From the Pensacola News Journal on October 24, 2011

Pensacola's H2 Performance Consulting announced Monday that it is partnering with a Maryland technology firm awarded a major portion of a $12 billion Veteran Affairs contract.

The massive contract is for a five-year project to provide world-wide information technology services to VA and non-VA customers.

Dubbed the Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Program, or T4, the contract represents the largest procurement of information technology services in VA history.

"T4 is a major tool in the transformation of VA into a 21st-century organization," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said in a written statement. "These contracts will enable VA to acquire services for information technology programs that will help ensure timely delivery of health care and benefits to our veterans."

H2 will team with Adams Engineering & Technology, one of just 15 prime contractors selected for the T4 contract, according to Travis Goins, the Pensacola firm's vice president.

The T4 contract award will have no immediate effect on H2's staffing, Goins said, but it could result in significant long-term growth of the startup firm.

"We would like to think this will bring some work to Pensacola," Goins said. "As we grow as a firm, we may need to add some supporting staff."

More likely for the near term, Goins added, H2 will hire personnel to manage IT contracts in cities such as Chicago, Tampa and Austin, Texas, where the VA has a major presence.

"We know those areas will be hot spots for this contract," he said.

Goins said H2's partnership and budding relationship with Adams, which has a strong record of managing contracts for the Department of Defense, puts the Pensacola firm in a solid position to undergo rapid growth as a result of the T4 contract.

"I think H2 is in a great position because of our expertise and track record in project management for the Defense Department," he said. "We're one of the few firms that has demonstrated we can manage projects for the VA."

Adams chief operating officer Claudine Adams said that H2 Performance Consulting "was a key member of our proposal effort, and they definitely bring extensive VA program management expertise to our T4 Team.

"They have had significant success "» with the Post 9/11 GI Bill program, and we look forward to working with them over the next five years on numerous IT projects supporting important health and benefits programs for our nation's veterans," Adams said.

Owned by founders Holly Smith and Hazel Wiggington, H2 was ranked by Inc. Magazine in August as the 322nd-fastest-growing private businesses in the U.S.

"This contract doesn't guarantee H2 anything," Goins said. "I could be describe it as an a la carte menu. When the VA implements various phases of T4, it will go to these prime contractors for the software, hardware and other services they provide."

One of the key initiatives of the T4 project is the integration of electronic medical records throughout the entire VA system, Goins noted.

More than 100 competitive bid packages were submitted to the VA for consideration, but only 15 individual contracts were awarded, including the one to Adams.

H2 is one of several smaller firms that will provide services to Adams during the course of the T4 project implementation.

News of H2's participation in the VA contract was welcomed by Mayor Ashton Hayward and Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Jim Hizer.

"I am very excited for Holly and Hazel at H2 Consulting to be a part of this team of high-tech companies that are revamping the IT program for our veterans," Hayward said. "I can't think of a better combination of talent and service than for H2 to help our veterans administration run more efficiently and better serve those who have served us the most."

 


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