What is HCaTS and who manages it?

HCaTS (Human Capital and Training Solutions) is a government-wide GWAC jointly managed by GSA and OPM (Office of Personnel Management). It provides federal agencies with access to complex, integrated human capital management and training services. HCaTS has two pools: Pool 1 for Learning Solutions (training, eLearning, leadership development) and Pool 2 for Human Capital Strategy (HR consulting, workforce planning, organizational development). Each pool has separate Small Business and Unrestricted contract tracks.

What services are covered under HCaTS Pool 1 and Pool 2?

Pool 1 (Learning Solutions) covers training program design and delivery, curriculum development, eLearning and LMS solutions, instructor-led training, leadership development, executive coaching, SES candidate development programs, and technical skills training. Pool 2 (Human Capital Strategy) covers HR consulting, workforce planning, organizational design, talent acquisition strategy, performance management system design, employee engagement, succession planning, and cultural transformation.

Who are the major buyers through HCaTS?

OPM is the primary ordering agency (as co-manager and principal user), along with DHS, DoD civilian human resources offices, VA, HHS, DoJ, Treasury, and most large civilian agencies. Any federal agency can use HCaTS for qualifying human capital or training needs. Agencies with large civilian workforces (DHS has 240,000+ employees; DoD civilian component is even larger) are especially active HCaTS users.

Can a company hold contracts in multiple HCaTS pools?

Yes. A company that offers both training services and HR consulting can hold HCaTS contracts in both Pool 1 and Pool 2, in either or both business size tracks (SB and UNR). A small HR and training firm may hold up to four HCaTS contracts (P1-SB, P1-UNR, P2-SB, P2-UNR) if they qualify for each track. This maximizes task order eligibility across all HCaTS ordering patterns.

How is HCaTS different from the GSA MAS Human Capital Large Category?

HCaTS is a separate GWAC from the GSA MAS Human Capital Large Category, though both cover human capital services. HCaTS is designed for complex, integrated, multi-year human capital programs requiring a separate task order competition. The GSA MAS Human Capital category allows simpler, direct-ordering for commercial HC services. Many HC companies hold both: HCaTS for large, complex task orders and the GSA MAS for smaller, direct-order engagements.

What experience is required for an HCaTS application?

HCaTS applicants must demonstrate relevant past performance delivering human capital or training services aligned to the pool being proposed (Pool 1 for training, Pool 2 for HC strategy). GSA and OPM evaluate experience through scored questionnaires and past performance documentation. Small business track applicants must also demonstrate compliance with applicable SBA size standards and, if proposed, socioeconomic certifications.

How can SamSearch help HCaTS holders find task order opportunities?

SamSearch monitors HCaTS task order solicitations on SAM.gov and agency-specific portals, sending real-time alerts sorted by HCaTS pool and track. The platform tracks USASpending patterns for HCaTS incumbents to forecast re-compete timelines, identifies which agencies have the highest HCaTS utilization, and helps HC and training companies prioritize their proposal pipeline across all four HCaTS contract types.

👥

GWAC (Government-Wide Acquisition Contract) · GSA/OPM Human Capital & Training GWAC

HCaTS

Managed by GSA and OPM (co-managed)

HCaTS (Human Capital and Training Solutions) is a jointly managed GWAC co-owned by GSA and OPM (Office of Personnel Management). It provides all federal agencies with access to complex, integrated human capital management and training solutions: including HR consulting, talent management, organizational development, leadership training, and workforce analytics. HCaTS has two pools (Pool 1: Learning Solutions, Pool 2: Human Capital Strategy) and two tracks within each pool (Small Business and Unrestricted), creating four contract types in total.

Track HCaTS Task Orders: Book a Demo Contract Vehicle Matchmaker →

$1B+

Annual Spend

$5B (SB) + $5B (UNR)

Ceiling

10 years

Contract Term

GSA and OPM

Managed By

HCaTS Contract Pools

Competition pools and socioeconomic set-aside categories within HCaTS.

Pool 1, Learning Solutions (Small Business)

P1-SB

Learning and development, training program design and delivery, eLearning, and curriculum development for small businesses.

Pool 1, Learning Solutions (Unrestricted)

P1-UNR

Learning and development services open to all business sizes (large and small) for comprehensive federal training programs.

Pool 2, Human Capital Strategy (Small Business)

P2-SB

HR consulting, talent management, organizational development, and workforce strategy for small business firms.

Pool 2, Human Capital Strategy (Unrestricted)

P2-UNR

Full-scope human capital management and strategy services open to all business sizes.

HCaTS Task Areas & Service Scope

The functional task areas and service categories that define what can be ordered through HCaTS.

Learning Solutions (Pool 1)

P1-LS

Training program design, instructor-led delivery, eLearning development, LMS management, and curriculum maintenance

Leadership Development

P1-LS-L

Executive coaching, SES candidate development, leadership assessment, and management development programs

Technical Training

P1-LS-T

IT skills training, technical certification prep, acquisition training, and occupational competency development

Human Capital Strategy (Pool 2)

P2-HC

Workforce planning, HR organizational design, HR transformation, and strategic human capital advisory

Talent Management

P2-HC-TM

Recruitment strategy, onboarding, retention, succession planning, and performance management systems

Performance Management & Engagement

P2-HC-PE

Employee engagement surveys, performance system design, culture transformation, and change management

HCaTS Market Context

Why HCaTS matters in the federal contracting landscape and its role in agency acquisition strategy.

