RFP For VETS GWAC Is Released GSA has issued the RFP for the first governmentwide acquisition contract set aside for businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. The Veterans Technology Services (VETS) GWAC is worth up to $5 billion over 10 years, with a five-year base period and five annual options. Awards are expected early next year for information systems engineering and systems operations and maintenance services. The number of awards has not been determined. President Bush directed GSA to create the GWAC in an executive order last fall as part of an initiative to increase contracting opportunities for disabled veterans. Congress has set a goal of awarding 3% of prime contract dollars to SDVs, but agencies have never achieved even one-quarter of 1%. Congress authorized sole-source and set-aside contracts for service-disabled veterans last year, but many veterans’ groups want the set-aside rules strengthened. Vietnam Veterans of America said SBA violated congressional intent by applying the “rule of two” to SDV contracts: no sole-source contract is permitted if two or more qualified SDVs are available. VVA also wants Congress to rewrite the law to provide that contracting officers “shall” set aside work for SDVs if qualified companies are available, the same language that applies to 8(a) and HUBZone set-asides. The interim rule says contracts “may” be set aside for SDVs. (SAA, 4/1) GSA’s Small Business GWAC Center in Kansas City, Mo., will manage the VETS procurement. That office also manages GWACs set-aside for 8(a) and HUBZone firms. For more information, go to www.gsa.gov/vetsgwac.