EDS wins DHS travel deal

Homeland Security Department officials picked EDS to develop an electronic travel service program for their employees.

Company officials will develop a Web-based reservation service, provide implementation support, training and customer support for the department's program. It will include travel planning, cost estimating, approval processing, reservation booking and activity reporting, according to a DHS press release. Officials at EDS and individual DHS agencies will determine requirements for the program.

EDS officials will also integrate the system with the department's financial and asset management initiative called Electronically Managing Enterprise Resources for Government Efficiency and Effectiveness and its human resources management initiative known as MAXHR.

The e-travel services program, which is one of the administration's e-government initiatives, is a federal interagency initiative to improve services to employees. In 2003, EDS was one of three companies selected by the General Services Administration to provide such services through an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract valued up to $450 million in 10 years.

In mid-December, EDS officials announced that Justice Department officials also selected the company's FedTraveler.com service. According to the company's Web site, Justice's 23-month task order with three option periods is valued at $74 million if all options are fully exercised. Terms of the DHS task order were not disclosed.

Officials at the Agriculture Department, National Science Foundation and the Federal Trade Commission have also chosen EDS to implement their e-travel services programs.