Best-in-Class Contract (BIC)

A Best-in-Class contract is a government-wide acquisition vehicle designated by OMB as meeting the highest standards for pricing, vendor management, and data transparency, representing the preferred vehicle for federal agency spending in its product or service category.

What is a Best-in-Class Contract (BIC)?

Best-in-Class (BIC) is a designation awarded by OMB to contract vehicles that meet a defined set of performance criteria across four dimensions:

1. Customer value: Competitive pricing supported by market research, favorable terms and conditions, and access by all agencies.
2. Acquisition community support: Dedicated vendor management, robust user community, dedicated agency ordering support, and documented savings reporting.
3. Data and insights: Rich transaction data shared with the Category Management Leadership Council; agency-level spending visibility; supplier performance tracking.
4. Continuous improvement: Regular pricing benchmarks, technology refresh, and terms updates in response to market changes.

Current major BIC contract vehicles by category include:

• IT: SEWP V (NASA), CIO-SP4 (NIH), Alliant 2 (GSA), OASIS+ (GSA for professional services with IT components)
• Professional Services: OASIS+ (unrestricted and small business domains)
• Human Capital: OPM USAStaffing
• Facilities: DoD construction vehicles
• Medical: VA Federal Supply Schedule Medical/Surgical
• Office Management: GSA MAS (Multiple Award Schedule)

Agencies that use BIC contracts report their spending as Tier 3 under the category management framework - the highest tier and the government-wide target for spending channeling. OMB tracks BIC utilization across agencies and reports it as part of the President's Management Agenda.

Why BIC designation matters for government contractors

BIC contracts are the highest-priority vehicles for BD investment. Agencies are actively redirecting spending toward BIC vehicles, meaning a contractor who is not on a relevant BIC vehicle is systematically losing access to spending it previously captured through agency-unique contracts. Getting on BIC vehicles (competing in OASIS+ Open Seasons, CIO-SP4, SEWP V, etc.) is a strategic imperative for contractors in professional services, IT, and management consulting.

Example

A management consulting firm holds two agency-specific contracts worth $8 million annually. Both agencies are being directed by OMB's category management program to use OASIS+ (the BIC contract for professional services) for new and recompeting requirements. The firm competes in OASIS+'s Management and Advisory domain, wins a position on the vehicle, and uses its OASIS+ eligibility to bid on task orders from both its existing clients and dozens of other agencies. Over three years, OASIS+ task orders grow to represent $22 million of annual revenue as spending migrates to the BIC vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a contractor get on a BIC vehicle?

BIC vehicles are established through competitive acquisitions. The sponsoring agency (GSA, NASA, NIH) issues an RFP for the vehicle, and qualified contractors submit proposals. Award criteria typically include technical capability, past performance, and pricing parameters. Once on the vehicle, contractors compete for individual task orders through mini-competitions among vehicle holders in the relevant pool or domain.

Are BIC vehicles always IDIQs?

Most BIC vehicles are Multiple-Award IDIQ (Indefinitely Definite Quantity) contracts because the multi-award structure enables broad competition at the task order level. Some BIC vehicles have a Schedule (catalog) structure (GSA MAS) rather than pure IDIQ. The common thread is that all BIC vehicles provide multiple-agency access and pre-competed terms.

Can an agency bypass a BIC vehicle for a specific requirement?

Yes, with justification. An agency may bypass a BIC vehicle when the requirement has unique characteristics that the BIC vehicle cannot accommodate, when agency-specific regulations require different terms, or when using the BIC vehicle would not serve the agency's mission. However, OMB tracks such waivers, and agencies face internal accountability for high rates of BIC non-utilization.

Are small businesses disadvantaged by BIC vehicle consolidation?

OMB and GSA have addressed this by requiring BIC vehicles to include small business competition pools. OASIS+ has unrestricted and small business domains; CIO-SP4 has small business pools; GSA MAS includes small business set-aside orders. Small businesses that invest in getting on BIC small business pools gain significant advantage from the consolidated spending directed to those vehicles.