General Dynamics To Support DHS Headquarters Relocation
General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a task order through the U.S. General Services Administration's Alliant Contract to support the relocation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's headquarters. The task order has a ceiling value of $876 million and duration of seven years if all options are exercised.
As part of the relocation, General Dynamics will provide a seamless, state-of-the-art information-technology infrastructure that meets the computer networking, telecommunications, building management and physical-security requirements of the new Department of Homeland Security headquarters on the historic St. Elizabeths Hospital campus.
"In partnership with GSA, General Dynamics will provide a state-of-the art IT infrastructure that meets the Department of Homeland Security's requirements today, tomorrow and into the future," said Dan Johnson, president of General Dynamics Information Technology. "The General Dynamics team has unmatched experience and capabilities in providing comprehensive IT infrastructure on this scale, and our goal is to ensure that DHS' plans and vision for the new campus will be achieved on time and on budget. This experience will allow the company to construct an infrastructure for the DHS that is green, modern, efficient, redundant, scalable, configurable and cost-effective."
General Dynamics will provide full enterprise support to DHS, including the design, development and installation of an entirely new IT infrastructure. Once installed, General Dynamics will test, manage and maintain the IT enterprise to ensure continuous operations.
DHS will consolidate its key leadership, policy, management, programs and mission execution personnel on the St. Elizabeths Hospital East and West campuses, which are located in southeast Washington, D.C. Twenty-two component agencies of DHS will be part of the consolidation. DHS will move approximately 14,000 employees onto the campus over the next seven years from multiple sites around the Washington, D.C. area.
General Dynamics will install and maintain components that include:
Information technology networks and systems, along with data, video and audio/visual equipment.
Telecommunications, including telephony and accompanying networks and wiring.
Physical security elements such as video cameras, identification card readers and control access points, all integrated for easy monitoring.
Building management systems such as the electronic information boards in parking garages that will need to be operated and maintained.
"General Dynamics and its strong team will support GSA in its mission to consolidate multiple DHS sites around the Washington, D.C. region, into one new contemporary, state-of-the art campus that will diminish separation between the agencies and reduce cost and footprint," said Marcus Collier, senior vice president of General Dynamics Information Technology's Civilian and Homeland Security Solutions division. "This new campus will support Secretary Napolitano's goal to unify DHS operationally, administratively and culturally. We will work in tandem with GSA to ensure its plans, vision and the objective of a one-DHS culture focused on effectiveness, efficiency and collaboration is met."
Once the design phase of the program is complete, General Dynamics plans to hire new employees to execute the installation and configuration phase of the program. The company will partner with employment organizations in the Washington, D.C. area to hire local residents in the next year.