Networking Services for Government Agencies: Federal, State, and Local
Government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels operate under networking requirements that differ sharply from those of commercial enterprises — combining mission-critical uptime demands with mandatory compliance frameworks, classified data handling obligations, and public accountability structures. This page covers the defining characteristics of government networking services, how procurement and architecture processes function across agency tiers, and the compliance and security boundaries that shape vendor and solution selection. Understanding these distinctions is essential for agencies evaluating infrastructure options and for vendors navigating the government market.
Definition and scope
Government networking services encompass the design, installation, operation, security, and maintenance of communications infrastructure used by public-sector entities. These include wide area networks (WANs) connecting agency offices, local area networks (LANs) within facilities, cloud interconnects, classified and unclassified network segments, and unified communications platforms.
The scope divides into three jurisdictional tiers:
- Federal agencies — Departments and independent agencies operating under statutory IT mandates including the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) (44 U.S.C. §3551 et seq.) and guidance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), particularly NIST SP 800-53.
- State agencies — Executive departments, regulatory bodies, and courts operating under state IT governance frameworks, which often adopt NIST standards and StateRAMP authorization requirements.
- Local governments — Counties, municipalities, school districts, and special districts, which frequently operate with constrained budgets and rely on shared-service arrangements or state-sponsored contracts.
Classified federal networks — including those operating at the SECRET and TOP SECRET/SCI levels — are governed by Intelligence Community Directive 503 (ICD 503) and are physically or logically separated from unclassified infrastructure. This separation governs hardware selection, cabling standards, and vendor eligibility in ways that have no commercial-sector equivalent.
Network compliance and regulatory requirements vary significantly between tiers, and agencies selecting vendors must map their specific classification level and jurisdiction to the appropriate framework before issuing solicitations.
How it works
Government network procurement and deployment follows a structured lifecycle that differs from private-sector contracting in both timeline and documentation requirements.
Phase 1 — Requirements definition and authorization.
Agencies document network requirements in a System Security Plan (SSP) aligned to NIST SP 800-18. Federal agencies must obtain an Authority to Operate (ATO) from an authorizing official before any system processes federal data. StateRAMP performs an analogous function for state-level cloud services.
Phase 2 — Procurement and contract vehicle selection.
Federal agencies primarily acquire networking services through pre-competed contract vehicles. The General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) — specifically Special Item Number (SIN) 517312 for telecommunications and SIN 54151S for IT professional services — is the dominant vehicle. NASA SEWP and the Department of Defense's SEWP V contract cover hardware and managed services. State and local agencies often use cooperative purchasing agreements such as NASPO ValuePoint.
Phase 3 — Architecture and design.
Network architects must separate traffic by classification and sensitivity, implement zero trust principles per the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-22-09, and design for continuity of operations (COOP) requirements under Federal Continuity Directive 2 (FCD-2).
Phase 4 — Deployment and accreditation.
Hardware and software components must appear on the NSA Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) Approved Products List or the NIAP-validated products list for classified environments. Unclassified systems must use FIPS 140-2 or FIPS 140-3 validated cryptographic modules.
Phase 5 — Operations, monitoring, and continuous authorization.
FISMA 2014 shifted federal agencies from periodic assessments to continuous monitoring through programs such as the DHS Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program, which deploys sensors across federal civilian networks.
Common scenarios
Federal civilian network modernization. Agencies replacing legacy Networx or EIS (Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions) telecommunications contracts with software-defined WAN and cloud-native interconnects. The GSA EIS contract, valued at up to $50 billion over 15 years (GSA), is the primary vehicle for this transition.
State emergency communications networks. State homeland security agencies operating FirstNet-compatible public safety broadband networks or dedicated fiber backbones connecting emergency operations centers. FirstNet, built on AT&T's infrastructure under a 25-year agreement with the First Responder Network Authority, covers all 50 states and 6 U.S. territories (FirstNet Authority).
Local government shared services. Counties aggregating networking services for municipal departments, school districts, and public libraries under a single managed services contract — often using network-as-a-service models to reduce capital expenditure.
Classified enclave deployment. Defense agencies building air-gapped or cross-domain solution (CDS)-connected enclaves within existing facilities, requiring private network services with physical access controls, TEMPEST shielding, and NSA-approved key management.
