Governmentwide Contracts

Alliant
General Services Administration

Estimated value: Up to $50 billion
Expected award date: Summer 2006

This massive governmentwide acquisition contract, the follow-on to ANSWER and Millennia, consolidates several GWACs into one to provide a host of IT services to federal agencies. Alliant, which is expected to be awarded to about 20 vendors, could run as long as 10 years. It's unclear whether the contract will attract the level of buying GSA is projecting, but if it does, it will mean a windfall for vendors that win access to it.

Alliant Small Business
General Services Administration

Estimated value: Up to $15 billion
Expected award date: Summer 2006

Noteworthy because this GWAC will be awarded only to small business prime contractors, Alliant Small Business focuses specifically on information systems engineering and systems operations and maintenance instead of on the full spectrum of IT services of its sister contract, Alliant. It is the largest contract ever developed specifically for small business.

Scientific and Engineering Workstation Procurement IV
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Estimated value: Up to $4 billion
Expected award date: September 2006

The sheer popularity of all iterations of SEWP makes this a contract to watch. SEWP IV, a follow-on to the recently expired SEWP III, allows federal agencies to purchase a range of advanced technology servers, peripherals, network equipment and other IT products. In addition, consultant INPUT notes that SEWP IV has the potential to add currently nonapproved items such as satellite communications to the contract.

Total Information Processing Support Services-3
Treasury Department

Estimated value: Up to $3 billion
Awarded: November 2005

This multiple agency contract continues on the path of TIPSS II, a $1.5 billion contract awarded in 2000. Although the Internal Revenue Service is expected to be the primary user, other Treasury agencies and bureaus, as well as other federal agencies, also can use the contract, which provides information system services, system security services and strategic business services. In November, IRS awarded 21 IDIQ contracts to 15 large businesses and six small businesses.