GSA 8(a) STARS III: The Draft Solicitation Is Out!
GSA 8(a) STARS III: The Basics
The GSA 8(a) Streamlined Technology Application Resource for Services (STARS) III multiple-award ID/IQ contract is the follow-on to STARS II, which was awarded to hundreds of companies in July of 2011.
- Only qualifying Small Business Administration (SBA) certified 8(a) prime contractors are eligible for award of the master STARS III contract. The total maximum value of the master contract across all awardees is $20 Billion.
- The Draft RFP was released on August 9, 2019. Comments and feedback on the Draft RFP are due to the Government by 4pm EST on September 6, 2019. It is anticipated that the final solicitation will be released around December 2019.
- STARS III is a global IT services contract. The primary NAICS code is 541512 Computer Systems Design Services, although other IT services NAICS codes may be used, including 541511, 541513, 541519, 518210.
- The master STARS III contract has an ordering period of one 5-year base period with one 3-year option period.
GSA 8(a) STARS III: Technical Scope
The technical scope of STARS III is defined by six Functional Areas:
- FA1: Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511)
- FA2: Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512)
- FA3: Computer Facilities Management Services (NAICS 541513)
- FA4: Other Computer Related Services (NAICS 541519)
- FA5: Data Processing, Hosting, And Related Services (NAICS 541510)
- FA6: Emerging Technology-focused IT Services (NAICS 541512)
STARS III contracts will be made for each Functional Area. During the course of the contract, the Government may allow STARS III contract holders to add FA6. Contract holders may not add any other Functional Area to its STARS III contract after the initial award.
GSA 8(a) STARS III: Points of Interest
Here are some other points of interest about the contract and draft solicitation:
- Teaming is allowed in the proposal for the master STARS III contract, but subcontractors must also be 8(a) small businesses at the time of proposal submission.
- While the master contract is for GSA 8(a) companies, Contracting Officers can further restrict competition for individual task orders by setting aside the task order award for small businesses of a certain socio-economic category.
- Bidders must specify the Functional Area(s) for which they are bidding and must provide information for each proposed Functional Area separately.
- The main proposal sections are Experience, Past Performance, and Price.
- Experience: Offerors must submit at least one, and up to three, project citations for each Functional Area being proposed. Federal, State, Local, other Public Sector, or Commercial projects are applicable.
- Past Performance: Includes past performance information for at least one, and up to five, projects cited in the Experience section. Federal and Commercial projects are treated equally.
- Price: Bidders must propose fully-burdened labor rates by labor category; these rates become ceiling rates for all task orders. Bidders must also submit a Total Compensation Plan and an Uncompensated Overtime Policy.
- Bidders must propose fully-burdened labor rates by labor category; these rates become ceiling rates for all task orders.
- Bidders must also submit a Total Compensation Plan and an Uncompensated Overtime Policy.
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