Page 4 - FCW, March 30, 2016

NASA SEWP
CDW-G DELIVERS
SEWP V RAISES BAR ON BUYING EXPERIENCE
OR MORE THAN 20 YEARS,
federal agencies have been taking advantage of one of
the most far-ranging, service- oriented, cost-effective procurement vehicles
available. The NASA Enterprise- Wide Procurement (SEWP), now in its fifth iteration, gives agencies access to more than three million contract line items. It’s widely praised for being one of the most responsive, customer service- focused, efficient contracts available to federal agencies.
Part of the reason for its success is the SEWP team itself. Led by long-time program manager Joanne Woytek, SEWP V continues to broaden the quantity and variety of products it offers. It’s dedicated to continuing to expand its reach.
The Government-Wide Acquisi- tion Contract (GWAC) also has up-
graded the way agencies access and order products, which results in faster order processing. “We build all of our processes, tools, com- munication, quoting and ordering to be as efficient as possible,” says Woytek. “We also have a stated and followed requirement of deal- ing with any situation within one business day, and we usually re- spond to situations within minutes.”
SEWP also continues to drive costs as low as possible, both through competition and by lowering its surcharge over time from .45 to .39 percent. To ensure SEWP continues to meet its customers’ needs, the program team routinely conducts both formal and informal polls and surveys and contract holders.
The team consistently receives positive feedback on customer service. “Besides initially responding to a query or issue, we remain
part of the conversation through completion of an issue, even
if it’s a direct government/ industry issue,” says Woytek. “We act as a mediator, listener and recommender.”
QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS
Another reason SEWP is so successful is because it carefully vets its chosen contractors. All contractors must pass a rigorous qualification process and be evaluated on management and technical approach, price
and performance. One of the most successful is CDW-G, which has been a SEWP contractor since 2004.
CDW-G received and processed the most orders of any in its category during SEWP IV—about 42,000, compared to the second- place contractor with around 8,200 orders. CDW-G receives excellent ratings across the board from SEWP on customer service, information
How to Buy JOANNE WOYTEK, NASA SEWP PROGRAM MANAGER
There are two primary ways to order products and services through SEWP—through the contract’s own electronic purchasing tool, and directly through SEWP contractors. When ordering through the electronic purchasing tool, agencies can first get price quotes using the SEWP RFI/RFQ tool, which ensures all relevant rules are being followed and flags issues that may be of concern. After placing the order, the SEWP program office guarantees a 24 hour or less processing time.
Agencies can also request the SEWP program office provide a report on past purchases, with details about the technology procured. This helps them determine whether they’re meeting socio-economic goals and OMB mandates.
For purchases of less than $3,500, agencies also can buy directly through their chosen SEWP contractor’s Web site
The SEWP Program Office aims to provide superior service. “Reach out to our program management office via help@sewp.nasa.gov,” says NASA SEWP Program Manager Joanne Woytek. “We will work closely with our federal partners on acquisitions that are critical to the success of their mission. We will teleconference, hold webinars, and, if needed, travel to their locations to understand their issues and requirements.”