How to Buy HPE Through GSA and NASA SEWP

Federal agencies, SLED institutions, and authorized contractors purchasing Hewlett Packard Enterprise technology have two well-established contract vehicles at their disposal: the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) and NASA's Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP V). Both are government-wide acquisition mechanisms that eliminate the need for individual competitive solicitations on every purchase, but they work differently, carry different fee structures, and suit different buying scenarios. Understanding the distinctions helps contracting officers, program managers, and IT directors move faster, stay compliant, and extract the best value from every IT dollar.

This guide walks through how each vehicle is structured, which HPE and HPE Aruba Networking products are available, how to place an order, and how to decide which path makes the most sense for a given requirement.

What Is the GSA Multiple Award Schedule for IT?

The GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)—previously called GSA Schedule 70 or the IT Schedule—is administered by the General Services Administration's Federal Acquisition Service. It consolidates commercial IT products, software, and related services under a single blanket contract framework that any federal department, agency, or eligible state and local entity can use. The schedule covers more than 7.5 million commercial IT solutions from over 5,000 industry partners, making it the broadest single catalog in federal acquisition.

HPE holds a GSA MAS contract that covers a wide portfolio of equipment and services, including:

• HPE ProLiant rack, tower, and blade servers (Gen11 and Gen12)
• HPE Synergy composable infrastructure frames and blades
• HPE Alletra Storage MP and dHCI solutions
• HPE Aruba Networking switches, access points, and controllers
• HPE GreenLake cloud services and consumption-based managed services
• HPE Pointnext professional and operational support services

Under the MAS framework, the contractor—HPE or an authorized reseller—is required to offer Most Favored Customer (MFC) pricing, meaning the prices listed on the schedule must be equal to or better than what is offered to the contractor's best commercial customers under similar conditions.

The schedule currently operates under GSA pricing valid through September 30, 2026, with a MAS Modification Refresh 32 expected in mid-2026. Agencies should verify current pricing against HPE's Master IT Equipment, Software and Services Price List, updated regularly on the GSA eLibrary.

One important administrative note: the GSA MAS carries an Industrial Funding Fee (IFF) of 0.75%, which is embedded into contractor prices and remitted by the contractor to GSA quarterly. Buyers do not pay this separately, but it is factored into the prices on the schedule.

What Is NASA SEWP V?

NASA's Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP V) is a government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC) managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Awarded in 2015 as an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a base and option period, SEWP V has been extended through September 30, 2026, with two additional optional periods that could push continuity through April 30, 2027. A successor contract—SEWP VI—is in procurement with a $60 billion ceiling and a 10-year performance period, though awards have been delayed due to proposal volume and active protests.

SEWP V is available to all federal agencies and their authorized contractors, not just NASA. It has become one of the most actively used IT vehicles across the civilian and defense sides of the government precisely because of its speed, simplicity, and cost structure.

HPE was awarded a prime contract under SEWP V, meaning agencies can order HPE products directly through HPE or through authorized SEWP V resellers. The contract covers:

• Servers, workstations, and IT peripherals
• Network equipment (HPE Aruba switches, access points, wireless infrastructure)
• Storage systems and data protection hardware
• Security tools and software
• Cloud-based services and as-a-service consumption models
• Health IT and telecommunications equipment
• Audio-visual and video conferencing systems
• Installation, configuration, and maintenance services

A notable financial advantage: SEWP V's program surcharge is only 0.34%, significantly lower than the GSA MAS IFF of 0.75%. This fee is embedded in contractor pricing and paid by the contract holder, not billed separately to the ordering agency.

GSA Schedule vs. NASA SEWP V: Key Differences

The two vehicles are often compared, and for good reason—many agencies maintain authorization to use both and pick the more advantageous vehicle order by order. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the most decision-relevant factors:

