Army simulation could take first ITES leap

The Army's computer simulation office could be the first to use the $1 billion Information Technology Enterprise Solutions products and services contract.

The Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, located in Orlando, Fla., expressed interest in using ITES for its Directorate of Information Management function, said Col. Wellsford Barlow, deputy program executive officer in the service's PEO-Enterprise Information Systems, located at Fort Belvoir, Va.

The simulation office shares its building with the Navy in Orlando, but the latter will soon switch over to the Navy Marine Corps Intranet. The Army office likely needs IT services to help operate its networks, said Barlow, who spoke Dec. 11 at a breakfast meeting sponsored by Federal Sources Inc., a marketing and contract services firm located in McLean, Va.

Army simulation officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Other Army directorates called the simulation office about using ITES for technology products and services, Barlow said. The Army enterprise IT office should process the first ITES task order in January, he said.

ITES marks the Army's push toward information technology consolidation and performance-based contracting. The service wants technology improvements that increase interoperability and collaboration while decreasing IT purchasing and maintenance costs.