GSA #10323

February 16, 2007
Contact: Jon Anderson (202) 501-1231
jon.anderson@gsa.gov

Washington, DC — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today announced that it issued Notices to Proceed (NTPs) to the 43 technology firms on the Veterans Technology Services (VETS) government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC).   

Following the VETS award announcement on Dec. 18, 2006, issuing an NTP signifies that the VETS contract is ready for task orders to be placed under the contract.  NTPs were issued by GSA’s Small Business GWAC Center located in Kansas City, Mo. 

“The VETS GWAC is now open for business,” said GSA Administrator Lurita Doan.  “This vitally important step signifies the VETS contract is ready for task orders to be placed.  GSA will begin a series of outreach opportunities and Contract Officer training to ensure we meet the demands of both our federal customers and these deserving service-disabled, veteran-owned companies.”

VETS is a GWAC that is set aside for and completed among service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses.  It is a multiple award contract with a five-year initial term and a five-year option period available, with a total aggregate value of $5 billion.  It offers a new option for federal agencies to achieve small business goals through purchase of information technology solutions from small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.  It is designed to provide cutting edge technology solutions to federal agencies without the expense and time involved in open market set-aside procurements. 

A major advantage of the VETS GWAC is its broad contract scope which provides information security as well as information systems engineering, systems operations and maintenance.  The 43 industry partners on VETS represent highly qualified firms that have met high standards in past performance, technical capabilities and contract performance plans.  A complete list of these industry partners along with VETS contract and pricing information is available at www.gsa.gov/vetsgwac. 

VETS is a direct result of President Bush’s Executive Order 13360 to strengthen opportunities in federal contracting for service-disabled, veteran-owned small business concerns.  In awarding the VETS GWAC, GSA met Section IV(a) of this order which required the agency to establish a GWAC reserved for participation by these businesses.  The Veterans Entrepreneurship Act and Small Business Development Act of 1999 established an annual government-wide goal of not less than 3 percent of the value of prime contract and subcontract awards for participation by small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.

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Founded in 1949, GSA serves as a centralized procurement and property management agency for the federal government.  GSA manages more than one-fourth of the government’s total procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,300 government-owned or leased buildings and 170,000 vehicles.  GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 420 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services. GSA’s mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and e-travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions. 

Did You Know? The General Services Administration is the Federal Government's business arm with combined revenue of billions per year. If it were a private company, it would rank among the Fortune 100.