GSA builds structure to support Alliant project

The General Services Administration is forming a national-level staff to oversee its 10-year, multibillion-dollar Alliant IT services contract and shifting the program's management center to Washington, said John Johnson, assistant commissioner of service development and service delivery at the General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service.

Johnson will select a national-level manager to oversee the governmentwide Alliant contract program and report directly to him. Once the manager and staff members are selected, Alliant, which is currently handled by GSA's office in San Diego, will be directed from Washington.

Johnson also is reviewing Alliant's program documents to "make sure we're on the right path," and working with GSA's regions to build a cohesive team for the procurement, he said. He is putting together a review group, consisting of new GSA staffers and those who have already been working on Alliant, to examine the entire program, he added.

Johnson said he does not intend to change any of the regional positions on the Alliant program. Paul Martin is Alliant's program manager in San Diego.

In mid-August, Johnson was appointed to manage the Alliant program after Neal Fox, GSA's former assistant commissioner of commercial acquisition who was overseeing Alliant, left the agency.

Tina Burnette, deputy assistant commissioner of commercial acquisitions for GSA's Federal Supply Service, will remain on the Alliant team, although her position has yet to be determined, Johnson said.

Johnson and his staff are reviewing industry comments for the Alliant draft request for proposals, which were issued March 31. Johnson declined to discuss any changes that the agency has made to the documents, but added that whatever changes in the 80 revisions that may occur would be completed before Nov. 11.

Johnson said that he did not intend to issue a second draft RFP before the final RFP, but added that he was considering holding a conference on Alliant prior to the release of the final request for proposals. Johnson could not say when the final RFPs would be released.

"We're moving as swiftly as we can, and we are sensitive to any further delays in the program," he said.

Alliant will replace the expiring Millennia and Applications and Support for Widely Diverse End-User Requirements (Answer) contracts for governmentwide IT services. Alliant consists of two separate procurements. The Alliant Full and Open contract is valued at $50 billion, while the Alliant Small Business set-aside is valued at $15 billion. GSA plans to issue 20 awards for the full and open and 40 awards for the small business contract. GSA is planning to issue awards in 2006.