AT&T to manage Navy construction assets

The Navy has awarded AT&T Government Solutions two five-year professional services contracts, valued at a total of $13.3 million, to help manage the Navy's worldwide construction assets.

One contract calls for AT&T to implement a program to inventory construction equipment, validate data and identify maintenance needs at the Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center in Port Hueneme, Calif. The other requires the company to develop preventive maintenance procedures for Navy-owned construction equipment and assist in implementing the Navy's Maintenance Material Management system.

The work is less of a pure technology engagement than AT&T is known for, but the company often undertakes such professional services contracts, said a spokesman.

"We think our professional services skills give us a leg up on some of our competitors who are straight telecom companies," the spokesman said. "A big part of our strategy is to try to sell networking services to our professional services customers and vice versa."