GSA launches a new governmentwide technology procurement

The General Services Administration on Friday released a much anticipated request for proposals for Alliant, its $65 billion, 10-year governmentwide contract to provide agencies with private sector information technology services options.

Solicitations for a place on the $15 billion small business set-aside and the $50 billion main contract are due Nov. 17. GSA previously predicted it would make awards by summer 2007. The agency first announced the contract in January 2004, but delayed issuing an RFP when new managers decided to rethink the procurement.

GSA expects to make up to 30 awards on the main Alliant contract and up to 60 on the small business part. A pre-proposal conference will be conducted on Oct. 12 via a live videoconference Web cast, according to an agency statement.

Industry executives have criticized GSA for withholding the RFP for so long, which had the effect of driving up bids and proposal costs to the point that some companies could be reconsidering whether Alliant is worth the expense.

One potential problem with the final RFP is the required documentation of companies' past performance. How well companies executed other government contracts is a key evaluation factor. But, noted one procurement consultant who asked for anonymity because he was still reviewing the solicitation, it appears that the RFP doesn't give space in the solicitation materials for companies to present their past work. "You can't present yourself, except by giving references," the consultant said.

The result is that the contractor evaluation process could be opaque, the consultant added. "You might find some companies saying 'Well, I'm not going to spend the money on this, I can't distinguish myself,' but on the other hand, those might be the companies you don't want anyway."

Alliant is the replacement for two existing GSA contracts -- Applications 'n Support for Widely Diverse End User Requirements, known as ANSWER, and Millennia. ANSWER expires in December 2008 and Millennia ends in April 2009.