Industry News
IBM Signs 10-Year Information Technology Agreement with Gap Inc.
Representatives of IBM announced that Gap Inc., the world's largest specialty apparel retailer, selected IBM as its provider for IT infrastructure services. The 10-year, approximately US$1.1 billion contract will provide Gap Inc. with mainframe, server, network, helpdesk and deskside support services across its North American stores and corporate locations.
IBM has worked closely with Gap Inc. to develop a virtualized server and storage platform strategy that will scale to meet peaks and valleys in demand.
To enhance in-store customer support, IBM will extend its networking capabilities to the company's more than 2,850 North American retail locations. IBM will provide the technology and integration expertise to migrate the stores to a wireless network.
IBM will also consolidate Gap Inc.'s IT systems and leverage its resources to provide global operations and support.
As part of the relationship, Gap Inc. will have access to an IBM Innovation Center, which brings together IBM subject matter expertise from various areas within IBM and IBM knowledge of the retail and other industries.
[ FYI Index ]
Lockheed Martin Awarded $144.3 Million Naval Contract
The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin US$144.3 million for continued development of the Advanced Deployable System (ADS), a rapidly deployable undersea surveillance system. The work will be performed under an option to a $21 million contract awarded to Lockheed Martin in 2004.
Under the option, Lockheed Martin will provide system engineering, detailed design and program management required to conduct a Detailed Design Review and build a system that will be deployed from a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) for technical and operational evaluation.
ADS uses distributed passive acoustic bottom mounted arrays wirelessly linked to an analysis and reporting system to provide continuous acoustic coverage over large areas of the ocean. It is designed to detect and track modern diesel electric and nuclear submarines within the Joint Task Force Commander’s battle space, as well as provide capability for tracking surface ships and detecting sea mine laying. The ADS consists of four major subsystems: analysis and reporting system; sensor; tactical interface, and; installation support. This variant of the ADS will be designed to be embarked on the LCS and deployed from its deck.
If all options of the ADS contract are exercised, the cumulative value will be US$243 million.
[ FYI Index ]
NASA Awards Shuttle/Space Station Engineering Support Contract
NASA has awarded a US$34 million contract to The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. in Cambridge, Mass., to provide engineering development and analysis for the space shuttle and International Space Station. The work will support the guidance, navigation, control and integrated avionics systems of the shuttle and station.
The cost-plus-fixed-fee award contract begins Feb. 1, 2006, with a two-year base period. The base period is followed by one two-year extension option and one eight-month extension option, making the total potential contract length four years and eight months.
Draper's work will support functions in the Engineering Directorate at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston.
[ FYI Index ]
U.S. Air Force Awards F-16 Aircraft Ejection Rack Development Contract to Raytheon
A subsidiary of Raytheon Company has been awarded a US$2.1 million contract by the U.S. Air Force (Aging Aircraft Systems Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio) to design and develop an interface modification for the existing Triple Ejection Rack (TER-9A) to expand the munitions capability of the F-16 aircraft. Options included in the contract provide a potential additional value of $6.3 million. Under the basic contract, Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC) will design, develop and test a Smart TER. Program options can be exercised for the production of a limited number of proof-of-concept units. Work will be performed in Indianapolis. To provide this enhanced capability, the aircraft interface of the TER-9A will be modified to allow it to carry multiple smart weapons, including the JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition), the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser, and MALD (the Miniature Air Launched Decoy), in addition to the conventional weapons it currently carries. By modifying an existing ejection rack to provide the increased capability rather than adding additional carriage equipment to the aircraft, the Smart TER program can significantly reduce the logistics footprint and cost.
[ FYI Index ]
EDS Signs IT Services Agreement with Sprint Nextel
Representatives of EDS announced that the company is extending its relationship with Sprint Nextel Corp with a multi-year information technology (IT) services agreement.
The contract extension includes midrange hosting, storage, premise data network support, hardware purchase and project related work.
Over the past four years, EDS has provided Nextel with comprehensive IT services including desktop, help desk support, local area network support, hardware reseller services and management of their midrange computing. EDS has also provided Nextel with call center support for its Blackberry service. For the past two years, EDS has been providing Sprint with application development and maintenance support.
[ FYI Index ]
Nortel Appoints New Vice President of Global Manufacturing Services
Representatives Nortel announced the appointment of Don McKenna as vice president, Global Manufacturing Services.
In this position, McKenna will have overall accountability for all aspects of Manufacturing Services from materials and supply management through to supply chain product management, hardware quality and logistics. He will play a pivotal role in leading the transformation of Nortel's Supply Chain into a competitive advantage for Nortel, helping to ensure on-time delivery, lowest cost and highest quality.
During his impressive 40-year career at GE, McKenna led manufacturing processes, supply chain and across-the-board quality efforts. He served in a number of leadership positions at GE including country manager for GE Consumer and Industrial Puerto Rican operations and vice president of Lighting for GE's European Operations. Don also served as president of GE Capital's TIP and Mod Space Business as well as vice president of GE Industrial and Consumer operations in Europe and Asia.
McKenna's appointment is effective January 9, 2006. He will be based at the Company's Research Triangle Park facility in North Carolina.
[ FYI Index ]
General Dynamics Completes Acquisition of FC Business Systems
General Dynamics has completed its acquisition of FC Business Systems, Inc., a privately held information technology (IT) services firm headquartered in Fairfax, Va. Plans to acquire the company were announced December 13; terms were not disclosed. The acquisition is immediately accretive to General Dynamics.
The company, which will be integrated into the General Dynamics Network Systems business unit, is a leading provider of a full spectrum of engineering and IT services to government customers. It has extensive credentials in enterprise network services, including information assurance and information security; network engineering; and software application development and integration. More than 50 percent of its approximately 1,000 employees hold national security clearances.
[ FYI Index ]
FR Aviation Signs Dispatch Plus Support Agreement with Rockwell Collins
FR Aviation has selected Rockwell Collins to provide avionics Dispatch Plus support for their fleet of Pro Line 4 equipped Falcon 20 aircraft.
Under the four-year agreement, Rockwell Collins will provide avionics spares, as well as asset and repair management on a price per flight hour basis for all Rockwell Collins avionics equipment on FR Aviation's fleet of 15 Falcon 20 aircraft.
The agreement delivers OEM quality repairs and provides for reduced cost of spares ownership, guaranteed turnaround times, maintenance cost predictability, and reduced administrative and operational effort related to Rockwell Collins avionics products. The program will be administered out of the Reading, United Kingdom service center.
