Technology Squeeze: Chart

Defense

Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)

Navy
$3.26 billion
Lockheed Martin Corp., Bethesda, Md.

This new battlefield satellite system will allow vessels to send data regardless of foul weather or difficult terrain. Narrowband transmission lets data travel through buildings and dense landmasses. MUOS will become part of the Advanced Narrowband Communications System, which will provide global satellite communications capacity for voice, video and data service for U.S. and allied forces.

Global Information Grid Bandwidth Expansion (GIG-BE)

Defense Information Systems Agency
$800 million
Science Applications International Corp., San Diego

The backbone of the military's network centric warfare strategy, GIG-BE is envisioned as the data platform for processing, storing and managing all types of information used by the Defense Department and national security and intelligence agencies. In 2005, GIG-BE enters a critical phase of expansion. More than 80 installations must be connected to the grid by September. The expanded network will give intelligence analysts, commanders and troops faster access to intelligence and battlefield data through wireless and other portable technology. Auditors have warned, though, that the grid expansion lacks an effective management strategy.

Homeland Security

Security Planning and Integrated Resources for Information Technology (SPIRIT)

Homeland Security Department
$5 billion

Insiders were neither surprised nor disappointed to see officials scrap this catch-all contract for a range of IT services. SPIRIT was modified so many times (nearly 20) that potential bidders were left confused and frustrated. SPIRIT originally was intended to procure IT for the Coast Guard, but officials thought it could be used to buy everything from computers to network maintenance for all Homeland Security Department entities. Now DHS will award deals agency by agency.

Integrated Wireless Network

Justice, Homeland Security and Treasury departments
Estimated value of $2.5 billion
(spending of up to $10 billion authorized)
To be awarded in May

The network would provide wireless telecommunications services to 80,000 federal law enforcement personnel at 2,500 sites, including land and coastal border posts. Officials plan to award contracts in May to two or more vendor teams. They will compete to build the network, a strategy designed to wring the best pricing and performance from the winners.

US VISIT

Homeland Security Department
$7 billion to $10 billion
Accenture, Hamilton, Bermuda

The entry-exit system for foreign visitors has been beset by controversy. Democratic lawmakers on the attack against offshore firms bidding for federal contracts failed to block the award to Bermuda-based Accenture. Then the 9/11 commission said US VISIT relies on "an antiquated computer environment." The program began at 115 airports and 14 seaports Jan. 5. By mid-October, 280 people had been detained.

Governmentwide Contracts

Alliant

General Services Administration
Up to $150 billion
20 prime contractors; 25 percent small businesses
To be awarded in 2006

GSA's expectations for this mammoth information technology services deal are high. Billed as "the next-generation governmentwide acquisition center," Alliant would assist agencies in every mission from fighting terrorism to developing technology to providing satellite telecommunications. Heavy competition is anticipated when requests for proposals are released in 2005. Awards are expected the following year. About 370 companies have expressed interest.

Commerce Information Technology Solutions

Next Generation (COMMITS NexGen)
Commerce Department
$8 billion
51 vendors

Commerce's governmentwide contract may be one of the best bets for small IT companies. Those firms can compete for orders of any value, but larger companies can't compete for orders of $5 million or less. COMMITS lets agencies buy systems engineering, security support and maintenance.

8(a) STARS

Up to $15 billion
General Services Administration
More than 400 companies; small businesses only
Opens for business Nov. 1, 2004

A broad IT services contract, STARS replaces GSA's small business set-aside contract, known as FAST. STARS provides services in eight areas, including programming, computer facilities management, and Internet publishing and broadcasting.

Modernization

Business Systems Modernization

Internal Revenue Service
$10 billion (and counting…)
Computer Sciences Corp., El Segundo, Calif.

This sometimes troubled agencywide project could be turning around as IRS leaders focus on fewer, more manageable projects. The first version of the main taxpayer database, the cornerstone of the modernization, was delivered seven weeks ahead of schedule, and officials say it has been working well. IRS Chief Information Officer Todd Grams says the next version of the database is on track for a January 2005 deployment. Overall, the modernization aims to make the IRS a more customer-friendly organization, and one that can more efficiently process millions of tax returns every year.

Federal Investigative Case Management System

Justice and Homeland Security departments
Value unknown

Officials released a request for information to industry in September for this proposed online management system for investigative agencies' case files. It would build on the FBI's Trilogy, an effort to update computers and networks, which has been beleaguered by delays and cost overruns. Transitioning from a paper-based system to an online one also has been challenging to FBI culture. Officials hope to buy off-the-shelf software and other products, ideally to allow agents to search agency-held information in the same way people search the Internet.

HUD Information Technology Systems (HITS)

Housing and Urban Development Department
$750 million
Electronic Data Systems Corp., Plano, Texas

Provides new hardware, software, telecommunications and other services at Washington headquarters and 80 offices worldwide. EDS won the contract in 2003, but rival Lockheed Martin protested. EDS pulled out a second win in August, but that, too, has Lockheed crying foul.

Telecommunications

Networx

General Services Administration
Up to $10 billion
Multiple contractors
Award anticipated in 2006

The telecom deal to watch. Networx will replace the current governmentwide FTS 2001, a contract for long-distance and data services used by nearly every agency. GSA plans to award two contracts: Networx Universal for nationwide services and Network Enterprise for companies with niche offerings. Providers on the Universal contract likely will be brand-name telecom giants; Sprint and AT&T are examples. Enterprise contract providers likely will be boutique com-panies providing specialty online services or local coverage. Look for RFPs in April.

Management Matters

Electronically Managing Enterprise Resources for

Government Efficiency and Effectiveness (EMERGE2)
Homeland Security Department
$229 million
BearingPoint, McLean, Va.

This new system should provide more precise information about the department's finances and assets for agency managers, helping them comply with financial reporting requirements and better anticipate budgets. Officials are scrapping redundant systems in Homeland Security's 22 component agencies. EMERGE2 will merge grants management, cost and revenue data, as well as budgeting functions.

Share-in-Savings blanket purchase agreement

General Services Administration
Six contracts of up to $500 million each

Share-in-savings contracts are celebrated for their cost-saving potential-the contractor pays the upfront cost of whatever system it installs and is paid a percentage of what that system saves the government-but they've proved difficult to implement. Now, GSA is offering agencies pre-negotiated shared-savings deals with six IT service vendors, through the GSA schedule contracts. The agreements expire in September 2005 unless Congress says otherwise. GSA anticipates that agencies will use the contracts to buy electronic payroll processing, or to consolidate old legacy systems.

2005

January

• The 50 largest land ports must be using US VISIT entry-exit system on Jan. 1.
• 109th Congress begins.
• Internal Revenue Service expects delivery on the next phase of its Customer Account Data Engine (CADE), the cornerstone of the agency's multibillion-dollar modernization.
• The FBI plans to begin testing the last phase of its Trilogy modernization project.

Feb. 7

Fiscal 2006 budget must be sent to Congress.

April 1

Final requests for proposal expected for governmentwide Networx telecommunications contract.

May

Finalists are chosen for the Integrated Wireless Network. They will compete to build the nationwide law enforcement system.

September

As many as 80 military locations by now should be connected to the Defense Information Systems Agency's expanded Global Information Grid.

Sept. 30

• Fiscal 2005 ends.
• Congress must act to extend General Services Administration's authority to issue share-in-savings blanket purchase agreements.

Dec. 31

By now all 165 U.S. border crossings must be using US VISIT entry-exit system.