NASA pushes for SEWP V launch

NASA has issued a final request for proposals for its fifth version of Solutions for Enterprise Wide Procurement (SEWP V), which has a price tag of $20 billion.

SEWP, which NASA has offered since 1993, provides agencies with the opportunity to purchase IT gear and software at prices NASA has already negotiated. NASA in turn takes a cut of the sale.

Oct. 14 is the deadline for requests from vendors who want to be included in SEWP V. Five-year contracts will be awarded with an additional five-year option.

About 50 companies are participating in the current iteration of the contract, which began in 2006. Washington Technology, citing Deltek research, reported on Aug. 19 that SEWP has had $10.3 billion in task orders in that time and has averaged approximately $2 billion in task orders annually since 2010.

Under SEWP IV, agencies that are purchasing goods pay a 0.45 percent surcharge for staff and expenses.