EIS vendors show progress on testing

Testing of the complex systems that vendors will use to support the federal government's massive next-generation telecommunications service contract is progressing, according to the latest report from the General Services Administration.

GSA's January Business Support Systems Testing report for its Enterprise Infrastructure Systems contract said that AT&T has completed 34.5 percent of its testing, which began in October. The report also said MetTel has completed 9 percent of its testing, while CenturyLink has completed 7 and Verizon Federal 6. Level 3 showed 5 percent.

Non-traditional contractors, such as small business Core Technologies, reseller Granite Telecommunications, systems integrators Harris Corp. and MicroTech registered at zero in the latest report. However, all have until next fall to complete their testing.

Carriers began their testing at different dates last fall after accepting their test plans from GSA. AT&T was the first to accept GSA's plan on Oct. 3. The other carriers accepted theirs between October and November.

The report, posted Feb. 7 by GSA, covered January testing activity. EIS requires carriers to connect to federal systems to support functions like purchasing, billing, account management, inventory, payments and other back office functions. According to the contract, all contractors must test on the actual systems that will be used to deliver services under the contract.

AT&T is required to complete testing by Oct. 2, 2018; MetTel  and CenturyLink on Oct. 19 and Verizon Federal on Oct. 26.