Local intralata telecommunications services for federal agencies in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas

The government plans to award a sole source contract to Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (SBC) to provide local intralata telecommunications services for federal agencies in the Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio metropolitan areas. This contract ensures continuous service to customer agencies during the transition to the new Metropolitan Local Service Acquisition (MLSA) contract. It will be negotiated for a base period of six months, starting June 30, 2009, through December 31, 2009, with two additional two-month options, extending the total potential performance period to ten months. The contract’s primary purpose is to maintain uninterrupted telecommunications service until all customer lines have successfully transitioned to the MLSA contract. The sole source award is justified under the statutory authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), as SBC is identified as the only responsible source capable of meeting the agency’s specific requirements, and no other providers can offer the necessary services. The contract falls under NAICS code 517110, which covers telecommunications services. The General Services Administration’s Its/Netwrk Svcs Contract Opns DIV1 office in Washington, DC, is overseeing the contract, with Elaine M. Lacker serving as the contract specialist responsible for its management. This arrangement reflects the government’s priority on service continuity and meets the agency’s specific needs during the transition phase.