The Army plans July 19 to host a Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) Agile Process Industry Day at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Md., for industry partners that are participating in, or wish to participate in the service’s NIEs/Agile Process.
The goal is to keep the industrial base informed of upcoming requirements to support NIE 13.2 to be held in May 2013, the service said in a statement. The event also will provide updates on Capability Set Management and the Army’s Agile acquisition Process, which the NIE supports.
The Industry Day will outline NIE participation opportunities with a focus on NIE 13.2, the fifth iteration in the NIE series designed to further integrate and rapidly advance the Army’s tactical network.
Brig. Gen. Dan Hughes, System of Systems Integration (SoSI) director, said: “It is critically important for the Army to continue open dialogue with industry concerning the NIE process and emerging requirements to support the next capability set, Capability Set 14. Industry will see both network and non-networked capabilities being sought to enter into the assessment process to support CS 14 efforts”
Hughes represents one leg of the triad comprised of SoSI, supported by the Army Test and Evaluation Command and the Brigade Modernization Command. The triad evaluates new equipment, for the burgeoning network, and now other new technology for the Army. The NIE and Agile Process are helping the service modernize more quickly and more in line with how technology evolves.
APG hosts the Army’s NIE risk reduction and assessment laboratories. The service believes the upfront, risk reduction is critical to the successful NIE execution. By replicating the NIE network in the lab environment, engineers can resolve integration issues before systems get to the field–reducing test costs and allowing soldiers to focus on the fight instead of the technology behind it.
The Industry Day will include presentations that will review capability gaps that exist as the Army develops the Capability Set 14 Integrated Network Baseline for evaluation at NIE 13.2, and discuss NIE 13.1 and 13.2 timelines, event status and capability sustainment information.
Following the presentations, industry attendees will tour the APG laboratories that support industry candidate assessments, integration and validation prior to the candidates being sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, and White Sands Missile Range, N.M., to participate in an NIE.
For additional information on the Army’s NIE Agile Process Industry Day and to register for the event, please visit the Federal Business Opportunities website at: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=a39e975bb1a77582a192070e76b12474&tab=core&_cview=0