By John Keller

ORLANDO, Fla. — U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) officials are choosing 11 companies to compete on a project to simulate military operations using live forces and instrumented weapon systems on training, test, and exercise ranges.

This potential $4 billion, eight-year project, called the Live Simulation Domain, is to help U.S. Army officials simulate experiences during actual operational conditions. Managing the project is the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division in Orlando, Fla.

Training systems division officials awarded contracts to the 11 companies for Lot I, the Live Simulation Domain. The project involves training, testing, and experimentation in field conditions using tactical equipment enhanced by simulators.

The 11 companies selected are:

• Inter-Coastal Electronics Inc. of Mesa, Ariz.;
• Scientific Research Corp. in Atlanta;
• SIGCOM Inc. in Greensboro, N.C.;
• Tec-Masters Inc. in Huntsville, Ala.;
• Universal Systems & Technology Inc. in Fairfax, Va.;
• PRC Inc. in McLean, Va.;
• The Boeing Co. in St. Louis;
• Computer Sciences Corp. in Falls Church, Va.;
• Lockheed Martin Information Systems in Orlando, Fla.;
• Motorola SSG in Scottsdale, Ariz.; and
• Science Applications International Corp. in San Diego.

These companies are part of an overall effort to support the U.S. Army Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM) program managers in Training and Devices (TRADE); Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT); Warfighter Simulation (WARSIM); and Instrumentation, Threats, and Targets (ITTS), Navy officials say.

This acquisition is to contain four Lots for each STRICOM business domain: Lot I (Live - TRADE), Lot II (Virtual - CATT), Lot III (Constructive - WARSIM), and Lot IV (Test-Instrumentation - ITTS).

The contractors will compete for individual task orders under this Lot I level of effort, Navy officials say. Lot III, the first of four lots, was awarded on Sept. 21, 2000. The multiple awards for Lots II and IV will be made in the near future, Navy officials say. These contracts are to be finished by September 2008.