62 companies get spots on Alliant Small Business

The General Services Administration awarded places on its Alliant Small Business governmentwide acquisition contract to 62 small businesses today. “It will provide small firms with terrific opportunities and help GSA’s client agencies hit their small-business target goals,” said GSA Administrator Lurita Doan during a press conference about the awards. Alliant Small Business has an estimated value of $15 billion over 10 years. The contract offers management and technical support services. It lets agencies buy complex information technology products under a precompeted multiple-award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract. GSA expects billions of dollars to go through the contract in 10 years, officials said. Alliant Small Business is the first small-business set-aside GWAC awarded by GSA. Other similar contracts are based more on socioeconomic requirements. The contract is designed to help agencies reach their procurement preference goals, Doan said. “This contract…is an exceptional vehicle for federal agencies to meet their small-business contracting goals,” she said. A score card issued in August on agencies' attempts to set aside a certain percentage of contracting dollars for small business showed that agencies need help.Alliant Small Business and Alliant, which GSA awarded in July, provide IT services ranging from anti-terrorism initiatives and infrastructure support to development and marketing of evolving technologies. “With its announcement today, [Alliant and Alliant Small Business] will position GSA to have one of the most robust…comprehensive IT portfolios in the federal government,” said John Johnson, assistant commissioner for Federal Acquisition Service’s Integrated Technology Service Office. Alliant, however, has been under protest for months, although Johnson said he’s confident in the process “and the quality of the selections that we made.” GSA anticipated making around 40 awards on Alliant Small Business, but Johnson said GSA based the exact number on the quality of proposals. He said GSA received 142 proposals.The General Services Administration announced today that it awarded 62 small businesses a place on its Alliant Small Business contract.More information to come.