Lucent Technologies announced last week that it was awarded a prime contract with the United States Department of the Army as part of the Army’s new Infrastructure Modernization (IMOD) project. With a total ceiling of $4 billion dollars, the Army named Lucent as one of ten prime contractors selected for the project.

 

Under a contract with a base five-year award term and one additional five-year award term potential option period, Lucent will work to engineer, furnish, install, secure and test a next-generation multi-vendor communications infrastructure at selected Army installations around the world. The scope of the contract includes indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity (IDIQ).

 

According to Dan Bigbie, vice president, business development, Government Solutions at Lucent Technologies (News - Alert), the company is pleased to continue to support the U.S. Army as they transform their core communications infrastructure to create a flexible ‘Everything Over IP’ architecture.

 

Bigbie also noted that Lucent views its track record of past performance, ability to understand and integrate complex, multi-vendor networks and global reach as being instrumental in the company’s selection and ongoing support of defense technology initiatives such as IMOD.

Replacing the Digital Switched Systems Modernization Program (DSSMP), the IMOD contract aims to create integrated, secure communications systems for Army bases and installations. IMOD also relies heavily on network transformation and migration to newer technologies such as Internet Protocol version 6 or IPv6. The U.S. Army will look to Lucent to help them address the complex technical challenges of designing, integrating and deploying the most advanced and secure communications infrastructure.

Jim Orefice, DoD, vice president, Government Solutions, Lucent Technologies, contributed that upgrading base infrastructure continues to be a key initiative for the Army and these sweeping changes are in direct support of U.S. troops around the world. By providing these soldiers with better tools and technology, they will be able to do their jobs more safely and effectively.

Since its founding in 1872 as the Western Electric Company, Lucent has been designing, engineering, integrating and implementing high-quality, end-to-end communications and data networking solutions for the U.S. military and other government and commercial customers via a corporate evolution that has spanned more than 130 years.

 

The U.S. military faces significant challenges in creating a secure and reliable communications network that can span its global operations. While Lucent is excited to receive the contract award, the company also faces obstacles in the planned IMOD, no matter how much history or experience it has in the field. There is little indication in the market as to shareholders response as there was barely any movement in Lucent stock.

 

Other companies named for the project include AT&T, Avaya, Bechtel Corp., Engineering and Professional Services, Inc., Federal Network Systems LLC, General Dynamics Corp., NextiraOne LLC, Science Applications International Corp. and Siemens (News - Alert) AG.

 

Work on the IMOD project may be taken on by an independent subsidiary once Lucent completes its merger with Alcatel (News - Alert) SA of France, creating concern among U.S. and French governments over security. According to Lucent, no determination has yet been made as to whether or not the U.S. Government program would transfer into a subsidiary.