Latest SEWP is ready

NASA released its solicitation for the SEWP V contract vehicle for IT and audio/visual products and product-based services, valued at about $10 billion over five years.

Proposals are due Oct. 14.

SEWP V features two competitions for providing mass storage devices, one reserved for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and the other for HUBZone small businesses.

A third small business-only competition is for provision of server support and multi-functional devices.

There also are two full-and-open competitions, NASA said.

More information: SEWP V RFP http://goo.gl/FC3m1L

Mills’ replacement

On Aug. 20, the Small Business Administration announced that Jeanne Hulit is the new Acting Administrator. She replaces Karen Mills, who has been administrator since she was confirmed in April 2009.

Hulit previously was the SBA’s Associate Administrator for the Office of Capital Access, working with both borrowers and lenders. She joined SBA in 2009 as New England Regional Administrator after a career in banking and community development in Maine.

Good-bye to Napolitano

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano gave a farewell speech on Aug. 27, her last day on the job that she has held since 2009.

She is leaving to be president of the University of California system. President Obama has not yet named a replacement.

Travel spending down

Federal travel card spending has dropped by 17% this fiscal year, compared with the same period last year, according to a report from Federal Times.

The General Services Administration’s SmartPay charge card usage dropped to $6 billion for the first half of fiscal 2013, down from $7.3 billion last year.

There also was a 6% decline in 2012.

White House officials say travel has been reduced as a result of its aggressive steps to cut conference spending.

More information: Federal Times article http://goo.gl/GuCgkH

ICE employee on leave

A small business specialist with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is on leave following allegations that he operates a website advocating mass murder of whites and gays.

The Southern Poverty Law Center said Ayo Kimathi apparently misled supervisors about the nature of the website.

More information: http://goo.gl/hk5ewK