Skip to content

Define. Compare. Compete: GWAC, MAC, BIC Explained

This go-to guide defines four primary contract types, their legal and historical contexts, and features, as well as offers practical advice on how to effectively utilize them to secure government business.

Historical Timeline

1932 – Economy Act (31 U.S.C. §1535)

Establishes the legal authority for interagency acquisitions, enabling one agency to order goods/services from another (implemented in FAR 17.502-2).

1996 — Clinger–Cohen Act

Creates federal Chief Information Officers and reforms IT acquisition—foundational to government‑wide IT buying and later GWAC structures.

2012 — OFPP “Improving Acquisition Through Strategic Sourcing”

Directs agencies to expand strategic sourcing, laying groundwork for Category Management.

2019 — OMB M‑19‑13 (Category Management)

Formalizes Category Management, Spend Under Management (SUM) tiers, and use of Best‑in‑Class (BIC) solutions to reduce duplication and drive savings.

2024 — SUM Model update (Acquisition Gateway)

Publishes updated SUM Tiered Maturity Model and references for Tier 1–3 justifications used by agencies to track and improve maturity.

2024 – Proposed Rule (FAR Case 2023-011)

A proposed rule would require agencies, when planning new multiple-award contracts, to consider on-ramps to allow businesses to be added during performance (especially long-term vehicles), and to set aside orders for small businesses. If on-ramps are not used, agencies must explain why.

2025 – FAR Council Modernization Effort

The FAR Council is conducting a multi‑year initiative to restructure and streamline the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) for clarity, usability, and digital accessibility. Contractors should monitor these efforts because they may impact how GWACs, MACs, BICs, and IDIQs are defined and cross‑referenced in FAR Subparts.

2025 – GAO VA Acquisitions Report (GAO-25-107398)

VA agreed to implement all six of GAO’s recommendations, which foreshadow a new roadmap for how VA will procure moving forward. (GAO.gov)

How to Capitalize on These Vehicles

Define Before You Pursue

Select vehicles aligned to your strategic goals.

Compare Options

Look at scope, ceiling, and small business set-asides.

Compete Smart

Use JVs, teaming, and Mentor-Protégé arrangements.

Leverage Actively

Stand up a Task Order Response Cell (TORC) to maximize ROI.

Stay Current

Check the Acquisition Gateway Solution Finder regularly for BIC updates.

Vehicles Defined

GWACs: Government Wide Acquisition Contracts
Definition

Task-order or delivery-order contracts for IT products and services that any federal agency can use.

Legal Basis

Enabled under the Clinger–Cohen Act of 1996, which reformed IT acquisition, created agency CIOs, and encouraged interagency IT procurement. (CIO.gov)

Types

Includes multiple-award vehicles such as Alliant, CIO-SP, and SEWP that periodically open on-ramps for new vendors.

Use Case

Best for IT-focused companies seeking enterprise-wide reach and repeatable, competitively awarded task orders.

Examples

GSA Alliant 3, NIH CIO-SP4, NASA SEWP V.

Strategic Use
  • Provides government-wide reach for IT contractors.
  • Streamlines the buying process and reduces duplication.
  • Supports modernization and consolidation of IT purchasing.
BICs: Best-in-Class Contracts
Definition

Contract vehicles designated by OMB that meet strict criteria for performance, data sharing, spend transparency, and small business participation.

Legal Basis

Established under OMB’s Category Management policy guidance, specifically Memorandum M-19-13, which formalized the Spend Under Management (SUM) framework.

Types

Can include GWACs, MACs, or other vehicles that have been evaluated and certified by OMB as “Best-in-Class.”

Use Case

Best when agencies seek preferred, enterprise-level solutions that count toward Category Management goals.

Examples

GSA OASIS+, GSA Polaris, 8(a) STARS III.

Strategic Use
  • Aligns with OMB’s Category Management strategy and helps agencies meet SUM Tier 3 goals.
  • Preferred pathway for enterprise-wide buying, often prioritized by federal buyers.
  • Ideal for vendors seeking long-term visibility and recurring task orders on high-profile vehicles.
MACs: Multi-Agency Contracts

Important Note: Distinguish from Multiple-Award Contracts, which share the acronym “MAC” but are not necessarily multi-agency.

Definition

Inter-agency contracts allow multiple agencies to acquire goods and services through a shared vehicle.

Legal Basis

Traditionally authorized under the Economy Act of 1932, with many modern GSA MACs operating under separate statutory authority, exempting them from Economy Act requirements.

Types

Can be single-award or multiple-award, and may be used across civilian or DoD agencies, depending on the vehicle.

Use Case

Ideal when requirements are standard across agencies and benefit from consolidated management and shared pricing.

Examples

GSA HCaTS, DHS EAGLE II.

Strategic Use
  • Enables shared administration and consolidated buying power across agencies.
  • Attractive for vendors with offerings that have cross-agency demand.
  • Suitable pathway for firms seeking to scale through multiple agency task orders.
IDIQs: Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity
Definition

Contracts allowing agencies to order unspecified quantities of goods/services during a set period.

Legal Basis

Governed by FAR Subpart 16.5, which outlines rules for ordering, competition, and fair opportunity.

Types

Intra-agency (one agency) or inter-agency.

Use Case

Best for recurring or unpredictable demand where flexibility is required.

Examples

Army ITES-3S, VA T4NG.

Strategic Use
  • Offers maximum flexibility for recurring or uncertain demand.
  • Locks in long-term vendor relationships through a master contract.
  • Reduces administrative burden by avoiding multiple standalone procurements.