MetTel to modernize National Archives networks

The National Archives and Records Administration has tapped MetTel to build a new software-define wide area network for the agency under a $65 million EIS task order.

NARA sought greater network flexibility and more security with embedded encryption, the company said. The SD-WAN also adds firewall protection.

NARA operates 44 locations nationwide including federal records centers, regional archives, presidential libraries and museums and the Federal Register.

The current network infrastructure is based on a legacy hub-and-spoke architecture, which MetTel will replace with the SD-WAN infrastructure, said Robert Dapkiewicz, MetTel’s general manager and senior vice president for federal programs.

“NARA requires a modern network to enable staff to communicate from any location, including office, home and while traveling, which the MetTel SD-WAN enabled network provides,” he said.

MetTel will provide manage network services, toll free service and web conferencing to NARA.

The NARA win is the latest in a string of awards in the last 18 months with over a dozen agencies. MetTel says those contracts have a total value of $2 billion when options are included. Agencies include Social Security Administration, Homeland Security Department, State Department, Veteran’s Administration and the General Services Administration.

The NARA award is a task order under GSA's $50 billion Enterprise Infrastructure Services contract.