Home
- Services
- Contract Vehicles
- GITSS

Task Areas

The GITSS Contract is available through the Department of Veterans Affairs' BuyIT.gov web site and offers integrated hardware, software, and services solutions across 22 separate functional IT task areas including:

To view complete labor information and descriptions, see Labor Categories.

1. Network and Telecommunications Infrastructures

Services related to all basic and advanced communications products (including hardware and software, network architectures, and network administration services) to meet customer requirements in the areas of wired/wireless networks, voice, data, and Internet Protocol (IP). Services cover the entire range from the most basic to the most sophisticated global network structures of telecommunications requirements, including, but not limited to, business phone lines, Internet access, data services, long distance and enhanced calling services, telecom/network equipment, and more. Typical tasks may include, but are not limited to: defining, testing, maintaining, designing, installing, tuning, troubleshooting, and operating communications systems of all types.

2. Server or Mainframe Hardware and Software, Systems Programming and Systems Administration

Evaluation and selection of all types of client/server hardware, operating systems and other systems software to support server installations in the broadest sense of the term. Includes all forms of systems programming and systems administrative services, in distributed or mainframe environments (including but not limited to: installation and tailoring, tuning, backup/recovery, troubleshooting, patching and upgrading.)

3. Storage Devices, Associated Equipment, and Supporting Software

Evaluation and selection of all forms of storage devices together with supporting software, including, but not limited to, direct access storage devices (DASD) and tape. Systems administrative and programming support for all such software and hardware.

4. Desktops, Laptops, Servers, Software, Local and Wide Area Networks

Design, implementation, maintenance, and management of all forms of networked workstations, servers, enterprise servers (mainframes), laptops, and other peripherals included within LAN or WAN IT architecture. This also includes, but is not limited to, testing, installing, deploying, maintaining, and updating a wide variety of Operating Systems (OS) environments and Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) products required to support existing or planned automated information systems (AIS) applications.

5. Information, System, Data, and Physical Security

Establishment of secure logical and physical infrastructures for information systems (IS) environments including security plans, risk assessments, access controls, firewalls, intrusion detection/scanning systems, anti-virus tools and data protection policies. This function includes providing details for security awareness training, personnel security, policy enforcement, incident handling procedures, and separation of duties within an organization. Also, recommending and implementing current best practices for the widest range of operating system, database, network, and application security, taking current best practices, industry standards, and Government regulations and policies into account. The physical security function includes providing building access guides, restricted access levels to facilities, fire-suppression systems, facility construction access points, special recognition or alarm systems, and utility layouts.

6. Help Desk/Call Center Support

Managed tiered help desk services for technical and informational support. Provide highly trained and experienced staff to efficiently assist customers experiencing problems. This highly skilled staff must be able to assist end users by answering a vast range of basic to complex technical questions for supported software applications and systems.

7. Change Management Systems

Recommend and support implementations of change management practices, infrastructures and systems utilizing industry best practices to minimize negative impact of any change on the IT enterprise by controlling its implementation through orderly, planned, and standardized methods and procedures. Change management includes all processes to ensure the integrity, effectiveness, and security of the system. Configuration management is an integral part of the technical process for system development and offers support to all technical development activities. In this context, configuration management is the discipline that provides a common point of integration for all planning, oversight, and implementation activities that support the change management.

8. Configuration and Architectural Management and Control

Recommendation and implementation, utilizing industry best practices for systems and infrastructures, for configuration and architectural management and control, including but not limited to detailed recording and updating of information describing an enterprise's computer systems and networks, and support for decision-making in determining the architecture and configuration of an enterprise. In this context, the term should be construed to include all hardware and software components, including versions and updates that have been applied to installed software packages and the locations and network addresses of hardware devices. It also includes tracking of software development efforts, and includes interfaces with Change Management systems.

9. Web Design, Development, Deployment, Providing Services, Maintenance, and Updates

Evaluation, planning, requirements-analysis, design, coding and unit testing, system integration testing, implementation, deploying, providing service to, maintaining or updating a web site, or web-enabling a legacy system.

10. E-Commerce and E-Government

Services relating to all aspects of E-Commerce and conducting business on-line, including, by way of example, buying and selling products with digital cash and via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Support for E-Government; Electronic public services, 'teledemocracy' and the national information society.

11. Application Design, Development, and Maintenance Throughout the Lifecycle

Services with respect to all aspects and life-cycle stages of application support, including but not limited to, planning, requirements analysis, design, coding and unit testing, system integration testing, implementation, maintenance and updating of applications. In this context, the term "application" is defined in the broadest sense as a program or group of programs designed for end users. Applications software includes but is not limited to, payroll processing, financial management systems, decision support systems, etc. Appropriate Government lifecycle management processes and policies, e.g., Capability Maturity Model (CMM), must be adhered to in all application design, development and maintenance projects.

12. Project Management Services

Provide Project Management services for the purpose of assisting customers in accomplishing specific, non-routine tasks. Project Management, in this context, is usually done outside the normal organizational activities and often is done outside the normal organizational hierarchy. Activities such as developing new products or services, new lines of business, or solving problems where any change may impact many other areas are usually handled through Project Management services. Projects are limited in scope to objectives included in them, have specific starting and completion dates, and may have predetermined expenditures budgeted for them. Project Management services will be provided for both capital projects (equipment, processes, computer programs or things which are considered physical assets) and non-capital projects (e.g., general research, feasibility studies, market analysis, and product development studies).

