Horizon Data Center Solutions won a strongly contested $47 million government contract with the US Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), a multi-channel retailer with annual revenues of nearly $10 billion.
AAFES selected Horizon after completing a comprehensive RFP among major data center providers throughout the United States.
The contract is based on space in one of Horizon's two Dallas-based data centers, which combined provide more than 37,000 square feet of Tier III space and is estimated at $47 million, according to Horizon.
AAFES spokesman Lt. Col. William Thurmond, said Horizon was selected as the provider after a long and arduous selection process. The open bid competition involved more than twenty data center companies with strict power, telecommunication and services requirements.
Dale Linebarger, chief information officer at AAFES' said: "Our business serves military personnel around the world and their families who are located both home and abroad. Ensuring the uninterrupted service to military families made it essential that we seek out and secure the services of a reliable data center with services that would ensure that when a Soldier or Airman needs something, he or she can get it. The security of our data is absolutely critical to our ability serve troops, wherever they are called to serve."
AAFES provides retail stores, a catalog, and online retail services that feature more than 18 million items that are sold tax free to U.S. active duty, Reserve and National Guard personnel, military retirees and their families. AAFES operates more than 3,000 facilities worldwide, including retail stores and fast food chains like Taco Bell, Burger King, Popeyes and Cinnabon.
Lance A. Smith, CEO of Horizon, said: "We worked hard to position ourselves as the provider of choice for AAFES, not only because of the benefit to our business, but because we strongly believe in their mission and wanted very much to be a part of it. Though AAFES is a government entity, they still have the concerns and challenges of a large, global retail enterprise. Horizon's background and experience with PCI compliance and audit issues will be key to assisting AAFES in accomplishing their business objectives."