Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

SEWP (pronounced 'soup') stands for Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement. The name reflects the ability to obtain mission-critical, cutting-edge, and high-end Information Technology, Communication and Audio Visual (ITC/AV) products and services for individual, site-specific, or Agency-wide requirements.

The duck, Astro Quacker, came to be associated with SEWP based on the saying, "It's as easy as duck soup!"

The SEWP Contracts are for use by NASA, all Federal Agencies, including Department of Defense and approved support service Federal Agency contractors. Any Government Contracting Officer or duly approved representative is authorized to place delivery orders against the contract. Support Service Contractors may be authorized by their Government Contracting Officer to purchase from SEWP Contracts on behalf of the Government.

Local and State Governments and Federal Tribes are not authorized to issue orders against these contracts. SEWP Contracts are not available for personal use.

The NASA SEWP Procurement Vehicle is for Information Technology, Communication and Audio Visual (ITC/AV) products and services. If you would like SEWP to review your Statement of Work (SOW) to confirm that your requirements are within scope, please email your Statement of Work (SOW) to help@sewp.nasa.gov and request a scope review. SEWP will promptly review and provide guidance.

• Technical Area 1a: IT Computer Systems/Computer Facilities
• Technical Area 2a: IT Storage Systems
• Technical Area 3a: Networking and Communication Equipment
• Technical Area 4a: Imaging Equipment and Supporting Technology
• Technical Area 5a: IT Power and Cabling Equipment
• Technical Area 6a: Audio/Video Equipment
• Technical Area 7a: Security and Sensor Equipment
• Technical Area 8a: Software and Cloud Technology
• Technical Area 9a: Product-Based Services

• Technical Area 1b: Enterprise-Wide Network Services
• Technical Area 2b: IT Managed Services
• Technical Area 3b: Enterprise-Wide Innovation Services
• Technical Area 4b: IT Service Management
• Technical Area 5b: Enterprise Service Program Integration
• Technical Area 6b: Enterprise-Wide Information and Data Analytics Services (IDAS)
• Technical Area 7b: Enterprise-Wide Application Services/Software Development
• Technical Area 8b: Enterprise-Wide Cybersecurity Services
• Technical Area 9b: Enterprise-Wide Cloud Services
• Technical Area 10b: Enterprise-Wide Digital Multimedia and Technical Communications Services
• Technical Area 11b: Program Management/Ancillary Services and Supplies

• Technical Area 1c: Innovation Services
• Technical Area 2c: Information and Data Analytics Services (IDAS)
• Technical Area 3c: Application Services/Software Development
• Technical Area 4c: Cybersecurity Services
• Technical Area 5c: Cloud Services
• Technical Area 6c: Digital Multimedia and Technical Communications Services
• Technical Area 7c: IT Operations and Maintenance/Help Desk/Call Center Support
• Technical Area 8c: Network Services
• Technical Area 9c: Database Services
• Technical Area 10c: In-Scope Training
• Technical Area 11c: Program Management/Ancillary Services

For services involving labor rates, such as installation and engineering services, price reasonableness is not determined at the contract/Online Catalog level. Pricing for labor-based services must be determined at the delivery order level by the ordering Agency.

As of October 1, 2020, the SEWP surcharge for all orders is 0.34%. The fee is included in the price of all solutions/services and is not separately listed on quotes. It is the Contract Holder's responsibility to pay the fee from their quoted prices.

SEWP consists of over 2,115 pre-competed Prime Contract Holders, including more than 1300 small businesses. Multiple NAICS codes can be used within Category A, B, and C to review Contract Holders and their correlating business sizes. Please visit our Contract Holder web pages for more information.

The SEWP Contracts are for use by NASA, all Federal Agencies, and approved support service Federal Agency contractors. To authorize a contractor to purchase from SEWP Contracts, the Contracting Officer for the support service contract should send a copy of an authorization letter to the SEWP Program Office (PMO).

No. SEWP is only available for Federal Agency usage.

