CSC Contract to Support National Electronic Disease Surveillance System Extended

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Computer Sciences Corporation today announced that the company has been awarded a task order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue developing and supporting the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) base system. The system is designed to provide more accurate and timely reporting on outbreaks of infectious disease.

The task order, which includes one base year and a one-year option, is valued at $25 million if the option is exercised. Awarded through the General Services Administration's ANSWER contract, the new task order extends work CSC began under a $16 million contract awarded in October 2000.

Under the extension, CSC will continue to support the full software development lifecycle for the NEDSS base system and support the CDC's plans to deploy it initially to 20 state and community sites. The system is part of a public health information network that will link and integrate a wide variety of public health activities at all levels of government while meeting all necessary confidentiality and security requirements. Those activities include surveillance, analysis, communication and field investigations, as well as response and intervention.

"Drawing on commercial consulting and healthcare expertise, we have developed a standards-based approach and a modular architecture to help ensure that surveillance data can be shared across programs and locales," said Marcia Kim, vice president of CSC's Citizen Services group. "We will continue to bring our experience in the federal marketplace and security capabilities to provide the CDC and the American people with the best possible solution."

Approximately 70 CSC software development and management specialists, based primarily in Atlanta, will provide support for the CDC. CSC will be assisted by Emergint Inc., of Louisville, Ky. Emergint is a small business dedicated to developing and deploying innovative clinical information systems such as its Health Data System for medical and public health research.

Through ANSWER, a contract sponsored by the General Services Administration, CSC provides rapid access to high quality, cost-effective IT support services. These services benefit all federal agencies by saving clients startup time, minimizing their paperwork burden and providing better control over their project.

Founded in 1959, Computer Sciences Corporation is one of the world's leading information technology (IT) services companies. CSC's mission is to provide customers in industry and government with solutions crafted to meet their specific challenges and enable them to profit from the advanced use of technology.

Source: Computer Sciences Corporation