TECHNOLOGY AND THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT

The General Services Administration announced on Monday that AT&T has been awarded the first contract to deliver secure Internet connections to federal agencies via the Networx Universal telecommunications program.

AT&T will offer Managed Trusted Internet Protocol Services under the Office of Management and Budget's Trusted Internet Connections initiative, announced in November 2007. The goal is to reduce the number of Internet connections in the federal government to fewer than 100 in 2009; the exact deadline has yet to be determined.

"GSA has provided resources to assist the successful implementation of the TIC initiative and made information systems security a priority in their strategic plans," said Karen Evans, OMB administrator for e-government and information technology. "Fewer external connections mean fewer vulnerabilities and better secured networks."

GSA and AT&T representatives were not able to comment on Tuesday.

Networx Universal is an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract vehicle with a ceiling of $48.1 billion over 10 years. Combined with Networx Enterprise, it is the federal government's largest telecommunications program.

AT&T's latest offering will include a system to detect computer network intrusions as well as a security operations center to protect agencies' networks. GSA still is evaluating secure Internet connection proposals from Verizon and Qwest Communications, the other two vendors on Networx Universal.

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