On December 31, 2020 the General Services Administration released a draft request for proposal (RFP) to collect feedback from interested parties on a new governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC). The new GWAC, which will be called “Polaris”, will replace the much-maligned (and altogether cancelled) Alliant 2 Small Business solicitation.
With an anticipated ceiling of $15 billion, this is significant news for Information Technology (IT) and IT services-based vendors who want to offer their services on a potentially lucrative interagency contracting vehicle. And a draft RFP is a great way to get ahead of an opportunity before it formally goes out for bid.
To support GSA and deliver on our own mission of creating open government markets, we decided to take advantage of our market intelligence platform GovShop to identify vendors that would be a good fit for Polaris, but who may not be aware of this government business opportunity. Not only will this create more opportunities for non-traditional and emerging market companies, we hope it will result in better, more diverse feedback on the draft solicitation so GSA can make improvements and avoid a repeat of Alliant 2’s fate.
Using GovShop to find relevant, innovative companies in IT services
Contracting professionals can find companies on GovShop in three ways: keyword search, commodity code (NAICS & PSC) search, or by searching multi agency vehicles. We decided to start our search with the NAICS code associated with the draft RFP, 541512 “Computer Systems Design Services.”
We found 49,483 companies that have that particular NAICS code in their GovShop profile, a healthy number to be sure, but not unexpected given the size of this particular industry subset. We used our socioeconomic designation filter to see how many of those companies were in the mentioned pool of HubZone, WOSB, or Small Businesses and narrowed down to 11,667 results.
A joke around our office is that no contracting professional needs a search database to find Oracle, so our next step was to apply additional filters to specifically identify emerging technology firms who could provide unique perspectives in response to the draft RFP. Our goal: to narrow our results to 15 dark-horse candidates, evenly split across the WOSB, HubZone and Small Business category using GovShop and encourage them to get involved with Polaris.
Here’s how we did it, and the results we found.
Conducting better market research using GovShop
The first thing we needed to do was make sure that all 11,667 of the companies we found in our first filtering would be eligible to compete as a small business under the $30 million size standard related to the 541512 NAICS Code. We used the annual revenue filter to pare down the suppliers, but still had quite a large list of 3,197 suppliers.
Using the NAICS Code methodology gave us a good start, but GSA, under the Polaris solicitation, is also looking for cutting edge technology solution providers. Specifically, the Polaris RFP states, “the NAICS code selected for the Master Contract is designated as 541512, Computer Systems Design Services; however, other IT NAICS codes are acceptable if the principal nature of the resulting task order is for IT services.” We included areas like merging technologies; advanced and quantum computing; automation technology; Artificial Intelligence (AI); distributed ledger technology; and edge computing to make our search robust.
To continue refining our target, we decided to focus on one characteristic that many emerging, innovative companies have in common: the earning of a small business innovation research grant (SBIR). GovShop has a filter for that, which we applied to our list of companies we found above. This narrowed our list down to 215, and we were able to spend time reviewing the scope of those research efforts against the desired technology Polaris areas.
To find 5 innovative vendors with HubZone certifications, I adjusted my socioeconomic filter search to just focus on those companies, and used the SBIR I, II and III filters to arrive at just 8 companies. Success! I added them to a list that I could refer back to in my market research (free account required, create one here), and then repeated the same steps for WOSB and Small Business filters, adding the most relevant contractor profiles to lists for each certification.
So within about 45 minutes of searching around and reviewing company profiles, we were able to use GovShop to find 15 quality companies that met the criteria we set for ourselves, and who will be a great fit for the Polaris opportunity.
Is your company on this list? Review the categories and profiles below. If not, maybe you need to take some time to update your free company profile on GovShop?
Small Business Companies
AGILETRAILBLAZERS LLC
VA, USA / ServesUS Federal / NAICS: 541512 - A technology and consulting firm based in Utilize the Lean & Agile approach in providing "Digital Transformation" services, agile software development, and agile training.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 079603005; Annual Revenue: $1M-$5M; Size: small business; Ownership: Asian-Indian; Government Set-Aside Programs: SDB
FEARLESS SOLUTIONS
MD, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - A full stack digital services and computer software firm. Fearless specifies its offerings as Design, Development, DevOps & Cloud, Data Analytics, Geospatial, and Agile Coaching.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 829602304; Annual Revenue: $5M-$50M; Size: small business; Ownership: African-American; Government Set-Aside Programs: SDB
SAITECH INC.
