The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has selected Northrop Grumman Mission Systems in Fairfax, Va., and Carlson Wagonlit Government Travel Inc. in San Antonio to provide Web-based travel management for the federal government The 10-year, $450 million contract for the government's E-Travel system was awarded after a six-month review conducted by the GSA and 22 other federal agencies, according to a GSA statement. The contract should cut federal travel management costs up to 50%, the GSA said. E-Travel is expected to be up and running by the end of the year. All civilian agencies should be using the E-Travel system by Sept. 30, 2006.
The goal of E-Travel, one of President Bush's e-government initiatives, is to use the Internet to save money for the government and ultimately, taxpayers, said GSA Administrator Stephen A. Perry in the statement.
"This initiative addresses the challenge of re-engineering the government's travel function," he said. "By doing so, it will allow all agencies to benefit from the full buying power of the federal government."
E-Travel, which will be commercially hosted, will allow agencies to make travel arrangements and purchase tickets and will manage all aspects of travel, including planning and administration, the statement said.
The GSA couldn't be reached for further comment at deadline.
Quelle: Computerworld
