Air Force awards global transport platform-as-a-service contract
Gettyimages.com/Dragos Condrea
By
Nick Wakeman
The mystery winner of this classified contract will provide forward-deployed personnel with secure access to multiple networks and communication channels.
The Air Force has awarded a sole-source contract for a global transport platform as-a-service that would allow forward-deployed users to access classified and unclassified networks.
The platform is made to let users to connect with the transport path of their choice – satellite, 4G/5G, LTE, Wi-Fi, etc.
Solicitation documents describe the GTPaaS platform as one that will "provide peer to peer communication at the tactical edge through rapid acquisition and development of new capabilities.”
The contract has a one-year base period, followed by a pair of individual option years and a six-month option.
The Air Force redacted the winner and value of the contract in its justification document published to Sam.gov. The Air Force has not responded to a request for comment.
In that justification document, the Air Force says the winner is the only provider capable of supplying the services because they are unique and highly-specialized.
The Air Force wants the platform to help it collect and share intelligence data for the protection of personnel and aircraft.
Forward-deployed personnel need access to NIPRNET, SIPRNET and the Air Force Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications Systems gateway.
The Air Force awarded the contract as a firm-fixed price delivery order through the NASA SEWP V vehicle. You can read the justification document here.