Global Information Grid-Bandwidth Expansion
Encyclopedia
The Global Information Grid
Bandwidth Expansion (GIG-BE) Program was a major United States Department of Defense
(DOD) net-centric
transformational initiative executed by DISA
. GIG-BE created a ubiquitous "bandwidth-available" environment to improve national security
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, information assurance
, as well as command and control. Through GIG-BE, DISA leveraged DOD's existing end-to-end information transport capabilities, significantly expanding capacity and reliability to select Joint Staff-approved locations worldwide. GIG-BE achieved Full Operational Capability (FOC) on Dec. 20, 2005.
(IP) services to key operating locations worldwide. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration's (ASD/NII) vision is a "color to every base," physically diverse network access, optical mesh upgrades for the backbone network, and regional/MAN
upgrades, where needed. "A color to every base" implies that every site has an OC-192 (10 gigabits per second) of usable IP dedicated to that site.
in 2001 for $877 million. This contract was for the development, instantiation, and maintenance of the GIG-BE network. SAIC instantly divided the equipment and tasks into subcontracts. These subcontracts are as follows:
(D-Mass) and Jim Saxton
(R-NJ) expressed concern in the selection process for a contractor to lead the GIG-BE effort. They say it was handled "irresponsibly." The reason for this as expressed by Meehan's spokesperson Kimberly Abbott is the "whole bidding process wasn't as fair and open as it could have been", because a contractor and not the government led the decision process.
SAIC
won the contract who eventually handed a large subset of the engineering to By Light
. Meehan did stress that he is not questioning the competence of the winners.
These two congressman delivered a letter to the DoD regarding the contract but the issue was slowly forgotten.
Global Information Grid
The Global Information Grid is an all-encompassing communications project of the United States Department of Defense.It is defined as a "globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to...
Bandwidth Expansion (GIG-BE) Program was a major United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
(DOD) net-centric
Net-centric
Net-centric: : Participating as a part of a continuously-evolving, complex community of people, devices, information and services interconnected by a communications network to achieve optimal benefit of resources and better synchronization of events and their consequences.In military connotation...
transformational initiative executed by DISA
Disa
Disa is the heroine of a Swedish legendary saga, which was documented by Olaus Magnus, in 1555. It is believed to be from the Middle Ages, but includes Old Norse themes....
. GIG-BE created a ubiquitous "bandwidth-available" environment to improve national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, information assurance
Information Assurance
Information assurance is the practice of managing risks related to the use, processing, storage, and transmission of information or data and the systems and processes used for those purposes...
, as well as command and control. Through GIG-BE, DISA leveraged DOD's existing end-to-end information transport capabilities, significantly expanding capacity and reliability to select Joint Staff-approved locations worldwide. GIG-BE achieved Full Operational Capability (FOC) on Dec. 20, 2005.
Scope
This program provided increased bandwidth and diverse physical access to approximately 87 critical sites in the continental United States (CONUS), Pacific Theater, and European Theater. These locations are interconnected via an expanded GIG core.Capabilities and Services
GIG-BE provides a secure, robust, optical terrestrial network that delivers very high-speed classified and unclassified Internet ProtocolInternet Protocol
The Internet Protocol is the principal communications protocol used for relaying datagrams across an internetwork using the Internet Protocol Suite...
(IP) services to key operating locations worldwide. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration's (ASD/NII) vision is a "color to every base," physically diverse network access, optical mesh upgrades for the backbone network, and regional/MAN
Metropolitan area network
A metropolitan area network is a computer network that usually spans a city or a large campus. A MAN usually interconnects a number of local area networks using a high-capacity backbone technology, such as fiber-optical links, and provides up-link services to wide area networks and the...
upgrades, where needed. "A color to every base" implies that every site has an OC-192 (10 gigabits per second) of usable IP dedicated to that site.
Implementation
After extensive component integration and operational testing, implementation began in the middle of the 2004 fiscal year and extended through calendar year 2005. The initial implementation concentrated on six sites used during the proof of Initial Operational Capability (IOC), achieved on September 30, 2004. The GIG-BE Program Office conducted detailed site surveys at all of the approximately 87 Joint Staff-approved locations and parallel implementation in CONUS and overseas. The GIG-BE Program Office completed the Final Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) at 54 operational sites on October 7, 2005. On December 20, 2005, the GIG-BE program achieved the milestone of Full Operational Capability.Contract
GIG-BE was awarded to SAICScience Applications International Corporation
SAIC is a FORTUNE 500 scientific, engineering and technology applications company headquartered in the United States with numerous federal, state, and private sector clients...
in 2001 for $877 million. This contract was for the development, instantiation, and maintenance of the GIG-BE network. SAIC instantly divided the equipment and tasks into subcontracts. These subcontracts are as follows:
- Ciena CorporationCiena CorporationCiena Corporation is a United States-based global supplier of telecommunications networking equipment, software and services that support the delivery and transport of voice, video and data services. Its products are used in telecommunications networks operated by telecommunications service...
- optical transport segment worth $200-$300 million over two years - Sycamore Networks- optical cross-connect segment worth $100-$150 million
- Cisco SystemsCisco SystemsCisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
- multiservice provisioning platform segment worth $150-$200 million - Juniper NetworksJuniper NetworksJuniper Networks is an information technology and computer networking products multinational company, founded in 1996. It is head quartered in Sunnyvale, California, USA. The company designs and sells high-performance Internet Protocol network products and services...
- core IP router portion worth $150-$200 million - By LightBy LightBy Light was founded in 2002 by a group of telecommunications industry veterans. By Light is a Service-Disabled Veteran Small Business specializing in IT engineering services. Most business is with U.S. Defense, Civilian and Intelligence Agencies...
- installation and maintenance worth $100-$150 million
Congressional critic
Representatives Marty MeehanMarty Meehan
Martin Thomas "Marty" Meehan is an American attorney and politician from the state of Massachusetts. He is the current Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, a position he assumed on July 1, 2007...
(D-Mass) and Jim Saxton
Jim Saxton
Hugh James "Jim" Saxton is an American Republican Party politician. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented from 1984 to 1993. From 1993 to 2009, he represented .-Life:...
(R-NJ) expressed concern in the selection process for a contractor to lead the GIG-BE effort. They say it was handled "irresponsibly." The reason for this as expressed by Meehan's spokesperson Kimberly Abbott is the "whole bidding process wasn't as fair and open as it could have been", because a contractor and not the government led the decision process.
SAIC
Science Applications International Corporation
SAIC is a FORTUNE 500 scientific, engineering and technology applications company headquartered in the United States with numerous federal, state, and private sector clients...
won the contract who eventually handed a large subset of the engineering to By Light
By Light
By Light was founded in 2002 by a group of telecommunications industry veterans. By Light is a Service-Disabled Veteran Small Business specializing in IT engineering services. Most business is with U.S. Defense, Civilian and Intelligence Agencies...
. Meehan did stress that he is not questioning the competence of the winners.
These two congressman delivered a letter to the DoD regarding the contract but the issue was slowly forgotten.
See also
- Department of Defense Architecture Framework
- DoD Joint Technical Framework version 6.0
- DoD Business Enterprise Architecture
- Global Information Grid-Enterprise Services initiative
- Department Of Defense Directive (DoDD) 8100.01 "Global Information Grid - Overarching Policy", September 2002
- JTF-Global Network Operations
- Global Information GridGlobal Information GridThe Global Information Grid is an all-encompassing communications project of the United States Department of Defense.It is defined as a "globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to...