GSA Awards Contract for Toll-Free Federal Information Center

GSA#9658

March 29, 2000
Contact: Eleni Martin
(202) 501-1231

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced today, that through its Federal Technology Service, it has awarded a contract to Aspen Systems Corporation to operate its nationwide toll-free federal information program. The program is part of GSA's Federal Consumer Information Center (FCIC). It offers toll-free information and referral services to the general public.

The federal information program was initiated to respond to citizens' questions about Federal agencies, programs, and services as a part of President Lyndon Johnson's "war on gobbledygook." From its beginnings in a federal building lobby in Atlanta, it has expanded to respond to about 3 million inquiries per year via its toll-free telephone number, 1-800-688-9889 (1-800-326-2996 for TTY users).

The new contract increases the amount of information that will be provided over the Internet and makes it easier for other federal programs and agencies to partner with the federal information program to respond to public inquiries. Beth W. Newberger, GSA's Associate Administrator for Communications, said she is looking forward to the "seamless service that the FCIC will be able to provide to the general public and to other agencies under the terms of the new contract."

The awardee, an information services company headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, is a major provider of call-center services to the federal government. Aspen will conduct most of the toll-free information program's activities at its facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. The contract period, including options, can extend through September 30, 2004.

To learn more about the FIC, contact Warren Snaider at (202) 501-1794.