GSA Unpauses Polaris & Extends Proposal Due Date

Progress chart icon representing measuring skill progress in BD, Capture, and Proposals.

The General Services Administration (GSA) officially “unpaused” work on its new small business services contract, Polaris, and extended the due date for submissions until August 10. GSA launched the Polaris Submission Portal and issued Amendment 2, which includes clarifying language on joint-venture and mentor-protégé arrangements.

The Polaris Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) is an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with no contract ceiling. Polaris replaces GSA’s $15 billion Alliant 2 Small Business contract, which was never awarded.

Some of the clarifying language to the latest version of the Polaris Request for Proposals (RFP) include:

  • For offers from SBA Mentor-Protégé joint ventures, a minimum of one Primary Relevant Experience Project or Emerging Technology Relevant Experience Project must be from the Protégé or the offering Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture. No more than three Primary Relevant Experience Projects may be provided by the Mentor.
  • You can’t claim an IDIQ contract as a project if you didn’t win any task orders on it. Bidders can only submit task orders as a project.
  • For Emerging Technology, each Project must have included the performance of one of the Emerging Technologies listed in L.5.2.3.1 Emerging Technology Listing. Only one Emerging Technology may be claimed for a project.
  • Two attachments have been added: Attachment J.P-6, Project Verification Form, and Attachment J.P-7, Joint Venture Work and Qualifications

GSA also released Questions and Responses.

GSA’s goal for Polaris is to build on the success of 8(a) STARS III and VETS 2 with a greater emphasis on “emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, automated technology, distributed ledger technology, edge computing, and immersive technology while furthering Administration efforts on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.”

For the latest updates on the Polaris contract, see our Polaris contract page.

OST Global Solutions is here to help maximize your score on your Polaris bid. We will help you develop a draft scorecard, perform a gap analysis to ensure that you make the cut-off score, and find ways to help you out-score your competition. No matter how much assistance you require, we’re here to help.

Reach out to us to discuss how we can help you develop a winning proposal.

For the latest updates on the Polaris contract, see our Polaris contract page.

WinMore BD: The companies that succeed in Government contracting sustain growth by identifying and pursuing opportunities systematically and aggressively submitting proposals. If you’re looking for help in building a robust pipeline, take our upcoming training in Foundations of Business Development and learn how to take the guesswork out of bidding on federal opportunities. Or, if you want to jumpstart your pipeline, our consultants can help you create a Business Development Strategy, perform a Market Analysis to determine where to focus your contracting pursuits, and help you line up the right opportunities in your pipeline.

[email protected]

(301) 384-3350

 

Upcoming Bid & Proposal Academy Classes

Events

Today

  • Webinar: Turning Customer Insights Into Win Strategy

    Contracts are still won the old-fashioned way: through human relationships and hard-earned customer intelligence during capture. The problem generally isn’t getting the intel — it’s what happens next. Too often, […]

  • Winning Government Cost Proposals Including AI Essentials

    OST Global Solutions Virtual Classroom MD, United States

    Developing a Winning Cost Volume course helps increase federal contract win probability by strengthening cost proposal development skills. Updated for 2026, this course incorporates AI-assisted tools to support pricing analysis, cost modeling, and documentation efficiency. The course covers Government contract evaluation, pricing fundamentals such as cost buildup and cost volume elements, price strategy, Basis of Estimate development, assumptions, Work Breakdown Structure creation, cost volume narratives, and strategies for winning lowest price technically acceptable proposals, while demonstrating how AI can be used responsibly to improve accuracy, consistency, and proposal readiness.

    Register Now $1,390.00 50 tickets left

  • Proposal Graphics Conceptualization & Design Including AI Essentials

    OST Global Solutions Virtual Classroom MD, United States

    This course provides the skills necessary to conceptualize proposal graphics that clearly convey a winning solution to Government customers. Updated for 2026, the course includes the use of AI-assisted tools to enhance idea generation, visual storytelling, and graphic refinement. Participants will learn how to brainstorm strong graphic concepts, create effective action captions, sketch and structure visuals, and apply professional design principles while responsibly leveraging AI to improve clarity, consistency, and efficiency in proposal graphics.

    Register Now $695.00 50 tickets left