SEWP VI was awarded to three Multiple Award Contract Categories: Category A, B, and C. Category A represents a broad suite of ITC/AV solutions, i.e., technology in which there is an intertwining of products, such as a laptop/services, maintenance/installation, and requirements.

The Category B scope provides Federal Agencies with customized Enterprise-Wide Strategic Solutions. Enterprise-wide is defined as a large-scale requirement involving multiple departments, locations, customers, and/or field offices for a given Agency. These Enterprise-Wide Strategic Solutions improve and enhance the Agency ITC/AV infrastructure through methodologies including managed services, such as computer or printer services and shared services, such as Agency-wide help desk ticketing systems, enterprise-wide IT security, and application services. Services may be performed at Government and/or Contractor locations worldwide as specified in each Order. Product only requirements are not in scope for this Category.

The Category C scope provides Federal Agencies with customized solutions at a Mission/Program level that improve and enhance an ITC/AV infrastructure through methodologies including, but not limited to:

• Custom computer programming services
• Telecommunication services, including network operations
• IT, AV, and Communications based engineering and design services
• Data processing and analysis services
• Hosting, and related services
• IT and network operation and computer facilities
• ITC/AV management services
• IT consulting and educational services
• Digital government services
• Cybersecurity and security systems services

Unlike the traditional catalog-based contract where requests for products are based on what is available in a catalog, SEWP is a request-based contract vehicle where the catalog is based on customer requests. Therefore, no matter what you find in our Marketplace, if you cannot locate what you want to purchase you can send a solicitation to our Contract Holders using our Quote Request Tool (QRT). As long as your requirements are within the scope of SEWP, you can send a Request for Quote (RFQ), Market Research Request (MRR) or a Request for Information (RFI) for the IT products/services you would like to obtain. The Contract Holders will add the items to the contract based on your request and send you a quote. You can then order the solutions based on the quote. If you are uncertain about the scope, send your requirements to help@sewp.nasa.gov for review.

Technical refreshment of SEWP Contracts is done on a daily basis. The SEWP website is up to date with the current product solutions and service offerings available in SEWP's Online Catalog and Strategic Storefronts.

The published SEWP prices are the maximum prices the Contract Holders can charge the Government. Contract Holders are allowed to charge less either on a per order basis, or on a limited-time basis (e.g., close-out sale). Numerous Government Agencies have combined this flexibility with the inherent and on-going internal SEWP competition to negotiate savings, particularly for large purchases. Further negotiation outside the SEWP system is permitted.

SEWP Contracts are pre-competed, and therefore, formal competition (including synopsis, formal RFPs, etc.) is not required. However, as with all multi-award contracts, Fair Opportunity must be provided to all associated multi-award Contract Holders unless an exception exists and is properly documented.

SEWP VI Contracts are commercial contracts awarded under FAR Part 12. Fair Opportunity requirements in FAR Part 16 govern competition regarding how quotes are solicited and how delivery order selections and awards are made.

Requests for Information (RFI) are typically used to obtain information in advance of requesting quotes. Examples of RFIs are requests to determine availability of certain types of products, solutions or services and technical feedback to assist in creating a technically sound RFQ, etc. Responses to RFIs are typically not quotes and the information is not verified by the SEWP Program Management Office.

Both Market Research Requests (MRRs) and Request for Quotes (RFQ) result in quotes and the items must be on contract at the time of the quote and are verified when the SEWP Quote Request Tool is used.

The key difference between MRRs and RFQs is that MRRs do not typically result in an order but are used to begin an internal Agency acquisition process, while an RFQ is typically done at the end of the acquisition process and results in an order.

The SEWP Quote Request Tool (QRT) assists in providing Fair Opportunity as well as verifying and assuring items quoted on contract are properly sourced and priced. Quotes may also be obtained by other methods; however, it is then your responsibility to assess the reasonableness of any additional fees, level of competition, compliance with Fair Opportunity, terms and conditions, price and availability verification, scope, etc.

