Office of CIO Communications

By direction of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, NAVAIR has implemented a centralized and coordinated approach for purchasing cell phones and services. This strategy will enable NAVAIR to reduce spending, while concurrently gaining insight into yearly costs associated with wireless devices and services. The service will be provided through the Fleet Industrial Supply Center in San Diego (FISC-SD) enterprise cellular contract.

The FISC-SD contract with NAVAIR is effective not later than expiration of existing service or 01 October 05, whichever occurs first. Each of NAVAIR’s sites will choose one of three carriers – Verizon, Cingular, Nextel – depending upon which carrier provides the best service for that particular geographical area with regard to cost, service plans and coverage. The centralized approach will enable NAVAIR to maximize the benefits of pooled minutes, streamline the billing management processes, and provide standardized service specific to geographical areas.

If the site chooses the same carrier cell phone owners currently use, no user action is required. If the site chooses a different carrier, arrangements for exchanging phones will be provided by the local site. In either case, cell phone users may retain their existing phone numbers.

The new cell phone plan includes 500 minutes, aggregated at the delivery order level, for each phone. The expectation is that the aggregated minutes will allow NAVAIR sites to share unused minutes and eliminate costly overage charges. Each cell phone owner will be charged a basic monthly fixed fee that includes unlimited mobile to mobile within the same carrier and 500 night and weekend minutes. Long distance and roaming charges are included in the monthly rate.

Cellular customers will receive a notification that provides further details and specific instructions. For additional information, contact NAVAIR National Help Desk at 301.342.3104 or 1.888.292.5919.