Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance

Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractors are civilian employees or government contractors who are contracted to assist the United States Department of Defense (DoD) components, and acquisition programs. (In some areas of DoD, the acronym SETA refers to "Systems Engineering and Technical Assessment" contractors; also refers to "Systems Engineering and Technical Advisors.") SETA contractors provide analysis and engineering services in a consulting capacity, working closely with the government's own engineering staff members. SETA contractors provide the flexibility and quick availability of expertise without the expense and commitment of sustaining the staff long-term.

SETA is an industry term, which the DoD has used since at least 1995, for example in the Software Engineering Institute; 'Defense Acquisition Deskbook, "S"; the An Acronym List for the Information Age (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association); the DoD Guide to Integrated Product and Process Development(http://www.acq.osd.mil/sts/te/survey/acronyms.html,Appendix 1 - Acronyms}).

The government often needs to supplement its internal Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance capability in order to meet its frequently changing needs and demands. Through a formal Request for Information (RFI)/ Request for Proposal (RFP) process the government is able to contract with a commercial organization to provide certain services. SETA contractors work alongside government employees often within the same workspace. SETA contractors may participate in government contracting actions and may assist in managing other contracts. A SETA contractor cannot be the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or Assistant Contracting Officer Representative (ACOR), but they may function as the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC). Since SETA contractors may have access to procurement sensitive information there is a risk of conflict of interest (CoI) which is mitigated through Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and firewalls restricting communications within corporations. The SETA support rate in total R&D expenditures of DARPA are evaluating as 7,4-9,9% .

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