GSA Awards International Direct Distance Dialing Contract to AT&T

GSA #9423

July 2, 1997
Contact: Bill Bearden
Internet: bill.bearden@gsa.gov

Washington, DC - The U.S. General Services Administration's Federal Telecommunications Service (FTS) awarded the International Direct Distance Dialing (ID3) contract to AT&T on July 1. The contract has an estimated value of more than $50 million.

"The ID3 contract will provide cost effective, high quality international telecommunications services to Federal agencies and other authorized users," said FTS Commissioner Robert Woods. "Substantial cost savings will be realized."

Woods said that the average prices for voice calls will be approximately 35 to 40 percent lower than published tariff rates, with some individual rates costing even less. For example, an average five-minute call from the "lower 48" United States to Germany will cost 12 cents per minute; to Italy, 14 cents; to Japan, 20 cents; and calls to the United Kingdom can be made at the "bargain basement" rate of only 7 cents per minute.

The ID3 contract was developed and will be administered in partnership with the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization (DITCO), the contracting arm of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). It will provide continuity with the International Switched Voice Service (ISVS) contract, a major international services contract that expires in August 1997. The partnership marks the first time that DOD and GSA/FTS have formed a strategic alliance to combine civilian and military telecommunications requirements in a single contract. Under the partnership, DISA/DITCO will administer service for the Defense Department customers while GSA will serve other Government agencies.

In announcing the award Woods said, "We are pleased to welcome AT&T as our provider of international services and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship in meeting the international telecommunications needs of our customers."

ID3 is a non-mandatory, single vendor, two-year contract with three one-year options. It will provide outbound services to over 230 countries, with a large percentage of them having inbound and country-to-country capabilities. ID3 features include calling card services, international 800/888 services, operator assistance and international directory assistance. Additional services for data and wideband information transfer services will be added as Government requirements are identified.

For additional contract information contact Phillip L. Barber at (703) 610-2313.

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