News Releases
GSA Awards Electronic Access Services Contract Worth $600 Million to BTG and IBM's AdvantisGSA #9404 April 11, 1997 The U.S. General Services Administration announced today the award of an electronic commerce, Internet, and electronic mail access services contract called CINEMA to BTG, Inc., of Vienna, VA, and Advantis of Schaumburg, IL., the U.S. provider of Network Services for IBM Global Services. With an estimated value of approximately $600 million, this multiple award contract provides a comprehensive package of competitively priced value-added electronic services to include electronic commerce, Internet services, electronic messaging and X.400 mail services. CINEMA has a base award of two years, with three one-year options. It is available in the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia, and is open to all federal agencies; authorized federal contractors; agency-sponsored universities and laboratories; and, as authorized by law, state, local, and tribal government users. Initiated by the Interagency Management Council, CINEMA is an important part of the full range of technology solutions GSA's Federal Telecommunications Service provides to Federal agencies. CINEMA prices compare favorably to other contract vehicles for similar services. Analog, dial-up prices are on average 33 percent less than those for similar, high-quality commercial offerings. In addition to CINEMA's value-added electronic services, FTS is able to meet agency's telecommunications requirements through numerous contract vehicles. Niche services, such as CINEMA, are acquired by the FTS program to focus competition when and where it is needed. "CINEMA is the Federal Government's Ticket to the Future to help agencies conduct more of the government's business electronically," said FTS Commissioner Bob Woods. "We have not only taken advantage of the government's buying power to produce substantial cost savings to users, we have also made the ordering and billing process faster and easier." Sandy Bates, Assistant Commissioner for the FTS Office of Service Delivery said, "Providing a vehicle to obtain value-added electronic services like those provided by CINEMA is especially important considering budget restraints agencies face and the need to 'do more with less'." "CINEMA was a model procurement -- very streamlined and very professionally run," said BTG Vice President Brian Nightingale. "FTS made it clear that it wanted the best services contract for federal agencies, with user-friendly access and the best value on price. We are looking forward to working with FTS on CINEMA." "As a leader in the development and delivery of network computing solutions, such as electronic mail and electronic commerce to governments worldwide, we're pleased," said Ken Thornton, general manager, IBM Global Government Industry, "to have the opportunity to make these solutions available to help our federal government customers enhance their efficiency and effectiveness." BTG, Inc., a small business, teamed with UUNET Technologies and Sterling Commerce can be reached at 800 899-6200; their Internet address is www.btg.com. IBM Global Services can be reached at 800 588-5808 or www.ibm.com/globalnetwork. For additional contract information, please contact: FTS Eugene Bonos on (703) 904-2838 Donald Szejner on (703) 904-2886; BTG Brian Nightingale on (703) 383-6540; Advantis Dave Bolan (813) 878 5462.
Last Reviewed 8/22/2005
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