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What Is a Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC)?
A government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC) is a contract in which multiple government agencies align their needs and purchase a contract with external providers for goods or services. GWACs allow agencies to purchase new technology, such as computers and information technology solutions, at a better price since taxpayers are the ones footing the bill. Contracts may be spearheaded by one agency with the expectation that others will sign on. GWACs allow for economies of scale, which usually reduce per-unit costs.
Key Takeaways
- A government-wide acquisition contract is a contract in which multiple government agencies purchase products or services together to pay lower costs.
- GWACs are typically used to purchase new technology and are primarily used for IT solutions.
- These contracts are available through the U.S. General Services Administration, NASA, and the National Institute of Health.
- GWACs have grown in popularity over the years when compared to single-agency contracts.
Understanding Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs)
As noted above, GWACs are contracts for IT and computer-related services for government agencies provided by third parties. One agency normally initiates the contract while other agencies sign on. By having one agency evaluate a vendor, the federal government can reduce the likelihood that other agencies will have to reinvent the wheel by undertaking their own, separate vetting process.
GWACs provide access to IT solutions, including systems design, software engineering, information assurance, and enterprise architecture solutions. Contracts are commonly provided through the U.S. General Services Administration, NASA, and the National Institute of Health. All of these entities allow for the government to procure a variety of contracts to obtain informational technology solutions at a low cost with a variety of tech companies that have been approved to participate.
The rise of government-wide acquisition contracts allows government agencies to take advantage of their size to negotiate lower prices. This reduces the burden on taxpayers who are ultimately responsible for the bill. The use of GWACs also creates an environment in which a single vendor provides product and service support to more personnel.
A government-wide acquisition contract consolidates purchases as opposed to having each agency enter into an individual contract.
Special Considerations
The GWAC Prices Paid Tool provides federal agencies with detailed information on how their IT dollars are spent on GSA GWACs. These tools help provide realistic price analyses, negotiations, and independent government cost estimates. They also help agencies benchmark competitive prices.
Government contracts amounted to roughly $694 billion in the 2022 fiscal year. This figure included multiple contract categories, including software as well as food, healthcare, and aircraft. The Department of Defense spent the most at $414.5 billion (headed by the Navy with $123.9 billion) while contracts through civilian federal agencies totaled $279.7 billion. Veterans Affairs ($56.2 billion), the Department of Energy ($42.9 billion), and HHS ($38.9 billion) were the top spenders.
GWACs are delivery- or task-order contracts, This means they do not provide a specific amount of services. Rather, the terms are set for a certain period, during which the provider delivers an unlimited supply of services until the contract expires. For instance, Company X may be contracted to provide unlimited IT solutions to three agencies for a full year.
Types of GWACs
- 8(a) Stars III: This category has a ceiling of $50 billion for a five-year base with the option of an additional three years. It provides small businesses with IT and IT services-based solutions.
- Vets 2: The VETS 2 GWAC is uniquely set aside for the exclusive use of Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. VETS 2 is designed to provide a series of information technology systems for the federal government, including new and emerging technologies. The contract program ceiling is $5 billion. Vets 2 is offered through the GSA.
- Alliant 2 (A2): The Alliant 2 GWAC provides IT solutions that can be purchased as a total package, covering hardware, software, and services. This is also offered through the GSA.
- SEWP: NASA’s GWACs are known as Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement. They provide the government with tablets, desktops, servers, IT peripherals, network equipment, storage systems, security tools, software products, cloud-based services, and more.
- NITAAC: The NIH Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC) operates through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the NIH. It offers GWACs through three separate programs: CIO-SP3, CIO-SP3 Small Businesses, and CIO-CS, which is focused on IT commodities.
How to Use a GWAC
There are a few steps that come with using a GWAC to buy IT solutions for a specific federal agency. These are as follows:
- Attend training
- Request procurement authority
- Issue the task order
- Report contract actions
- Review past performance
Additional steps to using a GWAC include requesting an optional scope review and requesting an optional capabilities statement.
Why Are Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts Used?
Government-wide acquisition contracts are used to provide government agencies with IT and computer-related services at a reduced cost. The idea behind them is that one government agency initiates the contract with the expectation that others will sign on. GWAC providers offer services for a specified time rather than a certain, finite quantity.
What Is an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Contract?
The term indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract refers to a type of contract for goods and services that expires within a certain time frame. These types of contracts streamline the speed and delivery when the quantity of services can’t be determined.
What Is a NASA SEWP Contract?
A NASA SEWP contract is a type of government-wide acquisition contract. It procures and provides IT products and services for federal government agencies. The contract is initiated by NASA, which is known as the executive agent in the contract. Other agencies may sign on to receive services, which helps reduce the cost each agency has to spend.
The Bottom Line
Government agencies use government-wide acquisition contracts to cut down the cost of IT services. One agency acts as the executive agent or initiator of the GWAC with the expectation that other agencies will join. Having other parties take part in the contract allows them to reduce their costs, ultimately passing the savings on to taxpayers.