The General Services Administration (GSA) is looking for feedback on the updated draft of its ASCEND cloud services blanket purchase agreement (BPA), which looks to set up the agency as a prime destination for cloud solutions for agencies throughout the government.
The second draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) explains that the governmentwide BPA will be split into three primary pools, including Pool 1: infrastructure as a service, platform as a service (IaaS, PaaS); Pool 2: software as a service (SaaS); and Pool 3: cloud-related IT professional services.
“The ASCEND BPA will support the strategic sourcing of cloud services (i.e., IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and cloud related IT professional services from authorized vendors,” the draft PWS says. “This will result in the procurement of compliant, secure, and efficiently/effectively managed cloud services and cloud related IT professional services.”
GSA said it plans to award the ASCEND contract in a phased manner as a featured part of GSA’s Cloud Marketplace, with multiple awards in each pool. The agency said anticipated award dates are yet to be determined.
The draft PWS offers specific requirements for Pool 1 and defines the general scope for Pools 2 and 3. Comments on the draft document are due by Jan. 30.
GSA first released a draft solicitation for the ASCEND BPA in late July 2022.
