$11.2B: US Army to FOCUS on Warfighter Training
As of July 2007, Raytheon Technical Services held the US Army contract for live training support, Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) carries the contract for virtual training (simulators), and General Dynamics the one for constructive training (computer models & game-like simulations). More than 3,400 contractors served more than 150 manned sites and 458 unmanned sites with training devices world-wide.
The U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office, Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO-STRI) office has been working for the last couple of years on a new approach that does away with the 3 domains, in order to put the full focus on delivering whatever training support is needed and appropriate, in whatever manner works best. The Warfighter Field Operations Customer Support (Warfighter FOCUS) contract would consolidate operations, maintenance, systems integration and engineering support services for the Army’s live, virtual and constructive training systems into a single 10-year, $11-12 billion package once existing contracts expire on Oct 31/07.
On one side was the Warrior Training Alliance (WTA), led by prime contractor Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC and Computer Sciences Corporation. One the other side was the Warfighter FOCUS Alliance (WFA), led by General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Saab. Each team had a roster that included other major and minor players, and DID details both teams below. The winner was the Raytheon-led WTA, and integration is now proceeding…
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The WTA consortium won in November 2007, creating a major contract win for Raytheon, CSC, Cubic Applications (a small business and early sign-up, who does a lot of work in both the constructive and live domains), and 63 additional teammates, including 42 small business qualifiers. Under this arrangement, small business members will also benefit from collective mentoring and business-to-business training opportunities from RTSC and CSC. The FOCUS RFP had strict and mandatory requirements for small business participation, and WTA’s comparatively deeper bench and approach may have helped it win.
In return for the 10-year, $11.2 billion FOCUS contract, WTA is contracted to deliver integrated, turnkey, life-cycle training services and support worldwide for activities ranging from the Aerial Weapons Scoring System to the urban assault course. Work will include support for training exercises and operations; maintenance for all training and range systems; curriculum development and instruction; management oversight and administrative support for contractor activities; and supply support for all government-owned property and material.
A February 2006 Military Training Technology article quotes Russ McBride, acting program manager for Field Ops:
“Our hope here is to obtain cost savings for the government as well… In addition to what I said about the significance of this program to the warfighter, these are very hard fiscal times in the Army, when we are experiencing heavy cuts to our operations and maintenance budgets. So we are hoping that, as we consolidate these contracts, we are going to achieve some efficiencies that will result in cost savings for the Army, the Defense Department and the federal government.”
Army officials were more specific with the Orlando Sentinel following the award, saying that Warfighter FOCUS is expected to save nearly $570 million over the next 10 years by consolidating the 3 existing contracts.
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The FOCUS program may even grow. Military Training Technology is quoted as saying:
“…other training aids, devices, simulations and simulators or sites may be added to the contract in the future. Those new additions would be separately identified and negotiated at the time of incorporation. Examples of possible future additions identified in the draft include: Warfighter’s Simulation; Aerial Common Sensor trainer; One Semi-Automated Force; Army Battle Command System; Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below; Nuclear, Biological, Chemical – Casualty Training System; Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer [DID: AVCATT, see coverage]; Attack Reconnaissance Helicopter [DID: ARH-70A]; Light Utility Helicopter [DID: UH-145 Lakota]; Army Constructive Simulations Federation; Exportable Instrumentation System; Homestation Instrumentation System; One Tactical Engagement Simulation System; MILES Individual Weapons System; Digital Tactical Operation Center Command and Control; Command Post of the Future (CPOF); New Generation Army Targetry System; and Virtual Combat Convoy Trainers.”
Training & Simulation Journal recently reported another hope: that the new approach “…will be leveraged by Army camps, posts and stations throughout the world. The installations may decide to send their discretionary training funds to procure training support from the Warfighter FOCUS contract, thereby increasing the funds sent to PEO STRI.”
If they can make the customers they serve happy enough to do that, more power to ’em.
