C ONNECTIONS : Implementing National Telecommunications Infrastructure Solutions

1. CONNECTIONS: Implementing National Telecommunications Infrastructure Solutions Debbie ClarkDirector, CONNECTIONS Program Officewww.expo.gsa.gov June 9-11, 2009

2. Value to the Customer • Value: Share factors shaping technology requirements and choices • Example: Need for information access and security increasing faster than skilled staff • Value: Clarify scope and uses of CONNECTIONS contract • Example: Most frequent comment from contract users: “I wish I had known about CONNECTIONS ease-of-use sooner”

3. AGENDA • Industry Trends • Federal IT Spending Overview • Factors Shaping Federal Technology Requirements • How CONNECTIONS Meets Requirements • Key Factors Agencies Consider in a Procurement • Customer Success • How to Buy • Questions

4. 1. INDUSTRY TRENDS • U.S. telecommunications industry spending continues to grow • 2006 spending reaches over $923 Billion, an increase of 9.3% • Enterprise Equipment • Continued growth • Support Services of Enterprise Networks and CPE • Continued growth • Key Industry Drivers • Service bundling • Wireless devices & wireless services • Broadband and high speed services • Carrier consolidation • Multimedia applications • Internet access • Fiber deployment • Video and Web conferencing

5. 2. FEDERAL IT SPENDING OVERVIEW • Federal budget of $63.8 Billion for IT in FY07 • Projected change in spending from FY06 baseline • 4% increase FY07 requested ($1.2 Billion - Civilian) • 3% decrease FY07 requested ($900 Million – DOD) • Dept of Homeland Security anticipating FY07 Requested Budget increase of 14.3% • CONNECTIONS can address a large portion of an agency’s IT purchases

6. 3. FACTORS SHAPING TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS • Federal IT Environment • External and Internal Drivers • Solutions in Support of Drivers

7. Federal IT Environment • Government interoperability (E-GOV) • Gov’t to Citizen, Gov’t to Gov’t, Gov’t to Industry • Increasing public access to the citizen • Paperless environment • Security • Enterprise-wide focus • Need for skilled staff • Budget • Acquisition directives (i.e. Performance Based)

8. Executive Initiatives as a Driver • E-Gov • Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) • Clinger-Cohen • Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) • President’s Management Agenda

9. Organizational Needs as Drivers • Enterprise Architecture • Interoperability • Consolidation • Convergence • Security • Protecting the IT Infrastructure • COOP / Disaster Recovery • VPN / Remote Access • Information Management • Storage • System Integration • Accessibility to Information • Business Intelligence

10. Solutions that Support Drivers • Enterprise Architecture • Interoperability • Network Infrastructure Assessments • Redundancy / Reliability • Centralization • NOC / Call Centers • Inventory Management • Help Desk Staff, Network Engineers, Business Process Analysts • Convergence • VoIP • Remote Access • Cost Savings (using same platforms)

11. Solutions that Support Drivers • Security • Protecting the IT Infrastructure • Layers – Network, Physical, Application and Database • Vulnerabilities Assessments • Mitigation Strategies • Intrusion Detection • Firewall Implementation and Management • COOP / Disaster Recovery • Contingency Planning • Redundancy (Alternate Access) • VPN / Remote Access • Network Assessments • Secure Authentication and Encryption

12. Solutions that Support Drivers • Information Management • Storage • Data Warehousing - Archiving and Imaging • Backups • System Integration • Data Consolidation • Subject Matter Experts / Engineers • Accessibility to information • Portals / Intranets • Servers, Firewalls, Routers, Load Balancing • Business Intelligence • Network Monitoring/ Management • Verification/audit of Billing and Account Management

13. An Excellent Match! • GSA understands this dynamic, complex, ever-changing environment • CONNECTIONS harnesses the full GSA value-add into a single contract

14. 4. HOW CONNECTIONS MEETS REQUIREMENTS • Overview • Features • Examples • Partners

15. CONNECTIONS Overview • National Telecommunications Infrastructure (awarded Jan 2003) • Multiple Award ID/IQ 8yrs (3 base years and five 1-year options) • Full and Open Competition • Delivery / Task Order Model • Fair Opportunity • Firm Fixed Ceiling Price • Supports Performance Based Contracting Approach • 3 Categories (Equipment, Services and Solutions)

16. The “Big” Picture

17. How to Decide Among Categories • Category 1 - Equipment & Services • Contractor provides the hardware you specify • Category 2 - Support Services • Contractor provides supporting resources you need to accomplish a task • Category 3 - Solutions • Contractor implements a specific solution after you describe a general requirement

18. Typical Features of Categories Category 1 • Bill of Materials • Specifications • Maintenance • Installation • Testing • Operations • Training • Equipment with associated support services Category 2 • Statement of Work (SOW) • Hours, fixed or T&M • Level of effort • E-business • Professional • Technical • Support Services: No equipment CLINs Category 3 • Statement of Objectives (SOO) • Results desired • Performance Based • Solutions

19. Skill Sets Examples • Consultants • Engineers • Analysts • Developers • Technicians • Specialists

20. Inventory Management Acquisition Management Configuration Management Billing & Account Management Help Desk Operations Network Management Maintenance Installation and Testing Customer Service Disaster Recovery Network Security Assessment Examples of Support Services

21. CONNECTIONSA Networx Transition Tool • CONNECTIONS can enhance your Networx transition planning effort • CONNECTIONS can provide: • Equipment: additional end user modems, phones, PBXs, switches, firewalls, servers, routers, intrusion detection • Manpower: transition management, support personnel, qualified technicians • Solutions: transition planning-execution-documentation-design of integrated contractor services

