Task Order Contracting Guide 2025: Winning Work Under IDIQ and GSA Schedules
Learn how to win task orders under IDIQ contracts and GSA Schedules. Understand fair opportunity, task order evaluation, and strategies for task order success.
Quick Answer: What is a Task Order?
A task order is an order for services issued under an existing IDIQ contract or GSA Schedule. Task orders define specific work, deliverables, and pricing for individual projects. While the base contract establishes terms, each task order is a mini-competition among contract holders. Winning task orders is where the real revenue comes from.
What is a Task Order?
Task orders are issued under umbrella contracts like IDIQs and GSA Schedules. They define specific work packages and are the mechanism through which work is actually performed.
Task Order vs. Delivery Order
Task Orders
- • Used for services
- • Define work to be performed
- • Often include labor hours
- • May have deliverables
Delivery Orders
- • Used for supplies/products
- • Specify items to deliver
- • Include quantities
- • Delivery schedule defined
Fair Opportunity
FAR 16.505 requires agencies to provide fair opportunity to all contract holders before issuing task orders, with limited exceptions.
Fair Opportunity Exceptions
- →Urgency: Unusual urgency precludes competition
- →Sole capability: Only one contractor can perform
- →Logical follow-on: Relates to existing order
- →Minimum guarantee: Orders to satisfy minimums
Competition Requirements
Task Order Process
Typical Task Order Timeline
Request Issued
Agency sends RFQ/RFP to contract holders (often 7-30 days to respond)
Proposals Submitted
Contractors submit technical approach and pricing
Evaluation
Agency evaluates against stated criteria
Award
Task order issued to selected contractor
Winning Strategies
Task Order Success Factors
Respond to Everything
Even if you cannot win, responding builds relationships and demonstrates engagement. Track your win rate to identify patterns.
Know the Customer
Build relationships with the ordering Contracting Officers before task orders drop. Understand their priorities and pain points.
Price to Win
Many task orders are LPTA or price-focused. Know competitor pricing and position accordingly while maintaining profit.
Leverage Past Performance
Prior task order success on the same vehicle is powerful. Deliver excellence to build incumbent advantage.
Respond Quickly
Task order turnarounds are often short. Have templates, rate cards, and resumes ready to go.
Task Order Management
After Award
- ✓Conduct kickoff meeting with COR
- ✓Establish communication protocols
- ✓Track spending against ceiling
- ✓Document scope changes for modifications
- ✓Position for follow-on or recompete
Task Order Protests
Protest Rights
Frequently Asked Questions
How many task orders should I expect?
It varies widely by contract vehicle. Some contracts have hundreds of task orders, others just a few. Research the vehicles historical order frequency before bidding.
Can task orders modify base contract terms?
Task orders must be within the scope of the base contract. They cannot change fundamental terms like rates or labor categories beyond whats already allowed.
What if Im not getting fair opportunity?
Contact the contracts ombudsman. Document instances where you werent notified or given adequate time. Agencies take fair opportunity violations seriously.
Win More Task Orders
Track IDIQ and GSA opportunities with BidFinds. Get notified of task order solicitations.
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