New SEWP VI proposal due date set after NASA delay

NASA has extended the due date for bids for SEWP VI, its potential $60 billion IT products and services contract.

The agency declined to comment on whether the extension was related to protests filed at the Government Accountability Office or other reasons. SEWP VI has not appeared on any Department of Government Efficiency lists of cancelled or delayed contracts.

Proposals are now due Monday, Feb. 24 instead of the prior deadline of Wednesday, Feb. 19.

NASA has eliminated requirements for bidders to submit sustainability management plans. Those would have included a documented environmental management system, the monitoring of carbon emissions and mitigation of any environmental impacts.

That shift away from sustainability requirements reflects the Trump administration different approach to environmental protection.

NASA is not requiring companies that have already submitted proposals with their sustainability plans to resubmit. NASA has said it will disregard those materials in their evaluations.

SEWP VI will likely be awarded in June or later, after the protests at GAO are resolved.

GAO expects to resolve the protests by AdaptiveStack Technologies, Avalogics LLC, Copia Consulting Group and Next Step Group in May. NASA could also take corrective actions to address their concerns.

AdaptiveStack argues that standalone small businesses are being treated differently than small business joint ventures. NASA has not provided what the company considers a valid reason for the differences.

Details on the other protests were not available when this story was published.

Given the SEWP VI process delays, NASA has extended the current SEWP V contract to Oct. 31.