NASA SEWP Contract Vehicle Guide
NASA's Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) is one of the most widely used Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts for IT products and services. Known for its fast ordering process and broad product scope, SEWP has facilitated over $70 billion in federal IT purchases.
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What is NASA SEWP?
SEWP (pronounced "soup") is a multi-award Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) managed by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Currently in its fifth iteration (SEWP V), with SEWP VI on the horizon, it provides federal agencies with a streamlined method to procure IT products, software, and related services from pre-competed contract holders.
SEWP is particularly valued by agencies for its speed. The average order processing time is under 3 days from request to award, making it one of the fastest acquisition vehicles in the federal government. This efficiency comes from a well-established ordering infrastructure and a dedicated program office that provides hands-on support to ordering agencies.
SEWP contract holders include major IT manufacturers, resellers, value-added resellers (VARs), and solutions integrators. The vehicle is divided into groups based on business size, with dedicated groups for small businesses, 8(a) firms, HUBZone businesses, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
What Can Be Purchased Through SEWP?
SEWP covers a broad range of IT products and product-based services. The key distinction is that SEWP is primarily a product vehicle — services must be incidental to or in support of products.
IT Hardware
- Servers, workstations, and high-performance computing
- Networking equipment (routers, switches, firewalls)
- Storage systems (SAN, NAS, flash arrays)
- Peripherals, displays, and accessories
- IoT devices and sensors
Software & Licensing
- Enterprise software licenses (perpetual and subscription)
- Cybersecurity tools and platforms
- Cloud software subscriptions (SaaS)
- Database and middleware products
- Development tools and platforms
Cloud Services
- IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS cloud offerings
- Cloud migration support (product-based)
- Managed cloud services tied to products
- Cloud backup and disaster recovery
Product-Based Services
- Installation and configuration
- Product training and certification
- Maintenance and warranty extensions
- Integration services tied to products purchased
Who Can Use SEWP?
As a Government-Wide Acquisition Contract, SEWP is available to all federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, intelligence agencies, and independent federal entities. Additionally, the following organizations can place orders through SEWP:
- • All executive branch agencies and departments
- • Legislative and judicial branch entities
- • Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs)
- • State and local governments (through specific intergovernmental agreements)
- • Tribal governments
- • Qualified nonprofit organizations supporting federal missions
Each ordering entity must have a warranted contracting officer or an authorized ordering official. The SEWP program office provides training and certification for ordering officials to ensure proper use of the vehicle.
SEWP Ordering Procedures
SEWP's ordering process is designed for speed. Most orders are processed within 1-3 business days from initial request to delivery order issuance.
1. Define Requirements & Search Catalog
Agencies use the SEWP product catalog to identify available products and current pricing. The catalog is searchable by manufacturer, product type, contract holder, and small business category. Fair opportunity must be given to all contract holders for orders above the micro-purchase threshold.
2. Request Quotes (RFQ)
Ordering agencies submit an RFQ through the SEWP online portal. For orders under $25,000, agencies may solicit a single quote from any contract holder. For larger orders, agencies must provide fair opportunity and solicit quotes from multiple contract holders.
3. Evaluate & Award
The ordering agency evaluates quotes based on technical compliance, delivery timeline, and price. SEWP uses a fixed fee structure (0.39% of order value, capped), which is significantly lower than most other contract vehicles. The SEWP program office reviews and approves each delivery order before issuance.
4. Delivery & Acceptance
Contract holders deliver products and services per the delivery order terms. The SEWP program office monitors order execution and provides dispute resolution support if needed. The SEWP portal provides real-time tracking of order status and delivery milestones.
Becoming a SEWP Contract Holder
SEWP awards contracts through competitive solicitations when a new contract generation launches (e.g., SEWP VI). Between contract generations, there are no on-ramp opportunities, making the initial competition critical. Companies that miss the SEWP VI solicitation will need to wait for SEWP VII or partner with existing contract holders as subcontractors.
Proposals are evaluated on technical capabilities, past performance on IT product delivery contracts, pricing competitiveness, and the breadth of manufacturer relationships. Having established partnerships with major IT manufacturers (Dell, HP, Cisco, Microsoft, etc.) significantly strengthens a proposal.
For companies not yet on SEWP, the most immediate path to participation is partnering with existing contract holders as a subcontractor or authorized reseller. Many SEWP contract holders actively seek partners who bring specialized manufacturer relationships or agency expertise that complement their existing capabilities.
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