General Dynamics Missions Systems (GDMS) was awarded a US$3.9 billion sole-source contract by the U.S. Army, for the supply of Common Hardware Systems-5 (CHS-5) over the next five years. Products included in the CHS program include servers, storage, clients, networking devices, ruggedized platforms, hand-held end devices, Operational Transit Cases (OTC) and peripherals devices, all tested and proved to meet the program’s requirements.
Under the new contract, GDMS establishes a Public-Private Partnership (P3) with Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD), that acts as a centralized programs procurement core for the hardware, and address logistics requirements for the user. The new scheme implements a pre-negotiation pricing schedule for the life of the contract, and introduce warranty options beyond the life of the program (up to eight years of coverage). The program incentives suppliers to offer hardware at the lowest prices and offer technical data packages based on competitive pricing.
CHS is a “one-stop shop” for tactical Information Technology (IT) hardware solutions supporting more than 120 Army and U.S. Department of Defense program offices (including the Navy and the Marine Corps). The program provides a rapid acquisition channel, as orders processed in 90 days or less, delivering commercial-off-the-shelf IT hardware and services.
Approximately 75,000 to 100,000 pieces of hardware are acquired through the contract from General Dynamics Mission Systems and its partners, which includes dozens of small and large businesses. ‎The new program’s baseline products leverage the current commercial technology and industry investments and provide repair and replacement supporting users worldwide.
