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Friday, March 29, 2024

GBC Study Examines Federal Telecommunications Contracts, EIS Transition

Inefficiency is one of the largest obstacles federal IT procurement officers and decision-makers face in 2018, says a new study.

Lengthy, complicated chains of command, excessive paperwork and a breakdown of coordination between stakeholders makes achieving progress difficult, and the creation of a new contract vehicle within the General Services Administration (GSA) – the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contract – is adding additional pressure. Transition to the new contract is required before existing telecommunication agreements expire in 2020. EIS will replace the Networx, WITS 3 and Local Telecommunications Services contracts.

According to the GSA’s website, “transitioning to EIS requires extensive planning, coordination and training by GSA and the agencies. The activities must begin well in advance of EIS contract awards.”

To test whether the process is meeting these standards, the Government Business Council (GBC) surveyed government employees to examine attitudes regarding their agencies’ telecommunications plans and the productivity of the transition. The survey was given to a random sample of government respondents in March, and 372 employees responded. The study listed three main findings:

  1. Existing contract vehicles complicate procurement processes
  2. Limited funding and knowledge skills gaps challenge modernization
  3. Despite low familiarity, respondents favor the benefits EIS can provide

View the full report here.

GBC Study Examines Federal Telecommunications Contracts, EIS Transition Homeland Security Today
Chandler Gory

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