Science Technology Assessment and Analytics

The Government Accountability Office Science Technology Assessment and Analytics (GAO STAA) is a civilian sub-agency within the legislative branch that procures contract support for technology assessment, data analytics, and related advisory services. GAO STAA operates as the accountability and analytical arm of Congress, translating complex science and technology topics into actionable intelligence for legislative decision-makers.

The agency's contract footprint is modest and episodic. GAO STAA has awarded 18 contracts cumulatively since 2016, generating combined potential value of $807 thousand with $807 thousand obligated. Activity over the last five years averaged fewer than three awards per year, with 3 awards in 2019, 5 in 2020, 5 in 2021, 3 in 2022, and 1 in 2023. The most recent award closed on April 1, 2023. Eight distinct prime contractors have been awarded over the agency's contract history, indicating a highly fragmented competitive base. Among recent awardees over the last five years, Cellco Partnership leads by award count with 2 awards totaling $42 thousand in potential value; the remaining primes (Hunt Reporting Co, Heritage Reporting Corporation, and Neal R. Gross And Company, Inc.) each hold 1 award at $3 thousand. By potential value, Cellco Partnership accounts for only 6 percent of the combined total, reflecting the small-dollar, transactional nature of GAO STAA's contracting.

The agency's set-aside profile skews heavily toward open competition: 83 percent of awards carry no set-aside designation, with 6 percent awarded as 8(a) Sole Source. This pattern suggests GAO STAA procures specialized services where competition is limited to qualified vendors who can meet legislative deadlines and technical requirements rather than leveraging set-aside vehicles for business development strategy.

No recent contract opportunities are recorded in the most recent opportunities block. The sparse, low-dollar award history and long gap since the last award suggest GAO STAA engages contractors on an ad-hoc basis aligned with specific congressional investigations or technology-assessment initiatives, rather than through continuous or scheduled procurements.