BUSINESS BYTE

Signal, Dec 2007

Information Management and Storage for Security Agency-An advanced information management and data storage system is scheduled for development. The system will support efforts to modernize the United States' electronic intelligence and broaden signals intelligence capabilities. Under the 51-month cost-plus-award-fee information management and storage (IM&S) system development contract, architecture design, systems engineering, system development, integration and test and deployment activities will be supplied. The IM&S system will provide long-term, uniform access to electronic intelligence data collected across the U.S. Defense Department and intelligence community. The system will directly support the information sharing strategy of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Defense Department's network-centric vision. Northrop Grumman Corporation won the contract valued at $220 million from the National Security Agency. Northrop Grumman's IM&S team members include BAE Systems, IBM, Sparta Incorporated and Sierra Nevada Corporation's Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance division, as well as several small and disadvantaged businesses.

Government Employees Receive Smartphones-u.s. Defense Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other government personnel can expect initial delivery of the Sectéra Edge by the end of the year. The Sectéra Edge is a secure, wireless telephone/personal digital assistant, also known as a smartphone. The product was developed under the National Security Agency (NSA) Secure Mobile Environment/Portable Electronic Device program. It provides wireless access to the Secret Internet protocol router network and the nonsecure Internet protocol router network, enabling users to switch between classified and unclassified data communications with one touch. The Sectéra Edge will operate on existing Global System for Mobile Communications, Code Division Multiple Access and wireless fidelity commercial cellular networks as well as interface with the Defense Department Public Key Infrastructure through the Common Access Card. The NSA awarded General Dynamics C4 Systems an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract with a potential value of $300 million over five years that enables military and government personnel to order the product.

High Frequency Radios for Soldiers us soldiers are slated to receive Falcon II AN/PRC-150(C) high frequency radios and related accessories as well as installation services and training. The Falcon II is a high frequency manpack radio that enables secure voice and data transmission using U.S. Type 1 encryption. It is part of the Falcon radio family, which offers features such as embedded encryption for information security, extended frequency range, adaptability to new waveforms and battlefield networking. High frequency signal propagation has a unique nature that makes it suitable for mediumand long-range terrestrial radio communications. Harris Corporation received the $104 million order for the radio systems from the U.S. Army.

Radiation Detection From a Distance-work is underway to develop vehicle-size radiation detectors with the capability of determining the direction, flux, energy and isotope of detected radiation as well as the location of the radiation source. The Stand-Off Radiation Detection System (SORDS) was initiated to explore technology that could autonomously identify the location of distant radiation sources while maintaining sufficient energy resolution and sensitivity to discriminate reliably among normally occurring radioactive materials, background and potential threats. SORDS systems also aim to provide low false alarm rates to minimize interruptions of day-to-day security operations. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office awarded three SORDS-related contracts to General Electric Global Research, Science Applications International Corporation and the Naval Research Laboratory. The contracts have a potential total value of $33 million.

Integrated Communications System to Enhance Marines' Connectivity-Deployed units of the U.S. Marine Corps that are supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom will receive systems to enable both data and voice connectivity. The wireless communications products and services will support strategic military operations undertaken by Marines. Telecommunication Systems (TCS) Incorporated won the five-year deal. The order was awarded under contract with the Army Project Manager for the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Commercial Satellite Terminal Program and through the Army's $5 billion World-Wide Satellite Systems indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract vehicle. The order is initially funded for $6.7 million but has a potential total of $64 million including all option years.

Sensor Netting Framework for Military-The U.S. Defense Department is purchasing a sensor netting framework to achieve a single integrated picture and joint interoperability. The capability also provides a path forward for a joint framework to support an interoperable plugand-fight architecture. The Defense Department is procuring the Raytheon Solipsys Tactical Component Network technology under a $45.5 million contract for sensor fusion and advanced networking technology. Raytheon Solipsys also will provide run-time licensing of its Tactical Display Framework visualization product at no cost across all Defense Department and Missile Defense Agency programs. The Missile Defense Agency made a procurement similar to the military's earlier in the year in support of Ballistic Missile Defense System initiatives.