GSA #10138

February 11, 2005
Contact: Viki Reath (202) 501-1231
viki.reath@gsa.gov

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today announced its strategy for two government-wide acquisition contracts (GWAC) for information technology (IT) services, which includes awarding one contract, Alliant, that will be open to all bidders – small, medium, and large –and another contract, Alliant Small Business, that will be set aside for small businesses. 

Next month, GSA expects to submit its business case to the Office of Management and Budget for the two 10-year contracts, valued at a total $65 billion.  Soon thereafter GSA will issue draft requests for proposals (RFP) for Alliant and Alliant Small Business. Final RFPs are expected to be issued this summer for both contracts, which will provide a full range of world-class IT solutions to federal agencies.

“Consistent with our ‘Get It Right’ initiative to achieve excellence in federal acquisitions, we have worked with stakeholders to develop the best approach,” said GSA Administrator Stephen A. Perry. “We have taken all the necessary steps up front, so that as many issues as possible will be resolved, even before we issue the draft RFP.”

The proposed Alliant contracts will be awarded to multiple companies for information technology services. Under this approach, agencies will have options to consider for the work they need accomplished. These contracts are the so-called “Multiple Award/Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quantity” (ID/IQ) contracts. GSA provides this type of contract for federal agencies when the government knows it will need a variety of services, but cannot immediately specify the required services. When agencies identify their requirements, they award specific “task orders,” under the contract terms. The agency task orders include final prices.

“This is an important win for small business that will help to advance President Bush's small-business agenda, as it relates to federal procurement," said Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Hector V. Barreto. "The SBA is also gratified by GSA's efforts to provide opportunities for this vital sector of the U.S. economy. The dual tracks will give small business prime contractors their own contract vehicle, and will go along way toward helping federal agencies achieve their small business contracting goals."

Donna Bennett, Commissioner of GSA’s Federal Supply Service, which developed the Alliant contracts, said, "GSA has listened to our customers, vendors and other interested parties, and we have made changes that will improve Alliant. Our goal is to deliver best value to the American taxpayer, and we will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure we meet their needs with these important new contract vehicles."

Felipe Mendoza, GSA Associate Administrator, Office of Small Business Utilization, said “Engaging stakeholders results in win-win solutions for small businesses, federal agencies and the taxpayer,” said Mendoza. The GSA process that led to the Alliant proposals demonstrates that GSA is committed to listening to small businesses, customer agencies and other interested parties.

GSA’s Enterprise GWAC Center in San Diego manages the Alliant procurement. The Small Business GWAC Center in Kansas City, Mo., manages the Alliant Small Business procurement. Online information is available at http://www.gsa.gov/alliant and http://www.gsa.gov/sbgwac

GSA is a centralized federal procurement, property management, and policy agency, created by Congress to improve government efficiency and help federal agencies better serve the public. It acquires, on behalf of federal agencies, office space, equipment, telecommunications, information technology, supplies and services. It also plays a key role in developing and implementing government-wide policies. GSA’s 13,000 associates provide services and solutions for the office operations of more than one million federal workers located in more than 8,000 government-owned and leased buildings in 2,000 U.S. communities.