Contact: Eileen Rivera
703.284.5674

PEARSON GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS AWARDED GSA CONTRACT TO PROVIDE MULTI-CHANNEL CONTACT SUPPORT SERVICES TO FEDERAL AGENCIES

ARLINGTON, VA, August 6, 2004 – Pearson Government Solutions is one of five vendors awarded a contract vehicle by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to provide multi-channel contact center services to GSA and other federal agencies. The contract vehicle, with an estimated value of up to $150 million over five years, will allow Pearson to offer GSA and federal clients a wide range of multi-channel contact center services, such as interactive voice response, phone calls, email, Web self-service and text chat, in an effort to more effectively reach and meet citizen needs.

“Pearson Government Solutions is proud to have been one of five vendors selected for this effort, and we share GSA’s vision to make government accessible to all people. We are excited about the opportunity to create and deliver a true multi-channel contact center service that connects people to government and government to people,” says Rich Lineback, Vice President, eGovernment Systems.

Pearson has more than 20 years experience in managing award-winning, multi-channel contact centers and eGovernment projects for federal agencies. Pearson has five major domestic contact centers and over 3,000 information specialists who serve as the voice of the federal government for more than 32 programs including 1-800-4-FED-AID for the U.S. Department of Education Student Financial Aid program and 1-800-MEDICARE for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Pearson boasts industry leading customer satisfaction scores according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), a leading national index that measures customer and consumer satisfaction with industry and government services.

Pearson Government Solutions' eGovernment Systems division will lead this effort with its key partners including Booz Allen Hamilton, Dougherty & Associates, Inc., eCM, Goodwill Industries, IBM, Incoming Calls Management Institute, Siebel Systems and Tele-Interpreters.

About Pearson Government Solutions

Pearson Government Solutions, based in Arlington, VA, serves the federal government market, delivering solutions that support public sector entities in their delivery of information, benefits, and services to their constituents. Clients include the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Departments of Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Labor and Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Pearson Government Solutions is part of Pearson, the international media company, whose primary operations also include Pearson Education, the world’s largest education company, the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.