The long-anticipated, multi-billion Enterprise Information Services (EIS) telecommunications contract made its much-anticipated award decisions Friday, with letters going to ATT, Verizon, Level 3, Century Link and others.  The contract will become GSA’s main vehicle for the delivery of traditional and cloud telecomm services, as well as technology and professional services that are related to telecommunications.  A mix of traditional telecomm and newer market players submitted proposals to GSA.  Agency buyers are certainly anticipating the ability to choose from innovative, cutting edge solutions.  While GSA hopes to award task orders more or less contemporaneously with the contract award announcement, protests from any unsuccessful offerors could put those plans on hold.   Regardless, contractors can expect significant action on this contract early on.  Dozens of federal offices have held off on updating their telecomm solutions in anticipation of the EIS award.  Depending on protests, task order could be issued this year and FY’18 may, indeed, see significant business.  The time to celebrate an EIS award will be short.  Make sure relationships with your EIS primes for any service work are tuned up and ready.