What could be a new model for management of desktop computing took a big step forward this week when NASA awarded "seat management" contracts, potentially worth billions of dollars, to seven information technology services providers.
Officials of the space agency said they hoped to cut desktop computing costs by as much as 25 percent over the long term through the Outsourcing Desktop Initiative for NASA (ODIN) program. The ODIN contractors' services will be available to other government agencies through the General Services Administration, which is expected to award its own seat management contracts for governmentwide use this week.
The nine-year NASA contracts went to Boeing Information Services Inc., Computer Sciences Corp., Dyncorp, FDC Technologies, OAO Corp., RMS Information Systems Inc. and Wang Government Systems Inc., all experienced federal systems integrators with Washington-area offices.
The seat management program calls for the contractor to supply hardware, software, local networks, installation and maintenance services and help-desk assistance to users for a fixed price. The agency will define what specific computing tools each user "seat" needs.
Under the indefinite-quantity arrangement, none of the contractors is guaranteed sales. But any of the seven firms could see revenues in the billions from ODIN by persuading space centers and other agencies to use its seat management services. Each of 10 NASA centers will select one of the contractors as its exclusive desktop computing provider for up to three years.
NASA's chief information officer, Lee Holcomb, touted the cost-cutting benefits of ODIN, its reliance on commercial practices and its ease of accounting for desktop computing costs. "It will allow NASA civil servants to focus on the agency's core mission, make it easier for our systems to operate together and allow the agency to share risks and rewards with the private sector," he said.
Agency officials expect the first order under the new system to be placed by Oct. 1.
NEXT STORY: U.N. ambassador to head Energy Department