Verizon Business Awarded U.S. General Services Administration's WITS 3 Contract

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - The U.S. General Services Administration Thursday (Nov.8)  selected Verizon Business as one of the companies to be awarded the Washington Interagency Telecommunications System (WITS 3) contract under which Washington D.C.-area federal government agencies can obtain a broad array of local telecommunications services and products.

The WITS 3 contract, which includes a four-year term with four one-year optional extensions, is valued at as much as $1.8 billion if all extension options are exercised.  The WITS 3 contract covers local telecommunications services and products for federal agencies in the National Capital Region (NCR), which includes Washington and portions of its Maryland and Virginia suburbs.  Verizon Business holds the existing WITS2001 contract, which it was awarded in 2000 and expires in January 2008.  As a WITS 3 contract holder, Verizon Business is authorized to compete for business from individual agencies.

Verizon Business earlier this year was named a prime contractor under the federal government's Networx Universal and Networx Enterprise contracts, authorizing the company to compete for long distance, Internet, cellular and other communications business from individual government agencies. The Networx program is among the largest federal communication contracts in history.

"WITS 3 complements the federal government's wider Networx program by providing a variety of local voice and data options that meet the special requirements of the Capital region,'' said Susan Zeleniak, vice president of federal markets for Verizon Business. "As the leading communications provider to the federal government, we look forward to working with Capital-area agencies as they ready their plans to transition to both WITS 3 and Networx and advance their operations with the next generation of advanced communications and IP-based products and services."

Verizon Business already provides a full range of services to the vast majority of federal agencies in the National Capital Region under the WITS2001 contract. Verizon Business provides more than 750,000 lines at more than 10,000 federal government locations throughout the region and   delivers fully integrated solutions through a wide variety of customer premises equipment and professional services, including network engineering, analysis, design, testing and maintenance.

WITS 3  includes local voice, video and data services,  such as voice over IP,  Internet access and Ethernet services; fiber-optic services;  and products and services for continuity of operations planning (COOP) for federal agencies. WITS 3 also will serve as a platform for federal customers seeking to transition to the GSA Networx program over the next decade.  

Verizon Business is an industry leader in helping government and business customers shift to IP-based products and services.   The company combines one of the world's largest wholly owned, most-connected IP networks with an unsurpassed portfolio of enterprise wireline and wireless devices, services and solutions.

With its extensive global network and comprehensive portfolio of services, Verizon Business can provide federal agencies with one-stop shopping for their communications or connectivity needs. The company has built the next-generation services that are helping to transform the way government customers -- and their constituents -- do business. 

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide.  Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced communications, security and other professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

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