General Dynamics to provide rugged COTS computers and networking in $3.9 billion CHS-5 contract

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – U.S. Army battlefield computers experts needed rugged commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) computers and networking equipment modified for military operations. They found their solution from General Dynamics Missions Systems in Fairfax, Va.

Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., announced a $3.9 billion five-year contract to General Dynamics on Wednesday for the Common Hardware Systems 5th Generation (CHS-5) project. CHS-5 seeks to provide the U.S. military with rapid and affordable access to COTS computers and network equipment modified for military operations.

The contract consists of one three-year base contract and two one-year options, for a maximum value of $3.9 billion. This is the fifth generation of the CHS program that has been in place for three decades.

General Dynamics is the incumbent CHS contractor, having won a $3.7 billion contract in 2011 for the CHS-4 program. The company also was prime contractor for the CHS-3 and CHS-2 programs going back to the mid-1990s.

Related: General Dynamics wins CHS-4 contract to provide military computers and software

CHS is a one-stop-shop for tactical information technology (IT) hardware solutions supporting more than 120 Army and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) program offices, including the Navy and the Marine Corps.

The program involves the rapid acquisition and delivery of COTS IT hardware and services. About 75,000 to 100,000 pieces of hardware are acquired through the contract from General Dynamics and its partners, which includes dozens of small and large businesses, General Dynamics officials say.

The project seeks to put the most advanced and up-to-date COTS computer hardware and software into the hands of U.S. warfighters and other government computer users. The idea is to buy in quantity to keep costs as low as possible, while acquiring the most advanced technologies.

The contract includes technical and logistics support, ranging from rapid repair and replacement to the deployment of service personnel to locations worldwide. The CHS-5 request for proposals was released one year ago.

Related: Rugged computers become everyday battlefield equipment

CHS provides state-of-the-art computing and networking equipment that improves connectivity, interoperability, logistics, and maintenance support to Soldiers. The goal is to reduce procurement and fielding time without compromising quality.

The CHS-5 contract requires General Dynamics and its partners to establish a public-private partnership with Tobyhanna Army Depot in Tobyhanna, Pa., to support programs that use CHS-5 equipment.

Other enhancements for CHS-5 include a pre-negotiation pricing schedule for the life of the contract; additional warranty options with as long as eight years of coverage; added program protection plan language; incentives to provide the lowest price hardware; and the ability to procure technical data packages based on competitive pricing.

On this contract General Dynamics and its partners will do the work at locations determined with each order, and should be finished by August 2023. For more information contact General Dynamics Mission Systems online at https://gdmissionsystems.com, or the Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen at http://acc.army.mil/contractingcenters/acc-apg.

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