The Defense Department has awarded United Health Military and Veteran Services a six-year contract to operate TRICARE in the Western U.S., including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado and a handful of other states.

Under the life of the contract, which could could be worth as much as $20 billion, United Health will manage provider networks, claims processing and other aspects of plant management.

DoD had originally awarded the massive contract to TriWest Health Alliance Group in 2009. Last April, the TRICARE Management Activity said it had sustained an agency-level protest filed by United Healthcare, and pulled back TriWests's contract.

This story is part of Federal News Radio's daily DoD Report. For more defense news, click here.