DISA plans second NCES buy in early 2007

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) plans to issue a request for quotes early next year for a second Net-Centric Enterprise Services contract for online collaboration tools, according to an agency spokesman.

IBM won the first NCES contract valued at $17 million with tools drawn from its Lotus Sametime software suite, which includes instant messaging, Web conferencing, white board tools, application sharing, broadcasting, chat, and audio and video capabilities.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles Croom, DISA’s director, has repeatedly said he wants the second contract to provide competition for Web tools that will be used throughout the Defense Department. But Croom complained earlier this year that bidders for the second contract had front-loaded their costs onto a contract that should be based on usage.

Companies vying for the second NCES contract include integrators, such as Boeing, and telecommunications companies, such as Verizon, FCW has learned. Tool vendors vying for a slice of the DISA NCES pie include WebEx, which was on the DISA NCES pilot but was not selected in the first round.