Glossary
IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity)
A contract vehicle that sets a ceiling value and period of performance, without guaranteeing that ceiling will actually be spent.
An IDIQ contract establishes a maximum dollar value (the ceiling) and a period of performance during which the government can issue task or delivery orders against it, as needs arise. Winning a spot on an IDIQ vehicle means becoming eligible to receive task orders — it doesn't mean any specific amount of work has been awarded yet.
A single-award IDIQ goes to one contractor, who receives all task orders issued against it. A multiple-award IDIQ splits eligibility across several contractors, who then typically compete against each other for individual task orders — a company's position on a multiple-award IDIQ says less about expected revenue than the same headline ceiling on a single-award IDIQ.