Solicitation: 47QTCB20R0005
The General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Information Technology Category (ITC) is pleased to announce the request for proposals (RFP) for the next generation 8(a) Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC). By law, a GWAC is an information technology (IT) contract and the 8(a) Streamlined Technology Acquisition Resource for Services III (STARS III) concentrates on IT services and IT services-based solutions. STARS III builds upon the achievements of its predecessor GWAC, STARS II (www.gsa.gov/stars2), and will incorporate best practices and lessons learned from GSA’s longstanding and synergistic partnership with stakeholders.
The official RFP will be available on beta.SAM.gov (formerly FedBizOpps) approximately two weeks following this presolicitation notice. The RFP is set-aside exclusively for qualifying, certified 8(a) small business concerns as prime contractors per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 19.8, and the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) regulations for the 8(a) Business Development Program (www.sba.gov). Interested parties are encouraged to ensure they are familiar with the 8(a) Program’s regulatory framework. Questions regarding the 8(a) Business Development Program’s regulations, especially those applicable to joint ventures and mentor-protégé relationships, should be directed to the SBA.
STARS III promotes the use of performance-based contracting and supports Ordering Contracting Officers (OCOs) planning task orders with fixed-price (FAR subpart 16.2), time-and-materials, or labor-hour (FAR subpart 16.6) terms; and equips OCOs to employ those incentive features found in FAR subpart 16.4 which are tied to fixed-price, time-and-materials, and labor-hour terms.
There are no projects assigned for STARS III. It is being established as an option for agencies to use in meeting their IT services and IT services-based solution needs; as well as their 8(a), small disadvantaged business, and small business procurement preference goals. Agencies will make their own decisions in regard to the benefits of using this GWAC. Warranted Contracting Officers desiring to issue orders against the STARS III GWAC may do so only after they obtain a GSA delegation of procurement authority.
STARS III supports customized IT services-based solutions which can be tailored to meet an agency’s unique mission needs, to include new and emerging technologies which may evolve over the life of the contract. It will not include Functional Areas tied to specific NAICS codes; and examples of work eligible for performance include, but are not limited to: data management, information and communications technology, IT operations and maintenance, IT security, software development, and IT system design. STARS III will also provide two scope sub-areas, one for emerging technology requirements and one for performance outside of a CONUS location.
The STARS III contract ceiling value will be $50 billion (all references to dollars or “$” are in U.S. currency), to be drawn down commensurate with the value of orders placed, with no fixed allocation to the scope or scope sub-areas.
GSA has established a STARS III website (www.gsa.gov/STARS3) to provide collateral material regarding STARS III, but the only official source for the STARS III solicitation is beta.SAM.gov. Details regarding a pre-proposal conference will be provided with the posting of the solicitation on beta.SAM.gov.
