New Services for the Command Post of the Future
The Command Post of the Future (CPOF) will receive new support and engineering services. The CPOF is part of the U.S. Army’s Battle Command System. It enables commanders and staff to plan, prepare, rehearse, execute and assess operations jointly over tactical networks from geographically dispersed locations. One CPOF system has the ability to support more than 300 users simultaneously while running on a commercial computer workstation with multiple screens. The system allows commanders a quick view of a course of action and gives commanders the ability to collaborate with their subordinates. The U.S. military has more than 1,000 CPOF systems deployed. The U.S. Army awarded an initial delivery order for $18.4 million for indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity support and engineering to General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Arizona. The contract has a potential five-year value of $200 million.
 
Improvements on the Way for Federal Information Technology
Performance metrics, data collection and data analysis to enable baseline measurement of government service levels and cost efficiencies in information technology infrastructure will be developed through the IT Infrastructure Initiative Optimization Line of Business (IOI LoB). The IOI LoB will help federal agencies assess whether they are buying the right services at the right price. It also will establish standard performance measures to help agencies increase cost efficiency and improve service levels in three major technology areas: end user computing systems and support; data center systems and support; and telecommunications systems and support. The General Services Administration (GSA) awarded a $22 million contract to Gartner Incorporated, Stamford, Connecticut, for the base period and four 1-year options. GSA’s IOI LoB Program Performance Measurement Office will manage the benchmarking and performance measurement process and promote knowledge sharing, best practices, and leveraging aggregated buys and other tools and vehicles to help agencies meet their targets.
 
Marines to Receive New Radios
The U.S. Marine Corps will receive next-generation, Joint Tactical Radio System-approved Falcon III tactical radios. A maximum of 14,100 systems will be delivered over three years. Systems delivered under the contract are scheduled to be installed into new mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles as well as other Marine Corps applications. MRAPs provide military personnel with greater protection against improvised explosive devices and have been identified as the highest priority acquisition by the secretary of defense. The Marine Corps awarded a total of $158 million in two radio orders to Harris Corporation, Melbourne, Florida, under a $212 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract.
 
 
Data Modeling Expertise to Receive More Attention
Data at U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) soon will be more visible, accessible, institutionalized, understandable, trusted, interoperable and responsive to users. These qualities support the command’s network-centricity strategy for data. TRANSCOM awarded a 43-month contract worth $13 million to Dynamics Research Corporation, Andover, Massachusetts, to provide logical and physical data modeling expertise, data engineering and management support services. Performance on the initial 3.5-month task order already has begun. That opening order is worth $1.2 million.
 
Aircrew Training Solutions on the Horizon
Special Operations Forces and Combat Search and Rescue schoolhouse training is being improved by a total training solution. The Aircrew Training and Rehearsal Support (ATARS) II program sustains and supports mission qualification training and rehearsal system hardware, software and courseware, including instructors, for the schoolhouses. The new training solution will support at minimum the Program Flying Training, mission rehearsal and exercises at various special operations forces unit locations as well as other stateside and overseas locations and within the Joint Synthetic Battle Space. The U.S. Air Force awarded the indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity with firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable no fee and labor hour arrangements contract for the services to Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support, Orlando, Florida. The contract is worth $1.1 billion. Work is scheduled to be complete by June 2017.
 
Simulation Training and Support for the Army Corps
The Army III Corps and Fort Hood Battle Command Training Branch is slated to receive simulation training and support. Under the program, operational management and technical integration support will be provided to the Battle Command Training Branch (BCTB). The branch ensures that battle command training capabilities are established and maintained under U.S. Department of the Army guidelines and within allocated funding. Naval Air Systems awarded Alion Science and Technology, McLean, Virginia, the contract worth $3 million for the work, which includes identifying, analyzing and developing and providing modeling and simulation training, expertise and support to enhance BCTB training capabilities at Fort Hood and Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Riley, Kansas; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Submit information about contract awards to signalnews@afcea.org.