One week after nine groups petitioned the General Services Administration to bar WorldCom Inc. from bidding on federal contracts, the beleaguered carrier announced Wednesday it won a deal to be the preferred long-distance provider at more than 175 Veterans Medical Centers and outpatient clinics in the United States and Puerto Rico for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
WorldCom Government Markets, a unit providing voice, data and Internet services to federal, state and local agencies, will provide the Veterans Canteen Service division postpaid calling cards, operator services and collect calling capabilities for inpatient telephones and payphones.
Last week nine groups - including the Communications Workers of America, National Consumers League and American Association of People with Disabilities – asked the General Services Administration to bar WorldCom from bidding on federal contracts.
A GSA spokesperson could not be reached immediately Wednesday for comment.
