GSA Extends, expands satellite communications contract

Signal, Apr 2000 by Dukart, James R

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is making it easier for federal agencies to procure satellite communications. Early this year, GSA's Federal Technology Service (FTS) announced a six-year contract extension with Hughes Global Services (HGS) Incorporated intended to provide one-stop shopping for satellite communications for all federal agencies.

The new indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity government-wide agency contract with HGS has a $490 million ceiling over six years and was awarded following a successful year-long satellite communications pilot program. It covers domestic and international mobile satellite communications; fixed satellite services, including long-term and occasional-use bandwidth from multiple providers; terminals and video conferencing at the C- and KU-band frequencies; and DirecPC data delivery.

Mark Schwene, vice president of HGS, says the idea is to make essential satellite communications purchases simple and straightforward across all federal agencies.

"We have been working to provide the benefits of commercial satellite communications [to the government] for a number of years," Schwene says. "This is a contract vehicle that allows them to buy what they need. It means they can come to one contact to get everything they need-satellite time, ground terminals for transmission and reception, and all support functions."

Agencies that participated in the pilot, Schwene says, include the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, International Broadcasting Bureau and nearly 40 others. By early this year, he says, more than 100 task orders across the entire spectrum of satellite communications had been filed under the pilot program.

Examples, he says, include the Department of Health and Human Services using DirecPC to beam Internet via satellite to the desktop for training. The IRS and Department of Veterans Affairs, Schwene says, are using the contract for training and distance learning, and the International Broadcasting Bureau is using it to broadcast the Voice of America radio programs throughout Europe.

Hallmarks of the contract, Schwene explains, include its flexibility and inclusivity. All civil or military federal agencies are eligible to participate, including authorized users such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the World Health Organization, the Red Cross and Native American tribal govements. The contract's flexibility, he says, allows for agencies to order on an ad hoc basis or reserve time slots and services, whichever works best for the purchasing organization.

The contract also includes access to commercial products and services such as HGS' SkyMedia and DemandNet. Schwene says HGS has tweaked the commercial services to meet government contract needs and terms. "This is an incredibly flexible vehicle," he notes, adding that HGS will also contract with other satellite communications vendors for certain services and products.

"This is an ideal way for government satellite communications users to lower their costs through the use of commercially available satellite capabilities," Ron Swanson, president of HGS, says. "We've proven that we can guarantee that government users get whatever satellite communications they need, when they need it, at the best price."

Agencies interested in satellite communications services through the contract can go directly to HGS' World Wide Web site at http://www.hughesglobal.com for further information on contract products, services and prices.