DOD’s $11B Contract to Consolidate Fourth Estate Networks Is Out for Bid

The Defense Information Systems Agency released the final solicitation for the $11 billion Defense Enclave Services contract Tuesday. 

The DES contract is the “crown jewel” of the department’s IT reform and is a key component of the Fourth Estate Network Optimization project. DES will consolidate the DAFAs, or Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities, under a common network architecture. 

“DES will provide integrated, standardized and cost-effective IT services; while improving security, network availability and reliability for the 22 DAFAs within the Fourth Estate,” the request for proposal in beta.SAM.gov reads. 

The RFP for the single-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract was originally expected to be published at the end of September. DOD officials told reporters last week that Defense Department Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy conducted a review of the contract, which delayed its publication. 

Bids for DES are due Feb. 8, 2021, and an award is expected in the first quarter of 2022, according to the solicitation. The contract has a four-year base period and three two-year option periods, with a value potentially as high as $11.65 billion. 

Danielle Metz, DOD acting deputy chief information officer for information enterprise, told reporters during a media roundtable as part of DISA’s annual forecast to industry event Thursday DES will strengthen integration and cybersecurity for the DAFAs, and ultimately enable better access to cloud services by improving networks.