GSA Polaris Contract Vehicle Guide
Polaris is GSA's next-generation Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) for small business IT services. With dedicated pools for Total Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Polaris provides a modern acquisition path for agencies seeking innovative IT solutions from small firms.
100M+ government records · 300+ gov/news sources · Updated hourly
What is Polaris?
Polaris is a multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (MA-IDIQ) contract vehicle administered by GSA's Office of Information Technology Category (ITC). It was designed to complement existing IT GWACs like 8(a) STARS III and Alliant 2 Small Business by providing dedicated procurement channels for specific small business socioeconomic categories that previously lacked their own vehicle.
Unlike 8(a) STARS III, which requires 8(a) certification, Polaris serves three distinct pools: Total Small Business (open to all small businesses regardless of socioeconomic status), SDVOSB (service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses), and WOSB (women-owned small businesses and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses). This structure allows agencies to direct task orders to specific pools to meet their socioeconomic contracting goals.
Polaris emphasizes modern technology areas including cloud computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and IT modernization. The vehicle was specifically designed to reflect the evolving IT landscape and the federal government's increasing focus on digital transformation, zero trust architecture, and data-driven decision making.
The Three Polaris Pools
Each Polaris pool operates as a separate contract vehicle with its own set of contract holders. Agencies select the appropriate pool based on their socioeconomic goals and the work to be performed.
Total Small Business
Open to all qualifying small businesses under applicable NAICS size standards. This is the broadest pool and provides the largest competitive field for task order competitions.
Includes 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, and non-socioeconomic small businesses.
SDVOSB Pool
Dedicated to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses verified by the SBA's Veterans Small Business Certification (VetCert) program. Provides agencies a direct path to meet SDVOSB contracting goals.
Verification through SBA VetCert is required (formerly VA CVE).
WOSB Pool
Dedicated to women-owned small businesses and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSB). Provides agencies a streamlined way to direct IT work to women-owned firms.
Self-certification through SBA or third-party certification required.
Polaris Scope and Task Areas
Polaris covers a comprehensive range of IT services with emphasis on emerging technology areas. The scope is intentionally broad to accommodate the rapid pace of technology change and the federal government's evolving IT priorities.
Migration, native development, managed services, multi-cloud
Zero trust, SOC, incident response, security engineering
Machine learning, NLP, computer vision, RPA, data science
Legacy transformation, agile development, DevSecOps, microservices
Additional scope areas include enterprise resource planning (ERP), software development, IT infrastructure services, network engineering, data management and analytics, mobility solutions, and IT service management (ITSM). The vehicle also covers emerging areas like blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and quantum computing services.
How Polaris Differs from STARS III and OASIS+
Polaris vs. 8(a) STARS III
STARS III is exclusively for 8(a) certified small businesses, while Polaris serves Total SB, SDVOSB, and WOSB pools. STARS III has a $50 billion ceiling; Polaris focuses on providing dedicated access for socioeconomic categories not served by STARS III. A firm with both 8(a) certification and SDVOSB status could hold contracts on both vehicles, maximizing their competitive reach.
Polaris vs. OASIS+
OASIS+ covers professional services broadly (management consulting, engineering, scientific, environmental), while Polaris is focused exclusively on IT services. OASIS+ has both unrestricted and small business pools, while Polaris is entirely small business. For IT-specific work, Polaris may offer a more streamlined path than OASIS+.
When to Use Each Vehicle
Agencies needing 8(a) IT work use STARS III. Those needing SDVOSB or WOSB IT work use Polaris. For professional services beyond IT, OASIS+ is the appropriate vehicle. For unrestricted IT competition, agencies may use Alliant 2 (or the upcoming Alliant 3). Strategic contractors pursue positions on multiple vehicles to maximize their opportunity pipeline.
How to Compete for Polaris Task Orders
1. Obtain Your Contract Position
GSA evaluates contractors based on relevant IT experience, past performance, technical capabilities, and socioeconomic status. Ensure your certifications (SDVOSB VetCert, WOSB self-certification) are current before applying. On-ramps may be available periodically.
2. Monitor and Pursue Task Orders
Track task order solicitations through Bureauify, SAM.gov, and the GSA ordering portal. Engage with agency contracting officers and program managers early. Attend industry days and pre-solicitation conferences when available.
3. Leverage Your Pool Advantage
Being in a smaller pool (SDVOSB or WOSB) means less competition per task order than the Total SB pool. Understand which agencies have the strongest demand for your pool category and focus your business development efforts accordingly.
Track Polaris Task Orders
Get real-time alerts when new Polaris task orders are posted across all three pools. Filter by pool, agency, and technology area to find the best-fit opportunities.
Sign Up Free