Decision boundaries
Selecting a networking approach for a government agency requires mapping several variables:
| Factor | Federal (Classified) | Federal (Unclassified) | State/Local |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary compliance framework | ICD 503, CNSS 1253 | FISMA/NIST SP 800-53 | StateRAMP, NIST SP 800-53 |
| Contract vehicle | CSfC, DoDIIS | GSA MAS, EIS, SEWP | NASPO ValuePoint, state schedules |
| Cloud authorization | IL4–IL6 (DoD CC SRG) | FedRAMP High/Moderate | StateRAMP / FedRAMP equivalency |
| Zero trust mandate | DISA Zero Trust Reference Architecture | OMB M-22-09 | Varies by state |
The threshold between managed and self-operated networking typically falls at agency size and security classification level. Agencies handling sensitive compartmented information (SCI) generally cannot use third-party managed service providers for core switching and routing functions without explicit NSA program office approval. Unclassified civilian agencies increasingly leverage managed network services under FedRAMP-authorized providers to reduce operational burden.
Network security services selection also diverges by tier: federal defense networks require DoD-approved intrusion detection and prevention systems listed on the Unified Capabilities Approved Products List (APL), while civilian and state agencies have broader latitude within NIST SP 800-53 control families.
For agencies evaluating network redundancy and failover services, COOP requirements under FCD-2 impose specific recovery time objectives (RTOs) that must be contractually bound to any service-level agreement.
References
- NIST SP 800-53, Rev. 5 — Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems
- NIST SP 800-18 — Guide for Developing Security Plans
- Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), 44 U.S.C. §3551
- GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)
- GSA Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS)
- OMB Memorandum M-22-09 — Moving the U.S. Government Toward Zero Trust
- DHS Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) Program
- FirstNet Authority
- NASA SEWP Contract Vehicle
- StateRAMP
On this site
- Types of Networking Services: A Complete Reference
- Managed Network Services: What They Include and How They Work
- Network Infrastructure Services: Components and Considerations
- Cloud Networking Services: Connectivity and Architecture Options
- Enterprise Networking Services: Scope, Scale, and Selection Criteria
- Networking Services for Small Businesses: What to Look For
- Wide Area Network (WAN) Services: Types and Provider Comparison
- Local Area Network (LAN) Services: Setup, Management, and Support
- SD-WAN Services: How Software-Defined WAN Changes Networking
- Network Security Services: Firewalls, VPNs, and Threat Management
- Wireless Networking Services: Wi-Fi Design, Deployment, and Support
- Network Monitoring Services: Tools, Metrics, and Provider Options
- Managed Detection and Response for Networks: Service Breakdown
- VoIP and Unified Communications Networking Services
- Network Consulting Services: Assessment, Design, and Strategy
- Network Design and Architecture Services: What Providers Deliver
- Network Installation Services: Cabling, Hardware, and Configuration
- Network Support and Maintenance Services: SLAs and Coverage Models
- Network as a Service (NaaS): Definition, Use Cases, and Providers
- Fiber Optic Networking Services: Infrastructure and Provider Selection
- Data Center Networking Services: Connectivity and Colocation Considerations
- Network Virtualization Services: SDN, NFV, and Virtual Overlays
- IoT Networking Services: Connectivity for Connected Devices
- Multicloud Networking Services: Interconnecting Multiple Cloud Environments
- Outsourcing Network Management: Key Considerations and Trade-offs
- How to Evaluate and Select a Network Service Provider
- Network Services Pricing Models: Understanding Contracts and Costs
- Network Services Compliance: HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and Federal Requirements
- Network Redundancy and Failover Services: Ensuring Uptime and Resilience
- Network Performance Optimization Services: Latency, Throughput, and QoS
- Private Network Services: MPLS, Dedicated Lines, and Leased Circuits
- Networking Services for Healthcare Organizations: Requirements and Providers
- Networking Services for Educational Institutions: K-12 and Higher Ed
- Networking Services Glossary: Key Terms and Definitions
- Industry Standards Governing Networking Services: IEEE, IETF, and Beyond
- Zero Trust Network Services: Architecture, Principles, and Implementation
- Frequently Asked Questions About Networking Services