AT& T Unit Leads USAID Web Upgrade

AT&T Government Solutions of Vienna has received a $13 million task order from the U.S. Agency for International Development to upgrade the agency's Web systems.

The task order calls for the AT&T business unit to support and maintain USAID's internal and external online systems. "We anticipate assigning about 12 of our IT professionals to this work, though that level of effort may fluctuate at times," said Ellen Floyd, director of executive programs at AT&T Government Solutions.

USAID uses its $5.7 billion budget to provide aid in more than 100 countries in the fields of agriculture, democracy and governance support, economic growth, environmental improvement , education, health, and humanitarian assistance. The agency is increasing its Web use to help manage the aid projects and internal operations but faces increasingly aggressive hacker attempts to crash its systems or to steal or corrupt its data.

The task order calls for AT&T to improve USAID's network security across both its publicly accessible Web sites and internal systems.

Under the order, AT&T may have to pay penalties if it fails to meet the speed and accuracy requirements of a service level agreement. "These service level agreement contracts provide the taxpayers the best bang for the buck," Floyd said. She contrasted them with contracting methods such as cost-plus agreements that do not impose comparable efficiency standards.

In addition to furnishing upgraded Web security services, AT&T will carry out functions such as updating the content on USAID's sites, assuring its accuracy and dealing with recovery from any disasters that might affect parts of the network.

AT&T Government Solutions will carry out the task order as the leader of a team that also includes DataPath of Duluth, Ga.; Dimensions International of Alexandria; International Business Machines of Armonk, N.Y.; ICOR Partners of Arlington; Science Applications International of San Diego; and Severn TechSources of the District.

Wilson P. Dizard III is a senior writer with Government Computer News. For news on this and other contracts, go tohttp://www.gcn.com.