SAIC, click2learn to Pursue Army Contract

By Gail Repsher Emery, Staff Writer


SEPT. 27 ? Science Applications International Corp. and click2learn.com Inc. are partnering to compete for the Army's new e-learning contract, Army University Access Online.


The Army's e-learning initiative has been valued at up to $700 million over five years. It will allow personnel to earn college degrees and technical certifications by using online courseware anytime, anywhere.


The request for proposals was released Sept. 8, and proposals are due Oct. 10, with the contract award expected Dec. 15, according to Maj. John Suttle.


SAIC of San Diego will bid on the Army initiative as prime contractor, offering overall systems integration, technology provisioning and help-desk functions, coordination of an Internet service provider to deliver connectivity to Army personnel worldwide, and coordination with course providers and publishers, the company said.


Click2learn of Bellevue, Wash., will offer its e-learning network platform, consulting services and content development and aggregation.


"The SAIC team will use click2learn's e-learning network as the framework to build a reliable, secure eArmyU.com portal with the functionality and flexibility needed to provide educational opportunities to our fighting men and women worldwide," said Henry Sunkenberg, SAIC corporate vice president.


The two companies have worked together previously. They developed train4life.com, an e-learning Web site that delivers anti-terrorist and emergency response training to firefighters and other emergency response personnel nationwide.


Other prime contractors expected to bid on the contract include Electronic Data Systems Corp. of Plano, Texas, Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, Md. and PricewaterhouseCoopers of New York, according to Federal Sources.