By Jason Miller
Executive Editor
Federal News Radio

The Veterans Affairs Department picked 15 vendors to provide technology services under a new $12 billion contract.

VA today announced awards to eight large vendors and seven service-disabled veteran small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses under its new multiple award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract, Transformation 21 Total Technology (T4) program.

Under the five-year contract, VA can choose from a broad range of IT telecommunication services, including program management and strategy planning, systems and software engineering, cybersecurity, operation and maintenance and training.

“One of VA’s main goals is to provide timely access to benefits and high-quality health care to Veterans over their lifetimes, from the day they enter military service until the day they are laid to rest,” VA said in a release. “T4 will be a major tool enabling VA to meet those goals by closing gaps in transforming programs.”

The winning vendors are:

• Adams Communications & Engineering Technology
• ASM Research
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• By Light
• CACI-ISS, Inc.
• Creative Computing Solutions, Inc.
• Firstview Federal TS
• Harris Corporation
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services
• Information Innovators
• 7 Delta
• SRA
• Systems Made Simple
• Technatomy

VA will add a 15th vendor after the Government Accountability Office resolves a protest.

Over the 11-month process, VA received 90 proposals for this mega IT contract. VA already conducted a downselect among qualified vendors, limiting the chances of a protest.

“The T4 program will be a single focal point for managing the multiple contracts; give VA access to the best industry capabilities without the traditional long acquisition lead time; and help the department meet its Veteran small-business goals,” VA said.

Iris Cooper, VA’s associate deputy assistant secretary for acquisition, told Federal News Radio in 2010 that T4 will save money over time because it will be more streamlined and more competitive.

“VA identified a need to rapidly respond to gaps in requirements and to provide greater insight for industry into VA’s total IT needs,” said Cooper “This includes familiarity with VA systems and processes, security requirements and support to the VA enterprise management framework.”

And VA deputy chief information officer Stephen Warren said in May 2011 T4 is designed to provide agile development capabilities.

“We’re targeting from when the requirement hits the street to award, a maximum of 30 days. But the goal is 14,” he said. “We’re moving away from 120 to 180 days to get a relationship started, but it takes time to get the acquisition community to change that. That aspect is already underway, and we’re fortunate we had a running start at it.”

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