Like many massive government programs, the estimated $20 billion Networx contracts have been a long time comin’.

The General Services Administration, the federal government’s IT acquisition arm, has spent four years planning and procuring Networx, which is the world’s largest telecommunications services deal.

Meanwhile, the top-tier U.S. carriers have maintained dedicated teams to bid on Networx for three years, spending millions of dollars to prepare bids that are thousands of pages long and feature millions of prices.

Here’s a look at some important dates in the life of Networx:

• June 2003 -- GSA publishes the initial goals and strategy for Networx.

• October 2003 -- GSA releases the initial Request for Information (RFI) for Networx.

• February 2004 -- House Government Reform Committee holds the first of three hearings on Networx.

• July 2005 -- GSA issues a revised acquisition strategy for Networx.

• September 2004 —House Government Reform Committee holds second hearing on Networx.

• October 2004 --GSA releases draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for Networx

• March 2005 – House Government Reform Committee holds another hearing on Networx.

• May 2005-- GSA releases final RFPs for Networx.

• October 2005 – Carriers submit initial proposals.

• January 2006 – GSA announces a nine-month delay in the award of Networx, which was originally scheduled for award in July 2006.

• December 2006 – Carriers submit best and final offers (BAFO) for Networx Universal.

• March 2007 -- Carriers submit BAFOs for Networx Enterprise.

• March 2007 -- Networx Universal award expected.

• May 2007 --Networx Enterprise award expected.

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