A blockbuster of a contract

• By Nick Wakeman
• Dec 05, 2007

It is only fitting as 2007 winds down that we have a cover story
on the Networx telecommunications contract, arguably the
biggest award of the year.

Although only a small number of
task orders has been awarded, there is
little doubt that this contract will be a
blockbuster.

Agency communications needs go
beyond local and long-distance telephone
services. The need today is to
move voice, data and video anywhere
at any time. Major telecom companies
may be the prime contractors on
Networx, but the teams under them
illustrate the reality of converged communications.

Associate Editor Michael Hardy explores the teams and how
they view the contract. Teammates bring customer relationships
and domain expertise along with their technical skills. It isn't hard
to imagine task orders under Networx in which the teammates will
make the difference between winning and losing.

Also in this edition, staff writer Alice Lipowicz covers the contentious
issue of award fees paid to contractors. When Homeland
Security Department Inspector General Richard Skinner said that
Chenega Technical Services Corp. improperly received a solesource
contract, the news sparked a response from presidential hopeful
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.). She wants the IG to expand the
investigation to see if award fees also were improperly paid.

As Lipowicz explains in her story, Clinton's interest might spark
reforms, but determining the propriety of award fees is no easy
matter. It seems granting an award fee is more art than science.

As our print publication year comes to a close, don't forget to
visit us online where we'll continue our daily coverage of the government
market. Look for our next issue, our annual forecast
issue, in January.

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