Continuous On-Ramping is a government contracting practice that allows vendors to submit proposals and be awarded positions on certain contract vehicles at any time, rather than only during fixed or limited open periods. This approach contrasts with traditional “closed” or time-bound solicitations and is designed to maintain a dynamic, competitive, and inclusive vendor pool throughout the life of a contract.
In the context of GSA and federal procurement, continuous on-ramping is used to promote greater flexibility, innovation, and small business participation in long-term, multi-award contracts, especially government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) and indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) vehicles.
Purpose and Strategic Value
The traditional approach to awarding positions on major contract vehicles often involves a single open window—usually during the initial solicitation phase. While this simplifies initial evaluation, it can lead to several challenges:
- Qualified vendors may miss the window and be locked out for years
- The vendor base can become outdated or non-competitive over time
- Innovations in industry may not be reflected in the contractor pool
- Small businesses may grow into eligibility or newly enter the market but have no entry path
Continuous On-Ramping solves these problems by allowing ongoing access to the contract vehicle, ensuring that the government maintains a current, capable, and mission-aligned vendor base.
How Continuous On-Ramping Works
With continuous on-ramping, the solicitation remains permanently open or is re-opened at regular intervals (quarterly, biannually, etc.), allowing new vendors to:
- Submit proposals or qualifications for evaluation
- Be added to the pool of awardees on the contract
- Begin competing for task orders upon award
Existing contract holders are not impacted by new entrants but must continue to demonstrate performance and competitiveness to retain relevance.
In most cases, continuous on-ramping applies only to the base IDIQ or GWAC, not to specific task orders, which are competed separately.
GSA Use Cases and Examples
GSA has been a leader in implementing continuous on-ramping as a way to keep acquisition vehicles agile and accessible. Examples include:
1. 8(a) STARS III GWAC
- A best-in-class, small business IT services contract
- Continuous on-ramping allows new 8(a) firms to apply even after the initial awards
- Supports equity, innovation, and competition in the small business space
2. Alliant 3 (planned)
- GSA’s next-generation enterprise IT GWAC is expected to include a continuous on-ramping mechanism to reflect the agency’s push for greater inclusivity and ongoing access to innovation
3. Polaris GWAC
- Designed with continuous on-ramping to ensure that new small businesses can participate over the vehicle’s lifespan
This model is becoming increasingly popular, particularly for long-duration GWACs with lifespans of 10 years or more.
Benefits of Continuous On-Ramping
Continuous on-ramping benefits both the government and industry:
For Agencies:
- Access to new and innovative solutions over the contract’s life
- More competitive pricing and capabilities
- Flexibility to meet evolving mission needs
- Stronger alignment with category management and socioeconomic goals
For Vendors:
- Eliminates “once-in-a-lifetime” submission pressure
- Offers opportunities to enter mid-cycle, especially for newly eligible or maturing businesses
- Promotes fairness and market responsiveness
- Encourages participation from startups, niche firms, and small businesses
Challenges and Considerations
While advantageous, continuous on-ramping also introduces operational complexity that must be managed carefully:
- Ongoing evaluation workload for contracting officers
- Standardization of proposal requirements to ensure fairness
- Data and reporting system integration to accommodate a growing vendor base
- Education for industry on timelines, updates, and award status
- Budgetary and resource planning to manage potentially large and diverse contractor pools
GSA addresses these challenges through structured evaluation waves, automated intake platforms, and robust communication channels via tools like GSA Interact and Acquisition Gateway.
Continuous On-Ramping vs. Traditional Re-Compete
It’s important to distinguish continuous on-ramping from re-competing a contract. A re-compete typically occurs at the end of a contract’s term, where all positions are up for award again. In contrast, continuous on-ramping keeps the base vehicle open and evolves over time, supplementing (not replacing) existing awardees.
Some hybrid models may include limited open periods (e.g., every 12 months), which resemble continuous on-ramping in intent but provide natural checkpoints for evaluation and vendor outreach.
Conclusion
Continuous On-Ramping reflects a modern, flexible approach to federal contracting that aligns with evolving acquisition strategies, especially under GSA’s leadership in innovation and inclusivity. By enabling vendors to join contract vehicles over time, GSA ensures that the government’s acquisition base remains fresh, competitive, and representative of the broader marketplace. For vendors, especially small and emerging businesses, continuous on-ramping opens doors that were once closed—and for agencies, it means more choice, better performance, and greater agility in mission delivery.
