General Dynamics Wins IT Support Services Contract from U.S. Coast Guard

A trusted provider of information technology (IT), systems engineering, professional services and simulation and training to customers in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, health, federal civilian government, state and local government and commercial sectors, General Dynamics (News - Alert) Information Technology recently announced the winning of a blanket purchase agreement from the U.S. Coast Guard Force Readiness Command (FORCECOM).

Under the agreement, General Dynamics is to provide information technology and simulator support services to FORCECOM. The agreement has a ceiling value of $11 million over a five-year period, the company revealed in a press release.

The support services will be provided for non-standard workstations and systems. Non-standard workstations are customized and stand-alone from the overall enterprise, and support command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems, navigational, telecommunications and ship board sensors.

General Dynamics will be working Petaluma, Calif.; Elizabeth City, N.C.; Yorktown, Va.; Charleston, S.C.; and Washington, D.C. to carry out the contract. 17 additional employees will also be hired to support this contract.

“General Dynamics will provide the Force Readiness Command with exceptional support in managing and sustaining its information technology systems and networks, which are vital to meeting readiness requirements for mission success of protecting the safety and security of U.S. citizens,” senior vice president of General Dynamics Information Technology's Civilian and Homeland Security division Marcus Collier noted in a statement.

Formed on June 1, 2009, FORCECOM is the Coast Guard's first command solely responsible for preparing forces to perform missions and execute them properly. FORCECOM is responsible for executing the Human Performance Cycle through Training; Tactics, Techniques, and Procedure Development; and Assessment. Norfolk, Va. based FORCECOM is charged with the current and future readiness of the Coast Guard's Active Duty, Reserve, Auxiliary, Civilian, and Contractor workforce.

In a statement, senior director of Coast Guard Programs at General Dynamics Information Technology Ted Bull said that the company has served Coast Guard for years and through its experience of serving the force’s Telecommunications and Information Systems Command with enterprise engineering, operations and maintenance support services,  the company well understand how greatly the Coast Guard depends on reliable, effective and efficient IT operational support to meet its critical response obligations. “Our continued support spans both the classified and unclassified computer environment for land-based and mobile telecommunications, electronics and information systems,” Bull noted in a statement.

In a separate press release, the board of directors of General Dynamics declared a regular quarterly dividend of 47 cents per share on the company's common stock, payable November 10, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 7.

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