NAVY AWARDS EDS $9 MILLION TASK FORCE WEB PROJECT.

EDS (NYSE: EDS) and the Department of the Navy have announced the signing of a seven-month, $9 million task order to implement Web-based portal technology under the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) program.

Task Force Web is a Vice Chief of Naval Operations initiative charged with developing a "vision and strategy to fully exploit web technology across the U.S. Navy." The effort is designed to validate both the functional requirements and design philosophy of an enterprise application integration framework in an operational Navy environment. This integration framework will permit users controlled ready-access, to applications and data anytime and anywhere, using web-based portal technology.

Web-based technologies are applications a user can access from his PC using a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, without having to download any special software. The Navy's concept plan would provide a "publish and subscribe" architecture that includes an easily accessible and user-friendly knowledge portal which sailors can personalize with Navy web-based services. A cornerstone of the Task Force Web solution is integration of Navy applications, data, and platforms that deliver end-user services via leading-edge web based technologies.

The ultimate benefit for sailors and Marines will be the ability to access information previously unavailable at their desktop. This includes access to pay, personnel and medical records, technical manuals, training syllabi, command and control, logistics and other mission critical material. Additionally, it will assist the Department of Navy in capitalizing on the investment in existing information technology systems by extending application longevity and ease of use through web integration services.

"This is truly a visionary program being developed by the Department of the Navy," said EDS NMCI Program Client Executive Rick Rosenburg. "To my knowledge, there is nothing like it in government and definitely not in the other branches of the armed forces."

"These initiatives [NMCI and Task Force Web] are critical components to the Department of the Navy's vision of a network-centric force," said Al Edmonds, president of EDS' federal government division. "The ability to access, process and disseminate information rapidly and securely has a direct impact on force readiness. The old axiom that 'knowledge is power' was never more true and that is what the Information Strike Force is committed to provide to our naval forces -- the power of information."

A planning conference will be held in early October to establish the standards for the testing and certification of new applications, services and infrastructure components prior to placing these elements into the operational environment. An operational implementation is planned for later this year.

The Navy Marine Corps Intranet is a comprehensive, enterprise-wide initiative that will make the full range of network-based information services available to sailors and Marines for day-to-day activities and in war. NMCI will give the Navy and Marine Corps secure, universal access to integrated voice, video and data communications, afford pier-side connectivity to Navy vessels in port, and link more than 360,000 desktops across the United States as well as sites in Puerto Rico, Iceland and Cuba. The Information Strike Force team unites industry leaders with unduplicated expertise and experience: EDS for seamless service and reliability; WorldCom for unparalleled network connectivity; Raytheon for uncompromising security; companies like Cisco, WAM NET, Microsoft, Dell, Dolch, Dataline, for proven products and services; plus support from scores of small businesses.