Firms show strong interest in building new federal network

The General Services Administration said Wednesday that it received 167 responses from the private sector to a request for information on how the government could build GovNet, a private computer network for federal agencies that would be separate from the Internet.

GSA called the response rate "very strong" and expects that it will take until February 2002 before the agency can fully analyze the responses and send a report to the White House. A GSA spokesman said it is too early to provide details on the type of responses received.

On Oct. 10, the Bush administration asked the private sector to create a potential blueprint for GovNet because the government's most crucial services are vulnerable to cyber attack. The deadline to submit responses was Nov. 21.

"As blended virus-worm, [denial-of-service] attacks become more common and sophisticated, prudent risk management requires that we look at all of the alternatives," White House cyber-security expert Richard Clarke said in a statement Wednesday. "Some things the federal government does are sufficiently important that they need extra protection--for example, air-traffic control, manned space flight, disaster relief and law enforcement."

In an interview last week, Clarke said 152 companies were represented at a GovNet information meeting held at the end of October, and GSA conducted 70 one-on-one meetings with companies to help them understand the concept. Clarke said he would not analyze the responses; rather, GSA and a team of representatives from 16 agencies do so. Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute also will conduct an independent evaluation.

Some critics of GovNet have suggested a new separate network is not necessary. For example, many agencies already have virtual private networks that are supposed to be separate from the public Internet. The Defense Department uses its Global Information Grid, which offers a globally interconnected, interoperable, secure system to support war-fighters.

Clarke said virtual private networks "aren't really private networks" because they connect to the Internet's routers and switches. The idea behind GovNet is to create a private network, with its own switches and routers, using existing fiber-optic lines. None of the routers or switches used for GovNet would link to the Internet.

Clarke also said the government could expand the Pentagon's information grid to other departments, but he is looking for a diversity of private government networks.

"I think it is better to have multiple systems that give you more redundancy and survivability," he said. "What we are trying to get away from is putting all your eggs in one basket, and right now with the Internet, all of our eggs are in one basket."

Clarke acknowledged GovNet would never be 100 percent secure from outside computer viruses, but those viruses would be easier to overcome if confined to GovNet, he said. He also said GovNet likely would be invulnerable to a denial-of-service attack.