NASA hires Qwest to upgrade its network

By Jason Miller
Executive Editor
FederalNewsRadio

NASA awarded Qwest a $14 million contract to upgrade its wide area network.

The space agency used the General Services Administration’s Networx telecommunications vehicle to award the nearly eight-year contract.

Qwest will increase the speed of NASA WAN to 10 gigabyte per second from 2.5 gigabyte second, says Qwest spokesman Tom McMahon.

NASA’s decision comes after nearly a two year procurement process. NASA delayed award twice since November, according to industry sources.

In the future, NASA will make awards to improve its regional networks, according to a NASA official, who requested anonymity because they were not approved to speak for their agency.

Earlier this year, NASA awarded Verizon a $108 million contract for audio, video and Web conferencing services through Networx.

For Qwest, this is its 17 award under Networx, according GSA’s June 2009 report on agency decisions.

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On the Web:

FederalNewsRadio — SSA hires Verizon to provide data services under Networx

GSA — Networx awards as of June 2009 (pdf)

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