HCaTS occupies a specialized niche that no other GWAC fully covers: complex, integrated human capital and learning solutions for the federal workforce. With over two million federal civilian employees and a growing emphasis on workforce modernization, reskilling, and leadership development, demand for human capital services through HCaTS is driven by both OPM policy mandates and agency-level workforce transformation initiatives. The co-management model (GSA + OPM) gives HCaTS unique credibility with human resources organizations that might otherwise preferred agency-specific IDIQ solutions.

How HCaTS Task Orders Work

Step-by-step: how agencies issue task orders through HCaTS and what contract holders need to do to compete.

1Agency confirms the human capital or training requirement falls within HCaTS Pool 1 (Learning Solutions) or Pool 2 (Human Capital Strategy) and selects the appropriate track (SB or Unrestricted).
2Agency prepares a Performance Work Statement (PWS) and posts an RFP to GSA eBuy or directly notifies HCaTS holders in the applicable pool and track.
3HCaTS holders respond with technical proposals covering their approach to the human capital or training requirement, along with key personnel qualifications and pricing.
4Agency evaluates proposals on best-value criteria weighted toward technical approach, key personnel, and past performance, pricing is often a secondary factor for complex HC engagements.
5Agency awards the task order; performance is managed through GSA's HCaTS program office with OPM providing oversight for human capital quality standards.

Key Facts, HCaTS

Important market intelligence for federal contractors pursuing HCaTS task orders.

1Co-managed by GSA and OPM, the only major GWAC jointly administered by two agencies
2Two pools: Pool 1 (Learning Solutions) and Pool 2 (Human Capital Strategy)
3Each pool has Small Business (SB) and Unrestricted (UNR) tracks, four total contract types
4Combined $10B ceiling across all pools and tracks
5All federal agencies can order, government-wide authority
6Human capital vendors can hold contracts in one or multiple HCaTS pools/tracks simultaneously

Eligibility & Requirements, HCaTS

What is required to hold a HCaTS contract and compete for task orders.

✓Must hold an HCaTS contract in the applicable pool (Pool 1 Learning Solutions or Pool 2 Human Capital Strategy)
✓Small Business track: must qualify as SBA small business under the applicable NAICS code at time of award
✓Unrestricted track: open to all business sizes demonstrating relevant HC or training past performance
✓Demonstrated past performance in human capital, training, or OD services relevant to the pool proposed
✓Must maintain active SAM.gov registration and applicable SBA size standard throughout the contract period
✓NITAAC-like portal registration: OPM and GSA may require training-specific certifications or qualifications for specific task areas

Top Agency Buyers, HCaTS

Federal agencies that most actively order through HCaTS. Understanding these buyers is essential for targeted capture and business development.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

OPM is the co-managing agency and a primary buyer, using HCaTS for HR consulting, workforce analytics, executive development programs, and HR systems modernization.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

With 240,000+ employees, DHS is one of the most active HCaTS ordering agencies for leadership training, HR strategy, and workforce development across its many components.

Department of Defense (DoD) Civilian HR

DoD civilian HR offices use HCaTS for competency-based training, civilian workforce analytics, and organizational development programs for its 750,000+ civilian employees.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

The VA uses HCaTS for healthcare workforce training, employee leadership development, and HR consulting tied to its ongoing workforce transformation priorities.

Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)

HHS components use HCaTS Pool 1 extensively for scientific workforce training, eLearning, and leadership development programs across NIH, CMS, and CDC.

Strategies for Winning HCaTS Task Orders

Practical tactics for maximizing your success as a HCaTS contract holder.

1OPM is one of the most active ordering agencies for HCaTS, build direct relationships with OPM HR Solutions and HR Connect program offices.
2Leadership development and executive coaching (SES-level programs) command premium rates through HCaTS: position for OPM, DHS, and CFO Act agencies.
3Pool 2 (Human Capital Strategy) is often overlooked by training companies: if you deliver workforce planning or HR transformation, Pool 2 opens a distinct, less competitive set of task orders.
4eLearning and LMS platform development have grown significantly as agencies pursue remote-first training, align your Pool 1 capabilities to virtual and hybrid delivery.
5Many HCaTS task orders are re-competed annually or biennially, build a pipeline tracker of current HCaTS task order incumbencies using USASpending data.
6Partner with larger HCaTS holders (for small business subcontracting) or smaller HC firms (for large business prime vehicles) to expand coverage across all four HCaTS contract types.

SamSearch Platform

Never Miss a HCaTS Task Order

SamSearch monitors task order solicitations across all major contract vehicles (including HCaTS) in real time. Get instant alerts, track re-competes, and understand agency spending patterns on your vehicles.

Book a Demo Start Free Trial

Frequently Asked Questions, HCaTS

Common questions about HCaTS including pools, eligibility, ordering process, and task order strategies.

HCaTS

Managed by GSA and OPM (co-managed)