NASA seeks extension of SEWP V to Sept. 30

Faced with several bid protests and an extremely large number of proposals, NASA is asking for authorization to extend SEWP V for a few more months until the end of the fiscal year.

SEWP V is currently slated to expire on April 30, but NASA has not completed evaluating proposals for SEWP VI.

The agency therefore wants to extend the current contract to Sept. 30. SEWP is one of the market’s largest IT product and services contracts. The next version will have a $60 billion ceiling.

“Additional time is needed to make selection and award,” NASA posted on the SEWP website.

NASA does not mention the protests in its announcement, but there are nine active challenges at the Government Accountability Office from companies whose proposals were rejected during phase one of the evaluation process.

GAO's deadlines to rule on the protests fall in late May and early June, well past the April 30 end date for SEWP V. NASA said it wants SEWP VI to begin the day after SEWP V ends, so there is no disruption in the program.

By extending the end of SEWP V to Sept. 30, the agency should have enough time to get through the remaining evaluations as well as resolve the protests.

That will also leave the agency a few weeks to plan a going-away party for Joanne Woytek, the long-time SEWP program manager. Woytek announced Tuesday that she will leave NASA on Oct. 17.

She has led the program since 1999 and is considered the chief architect of its success.

Woytek has said she is not retiring, but will take her skills and experience and apply them to a new opportunity.