GSA’s New Cloud Computing Multiple Award BPA: Ascend

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

The General Services Administration (GSA) wants to simplify and standardize Governmentwide cloud acquisitions by establishing a Multiple Award Blanket Purchase Agreement. The agency’s latest effort, called Ascend, results from months of research and feedback from industry and Government agencies.

GSA has issued a draft performance works statement (PWS) for Ascend and is expected to revise the document based on industry feedback. GSA wants to establish minimum baseline requirements for “the acquisition, business, operations, reporting, and technology capabilities provided by commercial Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) and cloud-focused labor service providers that are not currently accessible under other GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) or Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs),” according to the draft PWS.

The Ascend BPA aims to support both vertical (e.g., IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and horizontal capabilities and provide more effective system integration and managed support services to deliver flexible, diverse, and secure cloud solutions. Ascend will also establish minimum cybersecurity baselines, emphasizing cybersecurity supply chain risk management (C-SCRM), compliance with cybersecurity legislation (Cyber Executive Order 14028), and guidelines from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Bidders considering the Ascend opportunity should be prepared to show GSA “an ability to implement secure cloud service solutions utilizing zero trust architecture cybersecurity baselines that leverage Development, Security, and Operations (DevSecOps) and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) agile processes that achieve results through continuous capability enhancements, minimal downtime, prompt response to emerging needs, demonstrated reliability and availability, and optimized performance with minimized resource utilization.”

Ascend would create three separate pools of vendors to deliver three primary services:

  • Pool 1 would include infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS), for both unclassified and classified sub-pools
  • Pool 2 would cover software-as-a-service (SaaS)
  • Pool 3 would focus on cloud IT professional services.

Additional sub-pools will be defined based upon Government requirements.

GSA has not yet determined award dates but plans to release additional information via eBuy and SAM.gov.

OST Global Solutions is a professional business development consulting firm. We have experience supporting large, strategic bids like Ascend. We can provide capture and proposal teams to develop a complete, winning Ascend proposal, or we can provide consultants on a case-by-case basis to fill gaps on your business development team. Our services related to the Ascend proposal consist of capture management, proposal management, proposal writing, graphics support, editing, desktop publishing, and cost volume development.

Reach out to us to discuss your Ascend bid, so we can discuss how to develop a winning proposal.

[email protected]

(301) 384-3350

 

Upcoming Bid & Proposal Academy Classes

Events

Today

  • 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

  • Desktop Publishing for Proposal Professionals

    OST Global Solutions Virtual Classroom MD, United States

    Government proposal desktop publishing teaches valuable skills in designing, laying out Government proposals in MS Word. Present your company’s offer in the most professional light to Federal evaluators. The course covers tools and features MS Word offers to the desktop publisher, and shortcuts to increase speed and efficiency. It covers color palette and styles, tables of contents, headers and footers, and elements of design to ensure your proposal is attractive.

    Register Now $695.00