GSA's Pacific Rim Region Awards $25 Billion ANSWER Contract for IT Services
GSA #9548
January 4, 1999
Contact: Bill Bearden (202) 501-1231
Washington, DC -- The General Service Administration has awarded its 10-year, $25 billion ANSWER contract to 10 prime contractors. The Pacific Rim Region of GSA's Federal Technology Service made the award, which covers the gamut of information technology services for all Federal government agencies worldwide, to the following companies:
* Anteon Corporation, Fairfax, VA;
* Booz-Allen and Hamilton Inc., McLean, VA;
* Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Falls Church, VA;
* Dyncorp, Fairfax, VA;
* EER Systems, (Large, Woman Owned), Seabrook, MD;
* Information Systems Support (ISS), Inc. (SDB, 8(a), Bethesda, MD;
* Information Technology Services (ITS) Corp., (Small Business), Ventura, CA;
* Litton/PRC, Arlington, VA;
* Logicon, Inc., Falls Church, VA; and
* Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), San Diego, CA.
ANSWER is an acronym for Applications 'n Support for Widely-diverse End User Requirements. The contract has a ceiling value of $25 billion over a ten-year award period -- two base years and eight one-year options. It is a multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (MA/IDIQ) contract that covers a very wide range of information technology services including systems analysis, requirements definition, system design, software maintenance, facilities management support services, scientific and engineering applications, network support services, and systems installation and integration. ANSWER has been designed to replace many of the contracts that have supported the Federal Information Systems Support Program. The contract is available to all Federal government agencies and Department of Defense components worldwide.
ANSWER is the first contract awarded under FTS' new IT Solutions Concept of Operations, which was designed to take advantage of economies of scale, leverage existing FTS strengths and expertise, improve communications and coordination among FTS operating components, and maximize the utility of limited resources. Under the new FTS concept, the IT Solutions business line will use individual centers of expertise -- Solutions Development Centers (SDCs) and Client Support Centers (CSCs). SDCs will develop and administer new "IT Solutions" in the form of government-wide and client-specific contracts; and CSCs will provide direct client interface and support by actually delivering the solutions to FTS client agencies. Under this new concept, FTS will issue fewer government-wide contracts from fewer locations and organizations.
"This new concept of operations will go a long way towards ensuring that companies that win FTS contracts will get business under those contracts," said Dennis Fischer, Commissioner of FTS. "Each new contract will fit into an overall acquisition plan and product development strategy."
"We are extremely pleased to be the first SDC to develop and award a major IT contract," said Bob Johnston, FTS Assistant Regional Administrator for the Pacific Rim. "Our focus is on providing our clients stability and continuity in the face of today's highly volatile and rapidly changing technological environment. ANSWER does that by providing services and support for almost every conceivable IT requirement and by providing for nearly continuous technological refreshment when that is necessary. We are also committed to providing special consideration to small businesses and small and disadvantaged businesses through ANSWER."
"We have already developed a backlog of clients committed to using the new contract," said Cathy Paris, Director of IT Solutions for GSA's Pacific Rim. "We expect to satisfy the requirements of several existing clients including; Los Angeles Air Force Base, Army Corps of Engineers, and Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach."
"All FTS regions and client support centers including the Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM) will use ANSWER to support clients. This contract is a very important part of the suite of specialized acquisition vehicles we will use to support our clients' needs." said Charles Self, Assistant Commissioner for the Office of IT Solutions within FTS. "ANSWER is an outstanding example of regional and central office cooperation within FTS."
For further information, contact Ann Gladys at (619) 537-2201 or ann.gladys@gsa.gov.
