Improvements to State IT Services
Governor Bob McDonnell announced yesterday that state agencies are about to see great improvement in their information technology service due to contract renegotiations with Northrup Grumman.
Former Governor Mark Warner signed the initial 10-year 2.3 billion dollar deal
outsourcing the installation and upkeep of Virginia’s computer and telephone
infrastructure, shortly before he left office four years ago.
The Virginia Information Technologies Agency or VITA has been dogged by
complaints of poor service for years since Northrup Grumman took over day-to-day
operations. A large problem with the initial contract was that both the
Commonwealth and Northrup Grumman significantly underestimated the scope and
cost of Virginia’s infrastructure needs.
Yesterday Governor Bob McDonnell announced that Virginia and Northrup
Grummun had come to an agreement on a new contract that he says will be much
more beneficial for the state in the long run.
McDonnell: We believe this is a good deal for the Commonwealth. We believe it will provide
much better service and resolve all past claims and potential claims of disputes under the
contract. It allows VITA and Northrup Grumman to move forward with a renewed
partnership and renewed accountability to get VITA running right. This gives us
hundreds of millions of dollars of value at a discounted rate.
The new deal extends the contract an additional 3 years and will require the state to pay an additional
12 million dollars annually.
Craig Carper, WCVE News, Capitol Square.
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