DISA issues RFI for Net-Centric Enterprise Services

The Defense Department wants to develop a Net-Centric Enterprise Services system that will facilitate collaboration and work on classified and unclassified networks.The Defense Information Systems Agency announced Oct. 1 that it wants to develop collaboration services based on open standards. The services must be Web accessible and support access via Common Access Cards, user ID and password authentication, and single sign-on from Defense Knowledge Online, the agency said.DISA officials also want the vendor to provide the services on a pay-for-actual-service basis.They also require that the services be available for employees whether they are disconnected from the network, have an intermittent or low-bandwidth connection or are on the move.The services will include Web conferencing, instant messaging and a low-bandwidth chat capability. The contractor will manage the instant messaging and chat functions, but the government will host the services on the unclassified Non-secure IP Router Network. Internet-connected partners and coalition networks will also have access to the services, the agency said.The Web conferencing feature must allow users to participate in meetings and training sessions and collaborate on projects, the agency said.