The new Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Government-wide Agency Contract (GWAC) has a $490 million ceiling over six years if all options are exercised, and is five times larger than the original contract which was awarded one year ago.

The contract follows a year-long pilot program which provided "one stop shopping" for government agencies requiring satellite communications.

"This contract puts the most advanced technology in satellite communications at the government's doorstep," said HGS President Ron Swanson.

"Hughes Global Services is the market leader in securing satellite communications and products for the government. Now, any federal agency has the ability to easily access the entire global constellation of satellites with the click of a computer mouse."

To date, more than 40 federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the International Broadcasting Bureau, the Agency for International Development, as well as the Armed Forces and the Department of Defense, have ordered services under the program.

"We are extremely pleased with the success of the first contract and with the expansion of the program," Swanson added. "Hughes Global Services has clearly demonstrated that this is an ideal way for government satcom users to lower their costs through use of commercially available satellite capabilities.

"We've proven that we can guarantee that government users get whatever satellite communications they need, when they need it, at the best price. It's efficient and it's fast."

Current satellite product and service offerings under the contract include domestic and international mobile satellite communications; fixed satellite services, including long-term and occasional-use bandwidth from multiple providers, terminals and videoteleconferencing at C- and Ku-band frequencies; and the DirecPC(R) data delivery capability.

In addition, HGS is including its DemandNet(TM) and SkyMedia(TM) products in the contract.

DemandNet combines commercial very small aperture terminal (VSAT) technology with a global satellite constellation to provide affordable bandwidth services on-demand.

SkyMedia provides cost-effective video delivery, digital data broadcast and high-data-rate Internet access for distance learning and data sharing. In the future, HGS will include Spaceway(TM) terminals and services and other emerging communication services.

More than 100 orders for satellite communications through the GSA-FTS satellite services IDIQ program have been placed. All civil or military federal agencies, as well as other authorized users such as NATO, the World Health Organization, the Red Cross and Native American tribal governments, have access to the HGS satellite services contract.

DOD users have accounted for approximately one-fourth of orders to date. An expanding area is the use of the contract for government distance learning, where individuals within one agency have access to video conferencing and classroom instruction.

General Services Administration

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