GSA seeks ‘anytime, anywhere, any device’ infrastructure

General Services Administration officials are trying to figure out how they should structure two major IT task orders in light of a quickly evolving agency, according to a new announcement.

The first GSA IT Infrastructure Technology Global Operations (GITGO) contract was awarded to Catapult Technology in 2007 and ends in April 2012. With that deadline, GSA anticipates awarding the follow-on task orders during the second quarter of fiscal 2012, according to a request for information released on June 24. Read the notice.

The scope of the coming requests for proposal would establish efficient managed support of GSA’s IT infrastructure services. At this point though, GSA wants ideas from industry on how to set up orders to match those needs.

GSA plans two separate acquisitions. The task order to get the necessary capability is called GSA Technical Operations, and the order to help manage the global effort is the GSA Independent Program Oversight and Assistance task order.

A lot has changed at GSA since 2007. Now, one third of GSA’s employees telework regularly. At times, this number rises to almost one half. Officials are developing a cloud computing-based e-mail and collaboration system. The agency has started, or is considering, more software, infrastructure, and platform-as-services in offices. It is also expanding the IT network, and it expects it to grow in importance as more buildings require these types of complex networks.

GSA officials also characterize one of their objectives for operations as “A3 — anytime, anywhere, any device." They want more transformation by the increased use of real-time and team-based collaboration tools.

“These changes have made the complex and sophisticated telecommunications infrastructure increasingly vital to agency operations at every level,” the RFI states. “The traditional divisions between telecommunications and IT support are coalescing into an integrated infrastructure,” it adds.

In laying out its initial wishes, GSA wants services that adapt quickly with the advances in IT, particularly with greater coverage at remote sites. The agency also wants closer management with assured security and a distinction between contractor and federal employees in order to have clear accountability regarding the duties they're assigned to.