ALEXANDRIA, Va., 4 Oct. 2012. Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], a global security and aerospace company, will begin managing the transformation of the Department of Defense's global data network, known as the global information grid. The determination on this defense information systems agency (DISA) contract was made by the government accountability office after a protest by a competing bidder.
With a total program value of $4.6 billion over a seven-year period, this global systems management operations (GSM-O) contract includes a three-year base contract period and includes two 2-year options to extend it to a total of seven years.
As part of this contract, Lockheed Martin will work with DISA to improve the speed and efficiency of information exchange between warfighters around the world, as well as their commanders and allies.
The global information grid is a globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to warfighters, policy makers, and support personnel. The global information grid is meant to support network centric warfare, which requires a robustly networked force to improve information sharing, enhance situational awareness, enable collaboration and synchronization along with helping to increase the speed of command.
GSM-O is the largest of three DISA Global Systems Management contracts. It provides programmatic, operations, and engineering services; material; equipment; and facilities to support the lifecycle management of the network. GSM-O is headquartered at Fort Meade, Md., with multiple support locations worldwide.
The Lockheed Martin team will manage a transition of GSM-O responsibilities and evolve the network into one that supports new communications capabilities and technologies that directly affect warfighters' ability to achieve mission success. Lockheed Martin teammates include AT&T, ACS, Serco, BAE Systems, ManTech, and other specialized and small businesses.
