SEWP VI: A New Opportunity for IT Vendors to Provide Solutions for the Federal Government

Introduction

The Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP Solicitation number 80TECH23R0001) is a government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC) that provides the latest in information technology (IT) products and services for all federal agencies. The SEWP program is managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and has been operating since 1993. The current iteration of the contract, SEWP V, will expire in April 2025, and NASA is preparing to launch the next generation of the contract, SEWP VI, in 2024. This article will provide an overview of the SEWP VI solicitation, its uniqueness, its potential participants, and its challenges.

Historical Background of the RFP

The SEWP program was established in 1993 because of the Information Technology Management Reform Act (ITMRA) of 1996, which designated NASA as an executive agent for IT procurement. The SEWP program aims to provide federal agencies with easy access to high-quality, low-cost, and innovative IT solutions from a diverse pool of vendors. The SEWP program has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs and demands of the federal IT market. The first SEWP contract had only six vendors and a $500 million ceiling. The current SEWP V contract has 212 vendors and a $20 billion ceiling. The SEWP V contract consists of four categories (or groups) of products and services: Group A for computer systems and servers; Group B for small business set-aside for storage devices; Group C for small business set-aside for networking and security devices; Group D for full and open competition for video, conferencing, and other devices.

RFP Description

The SEWP VI solicitation is expected to be released in early 2024, according to GovWin. The potential value of the contract is estimated to be $20 billion, but it could be higher given the rate of inflation and the growing demand for IT solutions in the federal government. The SEWP VI solicitation will likely follow a similar structure as the SEWP V solicitation, with four categories of products and services, but with some changes in the set-aside groups. According to the East Coast Industry Day presentation by NASA in June 2021, the proposed categories for SEWP VI are:

  • Category A: Full and open competition for computer systems and servers
  • Category B: Service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) set-aside for storage devices
  • Category C: Small business set-aside for peripheral devices
  • Category D: Full and open competition for networking, security, video, conferencing, and other devices

The NAICS codes for each category are expected to be 334111 for Category A, 541519 with a size standard of 150 employees for Category B, 334118 with a size standard of 1,000 employees for Category C, and 334210 with a size standard of 1,250 employees for Category D3. The SEWP VI solicitation will likely use a simple “you meet the specs, you get an award” acquisition approach, like what GSA is using for OASIS+. However, this is subject to change as NASA continues to gather feedback from industry partners and stakeholders.

Uniqueness of the Solicitation

The SEWP VI solicitation is unique in several ways compared to other GWACs or IDIQs in the federal IT market. Some of the unique features of the SEWP VI solicitation are:

  • It covers a wide range of IT products and services, from hardware to software to cloud to artificial intelligence.
  • It offers low fees (0.36% as of July 2021) and fast delivery (within 4 days on average)
  • It allows direct communication between customers and vendors.
  • It provides high customer satisfaction ratings (96% as of July 2021)
  • It supports small businesses and socio-economic goals.
  • It leverages NASA’s expertise and reputation in IT innovation.

Who should Participate?

The SEWP VI solicitation is open to any vendor that can provide IT products and services that meet the specifications and requirements of the solicitation. However, some vendors may have an advantage over others depending on their capabilities, experience, past performance, pricing, and socio-economic status. Some of the factors that may influence a vendor’s decision to participate in the SEWP VI solicitation are:

  • The vendor’s ability to offer a wide range of IT products and services that are relevant, current, and innovative.
  • The vendor’s ability to compete on price and quality with other vendors in the same category or group.
  • The vendor’s ability to meet the technical, administrative, and contractual requirements of the solicitation.
  • The vendor’s ability to demonstrate past performance and customer satisfaction in providing IT products and services to federal agencies.
  • The vendor’s ability to qualify for the set-aside groups (SDVOSB or small business) and benefit from the preference or exclusivity.

The Challenges

The SEWP VI solicitation is not without its challenges for potential vendors. Some of the challenges that vendors may face in pursuing the SEWP VI solicitation are:

  • The elevated level of competition and saturation in the federal IT market, especially in the full and open categories
  • The uncertainty and volatility of the federal IT budget and spending, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
  • The complexity and variability of the federal IT regulations and policies, such as cybersecurity, supply chain, and acquisition reform
  • The difficulty and cost of maintaining compliance and certification with the federal IT standards and requirements, such as NIST, FedRAMP, CMMC, etc.
  • The risk and liability of providing IT products and services that may have security vulnerabilities, defects, or failures.

If you are interested in pursuing the SEWP VI solicitation and need professional proposal services, contact GDI Consulting today, please visit our website at www.gdicwins.com .