Federal glossary · Contract type
Polaris is a GSA small business GWAC for IT services. Features pools for small business, WOSB, and SDVOSB. Intended as a companion to Alliant 2 for small businesses.
Reference record · Sources: Polaris GWAC · Verified Jul 2, 2026 · Covers definition, governing source
Polaris is a GSA small business GWAC for IT services. Features pools for small business, WOSB, and SDVOSB. Intended as a companion to Alliant 2 for small businesses.
is a contract type concept federal contractors and grant writers run into across solicitations, regulations, and award filings
POLARIS describes a specific contract structure that the federal government uses. The contract type controls risk allocation, payment timing, reporting cadence, and how performance is measured — all of which affect whether the work is profitable and whether it fits a contractor's capability profile. Knowing whether a solicitation is structured as a POLARIS versus another vehicle is one of the first signals of how the government expects the work to be executed and what kind of contractor they're trying to attract. Misreading the contract type can mean either over-pricing risk you don't actually carry or under-pricing risk you do. The related terms above name the adjacent vehicles POLARIS most commonly competes with or rolls up under.
Meaning in practice
POLARIS describes how the government structures the work, price, and risk.
Where you’ll see it
You will see it in solicitations, CLIN schedules, pricing tables, and award summaries.
Common confusion
People often confuse a contract type with a vehicle, a task order, or a program name.
What to do next
Check payment timing, scope, and risk allocation before you bid or price the work.
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