Contract vehicles are the mechanism through which the federal government purchases products and services from the commercial market. The contract vehicle process streamlines a federal agency’s complicated transactions, ensuring the government receives standardized and market-rate goods and services from pre-vetted and approved vendors and merchants with reduced administrative waste. The benefits are two-fold: the government has a roster of suppliers to review and select, and suppliers can see a menu of clearly defined items the government needs.
If strategic sourcing is the main goal of a contract vehicle, how does one vehicle differ from another? In general, contract vehicles differ based on the types of goods or services being exchanged. For government cloud services, we’re going to review the differences between two main contract vehicles: GSA Alliant 2 and GSA IT Schedule 70, Special Item Number (SIN) Cloud and Cloud-Related IT Professional Services 132-40.
GSA Alliant 2
Alliant 2 is a comprehensive and flexible contract vehicle that allows the government to source artificial intelligence (AI), distributed ledger technology (DLT), robotic process automation (RPA), and other types of emerging technologies, including cloud computing, cyber security, data-center and data-center consolidation, integration services, IT helpdesk, IT operations and maintenance, software development, and web services. While the scope is wide, these can be broadly categorized as best-value IT solutions.
GSA’s Alliant 2 is a multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) Government-wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) with a minimum order value of $1 million and a ceiling of $50 billion. It is classified as a Best-in-Class (BIC) designated solution and allows for worldwide acquisitions. The period of performance runs from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2023, with one five-year option from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2028.
GSA IT Schedule 70, Special Item Number (SIN) Cloud and Cloud-Related IT Professional Services 132-40
The GSA has expanded the Cloud Special Item Number (SIN) 132-40 to now include cloud-related IT services within Schedule 70, offering another way for federal agencies to acquire IT professional labor. This makes it easier for agencies to assess, prepare, migrate, integrate, and operate in a cloud environment, with the ability to develop new native cloud applications.
There is no minimum order value to this contract vehicle, which lowers the barrier to procurement, and agencies can refine and restrict their solicitation within narrower parameters. This is one of the most streamlined and efficient government cloud contract vehicles, allowing agencies to easily distinguish between cloud solutions to find the best-fit option for their needs, but note: Special Item Number (SIN) 132-40 is not a designated Best-in-Class solution.
Start your journey to the Cloud.
GovDataHosting is here to help by guiding our customers through the entire process. The result is a federal government that can more easily take advantage of scalable, cost-effective cloud solutions and infrastructure. Speak with a government cloud contract vehicle expert at GovDataHosting to find out more!
