EDS lands ATF seat management contract

Electronic Data Systems Corp. has won a $300 million seat management contract for services to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, taking the contract away from incumbent Unisys Corp.

The performance-based contract, which can run up to seven years, is potentially worth $300 million, according to the ATF. It was awarded under the Defense Information Systems Agency's Encore governmentwide acquisition contract.

EDS will provide enterprisewide hardware, software and technology services needed for ATF employees and task forces. Initially, the company will support about 8,500 seats in nearly 260 locations nationwide.

This is the bureau's third seat management contract. As a managed services contract, the program includes a broad range of IT services to allow ATF to perform its law enforcement functions.

Gartner Inc. of Stamford, Conn., and Acquisition Solutions Inc. of Oakton, Va., assisted ATF in developing and awarding the contract. The bureau used concepts and practices developed from "Seven Steps of Performance-Based Contracting," a project initially conceived through the efforts of the Commerce Department and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, ATF said.

An EDS spokesman declined to comment on the award.

EDS, based in Plano, Texas, reported 2002 revenue of $21.5 billion and 137,000 employees worldwide. The company was ranked No. 8 on the Washington Technology 2003 Top 100 list.