The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) awarded Verizon [VZ] a spot on the agency’s Global Network Services (GNS) contract worth up to $4.3 billion, the company said the week of Feb. 8.
The GNS contract is an indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) agreement with a five-year base term with five one-year options. The $4.3 billion potential value includes selecting all contract options.
The Department of Defense (DoD) is utilizing the GNS contract to deploy a secure and reliable unified global network by 2020 that is set to integrate fiber, wireless, and satellite technologies to transmit mission-critical voice, video, and data communications. The information will be sent at speeds up to 100 gigabits per second for operational and warfighting requirements for the transmission of both classified and non-classified information, the company said.
Over one million department and national security personnel are planned to be supported by the GNS system.
Verizon’s contract allows the company to compete for individual task orders as released by DISA. The GNS contract will mainly support DoD’s organizations, services, and commands outside the continental United States.
Verizon said its qualifications include how its fiber optic network can operate at speeds up to the mandated 100 gigabit-per-second level and currently operates internationally in over 2,700 cities.