Catapult on call to keep communication going during disasters

Catapult Technology was recently tasked by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to keep the lines of communication open in 80 countries during disastrous events. 

USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance hired the company under the GSA COMMITS NexGen contract through a $58.8 million task order. The contract covers one base year and four one-year options.

“Functioning communications services are key when unexpected disaster strikes – in fact they’re often the difference between life and death,” said Randy Slager, chief executive officer and chairman of Catapult, a service-disabled, veteran-owned firm in Bethesda. Md. “This is a critical function that we’re well equipped to handle.”

The company’s work for the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, which organizes international disaster relief throughout the world, will include supporting the information technology and communications needs for several disaster assistance response teams. Catapult, which is the lead contractor on the task order, will also be in charge of supporting the agency’s information technology and communications services during international disasters, which could be at several sites at the same time and in remote areas of the world that have little or no infrastructure.

The firm will also support USAID’s headquarters in Washington and in the field. Catapult’s work on the task order will range from program management, systems operations and maintenance to providing network connectivity among several sites in the United States, Latin America and field locations.