GSA Preps $35 Billion Networking Contract

The General Services Administration is inching toward awarding a 10-year telecommunications contract vehicle estimated to be worth up to $35 billion. It is designed to complement the struggling, behind-schedule Networx contract vehicle.

GSA this week released a draft request for proposals for the new contract, Connections II, which the agency says will be a "one-stop shop" for telecom and networking products and services. Connections II will serve as a successor to the similar Connections contract, which expires in 2011. Connections II will make a number of services available to federal agencies, including: communications and networking; IT operations, administration and management support; customer service and technical support; and building/campus facility preparation. While the Networx contract covers telecommunications services provided by service providers (AT&T, Verizon, Level 3 Communications, Sprint, and Qwest won the awards there), Connections is geared toward internal networking needs.