Spending Multiplies on FTS Answer Contract

OCT. 30 ? Federal agencies in fiscal 2000 spent $250 million for customized information technology systems and support under a general contract, known as Answer, a spending increase of more than 300 percent over the previous year.

Patience Wait, Staff Writer


OCT. 30 ? Federal agencies in fiscal 2000 spent $250 million for customized information technology systems and support under a general contract, known as Answer, a spending increase of more than 300 percent over the previous year.


The General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service awarded the 10-year, $25 billion Answer contract, which stands for Applications 'n Support for Widely diverse End User Requirements, to 10 systems integrators in December 1998.


The FTS received 600 task orders from 21 federal agencies in 2000.


The 10 systems integrators, who are the providers of choice under the Answer contract, are Anteon Corp., Booz-Allen and Hamilton Inc., Computer Sciences Corp., DynCorp, EER Systems, Information Systems Support Inc., Information Technology Services Corp., Litton-PRC Inc., Logicon Inc. and Science Applications International Corp.


Under the contract, the companies provide federal agencies with requirements and design research, analysis and development, software maintenance and facilities management support services for business, scientific and engineering applications, said Ann Gladys, director of the FTS Answer Solutions Development Center.


"The overall scope of the contracts covers the gamut in IT," said Gladys, adding that "it brings to bear the skills and talents necessary for executive management, and acquisition expertise so inherent to extensive IT projects."