Defense Department Denies Trying to Outsource Email System
December 11, 2015
Categories:
DoD
After being caught red-handed trying to illegally outsource its email system, the Defense Information Systems Agency is denying having ever done such a thing, saying it’s just “seeking only information” when it posted a notice on FedBizOpps.gov back in September.
Outsourcing work designated for performance by civilian employees is prohibited by law and the Defense Department’s own implementation policy. But AFGE spotted the agency’s notice on FedBiz with expressed intent to hand over the crucial email system and associated services for 1.6 million users both inside and outside the United States to expensive for-profit businesses.
AFGE President J. David Cox Sr. immediately wrote to DoD Chief Information Officer Terry Halvorsen, questioning the move.
In a letter to Cox, Halvorsen said this request for information “is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) and does not constitute a commitment to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Instead, the intent of this [Request for Information] is to conduct market research and identify best practices for cloud-based email and calendaring services as part of our requirement to implement Presidential Directives, Office of Management and Budget Mandates, and DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO) Commercial Cloud Services Directives.”
AFGE will be following this “request for information” closely.
