GSA Polaris

GSA Polaris represents the next evolution of small business IT contracting, specifically designed to remedy gaps in set-aside access by giving WOSB, SDVOSB, and HUBZone firms their own dedicated pools rather than competing within a combined small business pool. Polaris is positioned alongside STARS III as a complementary small business IT vehicle — STARS III for companies with health IT alignment, Polaris for companies emphasizing emerging technology and socioeconomic diversity. As Polaris reaches full ordering velocity, it is expected to drive billions annually across cloud, AI, cybersecurity, and digital modernization work for all federal civilian agencies.

1. 1Agency identifies an IT services requirement and confirms it qualifies for a Polaris pool (SB, WOSB, SDVOSB, or HUBZone) based on the desired set-aside.
2. 2Agency prepares an RFP or RFQ and posts it to GSA eBuy, notifying all Polaris holders in the selected pool.
3. 3Polaris holders in the selected pool receive the solicitation, attend any pre-proposal conferences, and submit technical and price proposals.
4. 4Agency evaluates proposals on best-value criteria and awards a task order to the most advantageous offeror.
5. 5Task order is executed under the holder's Polaris base contract, with performance tracked and reported through the GSA ordering portal.

• 1Four separate pools — SB, WOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone — each with a $7.5B ceiling
• 2More than $30B in combined ceiling across all pools
• 3Best-In-Class (BIC) designated — government-wide preferred IT vehicle
• 4Emerging technology focus including AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and quantum computing
• 5Separately competed pools mean less competition within each socioeconomic category
• 6Open to all federal agencies including DoD under appropriate circumstances

• ✓Must qualify as a small business under SBA size standards for the applicable NAICS code
• ✓Must hold the applicable socioeconomic certification for the pool (WOSB, SDVOSB, or HUBZone) at award
• ✓Demonstrated relevant past performance in IT services aligned to the proposed task areas
• ✓Must maintain SBA certification and small business size standard throughout the contract period
• ✓Active SAM.gov registration required
• ✓Must own and control substantially all of the business entity proposing under the socioeconomic pool

• 1Polaris's pool-based structure means you only compete against firms in your socioeconomic category — your direct competition is significantly smaller than in an unrestricted vehicle.
• 2If you hold both WOSB and SDVOSB certifications (a veteran-owned woman-owned business), you can hold contracts in both Polaris pools — maximizing your task order eligibility.
• 3Agencies issuing AI, cloud, and cybersecurity task orders often prefer Polaris over STARS III because of its explicit TA focus on those disciplines.
• 4Target DHS, DoD civilian, and VA components early — they are the highest-volume Polaris users based on historical small business IT spending patterns.
• 5Polaris task orders often have higher ceilings than equivalent STARS III orders — position your capabilities for larger, multi-year programs.
• 6Use your Polaris pool certification as a marketing differentiator — many agencies specifically advertise WOSB, SDVOSB, and HUBZone task order set-asides through Polaris.

• What is GSA Polaris and how is it organized?+
• What IT task areas are covered by Polaris?+
• How is Polaris different from 8(a) STARS III?+
• Who manages Polaris and which agencies can use it?+
• What does each Polaris pool ceiling mean?+
• Can I hold Polaris contracts in multiple pools?+
• How does SamSearch help Polaris holders win task orders?+