The General Services Administration (GSA) has awarded the Alliant contract to 29 firms. The contract, which has a base period of five years with one 5-year option, provides federal agencies with a centralized source for integrated information technology solutions worldwide. Alliant is a governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC) valued at $50 billion.

Through the Alliant–GWAC, federal agencies including the U.S. Defense Department can purchase information systems and technology solutions from companies that are considered best in class. Agencies will be able to order customized solutions that meet their specific information systems needs. Complex solutions can be purchased under this pre-competed multiple award, which is an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract.

One goal of the Alliant–GWAC is to streamline acquisition processes and to deliver cost-effective information technology to agencies while improving service and increasing efficiency. In addition, the contract bolsters the goals of the Federal Enterprise Architecture program and was developed within the framework of the Office of Management and Budget’s new information technology investment budget. As a result, the contract facilitates agencies’ compliance with federal policies that govern information technology investments.

Firms will be offering a variety of information technology products and solutions. The contract’s scope includes all components of an integrated information technology solution. It covers currently available capabilities as well as new technologies developed during the term of the contract, and systems and services that support national security systems as defined in federal acquisition regulation 39.002. According to the GSA, the scope of the contract covers systems even as the definition of information technology changes over the term of the contract.

The Alliant–GWAC supports fixed price incentive, fixed price award-fee, cost plus fixed-fee, cost plus incentive-fee, cost plus award-fee, and time, material and labor-hour contract types. It is available to meet regional and global information technology requirements and increases small business subcontracting goals. Contact awardees are required to employ personnel with Top Secret facility clearances.

Among the firms the GSA chose for Alliant–GWAC are Computer Sciences Corporation, Electronic Data Systems Corporation, Harris Corporation, L-3 Communications Titan Corporation, Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems Incorporated, ManTech Advanced Systems International Incorporated, Raytheon Company, SAIC, SI International and Northrop Grumman Information Technology. Alliant has been touted as the largest governmentwide acquisition contract.