Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs)

Overview

The federal government can buy cost-effective, innovative solutions for information technology requirements through Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts, or GWACs.

GWACs provide access to Best-in-Class IT solutions including:

Systems design
Software engineering
Information assurance
Enterprise architecture solutions

The GWAC Prices Paid Tool gives federal agencies that register a detailed view into how their IT dollars are spent on our GWACs. Small business set-aside GWACs also provide socioeconomic credit.

You can now identify contracts that have accepted the Section 889 mass modification clause using the 889 Part B Contract Vehicle Modification Tracking Dashboard, updated daily.

8(a) STARS III

The 8(a) STARS III GWAC offers access to highly qualified, certified 8(a) small disadvantaged businesses. The contract has a $50 billion program ceiling with a five-year base period and one three-year option.

VETS 2

The VETS 2 GWAC offers a unique contribution to the federal acquisition community as it’s the only GWAC set-aside exclusively for Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB). VETS 2 is designed to meet a variety of diverse agency IT requirements, including new and emerging technologies. The contract has a $5 billion program ceiling with a five-year base period and one five-year option.

Alliant 2 (A2)

The Alliant 2 GWAC offers comprehensive information technology (IT) solutions through customizable hardware, software, and services solutions purchased as a total package.

Points of contact

For questions regarding our GWACs, please reach out to the following:

Alliant 2 - alliant2@gsa.gov
STARS III - s3@gsa.gov
VETS 2 - vets2@gsa.gov

GWAC dashboards

Use our interactive GWAC Dashboard tool that allows GWAC stakeholders to view and segment GWAC information to make better business decisions.

You’ll be able to

Explore GWAC data by contract family, federal agency, and industry partner.
Build customized reports and download them to your computer.

How to use GWACs

Using pre-competed GWACs will help your agency buy total IT solutions more efficiently and economically. Find out how to use GWACs.

Policy memos

The Office of Management and Budget says direct acquisitions from GSA’s GWACs are “in the best interest of the government” in its June 6, 2008 memo [PDF - 579 KB], Guidance for Improving the Management and Use of Interagency Acquisitions. OMB designated GSA as the Executive Agent for our GWACs under the Clinger-Cohen Act.

The Office of Management and Budget highlighted the 8(a) STARS III GWAC in a June 29, 2022 memo that highlights strategies for meeting and exceeding agency Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) Goals for Fiscal Year 2022. Read the June 29, 2022 memo.

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy also asks agencies to look to interagency contracts like GWACs first for efficiencies and cost savings in its September 29, 2011 memo [PDF - 474 KB], Development, Review and Approval of Business Cases for Certain Interagency and Agency-Specific Acquisitions.

The Department of Defense issued a memo encouraging the use of GSA GWACs to meet DOD’s information technology needs. Read the May 1, 2018 memo [PDF - 337 KB].

The Department of Homeland Security issued a determination on December 17, 2018 announcing the adoption of the GSA GWACs into the DHS portfolio for the acquisition of information technology services. Read the December 17, 2018 determination. A subsequent memo was issued on October 16, 2021 identifying the 8(a) STARS III GWAC as a mandatory strategic sourcing vehicle. Read the October 16, 2021 memo [PDF - 296 KB].

The Department of Navy issued a memo on April 23, 2012, emphasizing the mandatory use of the GSA Alliant GWAC for the acquisition of IT development and support services. Read the April 23, 2012 memo.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense issued a memo on August 16, 2012, stating that the Department of Defense acquisition community is to maximize the use of all available authorities to acquire products and services from small businesses. Read the August 16, 2012 memo [PDF - 147 KB].

The General Services Administration issued a memo on October 11, 2012 [PDF - 92 KB], stating that GSA employees are required to use existing GSA acquisition vehicles before establishing new contracts for similar products or services.

Defense Health Agency issued a memo on April 25, 2016, establishing GSA’s suite of vehicles to include GWACs and Federal Supply Schedules as mandatory vehicles for the acquisition of Military Health System Health Information Technology for both previously unsolicited and follow-on contracts/task orders, unless waived in accordance with procedures outlined herein.