GSA Alliant 3: Enterprise IT Solutions GWAC

Last reviewed on September 28, 2026.

What Alliant 3 is

GSA Alliant is a family of government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) for enterprise IT solutions. Alliant 3 is the third generation, succeeding Alliant 2 in covering federal demand for integrated, large-scale IT services across the civilian and defense agencies. It is operated by GSA's Federal Acquisition Service.

Award status: GSA announced the first 43 Alliant 3 awards on February 20, 2026, out of 133 proposals received, and ordering opened with the notice to proceed on March 10, 2026. The master contracts run a five-year base (through March 9, 2031) plus one five-year option, with no ceiling. GSA plans up to 76 awards (plus ties) in total and is evaluating the remaining proposals for later award phases; offerors not in the first group remain under consideration until those phases are complete. With NIH's CIO-SP4 cancelled and NITAAC's GWACs sunsetting, Alliant 3 is the main government-wide vehicle for large enterprise IT services.

The Alliant series has historically been used for large, complex IT engagements — enterprise systems integration, mission-critical operations, and multi-year transformation programs. The structure favors firms that can deliver across a broad spectrum of IT capabilities rather than highly specialized boutique offerings.

Scope

Alliant 3 scope generally covers:

Systems engineering and integration
Software development and modernization
Cybersecurity services
Cloud services and migration
Data management, analytics, and AI
IT infrastructure operations and maintenance
Enterprise architecture
Network engineering and operations
Emerging technologies and innovation services

The scope is broad enough that most enterprise IT requirements at federal agencies can be ordered through Alliant when an agency chooses to use the vehicle. The "enterprise" qualifier matters — Alliant is designed for substantial, programmatic IT work rather than discrete commodity purchases.

How Alliant compares to other IT GWACs

Vehicle	Sponsor	Distinctive position
Alliant 3	GSA	Large-scale enterprise IT solutions; complex integration
Polaris	GSA	Small business IT services (SB, HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB pools)
CIO-SP3 / CIO-SP4	NIH NITAAC	CIO-SP4 cancelled in early 2026; last day for new CIO-SP3 orders is October 29, 2026
SEWP	NASA	IT products and product-based services; fast quote-driven ordering
8(a) STARS III	GSA	8(a)-only IT services; directed-order authority
OASIS+	GSA	Professional services (IT-adjacent and non-IT)
GSA MAS	GSA	Broadest scope, lower agency-specific support

For agencies issuing large enterprise IT work, Alliant is often the default choice because the contract is purpose-built for that scale and complexity. Smaller IT engagements typically use Polaris, 8(a) STARS III, SEWP, OASIS+, or MAS.

Pools and tracks

Unlike many GWACs, Alliant 3 is a single unrestricted vehicle awarded through full and open competition. GSA's small business IT counterpart is a separate GWAC:

Alliant 3 (unrestricted). Open to firms of any size; hosts large enterprise IT task orders. Small businesses can hold a seat if they win one in the full and open competition.
Polaris. GSA's small business IT services GWAC, with separate small business, HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB pools, for orders an agency sets aside.
8(a) STARS III. GSA's 8(a)-only IT services GWAC. See 8(a) STARS III.

Small businesses that are not Alliant 3 holders usually take part in Alliant 3 work as subcontractors, since the contract emphasizes small business subcontracting.

What holding Alliant looks like in practice

Heavy past performance demand. Original Alliant solicitations emphasize demonstrated enterprise-scale past performance. Smaller firms often need teaming partners or a JV structure to credibly compete.
Self-scoring discipline. Alliant 3 used self-scoring against published criteria, and GSA evaluated proposals from the highest claimed score down. Accuracy here is consequential.
Active capture demand. Alliant orders rarely come unsolicited. Agency-specific capture is required to convert the contract into revenue.
Compliance overlays. CMMC, Section 889, CUI handling, and Section 508 accessibility all flow into individual orders.
Long contract life. Alliant contracts run for multi-year base terms with options. Holders make sustained investments in their Alliant practice rather than treating it as a tactical bid.

Compliance topics frequently triggered by Alliant orders

CMMC certification — DoD task orders involving CUI
CUI handling — most enterprise IT work touches CUI in some form
Section 889 — telecommunications equipment prohibitions
DCAA-compliant accounting — cost-reimbursement orders require it
DFARS business systems — for DoD task orders, additional system-level requirements apply

Common mistakes

Bidding Alliant without enterprise-scale past performance. The contract is built around large engagements. Smaller boutique firms may be better served by Polaris, OASIS+, or MAS.
Treating Alliant as a brand rather than a relationship. Holding the contract is a starting point. Active capture is what produces orders.
Underestimating proposal cost. Alliant pursuits are among the most expensive proposal efforts in federal contracting. Plan B&P accordingly.
Ignoring teaming opportunities. Smaller firms can participate in Alliant orders as subcontractors to prime holders. Active subcontracting through Alliant primes can be more productive than chasing prime status directly.
Missing on-ramp announcements. Alliant on-ramps add new contract holders periodically. Firms outside the initial award list should watch for these explicitly.

GSA Alliant 3