Social Security Administration taps Nortel for VoIP network deployment
The SSA selected Nortel Government Solutions in July 2007 for the 10-year, $300 million Telephone Systems Replacement Project (TSRP). Deployment was delayed pending resolution of a competing bidder protest.
According to Nortel Government Solutions, the project is expected to expand and improve services for an anticipated influx of new users, including retiring baby boomers.
The project will include a centrally managed contact center solution with carrier-class unified messaging and interactive voice response (IVR) capable of supporting 55,000 field office agents. This will provide a friendlier look and feel for users and faster, more efficient call handling through skills-based routing that matches each caller’s inquiry to the most appropriate agent, the company said.
The SSA also expects its new VoIP network to help consolidate monthly public network service charges, decrease operating and maintenance costs and establish a platform for future services.
“SSA has confirmed its initial assessment that our combination of software, services, government contracting expertise and world-class Nortel products offers the best value for this project,” said Chuck Saffell, CEO of Nortel Government Solutions. “We’ve committed the necessary resources to meet SSA’s aggressive deployment schedule and we’re eager to get started.”
According to Nortel Government Solutions, core network rollout begins immediately and is expected to be complete within 180 days. The schedule calls for replacement of existing telephone systems in 205 of the SSA’s nearly 1,600 field offices in the first year and another 500 per year after that. The contract also includes network integration operation, maintenance, user support and training.
The Nortel Government Solutions team includes General Dynamics, Black Box Network Services, Shared Technologies, York Telecom, High Wire Networks, NetIQ, NETCOM Technologies and Pal-Tech.
Nortel Government Solutions is involved in a number of major VoIP transitions for U.S. Government customers worldwide, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Energy, the Senate, the Department of Transportation, the Air Force and other elements of the Department of Defense.