SI nabs IPv6 transition task

SI International has won a task order to support the Defense Department’s IP Version 6 Transition Office.

The one-year task order, awarded through the Defense Information Systems Agency, is valued at $3.8 million.

SI International will provide technical and personnel support to the office, covering such areas as transition management, technology transfer coordination, integrated solutions development, network transition solutions development and network management solutions development.

The Internet Engineering Task Force designed IPv6 as the successor to the long-used IPv4. In government, DOD has led the way in IPv6 adoption, but civilian agencies have been directed to employ the technology on their networks by June 2008.

Other deadlines are already approaching. Agencies have until Nov. 15 to assign an official to coordinate transition planning, complete a network device inventory and begin an impact analysis “to determine fiscal and operational impacts” of IPv6 migration, according to an Aug. 2 memo from the Office of Management and Budget.

Brad Antle, SI International’s president and chief operating officer, said in a recent interview that he sees a growing need in the federal space for assistance in transitioning to IPv6.