Factor	GSA MAS (IT)	NASA SEWP V
Administered by	GSA Federal Acquisition Service	NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Contract type	Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)	Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC)
Program fee	0.75% IFF (in contractor price)	0.34% surcharge (in contractor price)
Eligible buyers	Federal, SLED (via Cooperative Purchasing)	All federal agencies and authorized contractors
Order method	Agency-direct or via reseller	Submit Delivery Order to NASA SEWP PMO
Scope	Very broad: IT, products, services, SINs	IT hardware, software, services, AV, cloud
Small business set-asides	Available via SIN-level set-asides	Groups B, C, D reserved for small businesses
Bundled solutions	Requires separate SIN line items	One order can cover hardware + software + services
Minimum order	Micro-purchase threshold applies	No minimum order requirement
Processing time	Varies by agency	Typically under 1 business day at PMO
Current expiration	Ongoing rolling schedule	September 30, 2026 (extensions possible)

For agencies that frequently bundle hardware, software, and services in a single requirement, SEWP V's ability to combine all three on one delivery order is a material advantage over GSA MAS, which traditionally requires separate Schedule Identification Numbers (SINs) for different categories.

How to Buy HPE Through the GSA Schedule

Purchasing HPE through the GSA MAS involves several well-defined steps. Contracting officers familiar with FAR Part 8.4 procedures will recognize the framework.

Step 1 – Define the requirement. Document the IT requirement using a Statement of Work (SOW) or Statement of Objectives (SOO). For hardware-only buys under the micro-purchase threshold ($10,000 for most agencies), a simplified purchase card order from an authorized GSA Schedule holder is sufficient.

Step 2 – Search GSA Advantage! or eLibrary. GSA Advantage! (gsaadvantage.gov) lists HPE products with current schedule pricing. The GSA eLibrary (gsaelibrary.gsa.gov) provides contractor information, price lists, and contract terms. Verify that the specific HPE product or HPE Aruba SKU is TAA-compliant, as the Trade Agreements Act applies to MAS purchases.

Step 3 – Request quotes. For purchases above $10,000, FAR 8.405-1 requires that you contact at least three schedule contractors and post the requirement to eBuy (ebuy.gsa.gov) if it exceeds $25,000. HPE-authorized GSA resellers can quote against the same schedule.

Step 4 – Evaluate and award. Best-value determinations should consider price, delivery, past performance, and any applicable small business considerations. Document the trade-off analysis in the contract file.

Step 5 – Issue the order. Orders may be placed directly with HPE or an authorized reseller using a government purchase card, agency form, or electronic data interchange (EDI) system. Reference the GSA MAS contract number on all orders.

Agencies pursuing HPE GreenLake consumption-based services through GSA should work with their contracting officer to confirm the appropriate SIN and confirm the Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) obligations that apply.

How to Buy HPE Through NASA SEWP V

The SEWP V ordering process is streamlined by design and widely praised for its speed. Here is how it works:

Step 1 – Identify the requirement and funding. An end-user defines the IT requirement, generates a purchase request (PR), and secures the necessary funding documentation.

Step 2 – Route to the procurement office. The PR with funding information is forwarded to the agency's contracting or procurement office. The contracting officer prepares a Delivery Order (DO) using the agency's standard order form—SEWP does not mandate a specific form.

Step 3 – Submit the Delivery Order to SEWP PMO. The completed DO is sent to [email protected] or faxed to (301) 286-0317. The SEWP Program Management Office assigns a SEWP Tracking Number (STN) and forwards the order to the prime contract holder—typically in less than one business day.

Step 4 – Receive products or services. The contract holder (HPE or an authorized SEWP V reseller) fulfills the order according to the terms on the delivery order, including delivery schedules and installation requirements.

For questions or assistance, the SEWP helpline is reachable at (301) 286-1478, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

Because SEWP allows a single DO to cover hardware, software, and services together, agencies requiring a complete HPE solution—say, HPE ProLiant Gen12 servers with HPE Aruba Networking and a GreenLake managed-services wrapper—can consolidate the entire requirement without splitting it across multiple vehicles or SINs.

TAA Compliance and Trusted Supply Chain

A critical compliance requirement for any federal IT purchase is conformance with the Trade Agreements Act (TAA). TAA restricts purchases to products manufactured or substantially transformed in the United States or designated TAA-compliant countries. Both GSA MAS and SEWP V orders are subject to TAA; ordering non-compliant products is a procurement violation.

HPE offers TAA-compliant configurations across its ProLiant server line, including configurations assembled in the United States under HPE's Trusted Supply Chain program. Trusted Supply Chain servers are manufactured at HPE's facility in Houston, Texas, and carry country-of-origin USA designation. This is particularly important for agencies operating under heightened supply chain requirements such as CMMC, DISA STIGs, or classified environment standards.

