VA, NASA Select Qwest for Voice and Data Services
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected Qwest Communications as its contractor for the delivery of voice and data services to connect the VA’s headquarters in Washington with nearly 1,300 hospitals, regional offices, and other facilities across the nation. The contract is reportedly worth about $60 million.
"Caring for the men and women who have defended our nation in the armed services is among the federal government’s most important missions," said Diana Gowen, senior vice president and general manager of Qwest Government Services in Arlington, Va. "The VA has taken advantage of emerging technologies, resulting in tremendous advances in medical treatment and the delivery of remote services, such as telemedicine. Qwest is proud to use our state-of-the-art, secure and converged network to support the VA’s vision of providing veterans the world-class benefits and services they have earned."
Qwest is providing VA with voice and voice-related services and wide-area network (WAN) data services. Qwest will deliver the services under the federal Networx Universal contract, which is part of Networx, the largest government communications procurement program in the world.
Also, the VA is permitted to order additional voice and data services from Qwest that could increase the value of the 10-year agreement.
Qwest will connect the VA’s facilities using Network-Based IP Virtual Private Networking, which is powered by Qwest iQ Networking, a secure, managed, fully interoperable and scalable suite of global wide-area networking services enabling the agency to meet its increasing broadband requirements for the delivery of medical treatment, diagnostics, record keeping and other patient services.
The selection by the VA is the latest work that Qwest has received under Networx. Qwest is providing the Social Security Administration and the National Labor Relations Board with audio and video conferencing and toll-free and other voice services. Also, Qwest is building a state-of-the-art communications network for the Railroad Retirement Board to interconnect the federal agency’s offices across the country through a suite of digital services.
Additionally, under a new nine-year, $18 million contract, Qwest will provide the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with the same range of voice and data services fas part of its Networx offering. Qwest will provide both local connectivity and nationwide connectivity to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, the Johnson Space Center in Texas, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.