CONTRACT INFO:
- Contract#: GS00Q17GWD2070
- Contact: Vijay Goswami, President
- Phone: (301) 801-4897
- E-mail: gsa70@xfinion.com
The Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) Sole Source vehicle enables agencies to engage in direct buy contracts with certified contractors. This program enables SBA to assist small disadvantaged firms to develop their businesses. In applying to the program, a firm is rigorously evaluated on its ownership, operations, financial health, and past performance. Once accepted, the firm is required to provide SBA a detailed business plan and annually show continued success as a viable, strong business entity. Firms that are approved are certified by the SBA for a period of nine years. The SBA has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Federal Agencies allowing them to contract directly with certified 8(a) firms. Participants can receive sole source contracts, up to a ceiling of $4 million for goods and services. MartinFederal’s SBA 8(a) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) certification is valid through May 2024
SIMPLE STEPS TO ESTABLISH 8(A) SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT WITH CONCEPT PLUS:
- The Government program manager or interested party develops a statement of work, prepares a government estimate, and obtains the necessary funding.
- The Government program manager or interested party chooses Xfinion to perform the work and submits a procurement request to the agency contracting officer.
- SBA processes the Offer Letter and returns it to the agency contracting officer who submits the Statement of Work and Request for Proposal or Quotation to Xfinion.
- Xfinion submits the proposal which is evaluated and negotiated (if necessary) by the agency.
- The contract is awarded to Xfinion.
- The agency contracting officer prepares and submits an “Offer Letter” to Xfinion’s SBA Business Development Specialist, Elsie Price (elsie.price@sba.gov).
NAICS codes
518210 DATA PROCESSING, HOSTING, AND RELATED SERVICES
511210 SOFTWARE PUBLISHERS
541511 CUSTOM COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES
541512 COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN SERVICES
541519 OTHER COMPUTER RELATED SERVICES
GSA 8(a) STARS II simplifies the acquisition of IT services from certified 8(a) small and disadvantaged businesses, allowing federal agencies to earn 8(a) credit while obtaining reliable and pre-competed support in four functional categories. With a $10 billion program ceiling and a five-year base period (with one five-year option), STARS II allows for the long-term planning of large-scale IT program requirements with proven 8(a) small businesses.
CONTRACT INFO:
- Contract#: GS-35F-339CA
- Period of Performance: Award Date, June 15, 2017 – August 30, 2021
- DUNS#: 809102507
CONTACT:
- Program Manager: Vijay Goswami, President
- Phone: (301) 801-4897
- E-mail: vijay@xfinion.com
- For more information on our GSA schedule, including labor categories and labor rates, visit our listing on the GSA 8(a) STARS II website.
The GSA STARS II contract consists of two constellations (tiers) based on industry accreditations and 8(a) status. While both constellations offer vendors qualified to support all four functional categories, Constellation II vendors offer the additional benefit of either a Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level II+ certification, or an ISO 9001 08 credential. As a CMMI and ISO-certified vendor, KCI-Acuity is eligible to compete as a prime contractor in both constellations and in all four functional categories: – Constellations I & II > FA1 (541511) – Custom Computer Programming Services – Constellations I & II > FA2 (541512) – Computer Systems Design Services – Constellations I & II > FA3 (541513) – Computer Facilities Management Services – Constellations I & II > FA4 (541519) – Other Computer Related Services
Benefits of STARS II
Allows for long-term planning of large-scale program requirements Enhanced opportunities for 8(a) firms Offers flexibility of contract types to mitigate risk Offers access to a pool of contractors with additional industry credentials Facilitates integrated IT solutions Enables federal clients to earn 8(a) small business credit Saves time and money by reducing procurement lead time Promotes contract compliance and reduces risk of adverse audits FAR 16.505 Fair Opportunity process supports best value awards Minimizes protest risk and supports timely order award for optimal mission support.
Features of STARS II
$10B program ceiling and five-year base period with one, five-year option Directed task orders up to $4M Contract types include: fixed price, labor hour, and time and materials terms Two constellations (tiers) Permits other direct costs when it is integral and necessary to the IT effort Access to exceptionally qualified 8(a) small business industry partners Pre-competed, easy-to-use contract with streamlined ordering procedures based on FAR 16.505 Complimentary scope compatibility reviews Compliance with Section 843 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2008 and Section 863 of NDAA 2009 No protests on orders under $10M, except on the grounds that the order increases the scope, period, or maximum value of the GWAC
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Ordering From STARS II
8(a) STARS II was authorized under the provisions of Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act 15 U.S.C. 637(a) and retains the 8(a) sole source, a/k/a/ “directed order”, authority found in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.8. 8(a) STARS II resulted from a competitive 8(a) procurement, which was offered to and accepted into the SBA 8(a) program; therefore order requirements do not require an additional offer and acceptance from SBA per 19.804-6(a). An Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum dated June 6, 2008, titled “Improving the Management and Use of Interagency Acquisitions” establishes that using a GWAC, such as STARS II, is presumed to be in the Government’s best interest. In a July 29, 2009, memorandum from the OMB, the Director cited that Agencies should not count as high risk those acquisitions made noncompetitively pursuant to a statute, including sole source awards made under the small business development 8(a) program. The Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy issued a memorandum dated July 14, 2011, identifying 8(a) STARS II as a contract to be considered by DoD organizations during market research in support of maximizing small business prime contracting opportunities. Federal contracting officers (CO) who wish to use 8(a) STARS II must receive a STARS II overview training and Delegation of Procurement Authority (DPA). Orders can be awarded by warranted CO who have received a written Delegation of (DPA). There are various ways to receive STARS II DPA training:
- Through a self-paced on-line course;
- Via conference call;
- Through on-site training for large groups;
- Webinar;
- Video teleconference; or
- By reviewing and understanding the STARS II Ordering Guide.
For more details, please visit: STARS II Delegation of Procurement Authority (http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/104043).
GSA Contacts
For more information about how the 8(a) STARS II GWAC can help your agency with information technology requirements, please contact The Small Business GWAC Center at (877) 327-8732, e-mail S2@gsa.gov, or visit www.gsa.gov/8astars2.