Government Computer News
IPv6 on the dotted line
The time’s right for RFPs to address IPv6; here’s what you need for the transition
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IPv6 transition
Agencies may be a bit behind in their transition to IPv6, but if they’re going to meet the June 2008 deadline, the time for seeking help is now. “Figure it takes about six months to plan the transition and a year to finish it,” said Ray Williams, manager of networks and enterprise architectures at Northrop Grumman IT. Working backward, that means heavy engagement starts now. Here are some issues that agencies should be considering as they draft requests for proposals.
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IPv6-capable networking gear
The Office of Management and Budget has mandated that the Internet backbone for every federal agency must be able to run Internet Protocol version 6 by June 30, 2008. By now, agencies are required to have created an IPv6 transition team, completed an inventory of all backbone-dependent hardware and software, and submitted an analysis of how the transition to IPv6 will impact their organizations.
No matter where they are in this timeline, the next step will be to procure the products and services for actual implementation.
“We’ve seen a few fresh contracts in a few arcane areas,” said Walt Grabowski, senior director of telecommunications for SI International, a contractor overseeing the Defense Department’s transition to IPv6. “The Air Force Communications Agency actually had a procurement about a year ago and [Veterans Affairs] is planning something soon for transition support. So it’s been spotty ... but in general, the support that agencies get right now comes from the contractor base they already have in place.”
Experts say that could change, in part because agencies are being asked to make changes more quickly than they’re used to. But it’s also because IPv6 has the potential to affect how government operates in ways no one can yet predict, said Peter Tseronis, director of network services for the Education Department.
“It’s like the Internet was back in 1993,” Tseronis said. “Back then, you’d never have imagined you’d be using it to do your banking. IPv6’s mobility, end-to-end security and ad hoc networking capabilities sound wonderful, but the truth is, we don’t really know yet what it will ultimately enable us to do.”
DOD is leading the pack in IPv6 adoption. But some agencies are struggling to meet OMB’s unfunded mandate. Transitioning to IPv6 involves more than merely refreshing network infrastructure; it touches everything from training and testing to consulting services and software development. In fact, IPv6 could impact every technology RFP an agency writes for the next 10 years.
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