SATCOM Smorgasboard
Written by Peter Buxbaum
MIT 2011 Volume: 15 Issue: 5 (June)
In the last few years, a well-established government contracting trend has been for program managers to include the gamut of hardware, software and services in a single contracting vehicle. In addition, the scope of these indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts, in which companies bid initially for one of several prime contracting spots and later on individual task orders, has grown more comprehensive.
Two cases in point are huge new contracts that the Army is letting for the acquisition of satellite communications hardware, software and services: the Global Tactical Advanced Communication Systems (GTACS) and the Communication and Transmission Systems (CTS) contracts. As the scopes of these contracts have grown, so have the dollar amounts at stake to potential contract awardees.
In 2006, when the Army issued a solicitation for the World-Wide Satellite Systems (WWSS), the five-year contract, designed to acquire six satellite terminal types, including hardware, software, and operation and sustainment services, contained a $5 billion spending ceiling. GTACS and CTS, with their broader scope, are expected to represent five-year contracts with spending limits of at least $10 billion each.
The programs also are of interest because they demonstrate the Army’s increased reliance on satellite technologies. CTS represents an effort to beef up the military’s capabilities with COTS equipment, as a large and growing proportion of the bandwidth used by U.S. forces come off commercial satellites. As such, it will emphasize configuration and systems integration. The GTACS contract will emphasize tactical satellite communications, and will include more engineering and prototyping of new systems and equipment.
Requests for proposals have yet to be issued for the contracts, but both are expected over the next few months. Companies with related capabilities are positioning themselves to win a portion of the business.
“CTS satisfies requirements for integrating COTS technologies,” said Ralph Buona, vice president of business development for Telos Corp. “GTACS is out to acquire the Army’s true tactical requirements. They represent two very different sets of requirements, but they will be two of the biggest IDIQ contracts to be issued by the Department of Defense over the next few years. They are generating a lot of interest and we have been positioning ourselves on them for quite some time.”
The scopes of the two contracts include similarities and differences, according to Steve Esposito, director of SATCOM systems at Rockwell Collins. “GTACS appears to be focused on WIN-T,” the Army’s tactical network, “while CTS is seeking a broader range of enterprise capabilities. As IDIQ contracts, we are dealing with some level of generality right now, as both are looking for solutions providers to offer a broad base of capabilities to fulfill task orders as they are released.”
Besides seeking specific capabilities, the IDIQ contracts also strive for rapid responses to warfighter needs, according to Esposito. “These kinds of contact vehicles have been utilized to provide quick responses to requirements based on mission needs,” he said. “The turnaround time is typically 90 to 120 days. With IDIQ contracts, the Army has a set of prequalified companies, which then compete to provide the best solution.”
That means that companies interested in the contracts must develop contracting, engineering and manufacturing teams that are able to analyze contract requirements in light of company capabilities and able to demonstrate the ability to rapidly respond to contract task orders from the beginning.
The breadth of the requirements of the two contracts also requires companies to adopt a new teaming approach, according to Buona. “We usually like to build small structured teams,” he said. “But because the requirements of CTS and GTACS are so diverse, we need to go much wider and deeper.”
“We are interested in both contracts,” Esposito added. “They fall right into our area of expertise and core competencies. Rockwell Collins has been a successful supplier to these programs providing manportable systems used for various kinds of mission applications as well as large deployable earth terminals with sophisticated communications backbones and infrastructure. We design, integrate, deliver and fully support these types of solutions to customers worldwide.”
Extending WWSS
TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) is looking at GTACS as a replacement contract for World Wide Satellite Systems (WWSS) contract. WWSS is a five-year contract that is set to expire in August 2011. Continuing the work of WWSS is a key part of the GTACS strategy for TCS, according to Mike Bristol, TCS senior vice president and general manager.
“It is our intention to prime GTACS,” Bristol said. “We are a successful prime on WWSS, where we have won a significant number of task orders. GTACS is necessary for us to continue our work with that customer base by providing satellite communications products and services.”
“Some of the scope of GTACS, such as baseband equipment for tactical satellite terminals, NIPRNet and SIPRNet, network equipment for tactical platforms, sustainment support, and technical and field support, are already included under WWSS contract. There is quite of bit of overlap between WWSS and GTACS, but there are also numerous requirements in GTACS that go beyond the scope of WWSS,” he said.
TCS won a $246 million tactical satellite program under WWSS called the SIPRNet/NIPRNet Access Point (SNAP) VSAT Program. This contract, which includes VSAT terminals, baseband equipment, and logistics, represented the second largest award under WWSS. Another task order won by TCS under WWS was the Wireless Point-to-Point Link (WPPL), a $269 million program focused on extending the network to the battlefield.
GTACS will provide the Army a flexible contract vehicle that allows industry to deliver innovative, cutting- edge IP-based tactical communications solutions, said Bristol, adding, “This is very exciting for TCS.”
