Verizon Business to Provide Voice, Data Services to U.S. Department of Health and...

Verizon Business to Provide Voice, Data Services to U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services
New Agreement Worth up to $245 Million Under WITS 3; Will Cover Washington,
D.C.-Area Locations

ASHBURN, Va., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Business will provide the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services with a comprehensive set of voice,
data, collaboration and professional services under a new agreement through
the Washington Interagency Telecommunications System (WITS 3) contract.

Under the agreement, valued at as much as $245 million if all options are
exercised, Verizon Business will provide HHS with voice and data services,
dedicated voice mail systems, and audio, video and Web conferencing. Verizon
Business professional services experts will assist the department with
conference room design and systems setup.

As the new agreement is implemented, HHS will be able to order from Verizon
Business additional services - including security software and professional
services -- that could increase the value of the agreement.

The U.S. General Services Administration's WITS 3 contract, which runs through
2015, covers local telecommunications and professional services and products
for federal agencies in the National Capital Region, which includes
Washington, D.C., and portions of the Maryland and Virginia suburbs. Verizon
Business has previously provided voice and data services to the agency under
the WITS2001 contract, the predecessor to WITS 3.

"The Department of Health and Human Services requires reliable communications
as it works on behalf of the health and welfare of all Americans," said Susan
Zeleniak, group president, Verizon Federal, a sales organization within
Verizon Business dedicated to serving federal government customers. "As the
leading communications provider to the federal government, we are continuing
to work closely with our customers to meet their evolving communications and
technological needs while helping them to achieve their mission of public
service."

HHS is the U.S. government's main department for protecting the health of all
Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are
least able to help themselves. The agencies under HHS perform a wide variety
of tasks and services, including research, public health, food and drug
safety, grants and other funding, and health insurance. Agencies include the
Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Aging, Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, Food and Drug Administration, Health Resources and Services
Administration, Indian Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Office
of Inspector General, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration.

Verizon Business is the largest provider of communications services to the
U.S. federal government and one of the largest providers of advanced
communications and information technology services globally. The company
offers local-to-global network capabilities coupled with a broad range of
telecommunications products and services -- including advanced Internet
protocol (IP) services, professional services, managed network services and
systems integration -- to all levels of government. With this broad portfolio
of services, Verizon Business can provide federal agencies with one-stop
shopping for their communications or connectivity needs. The company has built
the next-generation services that are helping to transform the way government
customers -- and their constituents -- do business.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a global
leader in communications and IT solutions. We combine professional expertise
with the world's most connected IP network to deliver award-winning
communications, IT, information security and network solutions. We securely
connect today's extended enterprises of widespread and mobile customers,
partners, suppliers and employees -- enabling them to increase productivity
and efficiency and help preserve the environment. Many of the world's largest
businesses and governments -- including 96 percent of the Fortune 1000 and
thousands of government agencies and educational institutions -- rely on our
professional and managed services and network technologies to accelerate their
business. Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

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SOURCE Verizon Business

Debbie Lewis, +1-610-257-7974, debbie.lewis@verizon.com or Stefanie Scott,
+1-512-495-6730, stefanie.scott@verizon.com, both of Verizon