The Alliant Small Business Industry Council (ASBIC) is expanding its role in promoting the Alliant SB contract and its contract holders. After the Alliant SB program was initially launched in 2009, ASBIC members focused their efforts on publicizing the new Alliant SB contract; but now they have more than one hundred contract success stories to share with agencies.
Under Alliant SB, agencies have awarded 121 task orders totaling more than $1.7 billion and reflecting virtually every domain of information technology, said Lori Fischler, ASBIC chair and director of business development with Phacil Inc. “We have a robust industrial base on the Alliant Small Business contract,” Fischler said. “Our businesses handle enterprise-wide, complex IT contracts and have a consistent record of doing so at exceptional quality.”
The industry group, which is comprised of all 69 Alliant SB contract holders, has created 13 outreach teams that target agencies of interest, such as the Department of Homeland Security, Agriculture, Treasury, and individual military services. Although only small groups of industry representatives meet with agency officials, they represent all businesses on the Alliant SB contract. The outreach teams conducted more than 30 sessions with agencies during the past year.
ASBIC compiles capabilities and case studies to show program and contracting officials the diversity of work Alliant SB companies have performed under the contract.
Alliant SB GWAC Features
A $15 billion program ceiling and period of performance of Feb. 3, 2009, to Feb. 2, 2014, with one five-year option.
Scope aligned with Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) and Department of Defense Enterprise Architecture (DODEA).
All contract types, such as fixed-price, cost reimbursement, labor-hour and time-and-materials terms.
Contract Access Fee (CAF) of 0.75 percent, which is capped at $150,000 annually for task orders exceeding $20 million annually.
Ancillary support permitted when it is integral and necessary to the IT effort.
Complimentary scope-compatibility reviews.
No protests on orders $10 million and under, except on the grounds that the order increases the scope, period, or maximum value of the GWAC.
ASBIC members also have created Technology Forums highlighting capabilities in key technology areas. Thus far, they have created five Tech Forums: Health IT; Financial Management IT; Cybersecurity; Cloud Computing; and, most recently, the “Three E’s of Green: Efficiency, Economy, and Environment.”
“Agencies that have not been inclined to use small business vehicles are often surprised at the depth and range capabilities we have to offer. The magnitude and complexity of work on the contract is simply compelling,” Fischler said. “The successes of our industrial base are helping to convince officials the vehicle is the right way to go for their IT needs.”
Working ‘Hand in Glove’ with Alliant SB
ASBIC works closely with the Alliant SB program office to share information, coordinate training activities, and leverage their relationships with individual agencies, said Stephen Triplett, director of GSA’s Small Business GWAC Center. “Our strategy from the beginning was to have industry and government work hand in glove, first to promote the contract and now to promote the individual companies’ capabilities,” he said.
Both Triplett and Fischler believe these efforts have contributed to the surge in Alliant SB task orders, which rose from an average of 29 per year in the first two years to 62 last year. “Without a doubt, the outreach programs are making a difference,” Triplett said.
Fischler said ASBIC members feel like they are on a mission in promoting Alliant SB. “We really believe in Alliant SB and the industrial base and believe that ASBIC’s activities benefit both agencies and the contractor community,” she said.
Read more about our GSA Alliant Small Business contract.
This article was published at WashingtonTechnology.com. Click here to view article.
