GSA's Alliant 2 is a $50 billion government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC) for complex, multi-disciplinary IT services. Agencies from DoD to HHS use it to buy everything from cloud migration to cybersecurity operations. If you're a small or diverse business, your most realistic path in is as a subcontractor or teaming partner to one of the 61 prime contractors holding a spot on the vehicle.
This guide covers how Alliant 2 works, what agencies buy through it, how to find subcontracting opportunities, and when you'd be better off targeting STARS III instead.
What Alliant 2 actually is
Alliant 2 is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. GSA awarded it to a pool of large and mid-sized IT firms in 2018. Those firms — called pool holders or primes — can compete for task orders that federal agencies issue under the Alliant 2 umbrella. The $50 billion ceiling is shared across all task orders across the vehicle's full period of performance.
It covers a wide scope: IT services, systems design and integration, software development, IT operations, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, and emerging technologies. There's no small business set-aside on Alliant 2 itself. The primes are companies like Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI, Perspecta, and ManTech. Most task orders run well into the millions.
GSA is not currently accepting new Alliant 2 prime contractor applications. The on-ramp period closed in 2020. A follow-on vehicle, Alliant 3, is in procurement planning as of 2025, but no award timeline has been confirmed publicly.
Why this still matters for small businesses
Federal acquisition law requires prime contractors on large contracts to submit subcontracting plans when a contract exceeds $750,000 (or $1.5 million for construction). Under FAR Subpart 19.7, primes must set percentage goals for subcontracting dollars that flow to small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), women-owned small businesses (WOSBs), HUBZone firms, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs).
On Alliant 2 task orders, this isn't optional. A prime competing for a $10 million task order will typically include a subcontracting plan in its proposal. If their plan is weak, they lose points on evaluation. That creates real demand for qualified subcontractors before a proposal is even submitted.
This is where you get in. Not by winning a prime spot, but by being the sub they need in their plan.
How to find Alliant 2 subcontracting opportunities
The first step is identifying which companies hold Alliant 2 prime contracts. GSA publishes the full list on the Alliant 2 contract page at gsa.gov. There are 61 unrestricted pool holders. Download the list and start researching which ones operate in your technical domain and geography.
Look at each firm's existing subcontracting relationships. USASpending.gov shows awarded subcontracts on federal prime contracts. Search by the prime contractor's DUNS or UEI number and filter for subcontracts in your NAICS code. If a prime has worked with small businesses like yours before, they have an established process.
SAM.gov also lists subcontracting opportunities. Under the "Contract Opportunities" search, filter for notices tagged as subcontracting opportunities. Not every prime posts there, but large ones often do, especially for upcoming proposals.
LinkedIn outreach to capture BD managers and proposal managers at Alliant 2 primes is legitimate and frequently effective. A direct note explaining your specific technical capability, relevant past performance, and certifications (8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB) is worth more than a cold capability statement email blast. Be specific about what you've delivered, not just what you can do.
Teaming vs. subcontracting
These terms get used interchangeably but they're different arrangements.
A teaming agreement means you and a prime contractor agree to jointly pursue a specific task order. Your work scope, billing rates, and role are defined before the proposal goes in. If the team wins, you're on the contract. Teaming partners sometimes appear as named subs in the technical proposal, which gives you more visibility.
A subcontract is a downstream arrangement. The prime wins, then identifies subcontractors either through their existing small business program or through open competition. You have less certainty going in, but the barrier to entry is lower.
For task orders under roughly $2 million, primes may not invest in formal teaming. For large, multi-year task orders above $10 million, teaming discussions typically start 60 to 90 days before the solicitation drops. If you're not in those conversations early, you're not getting on the team.
Alliant 2 vs. STARS III: which vehicle fits
GSA's STARS III (Streamlined Technology Acquisition Resources for Services) is the set-aside counterpart. It's a $82.5 billion GWAC restricted to small businesses. If you're eligible — under the SBA size standard for your NAICS code — STARS III gives you prime contractor access without competing against the Leidos-scale firms on Alliant 2.
The core distinction: agencies use Alliant 2 when they want to compete among large, established IT firms or when the requirement is too large or complex for the STARS III small business pool. They use STARS III when they want small business competition or when a set-aside is appropriate.
In practice, contracting officers choose the vehicle based on the requirement size, agency preference, and whether a small business set-aside is mandated or encouraged. Some agencies have developed preferences for one vehicle or the other based on past performance. DoD shops often go to Alliant 2 for large programs. Civilian agencies are more varied.
If you're small and eligible, get onto STARS III if you can. You compete as a prime. The on-ramp periods open periodically — the STARS III on-ramp ran in 2022, and GSA has indicated it will open additional on-ramps. Watch the STARS III contract page on GSA.gov and register for notifications.
If you're not eligible for STARS III (too large, wrong NAICS, or missed the on-ramp), Alliant 2 subcontracting is your path.
What agencies actually buy through Alliant 2
The Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and intelligence community are heavy Alliant 2 users. Common task order types include:
- IT operations and maintenance for legacy systems
- Cloud migration and managed cloud services
- Cybersecurity operations centers (SOCs)
- Enterprise application development
- Data analytics and business intelligence platforms
If your firm does cloud architecture, DevSecOps, or federal cybersecurity work, Alliant 2 primes have ongoing demand for those capabilities as subcontractors. Cleared personnel are in high demand. If your team holds active clearances, say so immediately in any outreach.
Prepare before you outreach
Before you contact any Alliant 2 prime, get your documentation in order. You need a current SAM.gov registration, an up-to-date capability statement (one page, specific past performance, NAICS codes, certifications), and at least one example of relevant past performance with dollar value and agency name.
If you hold a socioeconomic certification (8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB), list it prominently. That certification directly addresses the prime's subcontracting plan requirement. You solve a problem for them.
Three action steps
1. Pull the Alliant 2 prime list from GSA.gov and identify 10 firms with work in your technical domain. Research each on USASpending.gov to see their subcontracting history. Prioritize firms that have consistently used small business subs in your NAICS codes.
2. Update your SAM.gov profile and capability statement before any outreach. Make sure your socioeconomic certifications are current and visible in SAM. A lapsed 8(a) certification or an expired SAM registration will end a conversation immediately.
3. If you're small and IT-focused, check the STARS III on-ramp schedule. Getting a prime spot on STARS III changes your position from sub to prime. Monitor gsa.gov/stars3 for on-ramp announcements and set a calendar reminder to check quarterly.
