Don't miss these 2017 DOD opportunities

Another federal fiscal year is nearly complete and fiscal 2017 is already shaping up to be a busy one for defense agencies. Many organizations have funded projects aimed at scaling their IT infrastructure.  

From smaller opportunities to the intelligence community’s digital transformation, agencies are looking to customer relationship management and financial information management tools, as well as network infrastructure solutions to expand everything from point-of-sale systems to new infrastructure technology. 

Here are three opportunities to watch: 

Smaller Agency Opportunities

The Defense Commissary Agency is quietly scaling up its IT organization and footprint. The Enterprise Business Solution, DeCA’s new point-of-sale system, is receiving a funding bump around CRM and financial information management requirements. NCR Government Systems is the prime. 

The DOD Joint Staff runs a significant network called the Joint Staff Information Network to manage “For Official Use Only” information. Much of the program funding is going to network security and information assurance requirements. In fiscal 2017, the JSIN is receiving a $34 million funding bump, creating an opportunity for companies that sell cyber solutions, particularly network security.

Special Operations Has Money to Scale and Expand

On the combatant command front, the U.S. Special Operations Command is enjoying a steady uptick in funding across its program portfolio. Companies with network infrastructure solutions should pay special attention to the Special Operations Forces Deployable Nodes and SCAMPI programs–both are receiving a noticeable funding bump as they continue to deploy across the SOCOM enterprise. The command’s taking a serious look at new technologies like hyper-converged infrastructure.

The U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) is looking to scale compartmentalized “sub-enterprise systems” such as personnel reporting to an enterprise, consolidated model in fiscal 2017. PACOM is also working in conjunction with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the National Security Agency (NSA) on new “agile virtual enclaves,” a hardware-agnostic virtualization implementation. This initiative is still a bit away from programmatic funding and implementation, but companies that sell virtualization should start discussions with PACOM and CENTCOM about potential requirements.

Intelligence To Lead Digital Transformation

In the intelligence community, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s potential new Digital Transformation directorate will offer opportunities for industry. The proposed directorate, created by Cathy Johnston, who stepped down as DIA’s director of analysis last year, puts into operation the IC Information Technology Enterprise (IC ITE). Current systems like HR and datasets will be incorporated into the IC ITE environment. The directorate is waiting for approval from the DIA director, but given the director’s recent emphasis on this initiative, expect the initiative to be launched in the near future.

For practical purposes, companies will want to ensure their current footprint in DIA systems is compatible. Even for traditional back-end systems like HR, companies will want to emphasize environment compatibility, flexibility, and agility. The federal government as a whole is moving in this direction, but DIA is making concrete strides in the upcoming fiscal year to shift many IT systems to the cloud.