GSA's Governmentwide Acquisition Contract for IT services, STARS III, has a $50 billion ceiling and covers the full range of federal technology work: cloud migration, cybersecurity, software development, IT modernization, data analytics, and more. It launched in 2022 and runs through 2027, with a possible extension to 2029.
If you run a small IT firm and want predictable access to federal buyers without competing on every solicitation from scratch, STARS III is one of the most important vehicles in the market. Agencies order work through it constantly. GSA reported over $8 billion in task orders in the first two years alone.
This guide explains how the contract is structured, who qualifies, and what you actually do to get on it and start winning work.
What STARS III Is and Why It Matters
STARS III is a multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. Think of it as a pre-vetted list of small IT contractors that federal agencies can hire quickly without going through a full open-market competition for every project.
When an agency needs a new cybersecurity program or wants to modernize a legacy system, their contracting officer can post a task order solicitation to STARS III holders and receive proposals only from pre-qualified small businesses. That shortens the procurement cycle significantly compared to a full and open competition.
For small businesses, the value is direct access. You don't have to win a new prime contract for every opportunity. You bid on task orders under the vehicle you already hold.
The Four Pools
STARS III is organized into pools based on socioeconomic status. Which pool you qualify for depends on your certifications.
Pool 1 (Unrestricted): Any small IT business that meets GSA's experience requirements. No socioeconomic set-aside required.
Pool 2 (8(a)): Firms certified in SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program. This pool gets set-aside task orders specifically for 8(a) participants.
Pool 3 (HUBZone): Firms with active HUBZone certification from SBA. Task orders in this pool are reserved for HUBZone small businesses.
Pool 4 (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business): Firms certified as SDVOSBs through VA's Veteran Small Business Certification program (VetCert). Orders here go to SDVOSBs only.
Note that WOSB (women-owned small business) is not a separate STARS III pool. Women-owned firms can compete in Pool 1 or in any other pool they qualify for based on their other certifications. If your firm is both 8(a) and WOSB, you'd apply under Pool 2.
You can hold a spot in multiple pools if you qualify. Some firms hold positions in two or three pools simultaneously.
Size Standards and Eligibility
To be eligible for STARS III, your firm must be a small business under the NAICS code 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services). The size standard for that NAICS code is $34 million in average annual receipts over the past three fiscal years. GSA uses this standard for all STARS III pools.
Beyond size, you need to demonstrate relevant IT experience. The solicitation required offerors to document at least three past performance examples of IT work. At least one had to be a prime contract (not subcontract). GSA scored proposals on technical capability, past performance, and price.
STARS III is a competed vehicle, not an open enrollment. GSA ran the original competition in 2021 and made awards in 2022. The base contract is now closed to new awardees. If you weren't awarded in the initial competition, you cannot simply apply now.
Getting On STARS III When You're Not Already a Holder
This is the part most articles skip. STARS III is a closed pool. If you don't hold a position today, your two realistic paths are:
Teaming as a subcontractor. STARS III holders can bring in subcontractors on task orders. This is the fastest way to participate. Find prime holders in your pool and build relationships before solicitations drop. GSA publishes the list of STARS III awardees on its website. You can see who holds positions in each pool, search by NAICS code, and identify firms to approach.
Watch for on-ramping. GSA occasionally opens on-ramp periods for GWACs when utilization is high or the pool needs capacity in specific areas. STARS III has had at least one on-ramp discussion, and GSA has signaled it may open additional on-ramp opportunities before the contract expires. Monitor SAM.gov for any new solicitations under the STARS III contract number (47QTCA22D0001 and related task order contracts).
Pursue STARS IV positioning. Every GWAC eventually expires. STARS IV will follow STARS III. If you're building toward a prime position, start now. Pursue your 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB certification, document relevant IT past performance, and track GSA GWAC announcements so you can compete in the next vehicle's opening round.
How Task Order Competitions Work
When a STARS III holder wins a task order competition, the agency issues a request for quotation (RFQ) or request for proposal (RFP) to holders in the relevant pool. The solicitation describes the work, the period of performance, the evaluation criteria, and the ordering vehicle requirements.
Task orders under STARS III follow FAR Subpart 16.5, which governs orders against indefinite-delivery contracts. For task orders over $10 million, the ordering contracting officer must provide a fair opportunity to compete, meaning all pool holders get a chance to respond.
For orders below $10 million, agencies have more discretion. They may restrict competition to a subset of holders or even issue a sole-source task order under certain conditions (8(a) program rules, for example, allow sole-source awards up to $4.5 million for services).
Winning task orders requires the same disciplines as any federal proposal: strong past performance narratives, clear technical approach, realistic pricing, and a team that fits the scope. The advantage STARS III gives you is access to the competition, not a guaranteed win.
Teaming Arrangements Under STARS III
Teaming is common on STARS III. The prime contractor (the STARS III holder) may bring in subcontractors whose capabilities fill gaps in the task order requirements.
A few rules govern how teaming works here:
The prime must self-perform a meaningful portion of the work. FAR 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting) requires that small business prime contractors on set-aside orders perform at least 50% of the cost of personnel. For STARS III set-aside task orders, the 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB prime cannot simply pass the work to a large-business subcontractor.
Joint ventures are allowed and common. Two or more firms can form a joint venture that itself holds a STARS III position, or an existing JV can compete as a team under the prime's contract. SBA's mentor-protégé program is often used here: a large business and its small-business protégé form a joint venture that qualifies under the small business size standard.
If you are a subcontractor trying to build a track record, task orders on STARS III count as past performance even though you didn't hold the prime contract. Document the scope, dollar value, and agency clearly in your CPARs and in any past performance narratives you write for future proposals.
What to Do Now
If you don't currently hold a STARS III position, three actions move you toward participation:
- Get on the awardee list as a sub. Pull the STARS III contractor directory from GSA's website, identify five to ten prime holders in Pool 1 or your relevant set-aside pool, and reach out with a capability brief. Teaming agreements take time to negotiate. Start before a specific opportunity drives the timeline.
- Secure or renew your socioeconomic certification. If you qualify for 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB but haven't applied, do it now. These certifications open set-aside pools in STARS III and every other vehicle. SBA's SDVOSB and 8(a) applications are handled through certify.SBA.gov. HUBZone applications go through the same portal. Processing times run 60 to 90 days for most programs, longer for HUBZone if a site visit is required.
- Track the STARS IV procurement. GSA GWAC Program Office posts forecast information and pre-solicitation notices on SAM.gov. Set a saved search for "STARS IV" or monitor the GSA Multiple Award Schedules and GWAC news pages. When the solicitation drops, you will need past performance already documented, your socioeconomic certifications current, and a proposal team ready.
STARS III is one of the highest-volume IT vehicles in the federal market. The work is real and the agencies are active buyers. Getting positioned now, even as a subcontractor, puts you ahead of the hundreds of firms that will try to compete from scratch when STARS IV opens.
