Cloud services BPA is on the horizon: what to expect from GSA’s cloud marketplace

**Important update 2** On Dec. 19, 2023, a Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) was posted on GSA eBuy under RFQ1671198 and on SAM.gov. The Draft PWS includes IaaS/PaaS (Pool 1) requirements and defines general scope for SaaS (Pool 2), and IT Professionals Services (Pool 3). While GSA has had a protracted acquisition timeline for the release of Ascend, they have consistently communicated throughout the importance of Supply Chain Risk Management and the requirement for SCRM plan submission. If you have questions on the Ascend BPA and its underlying requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact the Baker Tilly team.

**Important update 1** On May 23, 2022, GSA released a Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) notice to solicit questions, comments and feedback on proposed BPA pools, sub-pools and anticipated solicitation requirements. Now designated as the “Ascend” BPA, the PWS provides lax sub-pool definitions compared to the initial RFI released in October 2021. Unchanged are the major pool designations and primary SIN requirements. Additionally, the key compliance drivers for offerors under the BPA, including at least annual SCRM plan submission and heightened cybersecurity considerations that are embedded within the statement (and discussed below).  If there are any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Baker Tilly team.

In a recent interview with Federal Computer Week, Laura Stanton, assistant commissioner for the Office of the Information Technology Category in the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service, revealed that GSA plans to launch a “cloud marketplace to serve as a comprehensive framework and one-stop shop for federal agencies seeking cloud solutions.” Recognizing the tremendous growth in the government’s use and need for cloud computing solutions, a marketplace will help focus agency needs on a select group of vetted solution providers. According to GSA, the need for such a vehicle has only intensified as agencies have continued a shift to a virtual working environment spurred on by the pandemic.