Army Awards First Part of the $867 Million Distributed Common Ground System Contract

The U.S. Army Project Manager for Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A) awarded contracts to Raytheon Co. and Palantir Technologies Inc. for Increment 1 Capability Drop 1 (CD1) of the DCGS-A. The contract fields commercial hardware and software solutions to support intelligence analyst operations at the tactical edge, according to the Program Executive Office, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S) division at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Hardware solutions will include ruggedized laptops and a displacement of the current Intelligence Fusion Server at the battalion echelon to improve expeditionary operations. Software will enable operations in disconnected, intermittent, and limited (DIL) bandwidth environments, enhance ease of use, and provide improved tools for intelligence preparation of the battlefield and processing, exploitation, and dissemination.

The 10-year, multiple-award, indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity contract will serve tactical units across active, reserve, and National Guard components. The award has a total contract ceiling of $876 million. The first delivery order under the contract will support a competitive test-fix-test phase with soldier involvement, enabling the Army to evaluate and determine the best solution to field to tactical maneuver units across the force, according to the PEO IEW&S. “DCGS-A Inc 1 CD 1 directly addresses soldier’s feedback for improving usability, will enhance the tactical military decision making and intel processes, and support situational understanding at the tactical level” Col. Robert Collins (USA), program manager for the DCGS-A, said. Lt. Col. Matthew Paul (USA), product manager, DGCS-A, added, "These contract awards for DCGS-A Inc 1 CD 1 are the result of a strong team effort and synchronization with the user community.  We are excited about moving the program forward with our industry partners and ultimately adding this critical capability into the Army formations."