Key points for federal buyers:

• Trusted Supply Chain configurations must be ordered as Configure-to-Order (CTO) factory-integrated units—adding options post-factory may affect TAA and supply chain status
• HPE Aruba Networking products have their own government certifications and validations; buyers should verify specific SKU TAA status with their reseller
• HPE GreenLake services delivered from U.S.-based data centers are generally not subject to TAA in the same way as physical goods, but confirm country-of-operation requirements with your legal team

Agencies procuring for sensitive networks—including those subject to FedRAMP, DoD IL4/IL5, or classified environments—should work with an HPE public sector specialist to ensure the solution configuration meets all applicable standards before issuing a delivery order.

Which Contract Vehicle Should You Use?

The honest answer is that it depends on the specifics of each acquisition. Both vehicles are legitimate, well-used, and fully compliant paths to HPE technology. Here is a practical decision framework:

Consider SEWP V when:

• You are a federal civilian agency (SEWP's traditional stronghold)
• You are bundling hardware, software, and services in a single requirement
• Speed of order processing matters and you need the PMO's one-business-day turnaround
• You want the lowest possible program surcharge (0.34% vs. 0.75%)
• The requirement is straightforward and the SEWP ordering guide covers your use case

Consider GSA MAS when:

• You are a state, local, or tribal entity eligible for MAS cooperative purchasing
• You need flexibility across a broader catalog of SINs and specialized service categories
• Your agency has existing MAS contracting infrastructure and procedures in place
• The specific HPE solution or professional services engagement falls under a MAS SIN with no SEWP equivalent

Use both together when:

• Running a competitive procurement between SEWP and MAS holders to drive best value
• Your acquisition strategy requires documenting price reasonableness across multiple vehicles

Note: SEWP VI, the successor contract with a $60 billion ceiling and 10-year performance period, is in source selection as of mid-2026. Agencies planning multi-year HPE infrastructure programs should track SEWP VI developments, as the new contract will expand scope and potentially include additional ordering features. For now, SEWP V remains fully active through at least September 30, 2026.

Products to Know: HPE's Federal Portfolio

Whether you are ordering through GSA or SEWP, the HPE product set most relevant to federal and SLED buyers includes:

• HPE ProLiant Gen12 servers — the latest generation rack, tower, and blade servers with embedded security, iLO 7 management, and configurations validated for federal workloads
• HPE Synergy — composable infrastructure for agencies operating software-defined data center environments
• HPE Alletra Storage MP — unified block and file storage with inline data services for hybrid cloud environments
• HPE StoreOnce — data protection and deduplication backup appliances used widely across civilian and defense agencies
• HPE Aruba CX switching — the CX 6200, CX 6300, CX 8325, and CX 9300 series for campus, branch, and data center switching
• HPE Aruba access points — Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E access points for indoor and outdoor federal campus environments
• HPE Aruba ClearPass — network access control and policy enforcement, a common requirement for zero-trust architecture programs
• HPE GreenLake — consumption-based compute, storage, and networking delivered as a managed service, available through both GSA and SEWP

For government IT infrastructure guidance specific to federal, SLED, healthcare, and defense environments, Uniqcli maintains dedicated resources for each sector. Buyers sourcing servers, storage, and networking through our shop can verify contract vehicle availability and request formal quotes aligned to their specific contract.

How Uniqcli Helps

Uniqcli is an authorized HPE and HPE Aruba Networking partner with direct experience supporting federal, SLED, healthcare, and enterprise buyers through both the GSA Multiple Award Schedule and NASA SEWP V. We help contracting officers and program managers navigate contract vehicle selection, TAA compliance verification, configuration review, and pricing—without the overhead of going directly to a large systems integrator.

Whether you need a single ProLiant server for a branch office, a multi-rack HPE Synergy deployment for a data center modernization, or a GreenLake managed-services agreement for a compute-as-a-service model, our team can structure the right quote against the right vehicle. We also support government-sector buyers with documentation packages, delivery order templates, and post-award support.

Ready to move forward? Request a government quote or contact our team to discuss your HPE requirement, identify the best contract vehicle, and get a compliant, competitive price on record.