Global telecommunications provider Lumen Technologies has secured a significant contract worth $73.6 million to transform the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) communication systems. This major revamp aims to enhance the agency’s capabilities in providing critical information to Congress and ultimately, serving the American people more efficiently.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lumen will implement advanced network, data, voice, and video connectivity solutions across GAO, thereby facilitating the delivery of timely, non-partisan, and fact-based analysis to Congress, the executive branch, and the public. This initiative is expected to streamline processes and improve the quality of recommendations to lawmakers, potentially saving billions in taxpayer dollars.
Jason Schulman, Lumen’s National Vice President of Federal Government Sales, emphasized the impact of the partnership, stating, “Lumen’s network strength is helping GAO transform how it connects and communicates using modern technology – an important move that will help the agency make timely recommendations to Congress that save taxpayer money and benefit the American people.” He further highlighted the strategic choice of Lumen by the GAO to navigate and lead through ongoing technological evolutions and digital transformation efforts.
The service package from Lumen includes secured managed network services, virtual private network services, ethernet transport services, Internet protocol services, videoconferencing, and voice and toll-free services. This comprehensive approach is designed to transition GAO to a contractor-owned and contractor-operated (COCO) network model, which is expected to reduce capital expenditures, boost efficiency, and enhance overall service delivery.
This contract, structured with a base performance period of one year followed by eight optional extension years, was awarded under the General Services Administration’s Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) program. This program supports the U.S. government’s needs for a secure, scalable, and reliable network infrastructure, which is critical for agencies like the GAO. The GAO’s core mission includes supporting Congressional oversight by auditing government operations to ensure accountability to the American people.
As Lumen steps in to upgrade the GAO’s technological framework, this contract represents a pivotal shift towards modernized government operations, setting a precedent for future federal technology transformations.
