We’ll be updating this Alliant 3 blog frequently with current guidance, FAQs, and pro tips on how to prepare, so be sure to check back in! Want us to dive deep into a topic for you? Let us know what you’re curious about by contacting us. 

Table of Contents

• What is Alliant 3?
• How do I know if I'm a good candidate?

**Coming Soon!**

• How do I get started?
• How do you evaluate relevant experience projects?
• What do I need to know about teaming? 
• How can I boost my score?
• Am I Ready? 5 Final Actions to Prepare for Alliant 3 

What is Alliant 3? 

Alliant 3 is a GSA Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) for businesses that provide Information Technology services (and if you haven’t guessed already from the name, it is a follow-on to Alliant 2). (Note: if you’re a Small Business, your Alliant-equivalent GWAC is Polaris). The goal of Alliant 3 is to streamline the acquisition of IT services and emerging technology for the Federal Government. Here are the key things to know:

• Multiple Award IDIQ
• Final solicitation expected in April 2024
• All Primes and Subcontractors must be registered in NAICS 541512
• Points-based evaluation with nearly 70% of the total score derived from Relevant Experience/Past Performance
• Additional points are available for approved Cost Accounting and Purchasing systems, Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) certifications, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifications, and Facility Clearances. 

Timeline: The second draft solicitation was out for “market research” purposes. Based on the fact that GSA is not planning to respond publicly to questions but rather incorporate recommendations into the final RFP version, it is unlikely that we will see a third draft before the final.

We know what you’re thinking: isn’t it a little early for Alliant 3 if the option period for Alliant 2 was supposed to run through 2028? The short answer is yes – this is happening sooner than GSA originally planned because Alliant 2 is being used that much. We all know GWACs have high ceilings, so to put this in perspective, consider this. The original ceiling for Alliant 2 was $50B. In 2022, the ceiling was increased to $75B. But Alliant 2 is seeing a burn rate of $1B a month. (Yep, that’s BILLION with a B.) The bottom line is the contract will run out of ceiling long before 2028, so GSA is moving forward with this replacement contract as expeditiously as possible. Much like Polaris (if it is ever awarded…), GSA has proposed that Alliant 3 not have a ceiling.

How do I know if I’m a good candidate?

You’ve heard us preach this point before – winning a seat on an IDIQ is great IF you have the resources to win task orders on that contract. In other words, you need to evaluate not only your eligibility/scoring for the IDIQ but also your business case for the contract itself. Said another way, is Alliant 3 a contract you can realistically manage and that your government clients can use? The initial bid is the (relatively) easy part – winning work on task orders will require additional time, resources, and effort. Before you get into tallying points, ask yourself a few questions:

• Can you manage the administrative demands of a GSA contract with your current contract support infrastructure?
• Do you have access to a senior, high-level, program management professional?
• Are you willing and able to meet the marketing, minimum contract thresholds, and participation requirements that come with a win? For Alliant 3, “participation” has some particularly unique definitions that include submitting a minimum number of proposals each year.

RECOMMENDATION: Answering “no” to the questions above shouldn’t be grounds for an immediate no-bid decision, but it should give you pause and help you calibrate your definition of what success looks like on Alliant 3. Your goal should be staying on the contract and making it work for you, not just winning the initial award. Think through how you will manage work once you're on the contract and let that plan of action inform your strategic bid, hiring, teaming, or business development decisions accordingly.

If you don’t think your long-term success will be an issue, then you can start evaluating your projects and calculating an anticipated score. 

Beware: Even the most organized companies can be surprised by the amount of time and effort it takes to prepare a response like this, but the efforts you make to prepare now can pay dividends when GSA releases the final Alliant 3 RFP. Give yourself the best head start possible by thoughtfully evaluating your projects, putting a strategy in place for teaming (if needed), and knowing what administrative requirements lurk in the fine print of the solicitation that might derail an otherwise eligible bid.

Look for our next blog on getting started, details about teaming, and tips for boosting your score.

Written By Rebecca Wayland

Rebecca is our HR and Development Manager. While Rebecca primarily wears the HR hat, she offers comprehensive proposal management, capture support, market research and training. Not only is the author of The FastProp Process, she is also our GWAC and MA-IDIQ lead so if you’re exploring  one of these contract vehicles, she is definitely your SME. As a U.S. Navy veteran and military spouse based in Honolulu, she supports clients around the world as part of our globally dispersed team.