Applications and Support for Widely-diverse End-user Requirements (ANSWER)

The General Services Administration established the Applications and Support for Widely-diverse End-user Requirements (ANSWER) Master GWAC on January 1, 1999, with a shared ceiling of $25 billion and ordering authority through June 30, 2009—now closed to new orders for over 17 years.

ANSWER is no longer active; the vehicle's ordering period ended in 2009, and the most recent task order award occurred in September 2012. Activity declined sharply post-closure: the vehicle saw 274 orders in 2008, dropping to 33 in 2009, then 11 in 2010, before trailing to single digits through 2012. The program generated 4,362 total task orders across its life, obligating $7.32 billion against a combined potential value of $7.06 billion—110 percent of the ceiling across all awards, indicating significant overflows or task-order value acceleration.

The vehicle contracted IT modernization, enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, configuration management, quality assurance, knowledge management, and information assurance work serving 172 distinct customer agencies. Task orders ranged from small equipment purchases ($3,873 to $74,415) to major programs; notable mega-orders included the Department of State JANUS II program ($62.5 million potential), Department of State E-Permits system ($33.5 million potential), Air Force ESOH systems consolidation ($38.8 million potential), and AFCENT operations support ($10.5 million potential).

Competitive concentration was moderate at the prime level. General Dynamics Information Technology held the largest share with 702 orders and $1.88 billion combined potential value, followed by Leidos ($1.42 billion across 370 orders), Northrop Grumman Information Technology ($661.8 million across 46 orders), and CACI-ISS ($566.3 million across 84 orders). These four firms and a longer tail of 22 other primes collectively held 70 percent of potential value. The remaining tail included Information Systems Support, I.T.S. Corporation, and Engility Services.

Customer concentration was substantial. GSA Federal Acquisition Service placed 1,442 orders worth $193.6 million, followed by the Department of the Air Force (721 orders, $403.6 million) and Air Force Space Command (432 orders, $135.8 million), together accounting for 65 percent of all task orders. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service and Department of Navy also placed significant volume.

The vehicle was unrestricted; 99 percent of orders carried no set-aside, with only 25 task orders (1 percent) designated 8(a) sole-source and minimal small-business carve-out. Pricing was mixed—labor hours, time and materials, and firm fixed price all appeared across the portfolio. Given the ordering window's permanent closure since 2009, this vehicle is archived and available only for reference on closed vehicle performance and historical customer patterns.

eGovernment and automated information system modernization initiatives