Three win wireless expense management work

Three companies have won contracts from the General Services Administration to help federal agencies manage their wireless devices, and possibly save money by avoiding unnecessary fees for devices.

Under the Telecommunications Expense Management program, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., iSYS and Avalon Technology Inc. will help agencies review their wireless device inventories and calling plans and find ways to pool their minutes and take other steps to reduce their costs.

The goal is to create a consistent cost structure for the services. Most agencies have left it up to individual organizations or program offices to run their own procurements, so different offices end up paying different amounts for the same services, GSA said. GSA believes the contracts, part of the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative, will help agencies save millions of dollars.

This is the same approach the federal government has taken with office supplies and domestic delivery services. All together the contracts are worth an estimated $93 million over two base years and have three one-year options, GSA said.

GSA and the Treasury Department work together on the governmentwide initiative with more than 50 military and civilian agencies participating in the program.

Booz Allen and iSys are based in McLean, Va., while Avalon Technologies is headquartered in Arlington, Va.

Matthew Weigelt writes for Federal Computer Week, an 1105 Government Information Group publication.