U.S. General Services Administration
VETS 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For Government Customers
VETS 2 offers the unique opportunity to contract with highly qualified service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses. Using GWACs is a faster alternative to time-consuming and costly full and open competitions. We also offer training and customer service to help you with contracting rules and regulations. Highlights include:
- Access to a full range of comprehensive IT services and IT services-based solutions;
- Flexibility as emerging technologies and the definition of information technology evolve;
- On-ramp and off-ramp provisions insure retention of a highly qualified pool of contractors;
- A full spectrum of contract types, including cost reimbursement; and
- Worldwide coverage.
Read the ordering guide for helpful instructions on how to use the VETS 2 GWAC.
In general, you need to follow these steps:
No. All contract holders must be provided a fair opportunity to be considered for all orders in accordance with FAR 16.505, unless an exception to fair opportunity in FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i) applies. Exceptions must be documented in the file.
GWACs are for information technology (IT) services and IT services-based solutions. Ordering contracting officers may include ancillary services and equipment on orders as long as the ancillary support is integral and necessary for the IT services-based solution.
No. The VETS 2 GWAC is available for use by all Federal agencies and other entities as listed in GSA Order OGP 4800.2I; [PDF - 179 KB] however, this does not include state and local governments. State and local governments can use MAS Information Technology through the Cooperative Purchasing Program.
GSA will review your task order or modification requirements for free to make sure the scope of your task order is compatible with the scope of our GWACs — we call this a scope compatibility review, and it takes approximately two to five business days.
- Existing task orders with the industry partner may continue.
- Pre-priced options on existing task orders may be exercised at the OCO’s discretion.
- Agencies will no longer receive socio-economic credit on future obligation actions.
- The contractor Is NOT eligible to respond to Task Order Requests subject to fair opportunity (FAR 16.505(b)(1)).
- The contractor remains eligible to respond on task order requests from OCOs based on the following exception to fair opportunity:
- At the OCO's discretion, a logical follow-on order may be issued on a sole-source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency IAW (FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(C)) if all awardees were given a fair opportunity for the original order.
Yes, an OLM CLIN may be added at the task order level as ancillary support to the overall IT service. Ancillary support can include non-IT services/labor as well as IT equipment (server racks, mounts, etc) and software. Please review section C (especially C.4) of the VETS 2 contract for a complete discussion of ancillary support.
If an industry partner did not receive the option, they are not eligible to receive any new awards.
The ordering period for VETS 2 is February 23, 2023 - February 22, 2028.
The VETS 2 GWAC ordering period ends February 22, 2028. Task order performance must be complete by February 22, 2033.
For Industry Partners
We encourage all companies to consider subcontracting or teaming arrangements with any of the VETS 2 industry partners.
No. NAICS codes and size standards are commonly listed in solicitations, but that does not necessarily mean the customer agency requires an order level size re-representation. If the ordering contracting officer requires an order level size re-representation, they must clearly state it in the solicitation.
When in doubt, ask the ordering contracting officer what their intention was early in the solicitation period.
Each agency releases a forecast of anticipated procurement activities that includes potential small business opportunities. This forecast is posted to their agency website.
Industry partners should report task orders and subcontracting in the Contract Payment Reporting Module.
There will be no impact at the VETS 2 contract level. You can find more information about this at Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) Program- Frequently Asked Questions or you can send questions to cvetransfer@sba.gov.
No, the GSA Polaris GWAC will have an SDVOSB pool to meet future agency requirements and will continue to fulfill EO 13360’s mandate for GSA to have a SDVOSB GWAC.
There are still opportunities available for those companies to support the Federal Government through:
- Subcontracting
- GSA IT category on Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) (www.gsa.gov/schedules)
- Opportunities to bid on future GWAC opportunities announced on SAM.gov
The Polaris SDVOSB pool was not ready for use prior to the end of the VETS 2 base period. By exercising the VETS 2 option, federal agencies continue to have access to a BIC-designated SDVOSB set-aside GWAC to meet mission needs. It is anticipated the ordering periods of the VETS 2 GWAC and Polaris GWAC SDVOSB pool will have some overlap. This overlap will allow customer agencies choice in planning for short and long term procurements while providing opportunity for both existing and new industry partners.