IBM wins State mainframe pact

The State Department recently awarded IBM Corp. an $85 million contract to lead a team of information technology vendors to support the department's data processing and communications centers.

Bob Wissman, a contracting officer at State, said the Mainframe Resources Acquisition contract will help the department integrate its computing infrastructure to meet future computing needs through 2007. The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract includes two one-year options for services.

Wissman, who took over the contract from a former co-worker now working for another agency, said the contract will automate or replace existing hardware and provide necessary software and maintenance of the new technology.

John Nyland, vice president for the federal market with IBM Global Government Industry, said the contract will help State improve services and reduce cost.

"IBM has assembled a committed, responsive team that will work closely with the State Department to help deliver the very best management and technical solutions available anywhere in the industry," Nyland said. "The contract will provide the State Department with the computing infrastructure and integration services necessary to meet its future-generation computing needs."

Members of the team providing the service include The Centech Group Inc., Computer Sciences Corp., Digital Technologies Inc., Dynamic Technology Systems Inc., ITEQ Inc., Litton/PRC Inc., McDonald Bradley Inc., Premier Technology Group and Statistica Inc. IBM will be the prime contractor and provide integration support.

With about 260 embassies, consulates and other posts in 162 countries, Wissman said State's effective deployment of U.S. foreign policy depends a great deal on timely and accurate information processed at the data and communications centers.

State's information systems and services support more than 15,000 personnel overseas and 10,000 employees in 78 domestic sites, according to department officials.

New and expanded mainframes are required to support the steadily growing workload and contingencies of the Border Security Program, financial management and other corporate administrative systems used by State, Nyland said.

The IBM mainframes will act as enterprise servers for the modernized applications, Nyland said. The technology company has been a major hardware and software supplier to State for more than 40 years. State will have direct access to IBM's integration and services capabilities. In addition to integrating commercial off-the-shelf solutions from premiere IT suppliers, IBM will continue to provide industry-leading products and services to State.