Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) are defined in Part 2 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) as task order or delivery order contracts for Information Technology (IT) established by one agency for governmentwide use. Each GWAC is operated by an executive agent designated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to section 5112(e) of the Clinger-Cohen Act. The Economy Act does not apply when placing orders under GWACs. To use GWACs, agencies must obtain a delegation of authority from the GWAC Program Office.

The Learning Center in the Center for Acquisition Excellence offers an online seminar, "Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) Overview," that contains valuable information on the proper use of GWACs to provide total solutions for IT requirements. Schedules e-Library contains online contract award information for GWACs.

GWACs offer a variety of features and benefits to meet customer agencies' requirements. GSA provides both Solutions-Based GWACs and Specialty GWACs to encompass a full range of IT solutions.

Solutions-Based GWACs

Hardware, software, and services may be purchased through GWACs as part of a total technology solution. Task orders placed against GWACs may be customized to meet the full range of IT service solutions, including, but not limited to:

• Service/product integration;
• Systems integration;
• Systems operation and management;
• Software engineering management;
• Communications;
• Information systems engineering;
• Information systems security services;
• Network/management telecommunications; and,
• Web enabled solutions.

8(a) STARS (Streamlined Technology Acquisition Resources for Services) provides a full range of IT solutions—including application development, computer facilities management services, and information assurance—through small disadvantaged 8(a) firms.

As an 8(a) set-aside, this contract vehicle provides small businesses historically left out of the procurement process with a chance to compete in the federal marketplace. GSA customers benefit by having access to a portfolio of over 200 industry partners distributed across eight areas of expertise. Federal agencies also receive 8(a) and other small business credits toward their procurement preference goals through the use of these contracts.

Alliant provides the greatest amount of flexibility possible to efficiently and effectively support the federal government's needs in its daily operations, its protection of infrastructure, the fight against terrorism, and the development and marketing of emerging technologies. Contracts awarded under Alliant have 10-year contract periods (five-year base and one five-year option) to provide all the components of integrated IT solutions.

Alliant SB, a small business set-aside GWAC, is designed to provide worldwide IT solutions to federal agencies, while strengthening federal contracting opportunities for small business concerns. Alliant SB will assist agencies in reaching their procurement preference goals, while providing small business concerns with opportunities to develop their businesses before moving into unrestricted acquisition environments.

ANSWER (Applications 'n Support for Widely-Diverse End User Requirements) delivers best value and innovation for such diverse projects as telemedicine, war gaming, agriculture, homeland security, nuclear energy, and social security systems. ANSWER constantly updates technology offerings with a technical refreshment provision.

Features of the ANSWER GWAC include seven geographical rate areas with ceiling prices reflecting locations; 40 hours of training for every contractor full-time equivalent; and one group manager for every 35 contractor employees. 

COMMITS NexGen (Commerce Information Technology Solutions-NexGen) is a governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC) which is set-aside for small businesses. COMMITS NexGen was transferred to GSA from the Department of Commerce in March, 2008. The COMMITS NexGen GWAC focuses on providing information technology solutions through highly qualified industry partners in three contract tiers.

HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) is the first GWAC to be set aside exclusively for HUBZone certified small business firms. Contracts awarded under the HUBZone GWAC are for five-year contract periods and provide a wide variety of technology services in four functional areas. HUBZone enables federal agencies to purchase technology services from companies located in HUBZones and, in turn, spurs economic expansion and job creation in areas of unemployment and underdevelopment. Federal agencies benefit by gaining access to pre-competed contracts with high-quality companies while meeting their three (3) percent statutory procurement preference goals.

Note: The HUBZone GWAC expired January 8, 2008; no new orders may be placed against HUBZone contracts. Ordering activities may obtain similar services under such GWACs as 8(a) STARS or VETS, as well as GSA Schedule 70, Information Technology.   

ITOP II (Information Technology Omnibus Procurement II) provides federal agencies with best value IT solutions. With three functional support areas—Information Systems Engineering (ISE), Systems Operations and Management (SOM), and Information Systems Security Support Services (ISS)—ITOP II offers the flexibility and broad range of resources to meet varied IT program demands.

Note: The ITOP II GWAC expired January 13, 2006; no new orders may be placed against ITOP II contracts. Ordering activities may obtain similar services under GSA Schedule 70, Information Technology, or other GWACs.

Millennia fulfills the demand for large system integration and development projects by providing IT support contracts in the areas of software engineering, communications, and systems integration.

Millennia Lite is strategically segmented into four functional areas based on the life cycle of information technology: IT capital planning, studies, and assessments; high-end information technology services; mission support services; and legacy systems migration and new enterprise systems development.

Typical projects under the Millennia Lite GWAC include, but are not limited to: biometrics; nanotechnology; capital planning and investment control; information assurance and security; critical infrastructure protection; knowledge management; systems engineering; application development; software development, Computer Aided Design, Engineering, and Management (CAD, CAE, and CAM); and business and systems analysis.

VETS (Veterans Technology Services), a service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside GWAC, encompasses the functional areas of systems operation and maintenance, and information systems engineering. VETS is designed to provide worldwide information technology solutions to federal agencies, while strengthening federal contracting opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns.

The VETS GWAC will assist agencies in meeting their three (3) percent service-disabled veteran-owned small business goals, by providing pre-qualified industry partners in one easy-to-use contract vehicle. Service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses will, in turn, be provided with opportunities to compete amongst a smaller group of contract holders, allowing self-marketing opportunities, and a chance to develop their businesses before moving into larger acquisition environments.

Specialty GWACs

The following GWACs encompass specific areas of expertise.

ACES (Access Certificates for Electronic Services) facilitates secure electronic access to government information and services through the use of public key infrastructure/digital signature technology. The ACES website provides valuable information regarding the ACES Program.

Note: The ACES GWAC expired October 31, 2005; no new orders may be placed against ACES contracts. Ordering activities may obtain compliant ACES products and services under GSA Schedule 70, Information Technology.

Virtual Data Center Services (VDCS) provide a full range of data processing and support services, allowing agencies to outsource their data center operations and focus on their core missions.

Note: The VDCS GWAC expired February 17, 2007; no new orders may be placed against VDCS contracts. Ordering activities may obtain similar services under GSA Schedule 70, Information Technology, or other GWACs.

The shortcut to this page is www.gsa.gov/gwacs.