In what could be the largest Federal communications services deal to date, The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) today confirmed that it has awarded a 10-year networking project with a maximum value of $3 billion to AT&T Inc., Qwest Government Services Inc. and Arrowhead Global Solutions Inc.
The three companies will provide services for the four regions of the Defense Information Systems Network Access Transport Services (DATS), until October 31, 2016. The agency said it received seven proposals for the open contract, but would not identify the bidders that lost out on the mega-deal.
DISA did say that the government’s guaranteed minimum for the three-year base period of the contract is a total of $5 million ($1.25 million per region). The rest of the deal consists of seven one-year options.
DISA describes itself as a Department of Defense (DOD) “combat support agency that delivers information technology to enhance the capabilities of the nation’s war fighters and all who support them in defense of the nation.”
DISA provides a seamless, secure and reliable web of communications networks, computers, software, databases, applications and other capabilities that meet the information processing and transport needs of DOD. DISA also ensures the integration and interoperability of command and control, communications, computers and intelligence systems.
While AT&T and Qwest will primarily provide communications services to DISA under the contract, Arrowhead’s focus will be on providing integration and professional services. Arrowhead has met with success in the government sector having recently been awarded a contract valued at up to $50.25 million over 10 years to provide satellite transponder services to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The DATS project is nearly nationwide in scope, covering the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, but doesn’t include international locations.
Qwest said it is expects to generate at least $100 million over the length of the DATS contract and added it will provide private links among military bases in 11 Western states, including California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah.
Arrowhead Global Solutions Inc. www.arrowhead.com
AT&T Inc. www.att.com
Defense Information Systems Agency www.disa.mil
Qwest Communications International Inc. www.qwest.com
