Platoon-Level IP: $73M to Datapath for Joint Network Node Support

Small business qualifier Datapath Inc. in Duluth, GA received a $73 million firm-fixed-price contract for equipment and support services, for portions of the Joint Network Node network. Work will be performed in Duluth, GA and is expected to be complete by Aug. 31, 2007. This was a sole source contract initiated on April 5, 2006 by the Army Communications-Electronics Command in Fort Monmouth, NJ (W15P7T-06-C-G205). Major General Michael R. Mazzucchi, Program Executive Officer Command, Control and Communications Tactical (PEO C3T), has described the origins and development of the JNN program this way: Datapath equipment(click to view full) “The recent conflict [i.e. the Global War on Terror] clearly showed that our terrestrial network fell woefully short in three areas: radio ranges did not meet the need; isolated yet critical nodes could not be readily defended; and bandwidth to battalion echelon was virtually non-existent…” “While all of these shortfalls will be addressed by WIN-T, there was consensus across the leadership that improvements are needed now… As a result, we are kicking off a comprehensive communications upgrade, which will see replacement of the terrestrial-based Mobile Subscriber Equipment switching systems with an up-to-date joint-capable package with connectivity provided down to battalion by high bandwidth […]