The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) issued a Dec. 8 report on the agency’s progress moving its telecom services contracts from legacy Networx agreements to Enterprise Information Solutions (EIS) contracts.

“The award of these EIS solutions task orders is nearing completion,” the agency said. Out of a total of 52 task orders, it said 29 have been awarded “at substantial cost avoidance, with 21 shifting to the new technical paradigm focused on modernization and enhanced services.”

“Of the remaining orders to be awarded, 16 are in evaluations, four are awaiting industry proposals and three are being prepared for release to industry,” DISA said.

“DISA is also transitioning mission partners’ telecommunications requirements under legacy Networx contracts for data and voice onto the DISA Information Systems Network, removing the need for commercial leases, and thus providing increased security and saving significant dollars,” it said.

The agency said it “continues to make great progress,” and is “optimistic that industry partners can continue to support the rapid pace to transition to modernized performance-based solution orders despite challenges resulting from COVID-19.”

DISA said the EIS transition is more complex and time-consuming than previous telecom service contract transitions, but DISA Procurement Services Executive Douglas Packard maintained that “the time spent in the acquisition planning and execution phases is well worth it.”

“The results are extremely positive and reflect the department’s commitment to modernization,” Packard said. “While it would have been easy to move quickly and simply procure the same services under EIS, warfighters deserves the best with solutions that support them well into the future.”

The EIS contract is worth up to $50 billion over ten years, and DISA aims to replace legacy Networx, WITS-3 and local service agreements by 2023.

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John Curran
John Curran
John Curran is MeriTalk's Managing Editor covering the intersection of government and technology.
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