Bristol reflected on the benefits of IDIQ contracts: “They have worked well for the government and they have worked well for TCS. They narrow the competition down and award contracts to the right subset of providers who can meet the requirements. One reason we have been successful under WWSS is that we come to the community with solutions and with an inventory on the shelf so that we can respond quickly. We are ready to roll when opportunities materialize.”
Consolidated Contracts
CTS is likely to represent a consolidation of the dozens of satellite communications contracts that have been let by the military, according to Buona. “This is a way for the government to consolidate its contracting and spend more efficiently,” he said. “Instead of issuing numerous contracts, they issue a single contract with multiple awards, and it becomes a one-stop for the Army.”
GTACS is more specific in scope and is not as broad as CTS, according to Buona. “GTACS looks at the other side of the equation. It plugs the holes CTS doesn’t fulfill. It also brings up front the engineering piece like prototyping and breadboarding and the tactical embedded capabilities that are not part of CTS. That is how the two contracts complement each other.”
GTACS is a multiple award delivery order contract administered by the Mission Installation Contracting Command and the Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications- Tactical Special Projects Office North East Regional Response Center. According to a performance work statement (PWS) issued by the contracting offices, the contract will cover requirements for contractor-provided hardware, software, services and data for numerous tactical networks and cover the gamut of satellite frequencies. The contract also includes support services such as systems, hardware and software engineering, program management, logistics, technical field assistance, test and evaluation, and fielding and training.
Specific requirements will be issued in subsequent individual requests for task execution plan (RTEPs). “As requirements for a particular tactical integrated communications systems configuration arise, an RTEP will be competed among those prime contractors,” said the PWS. “This will be achieved through the issuance of individual, competitive RTEPs for specific tasking, receipt of TEPs in response and award of a delivery order for each specific GTACS requirement. We’ll know better once the RFP comes out.”
The GTACS requirements for a variety of satellite capabilities, including Very High Frequency, Ultra High Frequency, and Ku-, Ka-, C-, X-, and L-band transmissions, appeal to Bill Wasel, director of Raytheon Network Centric Systems’ Integrated Communication Systems. “These are all capabilities Raytheon is able to provide. We are looking forward to GTACS as a potential future contract vehicle. Raytheon is taking a hard look at the contracts and we will be making some decisions about what our eventual intentions will be.”
As examples, Wasel pointed to Raytheon’s participation in the Army’s Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS), a battle command system, and the Secure Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical Terminal (SMART-T), a HMMWV-mounted satellite terminal, both as prime contractor.
AFATDS coordinates land, air indirect fire systems in support of maneuver operations by providing automated support for planning, coordinating, controlling and executing fires and effects. It supports weapon systems such as mortars, field artillery cannons, rockets, close air support, attack helicopters and Naval Surface Fire Support systems. AFATDS also acts as a fire support server to LAN-based and tactical Internet-based clients, including the AFATDS Effects Management Tool (EMT), and the Marine Corps’ Command and Control Personal Computer EMT.
AFATDS is used in all Army echelons from weapons platoon to corps and in the Marine Corps from firing battery to Marine Expeditionary Forces. AFATDS is also installed aboard the Navy LHA/LHD Class big deck amphibious ships to support Expeditionary Strike Groups for amphibious operations. AFATDS operates with all current and planned U.S. fire support systems, as well as allied field artillery command and control systems, including those of the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy.
SMART-T is a HMMWV-mounted extremely high frequency satellite terminal that provides jam-resistant, multi-channel communications in support of the field commander. A typical SMARTT application provides range extension of the mobile subscriber equipment to units beyond line-of-sight, allowing communications support of widely dispersed forces. This satellite terminal is also capable of stand-alone operation when removed from the vehicle.
Joint Network Node
Rockwell Collins is well positioned to participate in GTACS, said Esposito, thanks to its experience providing satellite transportable terminals (STTs) to the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program. “We have delivered over 800 STTs to support the Joint Network Node (JNN) and later WIN-T,” he said. “These are very complex systems with tough requirements to support the kinds of environments and mission applications experienced by our warfighters.”
The JNN was initiated to provide interim tactical connectivity to warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan until WIN-T capabilities became available. It has since been incorporated into WIN-T.
The STT is a transportable earth terminal designed to establish secure voice, video and data communications. The trailer-based earth terminals, which deliver up to 56 Mbps of throughput, can be towed anywhere a HMMWV can go, or can be lifted by helicopter. Rockwell Collins has built more than 800 STT units since the JNN program’s inception in 2004.
“We have a long history with tactical systems dating back many years,” said Buona. “We have done work at Fort Monmouth and for the Navy and also hold a NETCENTS contract with the Air Force.”
Telos has won several hundred task orders under NETCENTS, worth several hundred million dollars. These included a $115 million order to set up wireless networking infrastructures at Air National Guard installations, and a contract to stand up an application security software center of excellence for the Air Force at Gunter AFB, Ala.
The requirements of the CTS contract “are at a system of systems level,” according to a draft RFP released by the Army. This encompasses “a broad range of communications systems and technologies, with corresponding management and administrative responsibilities.”
