Rest of NCES contract goes to group of companies

Systems integrator Carahsoft Technology will lead a group of companies that has been awarded the second half of the collaboration portion of the Defense Information Systems Agency's Net-Centric Enterprise Services contract.

Under a $22 million contract, Carahsoft and partners Adobe Systems, Jabber and Science Applications International will provide Defense Department users worldwide with a second option for collaborative services offered through DISA's NCES program. The contract covers instant messaging, text chat, Web conferencing and shared whiteboarding services, including the ability for DOD users to bring non-DOD personnel into collaborative sessions.

Last July, DISA awarded the first half of the collaboration component of the NCES project to IBM under a $17 million "pay-for-use" contract lasting one year, with two optional years.

DISA picked two providers of collaboration services to promote competition for DOD's business. DISA's plan lets DOD users' pick between the two providers using buttons on their PC screens, according to the agency.

John Rendleman writes for Government Computer News, an 1105 Government Information Group publication.