Ahead Of The Curve

SEWP Contract Holders share why SEWP is way ahead of the curve in addressing your needs. (Hint: clarity, automation, reporting)

You work in DOD. You want to use SEWP. You can. You just need to get trained.

SEWP and DOD have an MOA that ensures DOD can take maximum advantage of the free on-site training offered by NASA and to routinely utilize SEWP’s on-line RFQ tool.

“That’s one more example of how SEWP is way ahead of the curve in addressing what an individual customer needs,” explained Steve Charles from the immixGroup during a recent Roundtable of SEWP Contract Holders hosted by On The FrontLines.

Four Points Lonnie Sanders noted that SEWP provides a “pretty robust training offering that can be utilized by Contract Holders wherever they are located nationwide.” And for customers Sanders said SEWP provides onsite training for our customers should the customer want it. This is in addition to having online training and video training.

Stacy Byrd, Presidio SEWP PM added that training is great for those who are new to SEWP. “I have referred procurement officers and key decision makers to NASA SEWP for the free onsite training they provide,” said Byrd.

“The training includes general contract information, scope of the contract, ordering process, customer service and covers Fair Opportunity.”

SGI’s Jim Binker focused on the importance of having a willing SEWP BOWL staff that “will travel to Federal agency sites to train customers as well as contract holders so that everyone is on the same page and understands how the contract works.”

“This process has worked extremely well and has resulted in fewer misconceptions about what the contract is or isn’t, and how it is being used today,” noted Binker. “Continuous updates and training are also being provided on a regular basis by the SEWP staff via email and quarterly Program Managers’ meetings for the Contract Holders.”

Clarity, Automation, Reporting

What really moves SEWP out ahead of the curve can be boiled down to three words according to immixGroup’s Charles—clarity, automation and reporting.

“This program exemplifies the process the government wants to have in terms of predictability and transparency,” said Charles.

HP’s Gayle Parman brought up the point that “one of the key areas for customers is to know there is accountability. We have that on this contract and our performance is measured and available for customers to view.”

Customers can see how HP and other SEWP Contract Holders are performing by visiting the SEWP website said Parman, who stressed to customers the importance of Past Performance when making a buying decision.

James Kman from SoftChoice put it this way: “Simply put, SEWP is the most efficient and easy to use contract I’ve been a part of. Customers we introduce to SEWP say the same thing.

As the contract continues to grow and more agencies and customers become familiar with SEWP, I see that personal touch, those one-on-one connections continue to grow. I see new improvements from an automation perspective and more integration into different department and areas.”

Donovan, Quinonez from Merlin had the last word. “What’s most important for government customers is not only the simplicity and flexibility of SEWP, but how the SEWP program office maintains the integrity of the process.”

The process involves a strictness of reporting on performance and “the buck stops” here accountability. “We work hard to maintain the integrity of the process, not only for ourselves, but for the government—all while offering flexible options that we do,” said Quinonez. —Jeff Erlichman