Sprint Nextel picks Networx team

Sprint Nextel Corp. has teamed up with Lockheed Martin Corp. to bid on the General Services Administration's $20 billion Networx telecommunications and IT contract, a company spokesperson said today.

Sprint Nextel will combine its broad portfolio of telecommunications services, products and system solutions with Lockheed Martin's systems integration and enterprise system solutions in the bid for both the Universal and Enterprise parts of the 10-year Networx procurement.

The Universal part will provide government locations with a broad range of telecom services nationwide. Enterprise will offer a mix of specialized Internet protocol or wireless services in specific geographical areas. GSA will issue multiple awards for both parts in April 2006.

Sprint Nextel's team also will include several technology companies and small businesses, although the company is not yet revealing their names, said Stephanie Taliaferro, a Sprint Nextel spokeswoman.

Sprint Nextel is the third major telecom player to announce its team for Networx. Earlier this month, MCI Inc. said it was partnering with several companies, including Anteon International Corp., Computer Sciences Corp., G2 Satellite Solutions Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., TeleTech Government Solutions LLC, WilTel Communications Group Inc., Verizon Wireless, Comtech Telecommunications Corp., Protus IP Solutions Inc. and Proxim Wireless Networks.

At the beginning of August, AT&T Government Solutions Inc., announced a team, consisting of Northrop Grumman Information Technology, EDS Corp., GTSI Corp., SRA International Inc., Cingular Wireless LLC and Global Crossing Ltd. and other small and midsized government communications and IT companies.

Both MCI and AT&T will bid on the Universal and Enterprise parts of Networx.

Sprint Corp. and Nextel Communications Inc., two of the country's largest wireless operators, completed their $35 billion merger this month. The new company has its corporate headquarters in Reston, Va., and its operational headquarters in Overland Park, Kan.