing, and ability to deliver quality solutions.

Looking ahead

As we approach this significant milestone, we remain committed to supporting our agency partners and industry stakeholders. The continued success of 8(a) STARS III is a shared achievement, made possible by the dedication and expertise of our industry partners. We look forward to building on this momentum and driving further innovations in IT procurement.

Visit our website to learn more about GSA’s 8(a) STARS III or use our IT Solutions Navigator to find the vehicle that’s right for you.

Please follow us on LinkedIn to join our ongoing conversations about government IT.

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Ensuring VETS 2 mission delivery

Due to its popularity as a critical tool for federal agencies that delivers faster, more compliant, and less costly IT acquisitions, GSA’s VETS 2 Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) increased its ceiling to $6.1 billion. This decision ensures the continued availability of this vital resource, supporting federal agencies in meeting their IT needs while promoting opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs).

Why the increase?

The VETS 2 GWAC experienced significant growth, with current obligations nearing $3.6 billion. Projections indicate that we will reach 80% of the original ceiling ($5 billion) within this fiscal year. To maintain the contract’s viability and avoid disruptions, we are increasing the ceiling to $6.1 billion. This adjustment also aligns with the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act, which raised the governmentwide goal for SDVOSB participation from three to five percent, making the availability of VETS 2 to the federal government even more critical.

Benefits of the ceiling increase

  • Continued Support: The ceiling increase ensures that VETS 2 remains available to support federal agencies as they address the FY24 NDAA-directed SDVOSB goal increase through the end of the ordering period on February 22, 2028.
  • Avoiding Disruptions: By raising the ceiling before reaching the original limit, we can avoid the need for stringent ordering controls that could hinder the use of the contract.
  • Economic Inclusion: This move supports the administration’s goals for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, ensuring SDVOSBs have ample opportunities to participate in federal IT procurements.

VETS 2 GWAC successes

VETS 2 has proven to be a critical tool for federal agencies, with numerous high-value task orders awarded to SDVOSBs. Some notable examples include:

  • A $248 million order for IT support services for a digital infrastructure services center.
  • A $166 million order for enterprise services integration and modernization.
  • A $404 million task order for the U.S. Army Futures Command’s Enterprise Information Technology Support Services.

Looking ahead

GSA is also preparing for the next generation SDVOSB GWAC. We are currently evaluating offers under the SDVOSB Pool of the new Polaris GWAC program, which won’t have a contract ceiling. With awards expected in the next fiscal year, Polaris will continue to expand opportunities for SDVOSBs and support the evolving IT needs of federal agencies.

For more information about VETS 2, please reach out to vets2@gsa.gov.

Visit our website to learn more about VETS 2, or use our IT Solutions Navigator to find the right vehicle 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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Last Chance: Signing Deadline Approaches for Expiring Telecom Contracts Continuity of Service MOU

In January, GSA decided it will invoke the Continuity of Service (CoS) clauses for expiring enterprise network and telecommunications contracts. This will allow agencies an additional year to either complete their transition to Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) or find another solution to prevent interruption of services.

Transition has been slow for many federal agencies. As of June 30, 2022, only 94 percent of the planned task orders for transition have been awarded. Also, 5.3 million of the nine million legacy services governmentwide are still in use. These services range from telephone lines to high bandwidth secure internet access.

We urge agencies to push toward completing 100 percent disconnection of services by September 30, 2022 and assess their risk of not completing transition by May 30, 2023. Those who need more time to transition must sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be authorized to use the CoS period from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024.

Sign the MOU by September 30th

If an agency does not sign the MOU by September 30, 2022, GSA will remove the agency from the Networks Authorized User List (NAUL) for the expiring contracts. The contractors will begin the disconnect process as early as November 2022 and complete it no later than May 2023.

Agencies that want to take advantage of the CoS period can do so only under these conditions:

  • Agencies must sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with GSA by September 30, 2022: GSA has sent a copy of the MOU to all potentially impacted agencies. The MOU must be signed by the agency head, or their designee with delegated authority. If an agency’s transition team has not received a copy of the MOU, please contact GSA at eistcc.ta@gsa.gov.
  • On May 31, 2024 (the end of the 12-month CoS period), any services remaining active on the expiring contracts will be disconnected, according to the terms and conditions of their respective contracts. Services cannot be reinstated on those contracts.

If an agency will not complete transition before the CoS period ends, the agency must:

  • Identify the services that will be cut off when the CoS period ends;
  • Develop a contingency plan to maintain operation of those services on another contractual arrangement; and
  • Implement that contingency plan so when the contracts expire and the services are disconnected, the agency’s mission is not interrupted or otherwise negatively affected.

GSA Resources

If your agency is mid-transition, weigh the pros and cons of signing the MOU and make a risk-based decision appropriate for your agency.

