GSA Awards New Series of Satellite Service Contracts

GSA# 9636

February 2, 2000
Contact: Bill Bearden (202) 501-1231

WASHINGTON - The U.S. General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service (FTS) awarded a series of satellite service contracts on February 1. These contracts which were awarded to multiple satellite contractors, offer a wide variety of commercial fixed, mobile and broadcast satellite services and equipment. The contracts are fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) and are available for use by all Federal agencies. Each contract has a base period of one-year, plus an additional five, one-year options.

Over the past year, FTS had awarded four similar contracts for commercial satellite services and equipment. However, agency requirements prompted a need to expand the breadth and length of offerings. First the Government Alliance for Training and Education (GATE) needed broadband distance learning service and equipment that were not available from the previous contracts. Second the previous contracts had short periods of performance, but customers wanted longer term contracts to satisfy current and future needs. Finally, with a rapidly changing and growing wireless market, customers wanted access to services from new entrants.

Dennis Fischer, Commissioner of FTS, praised the awards as "a major step forward in our effort to ensure that technologically current wireless services are available to our customers when they need them."

The contracts were awarded to: COLSA Corporation of Huntsville, AL; COMSAT of Bethesda, MD; Electronic Data Systems (EDS) of Herndon, VA; Hughes Global Services (HGS) of El Segundo, CA; John Tidrow and Associates (JTA) of Fayetteville, NC; Marshall Associates, Inc (MAI) of Sterling, VA; and Motorola Worldwide Information Network Services (M-WINS) of Chandler, AZ. Each contract is unique in the commercial offerings they provide.

Commercial Offerings provided by contract

Colsa provides basic data transmission services for clients through Echostar.
COMSAT Mobile communications (CMC) are provided via the Inmarsat system located around the globe.
EDS offers a fully integrated distance learning capability that includes end-end satellite services as well as comprehensive follow-on integration and maintenance support.
HGS provides a wide variety of fixed, broadcast, and mobile services. These offerings include satellite bandwidth, VSATs, teleports, terminals, Iridium, Inmarsat, ORBCOMM, DirectPC, OneTouch and others.
JTA provides Iridium and Inmarsat mobile satellite services and equipment.
Marshall Associates, Inc. provides broadband distance learning services.
Motorola Worldwide Information Network Services (M-WINS) offers Iridium services for global communications.

For additional information, contact April Ramey GSA FTS at 703-306-6300.