NASA SEWP
NASA's Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP){{cite web|url=https://www.sewp.nasa.gov/|title=SEWP HomePage|accessdate=26 January 2020}} is a United States Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC){{cite web|url=https://www.gsa.gov/acquisition/assistance-for-small-businesses/choose-how-to-sell-to-gsa/governmentwide-acquisition-contract-gwac|title=Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC)|accessdate=12 April 2018}} authorized by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
All federal agencies, including the Department of Defense (DOD), and government contractors are able to purchase ICT and AV solutions (equipment, software and services) from SEWP-authorized resellers (known as "Contract Holders"). In FY20, SEWP processed more than 46,000 new orders, allocating more than $9 billion from 90 cabinet-level and independent agencies, commissions, boards and other Federal entities from over 1,300 sites around the world. Over 83% of FY20 spending through SEWP was secured by small business contracts.{{cite web|url=https://washingtontechnology.com/blogs/editors-notebook/2020/10/sewp-2020-growth.aspx|title=NASA reports another stellar SEWP year|date=6 Oct 2020}}
Washington Technology{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontechnology.com|title=Washington Technology}} rated NASA SEWP as one of nine contracts in the Federal Government which have "changed how the government buys technology". The article declares SEWP to be the "Gold Standard" in customer service{{cite web|url=https://washingtontechnology.com/Articles/2009/07/06/Feature-Contracts-Game-Changers.aspx?Page=2|title=9 contracts that changed how government buys tech|date=2 July 2009}} and mentioned that SEWP assists industry as well as government users to ensure that the acquisition process flows smoothly. In Fiscal Year 2020, SEWP was the top-rated federal GWAC for IT purchases.{{cite news|title=This Is IT: SEWP V is the Top IT Vehicle in Fiscal 2020|author=Laura Criste|date=28 Jan 2021|work=Bloomberg Government|url=https://about.bgov.com/news/this-is-it-sewp-v-is-the-top-it-vehicle-in-fiscal-2020/}}
Role in Federal Procurement
The SEWP Program Office manages a suite of government-wide ICT and AV products and services contracts that enable NASA and all Federal Agencies to achieve their missions and strategic initiatives by providing streamlined access to critical technologies and solutions. The Program provides best value for the Federal Government and American taxpayer through innovative procurement processes, premier customer service and outreach, acquisition insight, and partnership with Government entities and Industry.{{cite web|url=https://www.sewp.nasa.gov/|title=SEWP HomePage|accessdate=26 January 2020}}
History
The SEWP acronym originally (1993) referred to "Scientific and Engineering Workstation Procurement". In 2007, the full name was changed to "Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement",{{cite web|url=https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2015/05/05/insights-lohfeld-sewp-v-evaluation-analysis.aspx|title=How the winners won SEWP V|date=5 May 2015|author=Bob Lohfeld}} pronounced 'soup',{{cite web|url=https://www.sewp.nasa.gov|title=NASA SEWP home page|accessdate=21 October 2017}} which allowed the same acronym to be maintained.{{cite web|author=Government Executive|url=http://www.govexec.com/feature/SEWP-V|title=Federal Contract Guide: SEWP-V|accessdate= 25 September 2016}} NASA SEWP provides a wide array of ICT and AV products as well as product related services dealing with Information Technology & Computer Networking, Software & Cloud Computing, Wireless & Mobile Technology, Supporting Technology, AV/Conferencing technology and solutions, and a variety of services from planning and installation, engineering and training, and IT consulting and system design.{{cite web|url=https://sewp.nasa.gov/documents/SEWPVScope.pptx|title=SEWP Scope|accessdate=26 January 2020}} A full scope of products and services are found on the organization's website.{{cite web|url=https://sewp.nasa.gov/geninfo.shtml#WHATN|title=SEWP GenInfo|accessdate=26 January 2020}}
As of 2020, the contract offered more than 3 million products, services, and solutions from more than 8000 manufacturers.
NASA SEWP was the first GWAC in the Federal Acquisition arena and the original contract was awarded in 1993. SEWP II was awarded in 1996, SEWP III in 2001, SEWP IV in May 2007 {{cite web|url=https://www.sewp.nasa.gov/documents/SEWP_FCWContractGuide_2016.pdf|title=SEWP Contract Guide|page=4|accessdate=12 April 2018}} and SEWP V in May 2015. SEWP VI is scheduled to begin May 2025.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtontechnology.com/contracts/2024/05/nasa-reveals-final-sewp-vi-solicitation/396850/|title=NASA reveals final SEWP VI solicitation|author=Nick Wakeman|date=23 May 2024|work=Washington Technology}}
Initially (1993) the contract provided technical and engineering related ICT and AV products but associated services were not included. As the technology sector and the contracts evolved, firm fixed-price services became available through the contracts. Thus, the acronym definition was changed in 2007 to Solutions for Enterprise Wide Procurement. SEWP's mascot is a rubber duck floating in a bowl of soup, signifying the organization's intention to make procurement "as easy as duck soup".{{cite news|title=Woytek: How SEWP V will simplify IT buys|work=Federal Times|url=https://www.federaltimes.com/enterprise-view/2015/03/09/woytek-how-sewp-v-will-simplify-it-buys/|date=9 Mar 2015}}