The default time for a quote response in Category A is five business days. While you can reduce the time to two or even one day, this is not recommended, as it typically does not allow enough time for many responses. The actual time selected should be based on the size and complexity of the request. Categories B & C have a default of 30 days, but that can shorten or lengthen based on requirements.

New computer technology products are added to the SEWP contract via a Technology Refreshment (TR) process. Companies who wish to have their products or services available through SEWP must contact one or more of the Prime Contract Holders and negotiate with their SEWP Program Managers to become an approved provider through the Prime's contract. The choice of Contract Holder to contact depends on which Contract Holder best fits your needs.

SEWP offers customer training sessions for any Federal Agency interested in gaining additional knowledge regarding SEWP. The training is free of charge. The interactive sessions last one and a half to two hours and usually occur at the requesting Agency's site. Send an email to help@sewp.nasa.gov to request a customer training session. Participants earn 2.5 Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) for attending SEWP customer training sessions. An introductory 20-minute video is available on the SEWP website.

Yes, provided that the Delivery Order/Lease/Purchase agreement was awarded prior to the end of the SEWP V ordering period. Options and modifications related to SEWP V orders should continue to be sent to sewporders@sewp.nasa.gov. All options and modifications must be directly related to a valid SEWP V order. The original SEWP V order should indicate the length of time such modifications are to be allowed. The SEWP Program Management Office (PMO) will continue to accept such modifications for up to five years after the end of the contracts. This applies to Delivery Orders with Options (DOWOs), Marketplaces, and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs).

No. All quotes received from SEWP V Contract Holders are valid only through the end of SEWP V. For an order to be valid after SEWP V expires, a new quote will need to be solicited from SEWP VI Contract Holders, and the order will then be issued again under the SEWP VI Contract Holder selected.

SEWP VI will have several major changes both in function and application, but the general process for requesting quotes and submitting orders will remain similar, as will the general concepts that form the SEWP framework. SEWP Customer Service staff will be available to assist Government customers with those changes. Please contact the SEWP Helpdesk by calling (301) 286-1478 or emailing help@sewp.nasa.gov for assistance.

Please also note that SEWP will be rolling out new and improved functionalities throughout the first year of SEWP VI.

A list of the SEWP VI awardees is currently available on the SEWP homepage.

On October 1, 2026, the SEWP website will be updated to provide basic SEWP VI information. All relevant information, including company names, groups, points of contact, contract numbers, and contracts will be provided as Contract Holders are on-boarded.

November 1, 2026, is the anticipated start date for SEWP VI request submissions.

Modifications of orders submitted during SEWP V may extend up to five years beyond the end of the SEWP V Contract.

All Catalogs/Marketplaces will end with the expiration of SEWP V. Orders placed under the Catalog/Marketplace may have option years exercised for up to five years. Subsequent modifications can be issued against the base year that typically exercises and funds the options if there are no substantive changes made to the initial base-year Delivery Order. At the Agency's request, the SEWP Program Management Office (PMO) will assist in using the existing SEWP V Marketplace objective criteria to expeditiously create a new SEWP VI Storefront. A SEWP VI Storefront has similar overall capabilities to the SEWP V Catalog/Marketplace concept, but there are differences that will require discussion with the SEWP Storefront team.

Yes, once SEWP VI begins on the anticipated date of November 1, 2026, the general SEWP website will be updated and will contain a link to access SEWP V content.

After the expiration of SEWP V, a read-only version of the SEWP V Quote Request Tool (QRT) will provide access to previously created RFQs.

All SEWP V orders must be signed and dated no later than midnight on the last effective date of SEWP V. SEWP V orders may be sent to the SEWP Program Management Office (PMO) at sewporders@sewp.nasa.gov after the expiration of SEWP V, but they will only be processed if their award date is prior to the expiration date.

All SEWP V RFQs must close by midnight on the last effective date of the SEWP V Contract.