SATCOM-II- In May 2007, GSA awarded 25 Fixed Price IDIQ satellite contracts for the Government to satisfy its worldwide commercial satellite communications solutions. SATCOM-II offers a complete suite of commercial, Mobile, Fixed, and Broadcast services and equipment as well as end-to-end satellite-centric solutions such as Emergency Communications kits and Distance Learning networks. Any satellite service offered commercially is within scope and offered through one or more SATCOM-II contractors. The complete list of SATCOM-II contract holders along with the services offered by each are described at the GSA website at www.gsa.gov/satcom

Networx: Universal- In March 2007, GSA awarded three contracts for global networking services. Two of the Networx Universal contractors (AT&T and Verizon) offer satellite services. AT&T offers Mobile and Fixed satellite services. Verizon offers Fixed and Broadcast satellite services. The Networx satellite services can support a complete suite of telecommunications and networking services to extend the reach of an Agency's global network and must meet the technical specifications incorporated in the Networx contracts. See www.gsa.gov/networx for more information.

Networx: Enterprise- In May 2007, GSA awarded five contracts for global networking services. Satellite services were optional and none of the five contract holders bid or were awarded satellite services.

Only warranted Contracting Officers of a Federal Agency; an authorized user under GSA Order ADM 4800.2E as revised; or an authorized user approved by GSA under FAR 51.102 may place orders under SATCOM-II. More details are found in the GSA order which is accessible online at www.gsa.gov/eligibility-gsasource

State and Local governments are not authorized to use SATCOM-II, even if using federal grants to make the purchase. Some satellite services, such as satellite phones are readily available through multiple GSA Schedule 70 contracts and are available to state and local users through the Cooperative Purchasing and Disaster Recovery programs. See www.gsa.gov/schedules for more information.

Authorized agencies and entities are stipulated in GSA Order ADM 4800.2e. For Tribal Organizations, more details can be found in GSA Order which is accessible online at www.gsa.gov/eligibility-gsasource

SATCOM-II offers satellite transport (mobile and fixed satellite services), and the equipment necessary to use the service. This would include any satellite modem, routers, or interfaces to connect the satellite delivered service to a customer's network.

Each ordering Contract officer must comply with FAR subpart 16.505 (as stipulated in Section G.2 of each SATCOM-II contract). This means that the ordering agency will solicit information and/or proposals from ALL SATCOM-II contract holders to satisfy the Fair Opportunity requirement. The GSA eBuy system is available to assist customers in soliciting information from all SATCOM-II contract holders.(See FAQ #8)

In accordance with FAR 16.505, each appropriate agency contracting officer must provide each SATCOM-II contractor with a "Fair Opportunity to be Considered" unless one of the exceptions cited in FAR 16.505 (b)(2) applies, and the appropriate agency contracting officer fully documents and signs the justification citing the rationale for using one of these exceptions. This documentation will remain in the contracting officer's official task/delivery order file and must be provided upon request to the GSA PCO.

The SATCOM-II contracts are task order/delivery order contracts. There must be a task order before any service or equipment can be delivered. That task order must be fixed price, and must include the following information per FAR 16.505 (a)(6):

1. Date of Order
2. SATCOM-II Contract# and Order#
3. Identify contract item# (SATCOM-II contract CLIN, description, quantity, and unit price)
4. Delivery or performance schedule
5. Place of performance
6. Packaging, packing and shipping instructions
7. Accounting and appropriation data
8. Method of payment and payment office

GSA's eBuy system has been expanded to include the SATCOM-II program. Customers can access the SATCOM-II area by selecting Network Services and Telecommunications under the GSA Technology Contracts listing, and then selecting SATCOM-II.

The service categories available for SATCOM-II are displayed. Customers may submit RFQ's and RFP's through the eBuy system. A requirement may combine more than one Service Type to meet your requirement. All SATCOM-II contract holders will receive notification of each posted RFQ/RFP.