Deca hands $200M modernization pact to AT&T NCR

The AT&T NCR Division has won the Defense Commissary Agency's (Deca) four-year point-of-sale modernization contract valued at up to $200 million, a win that reflects the company's more historic product lines.

NCR, known for its stronghold on the commercial point-of-sale market, was named AT&T Global Information Solutions when the telephone company took it over several years ago. It was given back its old name under AT&T's recent restructuring.

The Commissary contract, awarded by the Defense Information Technology Contracting Office at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., has an estimated minimum buy of $44 million, with $7.7 million obligated at the time of award.

Under the contract, AT&T will install scanners, computers and other point-of-sale equipment at the 300-plus commissaries worldwide that comprise the world's 10th largest grocery chain.

NCR is responsible for providing a complete, commercial point-of-sale system, including hardware, software, interfaces, site preparation and check stands as well as training and documentation.

The award of the point-of-sale contract is the final stage in a multiple-year effort by Deca to modernize its computer systems.

NCR won a $71 million contract in 1992 to provide maintenance for the commissary computer systems that will expire in 1998. Last year Computer Sciences Corp. won a $58 million contract from Deca to automate the agency's computer systems.

Other Bidders

CSC also bid on the point-of-sale contract but does not plan to protest. IBM Corp. also bid, but a spokesman could not be reached for comment by deadline.

AT&T declined to provide any details of its solution, pending approval of a release by the agency.

Bob Dornan, senior vice president of Federal Sources Inc., said the Deca contract should be "good news" for the newly renamed NCR, particularly in view of the alignment of the job with one of the company's core businesses.

"It's always good to start out with a bang," Dornan said. "They're strong in this area as well as in banking and finance."