GSA, DISA launch commercial satellite solicitation

The General Services Administration has added two new special item numbers for commercial satellite communications services to Federal Supply Schedule 70, GSA officials announced Feb. 17.

The solicitation gives vendors instructions for detailing how they can qualify for the new Comsatcom special item numbers and offer their services to government customers.

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The special item numbers are for Transported Capacity (SIN 132-54) and Subscription Services (SIN 132-55). They are available on FedBizOpps, the government’s official procurement solicitation site

The Transported Capacity solicitation covers owning and operating or reselling dedicated bandwidth and power on a communications satellite in any available Comsatcom frequency band. The Subscription Services solicitation addresses pre-existing, pre-engineered fixed satellite service and also mobile satellite service capabilities.

GSA and the Defense Information Systems Agency formed a partnership in August 2009 to provide federal civilian and defense agencies with a single platform for accessing critical communications services.

Government agencies rely heavily on commercial satellite communications to provide secure communications to disaster recovery teams and combat troops. Satellite services also support distance learning and remote access to government networks.