GSA has 8(a) and Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) set-aside contracts already in place and ready to meet tomorrow's technology procurement challenges.

The Small Business Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) Center has a diversified portfolio of pre-competed, multiple award contracts with high-quality, small business industry partners. These small business firms specialize in providing innovative, information technology solutions to federal agencies worldwide.

Federal agencies may access these unique contract vehicles either through a delegation of authority granted by the Small Business GWAC Center or through GSA Federal Technology Service Client Support Centers. GSA  provides assisted services in the form of client interface and support, task order issuance, financial management and project management.

The Small Business GWAC Center manages three major small business set-aside contract vehicles.

New Initiative! Streamlined Technology Acquisition Resources for Services 8(a) STARS GWAC
The Small Business GWAC Center has recently awarded a new Information Technology 8(a) set-aside contract vehicle to replace the current 8(a) FAST GWAC due to expire in October 2004. Advertised in August 2003 under the 8(a)FAST2 solicitation, the proposal evaluation process concluded in May 2004 and over 400 Industry Partners were welcomed on board this vehicle. One of the major changes from the older 8(a) FAST contract vehicle is an expansion from one functional area to eight based on the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS).  These functional areas include services such as computer programming, computer facilities management, computer systems design, data processing, and facilities-based telecommunications. 8(a) STARS is a seven-year contract, with a three-year base period and two, two-year option periods.

HUBZone GWAC
In January, 2003, the Small Business GWAC Center awarded the first government wide acquisition contract to be set-aside for Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) certified firms. This multiple award vehicle has 36 Industry Partners, with awards covering seven Functional Areas set up within the parameters of the North American Industrial Classification Standard.  The goal of the program is to stimulate and create jobs in areas of pervasive unemployment and underdevelopment. The HUBZone program has a statutory goal requiring 3% of federal procurement dollars go to HUBZone certified firms. The goal is to assist the federal government in meeting this goal for the first time since the HUBZone program's inception in 1997.

8(a) FAST The Small Business GWAC Center manages the 8(a) FAST contract vehicle with 150 information technology small disadvantaged 8(a) businesses. Its track record of more than 13,000 transactions worth $1.9 billion clearly demonstrates the level of commitment by the federal government to small business.