Good news, small business contractors! The GSA has decided to open up the 8(a) Streamlined Technology Acquisition Resources for Services (STARS) II GWAC this month! This GWAC contract vehicle is amazing opportunity for 8(a) small businesses. STARS II is designed for IT solutions in a variety of areas. Here’s what the GSA says about it:
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.
8(a) STARS II features
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.
Four functional areas to meet your mission requirements
Two constellations based on industry accreditation
8(a) STARS II industry partners are classified in two constellations. Industry partners in both constellations have competitive pricing and technical proficiency. Constellation II also includes industry partners with an additional industry credential, such as Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) or ISO 9001 (quality management system) (Links lead to nongovernment websites.)
Directed task orders up to $4 million each
8(a) STARS II allows directed task order awards for orders under $4 Million, including options. Orders more than $4 Million must be competed among the industry partners in your chosen constellation and functional area.
Low 0.75 percent contract access fee
GWACs have the same low contract access fee as GSA Schedules.
Access to multiple types of task orders
8(a) STARS II offers fixed price, time and materials, labor hour, and blended task order types, providing greater flexibility in procuring different types of IT products and services and meeting your mission requirements.
How federal agencies have used 8(a) STARS II
Encouraging maximum small business utilization in contracting
The Department of Defense issued a memo on July 14, 2011, encouraging the use of 8(a) STARS II, among other small business GWACs, to meet the Department’s small business contracting and information technology needs. Read the July 14, 2011 memo (PDF, 146KB).”
The GSA is expected to be releasing the STARS II RFP on May 18th. Contact us if you’re interesting in help to pursue this contract vehicle!