DOD seeks bandwidth for information systems network

The Defense Department plans to release a request for proposals later this month in search of technologies that would add bandwidth to the Defense Information Systems Network.

The RFP for the DISN Access Transport Services contract will be released at www.ditco.disa.mil on or near May 25, according to an official with the Defense Information Systems Agency. DISA plans to award a single performance-based, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract.

Last May, DISA issued a request for information from industry for technologies that would add bandwidth muscle to the DISN, their chief data transport vehicle

DATS will provide upgraded leased-access transmission services between the government-owned backbone network and 600 military locations not covered by the global grid's 90-plus sites, officials said.

The transmission services will be required to support bandwidths up to OC-192, which offers 10-Gbps throughput.

The upgrades would affect two DISN contracts that will expire over the next two years: the DISN Transmission Services CONUS (for the continental United States) and the DISN Switched/Bandwidth Manager Services CONUS.

As part of the DISN upgrade, many legacy voice, data and video systems?as well as such emerging capabilities as the department's premier network-centric warfare initiatives?will move to operate over IP. DISN currently operates via a switched-circuit transport system.

DATS will also permit integration with the $900 million Global Information Grid-Bandwidth Expansion program.