Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to right sidebar Skip to footer

Artificial Intelligence

GSA and Perplexity Sign First Direct-to-Government OneGov Deal for AI Services

The General Services Administration has finalized its first direct OneGov agreement with frontier AI firm Perplexity, giving federal agencies steeply discounted access to advanced AI technology. (NEXTGOV/FCW November 19, 2025)

Under this groundbreaking contract, agencies can obtain Perplexity Enterprise Pro for Government for just $0.25 per agency over 18 months through a direct purchase on the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS). Unlike previous OneGov agreements, Perplexity can now sell directly to federal buyers without a reseller, supporting the administration’s push for tighter engagement with original tech developers and lower acquisition costs. (ibid)

Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum emphasized the importance of the deal:

“This OneGov agreement, directly with Perplexity, offers the federal government an additional pathway to leverage the transformative advantages of AI.”

Perplexity’s AI-powered search platform has grown rapidly in 2025, now serving more than 30 million monthly users with real-time, cited answers. Demand within federal agencies has surged, especially during this year’s 43-day government shutdown. (ibid)

The company’s Enterprise Pro Platform lets government users query multiple leading AI models—including OpenAI and Anthropic—within one interface while adding enhanced, mission-focused security features. (ibid)

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas celebrated the partnership, saying:

“Accurate AI serves America. We’re proud to support President Trump’s AI Action Plan by giving federal employees cited, verifiable answers across every major AI model.”

To bring its services to government buyers quickly, Perplexity participated in FedRAMP’s accelerated 20x authorization pilot and secured AI prioritization under GSA criteria. (ibid)

Jerry Ma, Perplexity’s VP of Policy and Global Affairs, noted the urgency of the effort:

“This Administration has made clear that agencies should have the best of American AI not in 2028, 2027, or 2026—but right now, in 2025.”

With this agreement, Perplexity becomes the first multimodel AI platform tailored specifically to federal needs and directly accessible via the GSA MAS, marking a new era in procuring mission-critical AI. (ibid)

Questions about Perplexity? Give us a call.

GSA Taps Industry to Transform Federal Contracting with AI

The General Services Administration (GSA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) today, seeking input from suppliers and industry associations to create a single, integrated, and highly efficient procurement ecosystem. This new system will incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive collaboration and strengthen the federal acquisition lifecycle. (General Services Administration Press Release August 18, 2025)

“President Trump, through his executive orders and AI Action Plan, is prioritizing the consolidation ​of federal procurement ​and acceleration of AI adoption across government. GSA ​plays a central role in both these efforts and will deliver a more effective, data-driven, and unified acquisition lifecycle,” said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum. “Leveraging AI to consolidate procurement processes and provide insightful recommendations is critical to this transformation. We welcome our industry partners’ expertise as we build an acquisition system that reduces waste, delivers better value for taxpayers, and better results for government.” (ibid)

The RFI represents GSA’s initial outreach to industry partners to gather their perspective on its vision for modernizing procurement. On behalf of the federal government, GSA seeks innovative solutions that apply AI and automation to existing data, structured and unstructured, to achieve greater efficiency and scalability in acquisition practices. (ibid)

GSA invites input from suppliers and associations with expertise in information technology, data architecture and storage, AI and Machine Learning, data analytics, user experience design, and innovative small businesses and startups. (ibid)

Interested parties should review the draft RFI package, which outlines the scope, objectives, functional and non-functional requirements, information about current systems, and related challenges. Respondents may submit White Papers up to 10 pages. (ibid)

Responses are due August 29, 2025. GSA will use the feedback to inform follow-on engagements, including additional RFIs, draft solicitations, and potential individual discussions. GSA anticipates issuing solicitations in support of this initiative shortly after reviewing feedback. (ibid)

Should you have questions concerning the creation of the White Paper or need guidance, give us a call.

GSA Panel Focuses on AI, Cloud, and Cybersecurity in Federal Procurement

The General Services Administration’s (GSA) Acquisition Policy Federal Advisory Committee (GAP FAC) held its first 2024 meeting on December 5th, introducing 14 new members and focusing on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. (MeriTalk December 5, 2024)

GAP FAC advises the GSA administrator, offering guidance on acquisition tools and addressing top challenges in Federal procurement. (ibid)

During the Dec. 5 public meeting, the advisory board outlined plans to integrate advanced technologies into procurement. The committee aims to leverage AI and data analytics to boost efficiency, adopt climate-conscious acquisition strategies, and resolve systemic issues in the acquisition ecosystem. (ibid)

“GSA is ready to embrace emerging technologies and deliver solutions that meet the government’s evolving needs,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “This committee’s invaluable expertise will help federal agencies drive innovation, improve efficiency, and deliver better outcomes for the American people.” (ibid)

The meeting also introduced the new members, including:

  • Dorothea Abraham, Mason School of Business, William and Mary
  • Dean Alderucci, Carnegie Mellon University
  • Tiffany Angulo, California Department of Technology
  • Gordon Bitko, Information Technology Industry Council
  • Time Cooke, ASI Government, Inc.
  • Matthew Cornelius, Workday
  • Ravit Dotan, TechBetter
  • Omid Ghaffari-Tabrizi, Google
  • Margaret Graves, IBM
  • Jared Johnson, California Department of Technology
  • James Keagle, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resources Strategy
  • Cari Miller, Center for Inclusive Change
  • Lindsey Moore, DevelopMetrics
  • Adrianna Tan, Future Ethics

GSA opened nominations for new members in July, seeking expertise in AI, cloud computing, machine learning, and cybersecurity. (ibid)

“This committee plays a vital role in shaping the future of federal procurement,” said Jeffrey Koses, GSA Senior Procurement Executive. “The work we’re undertaking will not only improve how the federal government acquires goods and services, but will also ensure that procurement strategies remain adaptive and innovative in a rapidly changing technological landscape.” (ibid)

Questions about how your business might take advantage of AI, Cloud or Cybersecurity in upcoming procurements? Give us a call.

OMB Issues First Governmentwide AI Acquisition Policy

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released new guidance today to improve how Federal agencies acquire artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The guidance, outlined in the memo Advancing the Responsible Acquisition of AI in Government, directs agencies to boost cross-functional collaboration, manage AI risks and performance, and foster a competitive AI market. (MeriTalk October 3, 2024)

OMB’s Deputy Director for Management, Jason Miller, emphasized the need for responsible AI procurement, stating that Federal agencies will either have AI systems built by contractors or purchase them directly. “This new memo equips agencies with the tools to capture AI’s potential while managing its risks,” Miller said. (ibid)

A large portion of the memo focuses on managing AI risks, with OMB mandating early involvement from agency privacy officials in AI acquisition processes to identify privacy risks and ensure legal compliance. Agencies are also instructed to negotiate contracts that require vendors to provide detailed information for evaluating AI systems, assessing risks, and protecting government data. (ibid)

The guidance addresses generative AI specifically, calling for testing, red-teaming, and evaluation to ensure the safety and appropriateness of AI tools. It also promotes practices to avoid vendor lock-in, prioritize transparency, and ensure interoperability in AI systems. (ibid)

This guidance fulfills a key part of the Biden-Harris administration’s October 2023 AI executive order and reflects input gathered from public comments and industry roundtables. OMB’s Miller highlighted the Federal government’s significant purchasing power, noting that in 2023, it spent over $100 billion on IT products and services. He stressed that responsible procurement decisions can accelerate AI advancements while mitigating risks for government use. (ibid)

Questions concerning the new OMB issued AI guidance? Give us a call.