GAO upholds Lockheed Martin deal for Army AKO portal

The Government Accountability Office has sided with the Army in its choice of Lockheed Martin Corp. to manage the Army Knowledge Online portal.

In a decision earlier this week, GAO denied protests filed by CherryRoad Technologies Inc. and EDS Corp. after the Army awarded the $152 million contract to Lockheed's Integrated Systems and Solutions Division in July, according to the agency's Web site.

"We are obviously disappointed with the GAO decision, but we appreciate the opportunity to have our arguments seriously considered. We look forward to the opportunity to support the Department of the Army in future endeavors," said Kevin Clarke, spokesman for EDS.

The Army couldn't be reached for comment.

Under the contract, Lockheed Martin?along with Computer Sciences Corp. and Science Applications International Corp. as subcontractors?will provide systems operations and maintenance, network communications, hardware and software integration, and help desk support for both the Non-Classified IP Router Network and the Secret IP Router Network.

The performance-based contract will run for a base year, with six option years.