Contractor-provided hardware and services will include system integration, systems engineering and analysis, operations, maintenance, equipment and system installation, software support, program management, logistics, technical field assistance, test and evaluation, modeling and simulation, and information operations and assurance support. Three of the up to 10 contract awardees are expected to be small businesses.
CTS “will now include entire PEO EIS Communication and Transmission System requirements,” according to a CTS Industry Day presentation. Increased emphasis will be placed on local area networks, Military Wideband SATCOM Control, end-to-end solutions, and security requirements. The contracting offices anticipate that the contract will encompass 70 percent hardware components and 30 percent services.
Hardware sought is expected to include fixed station satellite systems, deployable satellite systems, line of sight microwave, fiber optics, and command centers. Services are expected to include systems engineering, system and equipment prototyping, systems integration, site surveys, installation, test, evaluation, training and certification, help desk support, project management, logistics, and configuration management.
The requirements under both CTS and GTACS programs are at the core of Segovia Inc.’s offering, which is to provide end-to-end communication solutions, hardware and services to the U.S. military globally, explained Mike Shakarji, senior vice president for business development. “We are the system integrator of hybrid SATCOM and terrestrial network solutions for the U.S. government and its allies. Our offerings include strategic—inter-theater systems such fixed terminals, terrestrial long-haul network systems, and related baseband equipment; tactical—intra-theater systems such as tactical SATCOM terminals and related baseband equipment; and network management systems. Our services include O&M, FSR, technology insertion, test and evaluation, system integration and data management. Our mantra is to listen, understand and deliver solutions that meet and exceed our customers’ needs.
“We have a long-time involvement with the U.S. Army customer—we manage the Army’s largest global VSAT network,” Shakarji continued. “The Army trusts Segovia with the daunting task of ensuring that warfighters have continuous access to reliable and secure communications, integrating voice, data and video applications in unpredictable environments, all around the world, 24/7. It is a natural part of our market plan to position Segovia on the CTS and GTACS vehicles that are preferred by our customers and work closely with the end users to assure that we meet and exceed their requirements.”
“We have delivered deployable earth terminals for decades in support of the Army, Marine Corps, special operators and international customers,” said Esposito. “These provide very large satellite communications hub capabilities for the bulk transfer of communications and data going back and forth.”
Product Manager, Defense Wide Transmission Systems (PM DWTS) “is a long-time customer of Telos,” said Buona. “We have been under contract to provide deployable tactical wireless networks since late 2007, and we have delivered about 50,000 of them to date. We are building on this experience to participate in CTS, and we started building a CTS team over a year ago.”
Reachback to Sustainment
The Telos wireless networks, known as the Combat Service Support Automated Information System Interface (CAISI), are bridge modules that provide the Army “last mile” connectivity for warfighters back to their logistics networks in both training and operational environments. The company accommodated an accelerated delivery schedule for the product, and was also able to incorporate feedback from the field to enhance the product.
CAISI is a communications system in transportable cases that is being fielded to logistics organizations worldwide. It provides wireless connectivity across the spectrum of conflict. When linked to satellite communications, CAISI provides reachback to sustainment organizations, allowing access to sources of supply and support. Each module uses wireless bridging to support a logistics support area of as much as four miles in diameter and can either stand alone or can be used with other modules to create a mesh network. The product is in widespread use in worldwide operations, including in Southwest Asia. The Army contract was worth $43.5 million to Telos.
Telos is still exploring its options on how to pursue pieces of the GTACS and CTS contracts. Much of the consideration is related to teaming strategies and tactics. “We have been in discussions with key potential teammates for some time,” said Buona. “Because there will be awards to both large and small businesses, it can get complicated. Because cross-teaming and flip flopping are permitted, there are a lot of dynamics.”
Flip flopping refers to an arrangement between a large and small business such that each is on the other’s team on an exclusive basis. Raytheon is currently examining GTACS, and “some decisions have to be made on what our actual intentions are. When the RFP comes out, we’ll have some more detail on what the Army is asking for,” Wasel said, adding that Raytheon also has a team working on CTS.
Esposito believes that Rockwell Collins is better situated than ever to support the kinds of capabilities the Army is seeking in both GTACS and CTS. He is particularly proud of the company’s capability to provide quick responses to problems requiring integrated solutions. “We have provided capabilities that match to some of the core requirements of GTACS and CTS,” he said. “We have been successful in putting together sophisticated solutions that meet warfighter needs, and we plan on developing this as a significant piece of our business going forward.”
Esposito also believes that the two contract vehicles will also be made available to other program offices to satisfy their requirements. This feature, combined with the IDIQ nature of the contract and rapid response requirement that goes along with that, promotes the efficient acquisition of capabilities, according to Esposito. “These types of contracts,” he said, “fit in well with the Department of Defense’s drive for efficiency and lower life cycle costs in this environment of tighter defense budgets.” ♦
