NASA chooses information technology suppliers

NASA leaders chose seven companies to supply desktop computers and local communications services to NASA and NASA contractors. The potential multi-billion-dollar contract, called the Outsourcing Desktop Initiative for NASA - ODIN, for short - calls for NASA officials to define the computer and communications capabilities for each job within the agency and buy a particular bundle of hardware, software, and communications equipment for each "seat." The minimum value of each contract is $1,000, while the maximum range from $4.35 billion to $13.12 billion. The seven companies chosen are Boeing Information Services Inc. of Vienna, Va., Computer Sciences Corp. of Laurel, Md., Dyncorp Techserv LLC of Reston, Va., FDC Technologies of Bethesda, Md., OAO Corp. of Greenbelt, Md., RMS Information systems Inc. of Lanham, Md., and Wang Government Systems of McLean, Va. - J.K.