8(a) STARS III (STARS III)

The 8(a) STARS III Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) is a $50 billion multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle exclusively set aside for Small Business Administration (SBA) certified 8(a) firms. The vehicle provides federal agencies with customized information technology (IT) services and IT services-based solutions, covering both commercial and non-commercial offerings. Authorized under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), this contract supports a broad range of IT capabilities including data management, information and communications technology, IT operations and maintenance, IT security, software development, IT system design, and emerging technology requirements.

The task orders under 8(a) STARS III demonstrate significant diversity in scope, typically ranging from $50,000 to over $25 million, with performance periods spanning 1-5 years. Frequently winning prime contractors include minority-owned and women-owned small businesses such as Makpar Corporation, ATI Government Solutions, GBS Dakota IT, and Vibrantech Solutions. The contract has been extensively utilized by civilian agencies like the Internal Revenue Service, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Agriculture, and Health and Human Services. Set-aside designations vary, with task orders being awarded as 8(a) sole source, competitive 8(a), or unrestricted, though most maintain the vehicle's small business focus. Common performance locations include Washington D.C. metropolitan area, with some task orders extending to other U.S. locations and occasional international settings. The tasks predominantly focus on IT modernization, cloud migration, cybersecurity, data analytics, and enterprise system support.