The skinny on SEWP
The NASA-run GWAC for tech products is being revamped -- and the agency wants others in government to know what's available.
The next iteration of NASA's venerable Solution for Enterprise-Wide Procurement contract will maintain its emphasis on products over services. (Stock image)
NASA's Solution for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) contract aims to help government users handle the increasingly complex world of IT products in a cohesive, manageable manner. But first agencies need to know understand what it is.
The latest iteration of the contract -- SEWP IV-- is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity Government Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) overseen by NASA. The contract offers a wide variety of advanced IT products and product-related services, including hardware and software, maintenance, warranty, installation, and product training, at fixed prices.
"SEWP is the only GWAC that's been used by all federal agencies," said SEWP program manager Joanne Woytek in a presentation at FOSE on the basics of the contract. (The FOSE conference is sponsored by 1105 Media, the parent company of FCW.)
SEWP IV, which expires in April, 2014, consists of 38 competed prime contract holders and includes 21 small businesses. A new iteration -- SEWP V -- is being drafted with a request for proposal slated for June 24, said Woytek, and full proposals coming in August.
The current SEWP IV contract has four multiple award contract groups: Group A includes nine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Value Added Resellers (VARs). Group B includes VARs and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOB) set-asides, and Woytek said SEWP V will include HUBZone set asides in that group as well. Group C includes Value Added Resellers (VARs) and small business set-asides. Group D includes Value Added Resellers, and open competition.
Woytek stressed that SEWP IV is not a services contract. Agencies can use it to purchase services to install products and software, as long as the services do not exceed 10 percent of the overall contract price. Products that can be procured include servers, laptops and supercomputers; networking and telecommunications products; software—including software-as-a-service; audio/visual products; teleconferencing gear; peripherals like printers; installation; site planning; and product training.
SEWP IV, said Woytek, has a dynamic catalog that sees items added based on customers' requests. Instead of customers searching for specific products, she said agencies can find the products and solutions they want and request that the contractor's items be added to the catalog. Requests are typically reviewed and either approved or denied within two to four hours, with an aim to turn requests around in one business day. "There's nothing on SEWP until it's asked for," Woytek said.
SEWP IV charges agencies a 0.45 percent surcharge to pay its staff and expenses. According to Woytek, SEWP IV fees are calculated against the order price and are capped at $10,000 per order.