DoD Pulls Global Crossing Work

The Defense Information Systems Agency is yanking a $400 million contract away from Global Crossing Ltd., which the Hamilton, Bermuda-based company won in July, after the four losing bidders protested the award, according to industry sources.

The contract, known as the Defense Research Engineering Network, or DREN, is a 10-year pact for long-haul communication services for the Defense Department's high-performance computing modernization program.

DISA officials apparently were so taken aback by all the disappointed bidders filing protests, the agency is retracting the award and plans to re-open bidding in the next three months, sources said.

The bidders who filed protests were AT&T Corp., Sprint Communications Inc., Qwest Communications International Inc. and WorldCom Inc.