FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         JMD
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1996                           (202) 514-2008
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

            JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS MAJOR CONTRACT 
           FOR CONSOLIDATED OFFICE AUTOMATION NETWORK 


     Washington, D.C. -- The Department of Justice today awarded
a major computer systems contract that could top $500 million to
GTE Government Systems of Chantilly, Virginia.  
     The Justice Consolidated Office Network contract, or JCON,
will allow Department of Justice organizations to acquire and use
a common set of hardware and off-the-shelf software, including
Windows-based document processing, calendaring and electronic
mail, along with necessary installation, training, and system
support.  The contract is for seven years. 
     JCON will provide office automation support to the Attorney
General's office, other Departmental senior management and policy
offices, the 93 U.S. Attorney offices, and the six litigating
divisions--Antitrust, Civil, Civil Rights, Criminal, Environment
and Natural Resources, and Tax--as well as the nationwide offices
of the U.S. Trustees, Executive Office for Immigration Review,
the U.S. Marshals Service and other Department organizations.
     Stephen R. Colgate, Assistant Attorney General for
Administration, said, "The JCON program will allow Department
components and their lawyers, law enforcement personnel, managers
and support staff to achieve the kind of close working
relationships that Attorney General Janet Reno has been urging. 
With improved ability to communicate electronically, the
Department's organizations can provide better law enforcement and
litigation service to the public." 
     The three-year procurement was closely coordinated with
representatives of all the legal divisions, the U.S. Attorneys
and the Justice Management Division.  It consolidates and
replaces the AMICUS and EAGLE office automation systems when
those contracts expire.
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96-090