After years of anticipation, NASA announced the initial SEWP VI contract awards in June 2026, marking the next generation of one of the federal government's top IT acquisition vehicles. While the ordering period does not officially begin until November 1, 2026, now is the time for both contractors and technology providers to understand what SEWP VI is, how it differs from SEWP V, and how they might be able to get involved.

Back in March, we covered GSA's proposal to modernize the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) by consolidating the certification rules and clarifying certain points of the program. In late June, FedRAMP released the FedRAMP Consolidated Rules for 2026, establishing a new certification framework that will gradually replace many long-standing processes over the next several months.

Yesterday, President Trump signed the highly anticipated Executive Order (EO) "Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security," establishing a voluntary framework that allows the federal government to review certain advanced AI models before they are released publicly. The EO also directs federal agencies to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and work with the private sector to evaluate emerging AI risks.

Information Technology (IT) modernization in the federal government has been on the rise for several years, and there's no slowing down in sight. It's safe to say that IT modernization remains a top priority, even across presidential administrations.

While often thought of as out of date in terms of its technology, the federal government spends billions on new information technology (IT) solutions and services each year in support of various legacy system modernization efforts, cybersecurity initiatives, and other technology-focused programs. The GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program allows contractors to sell various commercial IT products and services to the federal government through its Information Technology Category, or Category F. For the 2025 government fiscal year (FY), the IT Category experienced over $26 billion in sales, demonstrating a highly competitive marketplace for IT services and products under GSA MAS.

Cybersecurity is not a new term or concept in the federal government, but we are seeing changes in the way the government plans to address it. The White House recently released a new National Cyber Strategy (NCS), marking the first major cyber policy update of Trump’s second term. With an increase on cyberattacks in recent years and our supply chain remaining vulnerable, the 2026 strategy is set out to be assertive and proactive in nature. This will definitely bring shift priorities in the federal government, and subsequently the world of procurement.