Buying in the Federal Government

Agencies throughout the Federal Government create multiple award vehicles to give added efficiency and timeliness to the procurement process. Some of those contract awards are available for all Federal Contracting Officers to utilize for their customers, and other vehicles are available to only agency specific Contracting Offices. Those listed here are available to AQD. In addition, Blanket Purchase Agreements that are held at other agencies, can be utilized if AQD is given the permission by the signing Contracting Officer.

Where We Can Buy

The NASA SEWP (Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement) GWAC (Government-Wide Acquisition Contract), as well as GSA GWACs and NIH CIOSP2, all provide the latest in Information Technology (IT) products for all Federal Agencies.

NASA SEWP
The statutory authority allowing usage of the SEWP contracts by the entire Federal Government is NASA's designation, as waspectsell as GSA GWACs and NIH CIOSP2, as an Executive Agent by OMB based on the Information Technology Management Reform Act (ITMRA) of 1996, now the Clinger Cohen Act. For more information on the procurement of utilizing SEWP contracts, view the SEWP Procurement Information Brochure (five-page pdf, 459 kb).

8(a) STARS II Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC)
8(a) STARS II, a small business set-aside GWAC, provides flexible access to customized IT solutions from a large, diverse pool of 8(a) industry partners. With a $10 billion program ceiling and a five-year base period with one five-year option, 8(a) STARS II allows for long-term planning of large-scale program requirements while strengthening opportunities for 8(a) small businesses. Direct awards may be made on STARS II with a $4 million cap. Ceiling: $10 billion. Period of performance: August 31, 2011 to August 30, 2016, with one five-year option from August 31, 2016 to August 30, 2021.

Commerce Information Technology Solutions-NexGen (COMMITS NexGen) GWAC
This contract was previously managed by the U.S. Commerce Department. Under the direction of the Office of Management and Budget, GSA assumed responsibility for managing COMMITS NexGen on March 14, 2008. COMMITS NexGen is a task order contract designed to offer Information Technology (IT) solutions to federal customers.

The COMMITS NexGen program’s objectives are to:
  Deliver top quality, performance-based IT services and solutions that meet government mission requirements;
  Deliver IT services and solutions with a streamlined acquisition methodology; and,
  Provide competitive IT solutions from a pool of exceptional small, disadvantaged, 8(a), women-owned, veteran-  owned, service disabled veteran-owned, and HUBZone businesses

Veterans Technology Services (VETS) GWAC
Using VETS GWAC supports VA's Veterans First Buying Authority and is consistent with the VA Acquisition Regulation. VA published a final rule in the Federal Register on December 8, 2009, establishing special methods for contracting with Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and veteran-owned small businesses. View the Federal Register rule. The Veterans Technology Services (VETS) Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) is a small business set-aside contract for service-disabled veteran-owned (SDVO) small technology firms. It is the result of Executive Order 13360 that is designed to strengthen federal contracting opportunities for SDVO firms. VETS presents a new way for federal agencies to achieve small business goals through purchase of information technology solutions from small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.

GSA Alliant
The Alliant Government-wide Acquisition Contract (Alliant GWAC) is a competitive multiple award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract. The contract is designed to provide worldwide information technology solutions to Federal agencies.

Alliant Small Business Government-wide Acquisition Contract
The Alliant Small Business Government-wide Acquisition Contract (Alliant SB GWAC) is a competitive multiple award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity set-aside small business contract. The contract is designed to provide worldwide information technology solutions to Federal agencies while strengthening opportunities in Federal contracting for small businesses.

GSA Schedules
Under the GSA Schedules (also referred to as Multiple Award Schedules and Federal Supply Schedules) Program, GSA establishes long-term government-wide contracts with commercial firms to provide access to over 11 million commercial supplies (products) and services that can be ordered directly from GSA Schedule contractors or through the GSA Advantage!® online shopping and ordering system. The GSA Schedules Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) provide a variety of information regarding the GSA Schedules Program and the use of GSA Schedule contracts.

GSA Schedules offer customers direct delivery of millions of state-of-the-art, high-quality commercial supplies and services at volume discount pricing. The Schedules & Other Supplies & Services page lists commercial supplies and services available under GSA Schedules and other GSA contracts.

CIO-SP2
The NIH,NITAAC, through this procurement, awards multiple Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts for acquiring a wide-range of Information Technology (IT) products, services and solutions for the Institutes and Centers of the NIH, as well as other Federal agencies. The focus is to proactively address issues deemed vital to the Federal Government and specifically to provide support to the CIO function in its critical role of helping the Federal agency executive deliver results (relative to program performance and costs) in the new millennium. Through this procurement, the NITAAC will provide multiple, non-mandatory Task/Delivery Order contracts with improved response time at equitable and reasonable prices to our customers.

USA Contact
The USA Contact contract vehicle supports the Office of Citizen Services' vision of providing citizens with ready access to government information and services, and helping agencies ensure timely, consistent and accurate responses to citizens' inquiries.

USA Contact Center Services
GSA's Office of Citizen Services offers a full range of contact center services, tools and applications for Federal agencies who need to establish a new contact center or enhance their current one.

CECOM LCMC Rapid Response Program
The R2 contract vehicle is a multiple award task order contract that consists of eight separate Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts. Requirements for a broad range of services are competed as task orders against these eight contracts and awards are designed to be executed within 45 days.

ENCORE II Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) HC1028-08-D-2005 through 2027
The ENCORE II contracts provide IT solutions for activities throughout all operating levels of all customer organizations in support of all functional requirements including Command and Control (C2), Intelligence, and Mission support areas, and to all elements of the Global Information Grid (GIG).

Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) National Communications System/Department of Homeland Security
The Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) is a White House-directed emergency phone service provided by the National Communications System (NCS) in the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications Division, National Protection and Programs Directorate, Department of Homeland Security. GETS supports Federal, State, local, and tribal government, industry, and non-governmental organization (NGO) personnel in performing their National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) missions. GETS provides emergency access and priority processing in the local and long distance segments of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). It is intended to be used in an emergency or crisis situation when the PSTN is congested and the probability of completing a call over normal or other alternate telecommunication means has significantly decreased.

Wireless Priority Service (WPS) National Communications System/Department of Homeland Security
During emergencies, cellular networks can experience congestion due to increased call volumes and/or damage to network facilities, severely curtailing the ability of national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) personnel to make emergency calls. With an increasing number of NS/EP personnel relying on cell phones while performing their emergency duties, the NCS developed Wireless Priority Service to provide priority for emergency calls made from cellular telephones.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Training & Management Assistance (TMA)
Contract vehicle for quick access to private-sector contractors with expertise in developing and implementing learning and human capital solutions. Current contract period is 04/07-3/11.

Department of Treasury, TIPSS 3
The TIPSS-3 contracts were awarded as a result of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Solicitation No. TIRNO-04-R-00017 for Total Information Processing Support Services-3 (TIPSS-3). Each contract is indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ). The task orders "cost" types may be cost-reimbursement plus fixed fee (CPFF), firm fixed price (FFP), or time and materials (T&M), depending on the nature of the services to be provided, dollar values, and other factors.

The contract documents for each contractor receiving either a full and open (F&O) competition award or a small business set-aside (SBSA) award have substantially the same content.