Skip to main content

Beyond FTS2000: A Program for Change Appendix A -- FTS2000 Case Study (1989) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

5 Development of the Final Specification and RFP Release: 1986
Pages 31-35

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 31...
... Studies by GSA to assess competition indicated that the industry would probably shake out with mergers taking place between participants, so GSA also watched anxiously for such moves. The first merging move happened in December 1985 as IBM sold SBS to MCI and took a 16.5 percent position in the resultant company with an option co increase this to 32 percent.
Read the entire page →
From page 32...
... IBM formed a multidivision team to examine the bidding opportunity that FTS2000 represented and seriously wished to bid, win, and establish itself in one move as a major player in the government telecommunications market. However, a realistic analysis of the inventory of the corporate skills to undertake such a large voice communications proposal brought IBM to the conclusion that it could not be the best bidder.
Read the entire page →
From page 33...
... For the third need, serendipity provided the right person at the right time. This was Walter Irvine, who had been recently hired as a key manager in a longer term project concerning meeting agencies requirements once the FTS2000 service was available.
Read the entire page →
From page 34...
... Allowing vendors access to drafts and concepts throughout the development of the document produced a specification of exceptional quality and one that was a pioneer in the industry in the way it addressed buying services, not hardware. The RFP spelled out specifications for all types of services from voice to data to video, it specified packet and circuit switching services as well as dedicated transmission, and it specified a service oversight center.
Read the entire page →
From page 35...
... GSA was ready to release a first-class RFP for one of the most complicated replacement projects in the history.of Computerland telecommunications just.two years after publicly announcing its intention to do so. The specification had been formed by means of a debate between all interested parties including the users, the vendors, and the central oversight agencies.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • strawman specification
  • gsa team
  • evaluating scheme
  • final draft
  • evaluation team

  • mitre corporation
  • operating companies
  • bell operating
  • equally concerned
  • public announcement

  • dollar effort
  • vendors access
  • position facing
  • events converge
  • release people

  • final days
  • schedule called
  • voice communications
  • multibillion dollar
  • powerful adversary

  • national emergency
  • replacement strategy
  • service oversight
  • gsa teem
  • interagency steering

  • gsa anxiously
  • rfp continued
  • walter irvine
  • central oversight
  • representatives appeared


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.