CA, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - Specifies their major offering areas as: Data Center Solutions, Cloud Computing Solutions, Cyber Security Solution, IT Maintenance Services, IT and Professional Development Training Services, Value Added Services, and Technology Procurement.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 082826723; Annual Revenue: $5M-$50M; Size: small business; Ownership: Asian-Indian; Government Set-Aside Programs: SDB
RISE8
FL, US / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - A full-stack digital services team in the federal space. Specialties and Expertise: Digital Transformation, Agile Software Development, DevOps, Cybersecurity, Continuous Authority to Operate (C-ATO), Extreme Programming (XP), User-Centered Design (UCD), Lean Product Management, Lean Startup, Lean Enterprise, User Experience Design (UX), Kanban, Scrum, SAFe, Agile Acquisitions, Cloud-Native, Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Platform, and more.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 117100499; Annual Revenue: $1M-$5M; Size: Small business; Ownership: Service Disabled Veteran Government; Set-Aside Programs: SDVOSB
ARMEDIA
GA, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - A technology firm, focusing on information and content management solutions. Industry-acclaimed expertise, services and products in business process, document, case and record management, mobile solutions as well as collaboration, content publishing and content migration. Specialties and Expertise: Information, technology, enterprise, SharePoint, Alfresco, Documentum, EMC, content management, architecture, integration, software, information sharing, programming, and more.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 133097183; Annual Revenue: $1M-$5M; Size: Small business; Ownership: Veteran, African American; Government Set-Aside Programs: SDB
WOSB Companies
SENTAR
AL, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - A Cyber-intelligence company, applying analytics and systems engineering expertise to protect our national security and way of life by innovating, building, and securing mission-critical assets. Our solutions include Protecting Data & Infrastructure, Managing Cyber Risks, Identifying & Mitigating Vulnerabilities, and more.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 174265736; Annual Revenue: $5M-$50M; Size: Small business; Ownership: Woman; Government Set-Aside Programs: WOSB
SRR INC.
FL, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - Specifies their major offering areas as: Information Technology, Cyber Security, Technology Learning Solution & Training, Rapid Content Development & Content Management, and Health & IT Staffing.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 100436489; Annual Revenue: $1M-$5M; Size: Small business; Ownership: Asian-Indian; Government Set-Aside Programs: SDB, WOSB
SIMTECH
AL, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - Specifies their major offering areas as: Radar & Optics, System Simulation & HIL Integration, Hardware, Testing, Software & Analysis, Cyber & Program Support.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 118044056; Annual Revenue: $5M-$50M; Size: small business; Ownership: Woman; Government Set-Aside Programs: WOSB
BIXAL SOLUTIONS
VA, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - A digital communications and technology company with extensive experience providing digital services. Offering excellence in marketing and communications, human-centered design, agile development, data science and analytics, cloud computing, and resource optimization, we have successfully delivered digital services.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 100128086; Annual Revenue: $5M-$50M; Size: small business; Ownership: Woman; Government Set-Aside Programs: WOSB, SDB
IMAGINE ONE TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
MD, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - specifies their major offering areas as: Information Technology, Cyber Security, Systems Engineering, Interactive Training, International Programs Support, Logistics Services, Financial Management, Program Management, Test & Evaluation.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 605928741; Annual Revenue: $5M-$50M; Size: small business; Ownership: Woman; Government Set-Aside Programs: WOSB
HubZone Companies
Rackner Solutions
MD, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - A Certified AWS Consulting Partner that builds innovative solutions for enterprises and startups - from cloud-native and hybrid-cloud application development, to enterprise mobility, managed cloud and cutting-edge cloud architecture - including serverless and microservices.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 079930045; Annual Revenue: $1M-$5M; Size: small business; Ownership: Asian-Indian; Government Set-Aside Programs: HubZone, SDB
Arcarithm
AL, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - provides services and products in the following areas: D3 ADP and Telecommunications; AD Defense (Other) R&D; L0 Technical Representative Services; AC Defense Systems R&D; 70 Information Technology Equipment (Incld Firmware) Software,Supplies& Support Equipment; AE Economic Growth/Productivity R&D
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: :078491477; Annual Revenue: $1M-$5M; Size: small business; Ownership: Unspecified; Government Set-Aside Programs: HubZone
ClearFocus Technologies
VA, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - specifies their major offering areas as: Cybersecurity, Secure Cloud Services and Software Solutions. Cybersecurity includes: Assessments and Compliance, Security Engineering, Computer Network Defense. Secure Cloud Services include: Cloud, Virtualization, Networking, IT Enterprise. Software Solutions include: Open Source and Mobile Development, Cots Customization, Development Approaches.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 604957527; Annual Revenue: $1M-$5M; Size: small business; Ownership: Unspecified; Government Set-Aside Programs: HubZone, SDB
Infusionpoints LLC
NC, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - Specifies their major offering areas as: AWS Professional Services, FedRAMP Cloud Solutions, Managed Security Solutions, Healthcare IT Security Solutions, and FISMA Framework Solutions.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 828137252; Annual Revenue: $1M-$5M; Size: small business; Ownership: Veteran; Government Set-Aside Programs: HubZone
NextGen Federal Systems
WV, USA / Serves US Federal / NAICS: 541512 - Nextgen Federal Systems, LLC specifies their major offering areas as: Software Engineering, Enterprise IT, Space Systems, Cyber Security & Data Management, Research & Development, and Program Support. Software Engineering includes: Software Development and Operation & Maintenance. Enterprise IT includes: Systems Engineering, Cyber Security, Enterprise Application Development, Virtualization, IT Hosting Environment Support, Cloud Computing Infrastructure Support, and Help Desk Support. Research & Development includes: Meteorological Analytics & Data Management, Space Radiation & Space Weather, Tactical Sensor Planning, and Information Assurance & Security.
SAM Status: Active; DUNS #: 965961969; Annual Revenue: $5M-$50M; Size: small business; Ownership: Asian-Pacific; Government Set-Aside Programs: HubZone
To learn more about how GovShop can support your next market research task (or to help your company show up on more market research lists), contact our team and schedule a demo. We look forward to helping you on your government contracting journey!
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