DOD health office awards Web support contract
- By Peter A. Buxbaum
- Aug 01, 2008
The Department of Defense Force Health Protection & Readiness Program Office (FHP&R) has awarded a $23 million contract to Vangent, Inc., a systems integrator based in Arlington, Va.
The four-year contract will support FHP&R systems integration, operations, and maintenance; and management and administration of various levels of information networks. Vangent will also provide round-the-clock help desk support for deployed DOD Medical Surveillance Systems and information assurance services.
FHP&R is responsible within DOD for deployment-related health policy and doctrine, theater information systems, and international agreements.
“There are over a dozen internal Web sites that deliver content and information to deployed forces, military leadership, health providers, and the public,” said Denise Ciotti, vice president for sales of DefenseWeb Technologies, Inc., a San Diego-based subsidiary of Humana, Inc. and one of Vangent’s subcontractors.
DefenseWeb’s role in the project includes development of FHP&R’s Web architecture, content development and delivery, and help desk support.
Vangent’s other subcontractors are Akimeka, LLC and Seidcon, Inc. The companies started working on the contract on July 12.
“Part of this project is to keep those Web sites state-of-the-art by making sure content is updated and the sites work better and faster,” Ciotti added.
FHP&R websites address both physical and mental health. DefenseWeb had previously designed a FHP&R Web site directed toward psychological help. That contract was completed in December 2007. DefenseWeb has built other custom software for the Military Health System, according to Ciotti.
Vangent is also not new to Military Health System programs. The company supports 24/7 infrastructure operations for the Defense Health Services System (DHSS) and the Tricare Management Activity (TMA) E-Commerce System. Vangent is also the sole provider of 1-800-MEDICARE, which provides health information to beneficiaries of that program.
The company also manages the 1-800-CDC-INFO system for clinicians and the public to facilitate dissemination of bioterrorism, natural disaster, and emerging diseases information.
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