GSA Taps Private Sector For Telecom Services.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently awarded contract to three Northern Virginia companies to streamline the government's purchase and management of wireless devices and services, and to lower the cost to agencies and taxpayers.

GSA awarded the first Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI) Telecommunications Expense Management (TEM) contracts to three Northern Virginia companies, iSYS LLC and Booz Allen Hamilton of McLean, and Avalon Technologies of Arlington. Contract run for two years, with three one-year options. The estimated value of the contracts is $93 million.

The companies will compete with one another for agencies' orders. So far, 14 agencies plan to use the contract so they can save money through the bulk purchase of wireless services.

GSA and the U.S. Department of the Treasury co-chair the government-wide FSSI, created by the Office of Management and Budget in 2005. More than 20 military and civilian agencies participate in FSSI. The TEM services contracts follow the FSSI procurement vehicles established for office supplies and domestic delivery services.

"As the federal government's chief procurement agency, GSA was very excited to work with federal agencies to develop and award the first strategic sourcing contracts for federal wireless management services," says GSA Administrator Lurita Doan. "These contracts typify our commitment to provide optimal government solutions to our partner agencies at best value for the American taxpayer."

Adds Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner James A. Williams, "Cross- government collaboration was instrumental in our collective success to award these contracts. This demonstrates that ...