USGS awards $2M contract to upgrade Web site

NIH unit awards contract to Aquilent

The U.S. Geological Survey has awarded a five-year, $2 million contract to Aquilent to upgrade the USGS Web site and related services, the company announced today.

USGS, an Interior Department agency, is the largest water, earth and biological science, and civilian mapping agency. It collects, monitors, analyzes and provides scientific information about natural resources conditions, issues and problems.

According to Aquilent, the USGS Web site contains hundreds of pages from which users obtain USGS information and products such as maps, aerial photographs and remote sensing data.

Aquilent’s project team will work with the agency to design and build an enhanced Web presence with better visual appeal, navigation, functionality and breadth of content.

The company will also advise USGS on current Web technology and best practices, including design, usability and accessibility.

The task orders awarded through this contract will include Web analytics strategy development and support for Marketplace, USGS’ e-commerce portal.

“Aquilent is uniquely qualified to provide agencies such as USGS with a comprehensive Web services capability based on our user-centered design and [Capability Maturity Model Integration] development processes,” said David Fout, Aquilent’s president and chief executive officer, in a statement.