Corps R&D Lab Awards Contract to Continue Combat Terrain Information Systems Systems Engineering and Integration Success

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineer Research and Development Center's (ERDC) Topographic Engineering Center (TEC) in Alexandria, Va. recently awarded the Combat Terrain Information Systems (CTIS) Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) contract to Northrop Grumman Information Technologies (NGIT)/TASC, Chantilly, Va. When fully executed, the contract could total as much as $50 million.

CTIS provides digital maps and updates to commanders and weapons platforms in support of mission planning (e.g., Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield, rehearsal (e.g., simulations), and execution (e.g., Common Tactical Picture). CTIS also provides automated terrain analysis and visualization, terrain data base development, update, management, distribution, and graphics reproduction. The CTIS SE&I contract principally supports the development, fielding and training of the Digital Topographic Support (DTSS) System family of systems (DTSS-Light, DTSS-Deployable, DTSS-Base, High Volume Map Production), as well as development of the Maneuver Control System - Engineer (MCS-Eng) and the Army Battle Command System (ABCS) Map Server.

NGIT/TASC has been the SE&I contractor for the CTIS program for the past 5 years. The new contract is structured as a Cost Plus Fixed Fee - Award Term contract, with a 5-year base with yearly options for an additional 5 years based upon performance.

"Performance is evaluated semi-annually to ensure that the government is getting the most value for our taxpayer's dollars," said Mark Hainsey, Project Director, CTIS. Maintaining this relationship up to 10 years ensures a higher level of continuity and stability from the contractor, which supports the fast pace dynamic environment associated with Army Acquisition, Real Time Contingency Operations and the Migration to Future Combat Systems and the Objective Force.

"NGIT/TASC has played a key role in the success of CTIS, as well as other ERDC/TEC programs and with the award of the new contract we look forward to working with them well into the future," Hainsey said.

ERDC is one of the most diverse engineering and scientific research organizations in the world, combining all Corps research and development operations into one organization. TEC's mission is to provide the Warfighter with a superior knowledge of the battlefield, and support the Nation's civil and environmental initiatives through research, development, and the application of expertise in the topographic and related sciences.

POC is Mark Hainsey, Project Director, (703) 428-6734.