13. Commercial Off-the-Shelf Software Products and Support

Services related to the usage and installation of Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) software products, including, but not limited to, study, evaluation, implementation, tailoring, and maintenance of ready-made products that can easily be obtained in the marketplace without engaging in software development efforts. This includes the entire spectrum of available software.

14. Independent Validation and Verification (IV&V) and Systems Quality Assurance (SQA) Support for IT Services and Software

Both IV&V and SQA assess how well technology solutions meet customer requirements, resulting in the desired business value. The focus is on managing risks and providing quality throughout the system development lifecycle. Typical IV&V tasks include, but may not be limited to:

Review functional requirements, develop comprehensive test plans and test scenarios.
Migrate software to secure environment and perform tests, document test results according to standard configuration management procedures, and verify correction of system deficiencies.
Certify software and conduct post implementation reviews.

Typical SQA tasks include, but may not be limited to:

Review and audit products and activities to verify compliance with applicable repeatable procedures and standards. In addition, provide management with the results (defects and deviations) of these reviews and audits and track them to closure.
Resolve compliance issues with staff and/or managers.
Place designated SQA work products under appropriate levels of configuration management.

15. Database and Data Warehouse Administration

Services related to all types of database management systems and database applications, including but not limited to: logical and physical design and redesign, installation, tailoring, and tuning, troubleshooting, patching, and upgrading, ETL tools, and backup/recovery.

16. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuance Operations, Including Physical Infrastructure, Hardware, Software, Network, and Personnel

Services related to any and all methodologies, in the information technology context, pertaining to disaster recovery and business continuity. The range of recovery services under this functional area covers the spectrum from partial loss of function or data for a brief amount of time to a "worst-case" scenario in which a man-made or natural disaster or IT failure results in the loss of the entire IT enterprise. The scope will run the gamut from customers willing to wait as much as one month for continuance of business processes to customers requiring zero down time. Services may be required at any timeframe from initial declaration of a disaster to final recovery of all business processes. Services may also cover any aspect of business continuity planning.

17. File and Print Services

Services related to file and print services, including all classes of computer infrastructures, providing customers with file/print services, development, installation, operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting. This may include file/print services for multiple network and technical configurations in multiple locations around the world. Integration with multiple server platforms, to implement complex print, fax, and or form management solutions using multiple architectures to support multiple workstations in multiple locations.

18. Computer Systems Facilities Management and Maintenance

Administration, integration, installation, operation, and maintenance for computer centers, including, but not limited to:

Electrical systems, such as: Utility Feed, UPS system, Emergency Power, Power Distribution Units (PDU's) and Emergency Power Off (EPO) system.
Mechanical systems, such as: UPS room, Under Water Detection System, air conditioning, Fire Protection System and Alarms.
Telephone/Data Information, such as: telephone service, data transmission, and any additional data service.
Physical security, such as: Outside physical security, building entry, contractor access, security control software, and computer room access.
Facilities planning, such as: Plan, schedule and coordinate the utilization, relocation, installation, changing, expansion, rearrangement and connection/disconnection of computer systems and networks, including ancillary data stations and cabling.
Computer Center/Network/Technical Services, such as: Providing administration, integration, installation, operations, maintenance, and training for all types of computer center services. Scope also includes providing administration, integration, installation, operations, maintenance, and training services for all types of data networks.
Systems installation and integration, such as: Cable systems installation, workstation connection and integration, system testing, providing system and user documentation, and administrator user training.
Production services, such as: Maintaining a central library for source program statements, object programs and related control systems; establish, operate, maintain, document and deliver records and files documented and used; develop computer processing schedules and review operational status of schedule for accuracy, timely delivery of products and efficient utilization of resources.
Media management, such as: Maintaining a physical library, performing operations for media management; retrieving/storing media for various activities, preparing, recording media for archiving and /or off-site storage; performing support services for off-site storage of disaster recovery media; and maintaining and stocking sufficient inventory or required supplies.

19. Report Processing

Services related to building multiple reports and distributing them worldwide to multiple users using any type of media or electronic delivery, including allowance for remote viewing of different report fragments, to users with different security permissions.

20. Strategic IT Planning and Assessment

Provide services that facilitate strategy decisions for an organization with respect to its current and future IT structure and program integration. All recommendations and plans must comply with Federal legislation and be consistent with Federal policy, standards, and guidelines. Examples include: The Government Performance and Results Act, Clinger-Cohen, the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act, the Paperwork Elimination Act, etc. This includes conducting a systematic assessment and redesign of the key technologies, business processes, and organizational structures; streamlining processes, properly aligning the organization to reflect the way work gets done, and deploying proven supporting technologies where appropriate. The outcome of studies and assessments is expected to result in a complete IT strategy, aligned with business goals and objectives that leverage innovation to define new opportunities for success.

21. Training

Provide training and knowledge transfer to technicians and other staff with regard to services and associated products delivered under any functional areas described in task orders. This training will allow technicians the ability to maintain the product or process in the future. Identify and/or provide any additional training required by end-users, technicians, or any other staff for implementation, maintenance and use of deliverables specified in task orders.

22. Technology Refreshment and Configuration Reviews

Through technology refreshment and configuration reviews, this area includes any structure or process for realizing innovations to provide for business or technical changes. Technology refreshment will allow for upgrading technology or improving processes as well as helping enterprises move their businesses forward by adopting formal procedures to manage business and technical innovations. Technology refreshment will ensure new innovations are reviewed and adopted as required.