UPDATES:
May 6/08: Raytheon announces that The Warrior Training Alliance has completed the transition process, and begun integrating the U.S. Army’s live, virtual and constructive training under the Warfighter FOCUS program as of May 1/08.
Nov 6/07: “The U.S. Army has directed Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) to proceed with consolidating the Army’s live, virtual and constructive training operations and support systems worldwide under the Warfighter Field Operations Customer Support (FOCUS) contract. The Raytheon-led Warrior Training Alliance (WTA) will move forward with General Dynamics Information Technology as a key member of the team.”
See also: US Army PEO STRI release | Raytheon release.
Appendix A: Additional Readings & Sources
- Raytheon.com Feature – Warrior Training Alliance. See also their PDF brochure.
- WTA training video [Windows Media Player format]
- US DoD DefenseLINK (Nov 5/07) – Cutting-Edge Combat Training Prepares Soldiers for Future Fights. Discusses the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, KS.
- Orlando Sentinel (June 5/07) – Agency awards contract for Warfighter FOCUS program
- Raytheon (June 5/07) – Raytheon-led Warrior Training Alliance Wins U.S. Army Warfighter FOCUS Program; Mobilizes to Consolidate Army Training Worldwide
- Training & Simulation Journal (April 30/07) – U.S. Army nears pick for multibillion-dollar deal. Includes some responses to questions from the WFA consortium.
- Military Training Technology (Feb 15/06) – Warfighter FOCUS
Appendix B: The Teams
Members of the winning Warrior Training Alliance consortium include:
- AAI Corp.
- BAE Systems
- Boeing
- CAE USA Inc.
- Camber
- Computer Sciences Corporation
- Cubic Applications
- DRS Technologies
- EDS
- FATS – Fire Arms Training System
- IBM’s MRO Software
- L-3’s MPRI subsidiary
- L-3’s Titan subsidiary
- Moog Inc.
- Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC
- Raytheon Virtual Technology Corporation
- Rockwell Collins
- SAIC
- Sparta
- SRI International
- Symantec
- Viecore
…plus the WTA’s small business qualifiers:
- Acme Worldwide Enterprises (no, not THAT Acme…)
- Adacel
- Advanced Systems Technology, Inc.
- Aegis MEP
- Ahtna STS
- Anark
- Applied Geo Technologies
- Aptima
- Arcata
- Bedrock
- Binghamton Simulator Co.
- Carahsoft Technology Corp.
- CLM Software
- Cole Engineering Services, Inc.
- Combat Training Solutions
- CymSTAR LLC
- Defense Training Systems
- Support LLC
- The DEI Group
- Enpro
- ESP, Inc.
- Infinite Computer Technologies
- Intelligent Decision Systems Inc.
- Inter-Coastal Electronics Inc.
- Limitless International Corporation
- Maxus Strategic Systems, Inc.
- Metters Industries Inc.
- Mymic Simulations & Visual Communications
- Oak Grove Technologies Inc.
- Oberon
- Olgoonik Logistics LLC
- Omega Training Group, Inc.
- Pacific Coast Systems LLC
- Pal-Tech
- ProModel
- Quadrant Simulation Systems, Inc.
- Raydon
- Riptide
- SBI Technologies Corporation
- Senspex
- Superior Access Solutions
- Systems Application and
- Technologies, Inc.
- Tec Masters (TMI)
- Technologies To Be, Inc.
- Unitech
About 93% of the US Army’s training sites already have a WTA member firm present, providing services.
The opposing Warfighter FOCUS Alliance listed its 4 main partners (General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Saab), plus the following small businesses:
- Advancia
- AEgis Technologies Group.
- AllSource Global Management
- American Services Technology
- A-Systems
- BC Fed Group, LLC
- Bevilacqua Research Corp.oration
- Karta Technologies
- LAN/WAN Management
- MTS Technologie
Tag: focustraining
