“The deadline for federal agencies to switch over to their networks of the future is fast approaching, and several large ones are starting to get a move on.”
“Over the past few weeks, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Veterans Affairs issued task orders under the General Services Administration’s Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract designed to spur network modernization. Both task orders were issued to AT&T.”
“In late May, the DHS award was revealed, and is worth $306 million over 12 years if all of the options are exercised. Last week, the VA award was announced, worth $725 million over 12 years. Taken together, they represent momentum behind network upgrades to modern, IP-based technologies under EIS, though the agencies’ approaches to network improvements differ.”
“EIS, which is designed to let agencies modernize their networks, especially via technologies such as software-defined networking and 5G wireless networks, replaces the existing Networx contract. Agencies had been required to transition away from the Networx contracting vehicle to EIS by the spring of 2020. However, in December 2018, the GSA extended the deadline to 2023 to give agencies more time to switch…”
DHS Shifts to Software-Defined Networking
“DHS awarded AT&T four task orders to deploy IP-based networking service for its headquarters and for three components: Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the agency’s Science and Technology Directorate…”
VA Could Expand Use of 5G Networking
“The VA serves veterans across the country, and therefore requires a “high speed, high capacity and resilient urban and rural data network,” AT&T notes in a release…” Read the full article here.
Source: DHS, VA Take Steps to Modernize Networks with EIS Task Orders – By Phil Goldstein, June 15, 2021. FedTech Magazine.
