Federal Contracting Acronym
TO
Task Order
Plain-English definition
Task Order (TO) is a core federal acquisition term used in regulations, solicitations, and contract administration. Vehicle and ordering terms describe how agencies access pre-competed contracts and issue task or delivery orders. Understanding vehicle mechanics helps teams find on-ramp opportunities and order-level competitions.
Why it matters
Task-order competitions reuse vehicle terms; winners are often decided on price and key personnel within tight deadlines.
Where you will see it
Fair-opportunity RFPs on GWACs, GSA OASIS, and agency IDIQs.
Example in context
An agency posts a task-order RFP against OASIS with CLIN-level labor rates and a 21-day response window.