More SEWP for contractors as NASA expands total awards

The wait is over for more than 1,400 vendors. NASA’s SEWP program office awarded spots on the sixth iteration of its governmentwide acquisition contract for technology products and services.

In all, NASA chose 1,490 vendors and made 2,115 awards across three categories for its SEWP VI program.

Under Category A, NASA made 364 awards. This is for the full range of information technology communications and audio visual (ITC/AV) services and products, including cloud-based services as well as installation, integration, testing, training, maintenance and other product-based services.

Under Category B, NASA made 692 awards. This is for enterprisewide strategic solutions that improve and enhance the agency’s ITC/AV infrastructure. The products and services include cloud computing, managed services such as computer or printer services and shared services such as agencywide help desk ticketing systems.

]]>

Under Category C, NASA made 1,059 awards. This is for mission-based services that provide a full range of technology services such as custom computer programming services, telecommunication services including network operations, ITC/AV based engineering and design services, data processing and analysis services, hosting and related services, ITC/AV and network operation and computer facilities, ITC/AV management services, ITC/AV consulting and educational services, digital government services, and cybersecurity and security systems services.

“We knew it would be a lot more than SEWP V. We recognized 12 years ago that the indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) world was changing and trying to limit the number of companies based on some arbitrary criteria wasn’t going to work,” said Joanne Woytek, the SEWP program director, in an interview with Federal News Network. “It doesn’t make sense in this IDIQ world not to allow any competent company a chance to be successful so we knew that would raise the number awards.”

A two-year effort

SEWP VI is expected to be bigger and broader than previous iterations, with an increased scope and bigger entry into services for cloud and cybersecurity. NASA made about 197 awards to 140 companies under SEWP V in 2015.

NASA set up a three-phased approach to evaluate bids. Companies had to get through each gate to earn an award.

Woytek, who is retiring from federal service in December after 48 years of federal service, including the last 27 years leading the SEWP program, said small businesses were strongly represented in Categories A and B with 88% and 80% of the awards going to small firms across all socio-economic categories, respectively.

“We had a lot of JVs and other teaming agreements among the awardees, so going in we knew it was a big topic so we were prepared for that,” she said. “My biggest surprise was that we had so many good proposals. In SEWP IV, we had at least one company just submit a single document. I was expecting we may get one or two of those types of bids. But a number of companies submitted really good proposals so that told us people were paying attention and got us what they needed for good proposals.”

NASA kicked off SEWP VI with a draft solicitation in September 2023, and released the final solicitation in May 2024. Since then it has faced questions from industry and delays from 16 protests. The Government Accountability Office denied six protests and nine were dismissed when NASA took corrective action. There still is one remaining protest before GAO that is due to be decided by July 22.

]]>

NASA reportedly received thousands of bids and had to answer more than 6,700 questions about the final RFP, eventually issuing 14 amendments along the way.

The 10-year contract includes a $20 billion ceiling for each awardee.

Woytek said she doesn’t expect any further protests.

SEWP V to be extended

The SEWP VI RFP does include possible on-ramps and off-ramps in the future.

‘This is clearly one of biggest contact awards made, at least for NASA,” Woytek said. “We would’ve preferred a shorter timeline, but there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle and we wanted to do it right. We took our time, while going as fast as we could.”

Woytek said she expects SEWP VI to be open for business as soon as Nov. 1. In the meantime, SEWP V will be extended through January 2027 to ensure continuity for agency customers.

“The timing is perfect because SEWP V gets us through this fiscal year. Then we start with the new contract in the next fiscal year. We can ramp things up with SEWP VI while ramping down SEWP V,” she said. “We will be ready to go in full force in the next fiscal year with SEWP VI. I really couldn’t imagine a better calendar scenario.”

Despite all the excitement over SEWP VI, Woytek said SEWP V continues to be popular among agencies, pacing 7% over the contract’s activity at this point in 2025.

In fiscal 2025, SEWP V brought in $12.1 billion in total revenue on 51,000 orders. About 80% of all dollars under SEWP V went to small firms las year. Since NASA awarded SEWP V in 2015, Woytek said more than $86 billion has gone through the program.

]]>

Tags: