What Category C covers, and what it does not
The eleven technical areas, the mission-level test, the small business set-aside, and the per-order ceilings that taper by contract year.
Category C is the newest of the three SEWP VI scope categories and the one most often misunderstood, because its boundary is defined by how a service is delivered rather than by what the service is.
The test: mission level
Category C provides federal agencies with customised solutions at the mission or programme level that improve and enhance an ITC/AV infrastructure. The scope text lists the kinds of work involved: custom computer programming, telecommunication services including network operations, IT, AV and communications-based engineering and design, data processing and analysis, hosting, IT and network operation and computer facilities, ITC and AV management, consulting and educational services, digital government services, and cybersecurity and security systems services.
The RFP is explicit that some of these overlap with Category B. The difference is intent: Category C is for mission-level implementations. If the requirement is an enterprise-wide service, Category B is the vehicle; if it is a solution shaped to a specific mission or programme, Category C is.
Two exclusions matter:
- Product-only requirements are not in scope. Category C may include ancillary ITC/AV products, but only where they are integral to a services-based solution. A hardware buy on its own belongs in Category A.
- Services may be performed at Government or Contractor locations worldwide, as specified in each order. Location is not a constraint; the order defines it.
The eleven technical areas
The RFP lists these as representative, not exhaustive. Other services that meet the ITC/AV definition are within scope.
- Innovation Services: continuous improvement of IT services, and innovation that changes or enhances them.
- Information and Data Analytics Services: data science, modelling, big data, AI and machine learning, delivered by rapid prototyping.
- Application Services and Software Development: the full lifecycle for mission-specific applications, including agile, CI/CD, APIs and cloud deployment.
- Cybersecurity Services: architecture and engineering, continuous monitoring, incident response, vulnerability management, forensics, and the NIST risk management framework.
- Cloud Services: strategy, adoption, governance, hosting and XaaS across government cloud environments.
- Digital Multimedia and Technical Communications: broadcasting, mission websites and social media, institutional AV, publishing and the broadcast arts.
- IT Operations and Maintenance, Help Desk and Call Center: infrastructure management, service desk operations, software administration and desk-side support.
- Network Services: end-to-end LAN and WAN provisioning, voice, data, collaboration and unified communications for mission networks.
- Database Services: administration, DBMS, monitoring, tuning and security, on premises and in the cloud.
- In-Scope Training: workforce development and training on the systems, applications and products within SEWP scope.
- Program Management and Ancillary Services: support that is integral to and necessary for an IT services effort, from programme integration to logistics and transition management.
The full descriptions are on the service areas page.
Group C1 and the small business set-aside
Category C is divided into groups. Group C1 is a Small Business Set-Aside. SOLAIYA LLLP’s contract is in Group C1. Group C2 is reserved.
Per-order ceilings
Category C carries threshold restrictions that taper by contract year:
| Contract year | Ceiling per order, inclusive of options |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | $2 million |
| Year 2 | $10 million |
| Year 3 onward | Restrictions subject to removal |
A buyer scoping a Category C requirement in the first year of performance should size it with the $2 million ceiling in mind, or split it into orders that fit.
Orders are task orders
Unlike Category A, where a delivery order calls off listed part numbers, a Category C order is a task order against a statement of work. That changes what a quote looks like, what a Program Manager needs from you up front, and how support is defined. The ordering guide walks through it.