GSA remains available to help you assess your transition risk and understand your acquisition options. We are holding monthly EIS Transition Office Hours and monthly Interagency EIS Transition Meetings, both of which act as a forum for agencies to share best practices and lessons learned and ask transition-related questions. For an invitation to these open forums, please email benjamin.todd@gsa.gov.

The legacy telecommunications contracts are expiring very soon. Do not delay in transitioning services and, if needed, signing the CoS MOU and conducting contingency planning.

GSA is and will continue to actively monitor agency progress toward stated EIS deadlines. If you need assistance, have additional data to share on the speed of your transition to EIS, or would like to meet with us, please contact your assigned GSA Solutions Broker.

For more information, visit gsa.gov/eistransition.

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Improving Polaris with Small Business Feedback

Polaris — GSA’s future small business Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) of record — is meant to provide agencies with a trusted and innovative contract vehicle designed to deliver complex IT services from the most highly skilled, experienced, and capable small businesses across multiple socioeconomic pools.

After releasing the final RFPs for the small business and women-owned small business pools in March 2022, we received thoughtful feedback from our industry partners in the small business community. We truly appreciate it.

We’re listening

As a result of the feedback we received, we’re assessing whether any changes to those RFPs are necessary. While we assess, we announced that we’re temporarily pausing the RFPs until further notice and will issue a new extended proposal due date along with any amendments. 

Offerors are encouraged to pause proposal activities until this assessment is completed. During this pause, the Polaris Submission Portal will not be open.

I want to emphasize that we very much appreciate industry’s feedback during this time. 

Built for an inclusive future

Polaris is designed to meet the needs of agencies buying complex IT services by

  • establishing pools that represent the broad ecosystem of small businesses.
  • including diverse providers that are proven capable of delivering exceptional results.

Our job is to take a thoughtful and managed approach to having a range of small businesses available to federal agencies through Polaris.

While we consider feedback and questions received from the RFPs, please continue to monitor SAM.gov for the latest Polaris news and information.

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ICYMI: ITC Activating Continuity of Service for Telecom Contracts

In case you missed it, we are invoking the continuity of service (CoS) clause for these expiring enterprise network and telecommunications contracts: 

  • Networx
  • Local Service Contracts
  • Washington Interagency Telecommunications System (WITS) 3

This gives agencies the opportunity to sign on for an additional 12 months of service. During this time, agencies must either complete their transition to Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions or find another solution to prevent interruption of services. 

Invoking the CoS clause helps reduce the risks associated with not completing transition by the original May 31, 2023 deadline. It also provides more time for agencies to address challenges resulting from delayed task order awards, supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, and other important priorities.

The transition to EIS has significant governmentwide cybersecurity, mission, operational, and financial implications. Agencies that don’t move their services before the CoS period ends could face: 

  • Interruption of critical public services.
  • Increased cyber vulnerabilities.
  • Failure to carry out their missions.

More time to complete transition

GSA awarded EIS in 2017 to replace these expiring contracts, beginning a period of transition. Many federal agencies aren’t on track to complete their transition to EIS before the May 2023 expiration.

As of February 28, 2022, only 89% of the planned task orders for transition have been awarded. Also, 45% of the nine million services governmentwide (like telephone lines and high bandwidth secure internet access) are still in use. 

What this means for agencies

Agencies that want to take advantage of the CoS period can do so only if:

  • The agency signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with GSA by September 30, 2022
  • The MOU is signed by the agency head, or follows agency delegation of authority.
  • The designee is accountable for Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Acquisition Officer (CAO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) functions. 

At the end of the 12-month CoS period (May 31, 2024), any services remaining active on the expiring contracts will be disconnected according to the terms and conditions of their respective contracts. They cannot be reinstated on those contracts. This will occur at the contract level, not on the agencies’ task orders.

If an agency doesn’t transition before the exercised option or CoS period ends, the agency must:

  • Identify the services that will be cut off when the CoS period ends.
  • Develop a contingency plan to maintain operation of those services on another contractual arrangement. 
  • Implement the contingency plan to ensure mission isn’t disrupted when the contracts expire and services are disconnected.

If an agency does not sign the MOU, GSA will remove the agency from the Networks Authorized User List (NAUL) for the expiring contracts in October 2022. Contractors will then begin the disconnect process as early as November 2022 and complete it no later than May 2023.

What this means for our industry partners

As agency transition rates increase, so will the demand on industry partners to implement task orders and execute disconnects quickly. 

We value our industry partners and will work closely together as we execute contractual actions over the next year. We’ll also look to our partners to continue supporting our agency customers as they

  • Expedite EIS orders.
  • Explore other options for maintaining service on another contractual arrangement.
  • Reconcile records for services that are being disconnected.

