The 8(a) STARS GWAC is very attractive to customers due to the unique procurement authority granted to 8(a) firms by statute. The Small Business GWAC Center is a resource for customers and industry with regard to small business contracting rules and regulations. Customers may conduct set-aside competitions using STARS as an alternative to lengthy and costly full and open competitions. In addition to the 8(a) STARS website resources, we provide training and telephone support.

8(a) STARS contracts are primarily for technology services. Hardware, software and related supplies may be procured as part of an integrated solution. Leasing is prohibited under this GWAC.

Federal Buyers who wish to use 8(a) STARS must receive delegation of procurement authority prior to issuing task orders. Delegations are required by GSA's Quality Assurance Plan in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget guidelines. Delegation can be granted through two methods: the online seminar entitled "8(a) Delegation of Procurement Authority" through the Center for Acquisition Excellence or on a conference call with one of the Procuring Contracting Officers (PCOs). For more details concerning delegations of procurement authority for 8(a) STARS, please review the "Delegation of Procurement Authority" link located on the left hand margin of this page.

The Small Business GWAC Center has issued a guide for ordering activities,industry and end-users that is available on the left hand margin on this web page entitled, 8(a) STARS Ordering Guide.

Yes, task orders under the $3.5 million competitive threshold may be awarded on a sole-source basis based on the provisions of Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637a and FAR 19.8). Contract holders may utilize this unique provision based on self-marketing efforts or past performance. All contract holders within a functional area must be given fair opportunity to compete when requirements exceed the $3.5 million competitive threshold in accordance with FAR Part 16.

Yes. Upon request the Small Business GWAC Center will provide up front review of task order statements of work, work scope as part of a non-mandatory business clearance evaluation. Ordering contracting officers will be responsible for legal review of their procurements.

Contracting officers can ensure their agencies receive 8(a) credit when using the 8(a) STARS GWAC by conducting a task order size re-representation. Ordering contracting officers may conduct a task order size re-representation as a condition of new task order awards if deemed in their agency's best interest. Please contact the 8(a) STARS team if assistance is needed to conduct a task order size re-representation.

Prior to the May 2009 contract option, contractors were required to re-represent their size status in each of the 8(a) STARS functional areas. Some industry partners have re-represented their size as no longer small. Those companies that re-represented as "other than small" as a result of organic growth (as opposed to being acquired) remain on the STARS contract. Pursuant to FAR 19.804, the terms and conditions of this contract remain intact.

GSA issued the solicitation for 8(a) STARS II in July, 2009. It is GSA's intent to have 8(a) STARS II in place at or before the time that the 8(a) STARS contract ordering period ends in May, 2011. Ordering contracting officers may continue to utilize the STARS GWAC for new orders until the contract ordering period ends.Task orders may run three years beyond the final day of the contract ordering period (May 31, 2011), which would mean all orders would have to be substantially completed by May 31, 2014.

We encourage all companies to consider subcontracting or teaming arrangements with any of the 8(a) STARS industry partners. Provisions are built into the contract to add companies to the pool of contractors through an open season; however, GSA must present a business case to the Office of Management and Budget for approval prior to re-opening any of its GWAC offerings.

No. Since 8(a) STARS is a Governmentwide Acquisition Contract, or GWAC, it is authorized by the Clinger-Cohen Act to provide technology solutions to the federal government only. Special authority was granted to GSA to offer the IT Schedule 70 contracts to state and local governments to assist them in meeting their technology requirements.

The GSA logo, known as the GSA Star Mark, and brand guidelines are available on GSA's website, www.gsa.gov/marketingpartnership. 8(a) STARS contractors should download the logo entitled GSA Contract Holder located under the GSA logo Downloads link. Guidelines for use of this logo are posted under the link GSA Logo Guidelines. Typing in "logo" in the Search bar from www.gsa.gov will work as well.

Pursuant to case law, the ordering contracting officer has the discretion to require a re-representation of the prime contractor's size status as a condition of order award on a long-term contract such as the STARS GWAC. STARS GWAC primes encountering a NAICS code and size standard in a task order solicitation should look to determine if the ordering contracting officer was clear about their intention for including the NAICS code and size standard. It is commonplace for a NAICS code and size standard to be listed, and that doesn't explicitly indicate that an order level size re-representation is a solicitation requirement. In our view, if an OCO intends to require an order level size re-representation as a condition of order award, they should explicitly make that assertion in the task order solicitation. When in doubt, proactively approach the ordering contracting officer early in the solicitation period and inquire. Ordering contracting officers are invited to visit with the STARS GWAC team at 8a@gsa.gov regarding these matters for further guidance.

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