Voices

The General Services Administration's consolidation of several GWACs into Alliant creates focus ? customers can focus on one GWAC to meet their information technology services needs, GSA can focus on supporting one common GWAC, and vendors can focus their efforts to bring business to one outstanding GWAC contract vehicle. This focus creates efficiencies that have not previously existed at GSA. The downside is that some very good vendors are being left out, and Alliant is the last GWAC train leaving town.The danger in a single large GWAC of this nature is that the size of task orders may limit awards to certain large-tier government contractors, thus restricting competition for small businesses. The small-business portion of the Alliant contract, therefore, may become even more important.It should be easier for customers to find what they need at GSA with two large GWACs, Networx and Alliant. Having too many specialty vehicles confuses customers and leads to unhealthy intra-GSA fighting. GSA now has three powerful IT offerings with these GWACs and the IT Schedule. They should be able to dominate the IT market for the foreseeable future.