SAIC powers up radio communications for CBP

Science Applications International Corp. will upgrade communications systems for the Homeland Security Department under a two-year task order that could be worth as much as $45 million.

The task order, which was awarded under the DHS Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading Edge Solutions (EAGLE) contract, calls for SAIC to help the Customs and Border Protection unit modernize the tactical communications systems used by law enforcement agents on the nation’s borders.

The goal of CBP’s Tactical Communications Modernization Program is to upgrade land mobile radio communications capabilities for field personnel in 20 areas across the United States, according to an SAIC announcement released today.

Effective land mobile radio communications are vital to officer safety in the field when conducting border patrol, customs inspection and air and marine operations, the statement said.

Under this task order, SAIC will provide services and equipment to CBP in support of the modernization project in the El Paso, Texas, area.

The modernization work will include encryption technology to help ensure secure communications, Global Positioning System technology to track agent and officer location, and interoperable digital technology for greater coverage and user capacity.

SAIC will also provide support in such areas as engineering design and analysis; equipment configuration; systems installation, testing and evaluation; training; and field operations support services, SAIC said.

The work will be performed in Washington, D.C., New Mexico and Texas.

On Dec. 1, CACI International Inc. announced it had been awarded a five-year, $29 million task order from DHS under the EAGLE contract  to help CBP’s Passenger System Program Office maintain existing systems and develop new computer and automated application systems for disseminating data.

SAIC International, of McLean, Va., ranks No. 5 on Washington Technology’s 2010 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.