Booz Allen Hamilton, General Dynamics [GE], Science Applications International Corp. [SAI] and SRA International [SRX] have been selected by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to compete for task orders under a $388.9 million contract ceiling in support of the National Communications System (NCS). The five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity National Security and Emergency Preparedness Scientific, Engineering and Technical Assistance contracts have no base value. The NCS is part of the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications within the National Protection and Programs Directorate. The types of services and support that will provided to the NCS and its various groups and program management offices are wide ranging, including scientific, engineering and technical assistance, modeling, analysis and technology assessments, subject matter expertise, contingency planning, course development, logistical support, risk assessments, working group coordination, and more. The NCS, which was established in 1963 due to communications failures during the Cuban Missile Crisis, helps assure that key national security and emergency preparedness officials have the ability to communicate throughout a crisis. For GD the award builds on its work within NPPD where it is the prime contractor for the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, which defense against, and responds to, cyber attacks on federal civil government networks.