The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) awarded the first phase of the 8(a) STARS III Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC). This fourth-generation $50 billion contract primarily focuses on emerging technologies and performance outside of the continental United States.
The 8(a) STARS GWACs represent a streamlined procurement to purchase IT services from prime contractors. This iteration’s enhancements emphasize meeting agency needs for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and robotic process automation. In addition, 8(a) STARS III also incorporates requirements for a designated scope sub-area outside the continental U.S.
“GSA is balancing the need to provide innovative products and services that agencies require quickly, with the intent to onboard the broadest number of small businesses over time,” Federal acquisition service commissioner Sonny Hashmi said in a press release.
GSA’s 8(a) STARS GWACs holds a long-standing partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to support the development of small firms and provide Federal agencies a means to deliver mission-critical IT services while working with small, disadvantaged businesses.
In addition, these contracts drive progress on important public policy objectives, like President Biden’s Executive Order 13985 to advance racial equity, support underserved communities through the Federal government, and improve diversity and equity inclusion and accessibility.
“Through this strategy, GSA can start to create an immediate positive impact to our partner agencies’ mission while increasing opportunities for our small business partners,” Hashmi said.