22. CONNECTIONSPotential Transition Functions • Pre-Planning • Inventory validation, technology analysis • Strategy • Organizational scheduling and communications • Architecture alternatives • Transition planning – orders and disconnects • Transition Coordination • Site surveys, cutovers, reporting, billing verification

23. CONNECTIONS as an Integrator • CONNECTIONS can be used as an Integrator to: • Coordinate with access, transport, and equipment vendors • Monitor end to end performance • Time to repair, downtime, meeting service levels • Supply agency with real-time insight into measures • Coordinate trouble handling/definition • Look for trends in performance • Act as single POC with all involved contractors • Propose procedures to address problems • Report / Recommend / Develop business cases / Return on Investment (ROI) analysis • Might use Networx for IXC, MAA for local access/transport, Schedule 70 for equipment (or other combinations)

24. CONNECTIONS Contractor Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 A&T Systems X X X American Systems X X X Apptis X Booz Allen Hamilton X CACI - ISS X X X Electronic Data Systems X X Engineering & Professional Services X X X General Dynamics Information Technology X Government Telecommunications Inc X X MC Dean X NextiraOne Federal X SBC Federal Solutions X X X Science Applications International Corp X X Verizon Federal X X X CONNECTIONS Prime Contractors • CONNECTIONS contractors can add sub-contractors at any time • Please see http://www.gsa.gov/connections for contractor contact information

25. 5. HOW AGENCIES MAKE BUYING DECISIONS • Timeframe to Procure • Can you get what you want when you want it • Price (Best Value) • Can you get quality at a competitive price • Reliability & Credibility of Contractors • Will you have access to best performing contractors Source: GSA FTS Blueprint Survey

26. 6. CUSTOMER SUCCESSES • Top Customers • Successful projects

27. Top Customers in last year

28. Customers Win with CONNECTIONS • State Department • Operate, manage, maintain existing domestic Enterprise Telecommunications network • Umbrella task order

29. Customers Win with CONNECTIONS • General Services Administration • Maintenance & support of 26 PBX switches throughout Region 9(California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Pacific territories) • Approximately 62% cost savings over 5 years • Task was issued, awarded and implemented in approx. 3 months

30. Customers Win with CONNECTIONS • Federal Trade Commission • Awarded a 5 year CONNECTIONS contract to Apptis, Inc. (formerly SETA) • CONNECTIONS Category 2 award • Manage a centralized service call center, supporting several locations • Provide on-site end user support to several locations

31. 7. HOW TO BUY FROM CONNECTIONS • Procurement Process • Hot Topics • CONNECTIONS & Performance Based Contracting • CONNECTIONS & “Other Direct Costs” • Tools and Resources

32. CONNECTIONS Procurement Process • Designated Agency Official (DAO) Ordering Options • Self-service • Assisted-service • Gather requirements • Develop Delivery Order / Task Order Request (BOM, SOW or SOO) & other required acquisition documents • Ensure “Fair Opportunity” throughout the process • Negotiate as needed • Issue order • Manage delivery

33. Performance Based Contracting • Standards of performance (indicators): Indicators by which a contractor’s performance is measured • Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Baseline indicator levels used to evaluate quality of service • Incentive arrangements: Incentives are offered based on whether the contractor’s delivery is meeting the SLAs Intended to ensure that required performance quality measures are achieved and that total payment is related to the degree that services performed meet contract standards Note: Refer to Section 37.6 of the FAR for a more detailed description of Performance Based Contracting

34. Other Direct Costs and CONNECTIONS • Under the CONNECTIONS contracts ODCs were anticipated and are allowable. Information on proper use of ODCs is discussed in Section H.30 of the contracts. General Information: • On individual task and delivery orders, ODCs need to be priced on an individual item basis and labeled appropriately • ODCs will be governed by the same terms and conditions of the contract as CONNECTIONS CLIN items • Maximum allowable amounts will be established by task order as outlined by the DAO

35. Other Direct Costs and Section H.30 • The Designated Agency Official (DAO) will establish the maximum allowable amounts of ODCs in accordance with the following limitations: • Category 1 orders - $ 10 million • Category 2 orders - $ 15 million • Category 3 orders - $ 30 million Note: ODCs in excess of these amounts will be referred to the GSA PCO for review and approval. • The DAO determines that the prices for such items are fair and reasonable. ODCs must be within the scope of the applicable contract category.

36. Web Tools • CONNECTIONS CLIN Checker • Verify pricing • Advanced version • CONNECTIONS Management Reporting System (CMRS) • Contractor reports awards • Provide feedback on accuracy • Deliverable status

37. CONNECTIONS One-Stop-Shop Website • Key Information on Portal • FTS Points of Contact • Industry Partner Points of Contact • CONNECTIONS Contract • Roles and Responsibilities • Fair Opportunity Guideline • Statement of Work (SOW) Examples • E-mail Addresses to Contractors for Orders • Gateway to CONNECTIONS Management Reporting System: http:www.gsa.gov/connections

38. CONNECTIONS Summary • Telecommunications infrastructure contract • High degree of flexibility and customer choice • No project too big or too small • Equipment, Services and Solutions driven • 14 prime contractors and their subs • GSA value add with assisted service • Task Order driven- enhances competitive process • Dovetails well with GSA transport contracts • www.gsa.gov/connections

39. QUESTIONS? For more information regarding this presentation: Please Contact CONNECTIONS Program Office www.gsa.gov/connections 877-387-2001 www.gsa.gov