"This contract will provide for Information Technology Support for Reclamation's Chief Information Office and its goals," said Connor. "It will improve our Information Technology management and performance while reducing costs through competition."

The contracts were awarded to three vendors, Ciber Inc. of Greenwood Village, Colo., NetStar-1 Inc. of Rockville, MD., and NuAxis LLC of Vienna, VA. The contracts include options for renewal that, if exercised, would bring the total value of the contract to $35 million over a five-year period.

Reclamation's Chief Information Office intends to use these contracts to achieve information technology goals, a greater return on its information technology investment, consistent delivery of services, and strengthen and standardize information technology management within the Bureau.

This contract will reduce costs to Reclamation and provide good value to the taxpayer through the competition between the three vendors and reducing the administrative costs.

Services provided under this contract will require the contractors to provide a range of information technology services associated with the management of programs, functions, projects, and activities assigned to Reclamation's Chief Information Office.

Examples of services include business process analysis associated with information technology, technology research, communications analysis and management, system architecture, system development and maintenance, software development, knowledge management, security analysis and support, helpdesk, and a resources support center.