GSA Preps $35 Billion Networking ContractGSA Preps $35 Billion Networking Contract

The General Services Administration is inching toward awarding a 10-year telecommunicaitons contract vehicle estimated to be worth up to $35 billion. It is designed to complement the struggling, behind-schedule Networx contract vehicle.

GSA this week released a draft request for proposals for the new contract, Connections II, which the agency says will be a "one-stop shop" for telecom and networking products and services. Connections II will serve as a successor to the similar Connections contract, which expires in 2011.

Connections II will make a number of services available to federal agencies, including: communications and networking; IT operations, administration and management support; customer service and technical support; and building/campus facility preparation.

While the Networx contract covers telecommunications services provided by service providers (AT&T, Verizon, Level 3 Communications, Sprint, and Qwest won the awards there), Connections is geared toward internal networking needs.

In terms of scope, the Connections II contract will include "all labor and equipment necessary to support communications and networking solutions at the LAN, building, campus, and enterprise level," the RFP says. Included will be network analysis, planning, design, implementation and management.

The contract is a big one. In a preliminary FAQ on its Website, GSA pegs Connections II's contract ceiling at only $10 billion over 10 years, but government market research and analysis group FedSources pegs the high-end of the cost at $35 billion. GSA is looking for responses to its draft RFP by March 29.

The final award is expected by the end of the year.