WITS 3 RFP set for January

The General Services Administration last week announced it would release the final request for proposals for the Washington Interagency Telecommunications System 3 contract on or about Jan. 2.

In a presoliciation notice on FedBizOpps.gov, GSA said WITS 3 will be a single acquisition with multiple awards. GSA released the draft RFP in May and vendors submitted comments in June.

WITS 3 could be worth about $1.8 billion over eight years, according to Input, a market research firm in Reston, Va.

The contract would replace WITS 2001, which is held by Qwest Communications International Inc. of Denver and Verizon Communications Inc. of New York and expires in January 2008. GSA awarded the 8-year, $1.4 billion WITS 2001 contract in 2000.

WITS 2001 provides federal agencies in the national capital region a wide range of local access, data and telecommunications equipment.

The national capital region includes Washington; the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George's; the Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William; and the Virginia cities of Alexandria, Manassas, Fairfax and Falls Church.

Jason Miller is assistant managing editor of Washington Technology's affiliate publication, Government Computer News.