DISA taps By Light for $198M production OTA

The Defense Information Systems Agency has selected its main industry partner for an internet security program that accelerated amid the government’s vast shift to telework for many employees to slow the coronavirus’ spread.

DISA chose By Light Professional IT Services for a potential five-year, $198.9 million production Other Transaction Authority contract after the agency previously awarded two prototype agreements through the Cloud Based Internet Isolation program.

By Light will perform work over one initial base year and up to four individual option years afterward. DISA said Wednesday this is the first production OTA awarded to an industry partner.

As reported in May by our sister publication FCW, DISA’s pilot for the effort scaled approximately 327 percent since social distancing efforts took hold in mid-March.

McLean, Virginia-based By Light will work with the agency on putting space between enterprise networks and the internet by implementing cybersecurity solutions into a cloud environment designed to host non-essential internet browsing sessions.

The goal is to reduce risk and attack surfaces of the Defense Department’s information networks and relieve congestion at internet access points that have grown in numbers with DOD personnel having shifted to telework during the pandemic.