Next steps

If your agency is mid-transition, weigh the pros and cons of signing the MOU and make a risk-based decision appropriate for your agency. We’re here to help you assess your transition risk and understand your acquisition options.

Agencies with services on the expiring contracts should expect a message from GSA in May 2022 including the MOU. If you need more information or would like to meet, please contact your assigned GSA Solutions Broker.

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Improving Acquisition Governmentwide: IT and Professional Services

It’s not often that you hear from both the Information Technology Category and Professional Services and Human Capital Categories on this blog, but we’re excited to share some updates about how our portfolios are collaborating to improve governmentwide services acquisition. For this post we’re joined by Sheri Meadema, acting assistant commissioner of GSA’s Office of Professional Services and Human Capital Categories.

ITC and PSHC have always focused on developing and delivering contractual approaches that meet the expressed, current, and future needs of our customer agencies. We set up flexible solutions so industry has a low-friction experience when working with the government. Our job is to help our customers by: 

  • Reaching the most qualified and experienced suppliers in various socioeconomic categories. 
  • Accessing an acquisition channel that is designed to deliver exactly what agencies need and how they need to buy it.
  • Complying with evolving federal regulations.
  • Reducing the complexity and risk associated with services acquisition to the maximum extent possible.

What’s new

This year we are taking our partnership a step further through a new focus area called the Services Marketplace. ITC and PSHC are working together to align how we roll out new contracts and tools to support buyers and suppliers of services. 

Along with the leaders of GSA’s services contracts, we are working together to find enterprise-level solutions. We have three primary goals:

  • Rationalize, align and expand GSA’s contract offerings.
  • Improve FAS’s market research and buying tools. 
  • Improve the data and reporting systems used in support of our acquisition programs

What will this look like for our customers and industry partners? For industry, we envision a future with standardized engagement and solicitation processes regardless of the type of services you’re providing. We will focus on using a consistent set of best practices and tools when possible for both IT and professional services for solicitations, evaluation, negotiations, award, and contract management.

For our customers, we want to deliver a consistent, exceptional customer experience that makes it easier to get successful outcomes when compared to open market procurements. A customer agency buying services from GSA should be able to access familiar processes and have access to the right industry base, best-in-class contracts, effective and efficient tools, and support resources.

What we’re working on

Under the umbrella of the Services Marketplace, we are building the next generation of contracts, including the Services MAC, Polaris, and the follow-on to Alliant 2. 

  • ITC recently awarded the 8(a) STARS III Governmentwide Acquisition Contract, a small business set-aside, Best-in-Class GWAC. Through 8(a) STARS III, agencies can access award-winning 8(a) firms for emerging technologies and Outside Continental United States support via an established contract vehicle, saving time and taxpayer money over open-market methods.
  • Development of the next generation small business IT GWAC Polaris is well underway. The request for proposal for the new Polaris small business IT contract is expected in February 2022. Once fully awarded, Polaris will complete GSA’s GWAC contract portfolio by enabling federal agencies to set-aside IT task orders to small business, women-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and businesses located in HUBZones. 
  • With the OASIS ordering period ending in 2024, PSHC is making significant progress on a new Services Multi-Agency Contract to support federal agencies’ procurement requirements for services, making essential improvements and building on the program’s success. 
  • Work also continues on improving our Multiple Award Schedule service offerings in Phase 3 of the consolidation. Contractors with multiple contracts will consolidate down to one, which translates into fewer overall contracts for the acquisition workforce — and industry partners — to manage. It will also make it easier for agencies to find the vendors to meet their mission requirements.

We’ve also started standardizing the scope review process and created a digital tool/portal so customers can submit their scope review requests. This will allow for better tracking, management, and coordination across portfolios, as well as create a single customer experience. PSHC has already created a pilot single intake form and we are working to integrate that across other portfolios. 

In the coming months, we’ll launch a single Delegation of Procurement Authority training for OASIS and Human Capital and Training Solutions and a single on-demand ITC DPA, which combines 8(a) STARS III, VETS 2, and Alliant 2 to simplify the customer experience. We’ve also started the discovery phase for an order management tool for all services task orders. This will allow for better solicitation development, tracking, and task order management on GSA contracts. 

We look forward to continued input from customers and industry partners to create consistency as we build the next generation of contracts, improve market research and buying tools, and enhance data and reports systems for governmentwide services acquisition.

Contact us

If you’re interested in learning more about any of our contracts, send us a note!

Join the Small Business GWAC Community of Interest here to follow 8(a) STARS III and Polaris updates: https://interact.gsa.gov/group/small-business-gwac-community-interest.

Join the Professional Services Community here to follow news on the Services MAC: https://interact.gsa.gov/groups/professionalservicescategory.

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