OST’s Top 6 Federal Opportunities for 2026
As agencies finalize FY26 acquisition plans, several significant high revenue contract vehicles are moving into recompete or expansion phases. For small and mid-sized firms, success in 2026 will require pursuing vehicles and IDIQ’s that support targeted revenue generation.
Based on scope, timing, small business participation, and client relevance, OST Global Solutions has identified the Top 6 Federal Contract Opportunities to Watch in 2026. These vehicles will drive billions of dollars in task orders across IT, professional services, health research, HR, and cloud based solutioning. — and in many cases, eligibility and positioning decisions must happen before the RFPs are released.
Below is a brief look at each opportunity and why it matters.
TOP 6 OPPORTUNITIES TO WATCH IN 2026
1. THE STORE (CIO–CS FOLLOW-ON)
- Estimated Value: ~$20B
- Agency: NIH / GSA (expected transition)
- Timing: RFP Q1 FY26 | Award Q3 FY26
The Store is the follow-on to CIO–CS (Chief Information Officer–Commodities and Solutions), a Best-in-Class IT marketplace covering hardware, software, cloud, cybersecurity, collaboration tools, health IT, and integration services. Under CIO–CS, small businesses won 68% of all obligated dollars, making this one of the most accessible large IT vehicles for small firms.
What’s changing is administration. All signs point to GSA taking over from NITAAC, which could make having a GSA Schedule and the appropriate SIN alignment critical for the first eligibility gate.
Why it matters:
- Massive revenue ceiling
- Strong small business track record
- Eligibility risk tied to GSA readiness
2. OASIS+ (PHASE II & DOMAIN EXPANSION)
- Estimated Task Order Volume: $60B+
- Agency: GSA
- Timing: Continuous on-ramps beginning FY26
OASIS+ is now the federal government’s central platform for non-IT professional services, replacing legacy OASIS vehicles. With over 700 awardees already and the five new domains listed below, Phase II represents a rare second chance to enter or expand on one of the most powerful vehicles in the market.
New Domains: Business Administration, Financial Services, Human Capital, Marketing & PR, Social Services
OASIS+ uses a scorecard-based evaluation, meaning documentation quality and positioning matter as much as raw experience. OST has supported multiple proposal teams competing for OASIS+, resulting in seven awards so far.
Why it matters:
- One of the few growing vehicles in a tight market
- Multiple small business tracks
3. OMNIBUS IV – SMALL BUSINESS ON-RAMP
- Estimated Value: $10B
- Agency: U.S. Army
- Timing: RFP Q1 FY26 | Award Q3 FY26
OMNIBUS IV is a long-term medical research and development IDIQ supporting defense health and translational science. Three years into a 10-year vehicle, the Army plans a small business on-ramp to expand participation across socioeconomic categories. OST supported proposal efforts that resulted in two awards on the prior OMNIBUS contract.
While obligations to date have been modest relative to ceiling, OMNIBUS IV remains one of the largest small-business-accessible health R&D vehicles through 2032.
Why it matters:
- Significant remaining runway
- Dedicated SB on-ramp
- Ideal for firms in biotech, medical R&D, regulatory support, and translational science
4. HRS GENERATION 6 (HRS GEN 6)
- Estimated Value: $7.6B
- Agency: U.S. Army
- Timing: Draft RFP expected FY 2026 | RFP mid FY 26
HRS Gen 6 is the next iteration of the Army’s enterprise human resource services contracts, combining Personnel Lifecycle Support (PLS) and Recruitment & Management Administrative Support (R-MAS).
Historically, R-MAS has been a total small business set-aside, while PLS has included small business reserves. With incumbents expiring in 2028, FY26 is expected to mark the beginning of formal competitive activity.
Why it matters:
- Large, stable HR services spend
- Mixed unrestricted and SB structures
- Long lead time favors early capture
5. 2GIT (2ND GENERATION IT FOLLOW-ON)
- Estimated Value: ~$5.5B
- Agency: GSA
- Timing: RFP Q1 FY26 | Award Q3 FY26
2GIT is a Best-in-Class IT commodity BPA covering hardware, software, licenses, maintenance, and installation services. This vehicle is a replacement for Netcents-2 and aligns closely with FAR Part 8 priorities for commercial IT buying.
With a strong small business presence and an incumbent contract expiring in March 2026, this follow-on vehicle is expected to retain its GSA Schedule-centric structure.
Why it matters:
- Strong small business participation
- Streamlined Part 8 buying
6. GSA ASCEND
- Estimated Value: $5B
- Agency: GSA
- Timing: Pool 1 RFP Q1 FY26 | Awards Q2 FY26
GSA Ascend is a new multi-pool BPA focused on cloud services — including IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and cloud-related professional services. Awards will be made by pool, and GSA has indicated that all qualifying Pool 1 vendors may be eligible for award, lowering competitive barriers.
Cloud spending has surged, with small businesses receiving $7.8B in FY25 YTD across cloud-related contracts.
Why it matters:
- Fast-growing cloud spend
- Multiple award pools
- Clear SIN requirements (518210C, 54151S)
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Across all six vehicles, a clear pattern is emerging:
- Eligibility decisions are happening earlier
- GSA Schedules and SIN alignment matter more than ever
- Scorecards, documentation, and capture strategy can determine access
- Firms that plan and prepare for RFPs will have an advantage with their bids and solicitation solutioning and responses
HOW OST CAN HELP
OST has successfully aided businesses to win spots on the OASIS+ vehicle as well as the OMNIBUS vehicle. We work with small and mid-sized firms to decide which vehicles to pursue and how to prepare early. We help clients:
- Assess eligibility and readiness across major GWACs and BPAs, including when applicable by maximizing scorecard and/or phase 1 assessment submissions.
- Review and expand GSA Schedules and SINs
- Conduct gap analyses tied to specific vehicles
- Build capture strategies and teaming plans
- Develop compliant, competitive proposals
Please schedule a meeting with an OST Partner and Business Development SME to establish how these top six vehicles, amongst other high-profile solicitations:
- Could align with your company’s capabilities and past performance
- Assist your 2026 revenue growth objectives
