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First Networx Task Order Protested

Ag Dept reopens competition

Federal News Network Staff

November 24, 2008 3:02 pm

< a min read

The Agriculture Department is reopening its competition to choose a vendor under the Networx telecommunications contract, the Government Accountability Office says.

USDA made this decision after Qwest and Verizon protested its award to AT&T. AT&T is the incumbent under the current FTS 2001 contract.

Qwest and Verizon submitted their complaints to GAO, claiming USDA did not give them the opportunity to compete fairly for the contract.

GAO dismissed the protest Oct. 27 after Agriculture said it would reissue the contract using the Networx fair opportunity process. Qwest and Verizon submitted the protest Oct. 17.

This was the first task order under Networx to be protested.