8(a) STARS III (STARS III)

GSA Federal Acquisition Service established 8(a) STARS III as a multiple-award IDIQ GWAC exclusively for SBA-certified 8(a) firms on June 17, 2021, with ordering authority extending through July 2, 2029, leaving approximately two years and eleven months for task-order placement against a $50 billion shared ceiling.

The vehicle executes across three subcategories: IT services performed outside CONUS, emerging technology-focused IT services, and general IT services. Task orders awarded to date span application development and system modernization, IT operations and maintenance, cloud infrastructure and migration services, cybersecurity and data management, network infrastructure projects, and enterprise software licensing and support. Recent orders show work in AI risk management frameworks, healthcare IT operations, border security technology services, tax system modernization, and learning management system hosting.

Ordering momentum has softened markedly. Task orders per year declined from 415 in 2022 to 39 in 2026 year-to-date, reflecting the vehicle's maturity phase. Of 1,402 total task orders awarded since September 2021, 460 distinct primes have competed. The combined potential value across all task orders is $8.45 billion, with $4.84 billion already obligated (57% of potential). The top five primes by order count—Akima Systems Engineering, Tuvli LLC, Vibrantech Solutions, Quality Solutions Alliance, and Makpar Corporation—represent only 6 percent of task orders, indicating competitive spread. By potential value, New Generation Solution LLC leads with $171.7 million across eight orders, followed by Tuvli at $118.6 million; no single prime dominates significantly.

Customer concentration is more pronounced. Treasury's Internal Revenue Service placed 108 orders (605.6 million potential value), DHS Coast Guard 80 orders (183.5 million), and FEMA 55 orders (199.2 million). These three agencies account for roughly 24 percent of all task orders. The vehicle serves 282 distinct customer agencies across federal government.

Set-aside usage reflects the vehicle's 8(a)-exclusive structure: 35 percent of task orders were 8(a) sole-source awards, 31 percent competitive 8(a), and 32 percent unrestricted (no set-aside applied). The remaining 2 percent comprises other small business categories. Recent awards show pricing types split between firm-fixed-price (predominant), time-and-materials, labor-hour, and cost-plus arrangements. Task-order ceiling values range widely—from under $100,000 for specialized software or brief consulting engagements to $76.5 million for a construction management platform refresh. Typical multi-year orders range from $3 million to $30 million across performance periods of two to five years. Place of performance is distributed nationwide with significant activity at agency headquarters and field installations; some orders specify CONUS or OCONUS scope without geographic restriction.

8(a) STARS III is a multiple award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (MA/IDIQ) GWAC set aside exclusively for SBA certified 8(a) firms. 8(a) STARS III provides Federal agencies with customized IT services and IT services-based solutions, both commercial and non-commercial.