GSA Releases $5 Billion Satellite Communications RFPGSA Releases $5 Billion Satellite Communications RFP

The General Services Administration (GSA) has released the final request for proposals (RFPs) for procuring billions of commercial satellite communications for both civilian and defense agencies.

The RFPs, one of which is full and open and another for small businesses, are to provide Custom Satcom Solutions (CS2) -- end-to-end satellite services available as part of the Future Comsatcom Services Acquisition Program (FCSA). The combined RFPs could result in more than $5 billion in purchases.

FCSA is a recent agreement with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) through which the GSA manages the purchase of satellite services for federal agencies. The Department of Defense (DoD) also purchases services through the program.

For the last decade, federal government customers have procured custom satcom services through a combination of vehicles from both the DISA and the GSA, according to the GSA Web site. However, the agencies thought that with multiple contracts expiring in the 2011-2012 time frame, they should come up with a joint acquisition strategy.

The idea behind combining the purchases for the two agencies is to avoid any redundant acquisition costs. Officials also wanted to create a common marketplace for vendors to offer their services.

Contracts the FCSA is replacing include DISA's Inmarsat Airtime and Equipment contract, the Defense Information System Network Satellite Transmission Service-Global pact, and the GSA's Satcom II program.

The deadline for submissions to the RFPs is Aug. 12 at 4:30 PM EDT.