Governmentwide Contracts
SEWP IV (formerly known as the Scientific and Engineering Workstation Procurement )
NASA
- Estimated value: $5.6 billion
- Phase: Responses to request for proposals were received in August and September 2006
- Expected award date: Late 2006 or early 2007
This iteration of NASA's successful governmentwide acquisition contract for state-of-the-art computer system technologies, high-end scientific and engineering capabilities, peripherals and network equipment has been the object of ire and desire from General Services Administration head Lurita Doan. She has urged the Office of Management and Budget not to renew SEWP's status as a GWAC, arguing strenuously and publicly that her agency should take it over. NASA refuses to comment about Doan, except to note that it hasn't changed its plans to award SEWP IV indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts in the near future. The first SEWP III contracts will expire in January 2007, followed by another set in September 2007.
HUBZone GWAC Recompete
General Services Administration
- Estimated value: $2.5 billion, if the initiative proceeds
- Phase: Request for proposal could be released in spring 2007
- Expected award date: Unknown
The first GSA GWAC set-aside for Historically Underutilized Business Zone firms is unlikely to break any spending records. Although it has a $2.5 billion ceiling, as of Sept. 30, agencies have placed only $27.4 million worth of orders through it. First awarded in 2003, the vehicle is set to expire in 2008. For now, GSA officials say they're evaluating whether there's a business case to proceed with a successor and should know by spring 2007.
Washington Interagency Telecommunications System (WITS) III
General Services Administration, National Capital Region
GSA abruptly pulled back two weeks after announcing it would release a solicitation for local telecommunications services for agencies in Washington and surrounding counties. A terse July 20 notice didn't offer up a new target date. Telecom insiders attribute the delay to a dispute between GSA's National Capital Region and headquarters over the geographic scope of the solicitation. A larger coverage area would appease big customers like the Defense Department, but it also would shut out competition. Insiders say they still count on the program moving ahead after someone rules in favor of one side or the other. WITS III is the replacement for WITS 2001, which expires in January 2008.
Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative for Wireless
General Services Administration
- Estimated value: $1 billion
- Phase: Request for proposals expected in December
- Expected award date: Unknown
Agencies collectively have made a muddle of wireless device and services purchasing. Ordering is diffuse, inventories are bloated. This solicitation will be for companies interested in managing agency procurements and ongoing contracts for wireless services such as cell phones and Black-berries. Contract awards should be made within six months, says Mary Davie, acting assistant commissioner for customer accounts and research at GSA's Federal Acquisition Service. Awardees will be companies that can centralize mobile device purchasing, service plans and billing. Even within a single building, an agency can buy mobile voice and text services and devices through several providers and a variety of plans. "Nobody really has it under their purview to pay attention closely to how the devices are being used," Davie says.