[FedCom] IWN Update

[J Doe]

General Dynamics selected as IWN contractor
Apr 20, 2007 3:08 PM, By Donny Jackson

Systems integrator General Dynamics C4 Systems yesterday announced it
has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to build a
proposed multibillion-dollar Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) for
federal field agents, but questions remain whether the interoperable
communications system will be realized.


As envisioned, the IWN program is a joint effort of DOJ, the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Treasury
to pool resources to efficiently integrate voice, video and data
communications for a variety of federal agents. One of the most
desired federal projects in the communications field in recent years,
the IWN contract has been estimated to be worth $5 billion to $30
billion over the next 15 years.


DOJ officials selected Arizona-based General Dynamics C4 Systems over
a Lockheed Martin team in the third selection phase to implement the
potentially lucrative contract. Companies that are part of the General
Dynamics C4 Systems team include General Dynamics Advanced Information
Systems, General Dynamics Information Technology, IBM, M/A-COM, Nortel
Government Solutions and Verizon Wireless.


General Dynamics C4 Systems' proposal calls for land mobile radio to
be used for mission-critical voice communications, while multiple
other technologies—commercial wireless, satellite phones and mesh
networking—could be included, according to Jeff Osman, executive
program manager for General Dynamic's IWN team.


"We have proposed a mix of technologies that the customer can go
forward with to meet its operational needs," Osman said in an e-mail
response to MRT. "It's difficult to project which of these
technologies the government will want to include in the final IWN
solution."


However, whether General Dynamics will get to implement the IWN
program is uncertain. Last month, DOJ Inspector General Glenn Fine
issued an audit stating that IWN is "at a high risk of failure."
Problems cited in the report included uncertain funding sources, an
absence of effective governance and a "fractured" partnership between
the federal agencies participating in the project.


In particular, Fine noted a perceived lack of interest by DHS, which
has pursued other communications solutions—most notably, the Secure
Border Initiative (SBI) network—amid a high personnel turnover rate
within its department.

Osman declined to comment on the inspector general audit or any
speculation regarding the future of IWN.