Network visual abstraction (defense industrial base)
WASHINGTON: The Army has issued a large request for proposals (RFP) covering a broad range of IT systems and services to support the department’s “net-operations/net-centric” capabilities.
The RFP, called the Information Technology Enterprise Solutions – 4 Hardware (ITES-4H) solution and released on Wednesday, seeks “a full range of IT equipment” to support the Army’s “enterprise infrastructure and infostructure goals” both within and outside the continental US. The procurement is being handled by Army Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software, and Solutions (CHESS), in coordination with the Army Contracting Command – Rock Island.
The solicitation will result in multiple, firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contracts for an initial five-year period, with an optional five-year extension. Under the current ITES-3 contract, the Army has placed approximately 52,000 orders. It is unclear how many orders will be placed under ITES-4H contracts.
The ITES-4H RFP covers seven catalogues to include:
- Catalog I – Servers
- Catalog II – Workstations, thin clients, desktops, and notebooks
- Catalog III – Storage systems
- Catalog IV – Networking equipment
- Catalog V – Imaging equipment
- Catalog VI – Cables, connectors, and accessories
- Catalog VII – Video equipment products
In addition, the RFP provides for a range of “non-catalog items” to include digital senders, plotters, power adapters, biometric devices, equipment cabinets, transit cases, and commercial software.
The RFP also provides a means for procuring new technologies, which the Army says may include, but are not limited to: biometrics, embedded encryption, body-wearable computers and displays, wireless products, and mobile personal data terminals.
The RFP emphasizes that all newly acquired systems and services must enable integration and interoperability. The RFP also says the Army “prefers” vendors that are compliant with standardized quality managed processes, such as ISO 9001:2015 and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI).
Proposals are due to the Army on Sept. 24 at 5 pm. EDT.
The RFP comes as the Army is undertaking a major, multi-year network modernization initiative being led by Maj. Gen. Peter Gallagher at Futures Command. The goal is to achieve what Gallagher has called “decision dominance.”
A key aspect to achieving decision dominance is the Army’s network, which Gallagher characterized as the “bedrock.” Another key aspect will be developing capabilities for the Army’s networks to connect to and communicate with other services’ networks as part of the Pentagon’s Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concept.
“We’ve got to be able to win in the information decision domain, and we are winning right now,” Gallagher said this spring. “Without the network, all the other modernization efforts are just stovepipe dreams.”
The importance of networks to modern warfare cannot be overstated. Indeed, Joint Staff Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten said in June that the US lost a wargame conducted last October because the adversary took down US networks almost immediately. “[The Joint Warfighting Concept] failed in many different ways,” the general said at the time. “We had basically attempted an ‘information dominance’ structure where information was ubiquitous to our forces… Well, what happens if right from the beginning that information is not available? And that’s the big problem that we faced.”
This has prompted military planners to revisit the Pentagon’s Joint Warfighting Concept, with a focus on cyber and space, including the networks they support.
