September 24, 2014

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is reissuing its main communication network program but this time in a globally combined format as opposed to previous versions where the networks were separate geographically. Regional contracts included the Americas (North and South America); Europe (including Africa); Pacific; and CENT (South West Asia). The new Global Network Services (GNS) solicitation, scheduled for release imminently in November 2014, consolidates a host of communications programs with an IDIQ cap value at $4.3 billion. This program is of interest to Wired Communication Carriers, Wireless Communication Carriers, and Satellite Communication Carriers and teams that combine these types of communication service companies. The program’s term is a 5-year base with five 1-year options.

An RFI conducted in December 2013 asked industry if the combined format would address the requirements of the solicitation and reduce the contracting burden and fulfill the requirements. DISA recently announced the results of the market research, which indicated that the global format is feasible and is adopted in this new replacement contract. Including these geographical contracts into one global contract combines all services into one contract vehicle and these include: voice, data, video, and network management services.

Worldwide Enterprise-Level Infrastructure

Thus, the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) incorporates unified communications into one enterprise network system that employs common standards and operates over installed infrastructure providing direct support to the warfighter, DOD mission locations, and international defense partners. DISN is DOD’s worldwide enterprise-level infrastructure providing end-to-end information transfer in support of DOD operations, primarily including long-haul transport and other services that facilitate national security information resource management needs.

Global Network Services (GNS) includes Atlantic and Pacific transoceanic Optical Transmission as well as regional long-haul communication systems, but also supports the warfighter directly with remote communication services. The award date is anticipated for the fall of 2015 with the provisioning of circuits from current contractors to newly awarded contractors to follow. The contracting office is located at Scott AFB, Illinois.

Interested parties must move quickly to establish teams that can provide unified communication services across significant geography areas. The Industry Day was on July 15, 2014 and proposal teams should be forming to address the November release date.