Telecoms Wait Nervously On $20 Billion Contract

TELECOMS WAIT NERVOUSLY ON $20 BILLION CONTRACT
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Kim Hart]
Executives from AT&T and other companies are anxiously awaiting the General Services Administration's announcement of the largest telecommunications contract ever awarded. The winner of the biggest and most lucrative piece of the project, known as Networx Universal, could be named as early as this week. The winner will be responsible for upgrading phone lines, wireless networks and fire walls for the federal government. In total, Networx is estimated to be worth $20 billion, though over time it could grow to $68 billion -- a sum that has inspired much nail-biting among the companies vying for a piece of it. In addition to AT&T, other main bidders -- including Verizon Communications, Qwest Communications and Sprint Nextel -- have assembled teams of companies to help them secure the 10-year deal. Their proposals involve about 120 potential subcontractors, some of whom have relocated their headquarters to the Washington area, beefed up their workforces or built state-of-the-art facilities locally in anticipation of a boost in business. The contract is part of one of the most sweeping revamps of the federal government's technology infrastructure in two decades. The overhaul will touch nearly everything federal employees rely on, from BlackBerrys used by FBI agents to databases used by public schools.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/13/AR2007031301739.html
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