Overview

Updated March 23, 2022

The General Services Administration (GSA) is preparing to issue its latest Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) for small business IT service providers: Polaris. GSA is looking to “expand the industry partner base, provide greater access to emerging technologies, simplify proposal submission requirements, and improve the overall customer experience.”

Polaris will have set aside pools for Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and all other Small Business (SB). GSA is looking for highly qualified small businesses and will favor companies with larger and more diverse past performance. This competition will use a scorecard method, and GSA will select the top-scoring offerors until all spots are filled for each set-aside pool.

Two things to keep in mind when pursuing Polaris:

1. The scorecard is more stringent than CIO-SP4 because of how GSA defines a project
2. Using subcontractors carries risk because a sub may use the same project in multiple proposals for the same pool, which will disqualify all proposals where that project appears

Strategic Teaming Considerations

Polaris is split into two categories in which offerors can claim points: Primary Relevant Experience and Emerging Technology Relevant Experience. The draft request for proposal (DRFP) allows offerors to submit a minimum of three and a maximum of five distinct Projects for the Primary Relevant Experience section. Offeror may submit a maximum of three projects for Emerging Technology Relevant Experience section.once in any proposal for a given pool. That single Project can be used in both the Primary and Emerging Relevant Experience sections in the same pool. Also, a single Project can be used more than once if it’s used in different pools (i.e., WOSB, HUBZone, SB, SDVOSB).

However, if a Project shows up more than once for the same pool, GSA will reject that Project in every proposal where it appears. This requirement makes it harder to team with other companies because you have to trust that your teaming partner won’t submit a Project for points on multiple proposals in the same pool. Companies must execute exclusive teaming agreements for each pool, or they run the risk of having their proposal disqualified because of their subcontractors.

Relevant Projects and Scoring

Polaris defines a Project as:

1. A single contract
2. A single task order awarded under a Multiple Award contract
3. A single task order awarded under a master Single Award Indefinite Delivery task order contract
4. A single task order placed under a Federal Supply Schedule contract
5. A single task order placed under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)

Each project used for Primary Relevant Experience must be at least $250,000 in total value, and it must have been completed within five years of the proposal due date or at least one year of performance (unless the project had a period of performance less than one year and is complete). Note: Project value for completed projects is determined by the total obligated dollars. Project value for ongoing projects is determined based on the total estimated value (inclusive of all option periods. Each Project must have scope that meets a Performance Area and is integral to the contract.

The Performance Areas for Primary Relevant Experience are: 

• NAICS 518210 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
• NAICS 541511 Custom Computer Programming Services
• NAICS 541512 Computer Systems Design Services
• NAICS 541513 Computer Facilities Management Services
• NAICS 541519 Other Computer Related Services

It is acceptable to claim points for the same Project for Primary Relevant Experience and Emerging Technology Relevant Experience. The same eligibility criteria apply for Emerging Technology Relevant Experience except the minimum contract value required is $250,000. The work claimed in this section must be integral to the project.

The Performance Areas for Emerging Technology Relevant Experience are: 

• Advanced and Quantum Computing
• Artificial Intelligence
• Automation Technology
• Distributed Ledger Technology
• Edge Computing
• Immersive Technology

The key word to claiming experience is “integral.” Offerors will have to provide additional information to meet this definition if their contract information does not adequately explain the real scope.

Polaris will award bonus points on the five Projects submitted for Primary Relevant Experience and five Projects submitted for Emerging Technology Relevant Experience. Offerors will receive bonus points based on the following criteria:

• Project Size and Complexity:
• Project Value is greater than or equal to $2 Million but less than $5 Million
• Project Value is greater than or equal to $5 Million but less than $10 Million
• Project Value is greater than or equal to $10 Million
• Demonstrating Experience with Multiple Federal Government Customers:
• The Offeror will receive additional points for each unique Federal Government Customer represented (up to a maximum of four unique customers).
• This additional scoring is only available for relevant experience projects performed as a prime contractor to the Federal Government.
• Project with Cost-Reimbursement:
• The Offeror will receive additional points if the projects are cost-reimbursement contracts for a maximum of two Primary Relevant Experience Projects.
• Task Order Award Against a Multiple-Award IDIQ Contract:
• The Offeror will receive additional points if the project is a task order against a multiple-award Federal Government contract.
• This additional scoring is only available for relevant experience projects performed as a prime contractor to the Federal Government.
• OCONUS Location:
• The Offeror will receive additional points if the project included services performed in an OCONUS location.
• This additional scoring is only available for a maximum of one Primary Relevant Experience Project.
• Cybersecurity Services
• The Offeror will receive additional points if the project included cybersecurity services.
• This additional scoring is only available for a maximum of two Primary Relevant Experience Projects.
• Cybersecurity is the body of technologies, processes and practices designed to identify, detect, protect, respond to, and recover from attack, damage, or unauthorized access to networks, devices, programs, and data.
• Breadth of Primary Relevant Experience Performance Areas
• The offeror will receive additional points for each additional Relevant Experience Performance Area with demonstrated relevant experience.
• Emerging Technology Relevant Experience
• The Offeror will receive additional points if the project is a relevant emerging technology.
• This additional scoring is only available for a maximum of three Primary Relevant Experience Projects.
• Breadth of Emerging Technology Relevant Experience
• The offeror will receive additional points for each additional Emerging Technology with demonstrated relevant experience.
• Submitting one Emerging Technology Project demonstrating experience in Artificial Intelligence and a different project demonstrating experience in Edge Computing would qualify as two Emerging Technologies. Submitting two projects representing Distributed Ledger Technology would only qualify as one Emerging Technology.

There are many other parts of this proposal. OST Consultants are experts in winning these types of “scorecard” GWACs. Reach out to us today to schedule a time to talk with one of our Polaris experts. We can help verify your points as a government evaluator will, or we can help assemble your bid and help you find partners.

OST Consultants are experts in winning these types of “scorecard” GWACs. Reach out to us today to schedule a time to talk with one of our Polaris experts. We can help verify your points as a government evaluator will, or we can help assemble your bid and help you find partners.