(BSNS WIRE) Beyond.com, ITC Awarded $120 Million IRS Contract for Micros
Beyond.com, ITC Awarded $120 Million IRS Contract for Microsoft Software by
Digital Download
Business Editors/High Tech Writers
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 1999--Internet
software superstore Beyond.com(TM) (http://www.beyond.com) (Nasdaq:
"BYND") and ITC of Fairfax, Va., have been awarded a 65-month,
$120-million contract by the Internal Revenue Service for the
electronic delivery and maintenance of Microsoft software to 130,000
desktop computers within the IRS. The agreement covers licenses for
Microsoft's Windows NT Server, Windows NT Workstation, Office
Professional, Exchange Server 5.5 and other BackOffice software, along
with additional products, for IRS employees.
The contract is the largest contract for the electronic delivery
of software ever signed by Beyond.com. The contract exemplifies a
trend by government agencies to significantly reduce the total cost of
software ownership through electronic delivery. Beyond.com also
provides software electronically to the Defense Logistics Agency
(DLA), National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) and the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office (PTO), a division of the Department of Commerce.
"We believe our contract with the IRS and ITC (Intellisys
Technology Corporation) reflects the government's continued commitment
to electronic software delivery and Web-based procurement," said
Kendall Fargo, vice-president of enterprise and government sales for
Beyond.com.
Under terms of the contract, the IRS will also be able to use
Beyond.com as its web-based store for the electronic purchase of
additional Microsoft products ordered in quantities of one or two
software stock-keeping units (SKUs).
Digital download involves transmitting the intellectual property
that is software in bits and bytes over the Internet rather than
loading it using disks or CD-ROMs.
"The IRS continues to dramatically improve its processes and
services," said IRS Departmental Systems Branch Chief Dan McLaughlin.
"We are committed to saving taxpayer dollars while we meet our
objectives."
ITC President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Baldwin said:
"ITC understands the challenges facing the Federal government and the
ways the Internet and e-commerce can help meet those challenges. We
are pleased to join with leaders in the software enterprise arena such
as Microsoft and Beyond.com."
Pete Hayes, general manager, Microsoft Federal Systems, said,
"Microsoft is looking forward to providing the platform that will help
the IRS move forward with the reorganization and tax modernization
efforts. We applaud the IRS for its progressive adoption of
cost-efficient technologies."
Mindy Palmer, vice-president of ITC's Treasury Accounts, said:
"We've worked with the IRS for many years and appreciate their mission
requirements as well as their willingness to apply new solutions to
ongoing business and mission objectives." Today's agreement modifies
ITC's existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) signed with the IRS in
February 1998 to include the provisions of the software agreement.
Beyond.com's website, located at beyond.com, offers
selection, convenience and value, with more than 48,000 software and
other digital products across 100 categories. ITC's website can be
found at intelltech.com.
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