FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2001
Local, Long Distance Eyed
INTERIOR DEPT. EXPLORES MARKETING TELECOM SERVICES TO AGENCIES
Acquisition program run by Interior Dept.’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) is exploring ways to offer telecom services that potentially could rival existing FTS program run by General Services Administration (GSA). In recent request for proposals, procurement arm of MMS called GovWorks asks for recommendations on telecom services program that would meet needs of other federal agencies. GovWorks is examining contracts that would cover local service, dark fiber, Web hosting, wireless long distance and direct access or point-to-point data circuits. Competition to services offered by GSA under metropolitan area acquisition program and FTS has received positive reactions from industry and govt. sources. Through spokesman, Rep. Davis (R-Va.) said he "welcomes GovWorks into the program and hopes it spurs greater competition." Davis, chmn. of House Govt. Reform Committee’s subcommittee on technology and procurement, has been among loudest voices on Capitol Hill expressing concern about transition pace of existing GSA programs. GovWorks provides acquisition services to all federal and D.C. agencies. In proposal request, agency said it planned "to ultimately solicit vendors to participate" in multiple award contracts for national telecom services available to all federal agencies. RFP said agency was interested in designing "share-in-savings plan that benefits all parties." Interior Dept.’s pending entry into telecom arena comes as GSA has fended off criticism in recent months over transition progress of agencies onto MAA program and FTS 2001 contract. Sprint and WorldCom hold $1.5 billion in FTS 2001 contracts and GSA has awarded MAA contracts in individual cities to AT&T, BellSouth, Qwest, SBC, Verizon, Winstar. GSA’s Federal Technology Service is holding public meeting today (Fri.) to discuss cross-over strategy for existing MAA vendors to offer long distance services to FTS customers and for FTS contractors to offer local services in MAA markets. Federal telecom contracts have been designed to allow holder of MAA or FTS 2001 contract to receive modification that allows them to compete with other FTS 2001 or MAA vendors. GovWorks reportedly is planning to issue RFP to solicit telecom contract, which would go to single vendor and cover all federal agencies, in 3-6 months. "We would have an interest in it," Sprint spokesman said of MMS’s plans. "We’re very qualified to respond to this. The FTS actually ends up being a model for others to emulate or enhance. None of this has been done before FTS." Spokesman said it would be interesting to see how GovWorks distinguished its offerings from those already offered by GSA. Advantage of existing GSA program is that it leverages service offerings across both small and larger agencies, he said. "I think that it means that competition is seeing a rebirth in the marketplace," said Lisa Crawford, procurement consultant who formerly headed AT&T’s FTS program. Interior’s interest in marketing telecom services to agencies also means that "there is clearly an opportunity now for players who are not part of the FTS family to have other conduits to the marketplace and that DoI is showing leadership." Move also appears to indicate that Interior is "breaking ranks" and signaling in more public way disaffection of some federal agencies with current telecom offerings overseen by GSA. — Mary Greczyn