Government-Wide Acquisition Contract

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Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs)

A government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC) is a precompeted, multiple-award contract that federal agencies use to buy information technology (IT) products and services. One agency typically acts as the executive agent to award and manage the contract, while other agencies place orders against it. GWACs are designed to deliver IT solutions more quickly and cost-effectively by leveraging centralized procurement and vendor vetting.

Key takeaways

  • GWACs consolidate IT buying across agencies to achieve economies of scale and lower unit costs.
  • They are most commonly used for IT hardware, software, systems engineering, cloud services, cybersecurity, and enterprise architecture.
  • Major GWAC providers include the General Services Administration (GSA), NASA, and the National Institutes of Health (via NITAAC).
  • GWACs are typically structured as indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) or task-/delivery-order contracts that cover services over a period rather than a fixed quantity.

How GWACs work

  • One agency (the executive agent) awards a GWAC after competitively selecting multiple vetted vendors.
  • Other agencies can place task orders or delivery orders against the GWAC for specific requirements.
  • Using a GWAC avoids repeating vendor evaluations and contract administration across agencies, speeding procurement and reducing duplication.
  • Orders are placed within the contract’s scope and period; the contract does not guarantee a fixed quantity of services.

Common GWAC services

  • Systems design and integration
  • Software development and engineering
  • Cloud and managed services
  • Information assurance and cybersecurity
  • Enterprise architecture and technical support
  • IT commodities and peripherals

Major GWAC programs

  • 8(a) STARS III — Small-business set-aside for IT services; large program ceiling (multi-year).
  • VETS 2 — Set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses; program ceiling roughly $5 billion.
  • Alliant 2 — Comprehensive IT solutions (hardware, software, services) for enterprise environments.
  • SEWP (Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement) — NASA-managed GWAC for IT products, peripherals, and related services.
  • NITAAC (NIH/ HHS) — Offers CIO-SP3 (and small-business variant) and CIO-CS for IT services and commodities.

Using a GWAC: typical steps

  1. Attend relevant GWAC training or briefings.
  2. Request procurement authority or delegation as required by your agency.
  3. Conduct requirements planning and prepare a task/delivery order.
  4. Issue the task or delivery order against the GWAC.
  5. Report contract actions and monitor performance.
  6. Review past performance and close out orders when complete.
    Optional steps include requesting a scope review or vendor capabilities statement before issuing an order.

Special considerations

  • Price benchmarking: tools such as GWAC price databases help agencies analyze realistic costs and negotiate fair prices.
  • Contract type: most GWACs operate as IDIQ or task-order contracts—useful when exact quantities are unknown.
  • Oversight: because multiple agencies use the same contracts, clear scope alignment and order-level competition (when required) are important to preserve fairness and value.
  • Federal contracting scale: federal agencies collectively award hundreds of billions in contracts annually, with defense and civilian agencies accounting for the largest shares of spending.

FAQs

What is an IDIQ contract?
An IDIQ (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity) contract sets terms and period for supplies or services but does not specify exact quantities up front. Agencies issue orders as needs arise.

What is NASA SEWP?
SEWP is a NASA-managed GWAC focused on procuring IT products (tablets, servers, networking, storage, security tools) and related services; other agencies can order from SEWP to access vetted vendors and pre-negotiated pricing.

Why choose a GWAC over a single-agency contract?
GWACs save time and money by centralizing vendor competition and evaluation, reducing administrative burden, and enabling agencies to benefit from aggregated buying power.

Bottom line

GWACs streamline federal IT procurement by consolidating competition, vetting, and contracting across agencies. For IT acquisitions where speed, scalability, and reduced procurement overhead matter, GWACs offer a practical, cost-effective option that leverages preapproved vendors and established contract terms.