Navy says new technology contract yields rewards
Navy technology officials announced this week that they have received good results since they revised the Navy Marine Corps Intranet contract at the end of September.
On Sept. 30, the Navy restructured the $8 billion NMCI development with Texas-based contractor EDS. The revision was designed to consolidate NMCI contract performance measurements and focus on measuring end results instead of the numerous steps that lead to those results.
"These first evaluations of improved performance are indicative of the increasing confidence in the teaming relationship between the Navy and EDS," said Rear Adm. James Godwin, the top NMCI official.
NMCI, which is designed to implement a secure network connecting all Navy and Marine Corps personnel, could end up costing the Pentagon more than $8 billion. According to Navy officials, the network soon will have more than 350,000 connected users, which would make it the world's largest intranet. Navy personnel have complained, however, about slow service, poor connections and missed delivery dates. Service officials and EDS representatives have said that some problems are to be expected as the massive program is being developed and rolled out. Program officials have insisted that most Navy users are happy with their NMCI service.
As part of the modification, EDS is eligible for a increased payment when a site is at least 50 percent converted to NMCI and more than 90 percent of the service level agreements' performance categories have been met. When these milestones are reached, EDS is eligible to receive a 5 percent increase in payment for each seat, bringing the Navy's bill up to 90 percent of the full seat price.
Before the contract modification, EDS could not pass 85 percent of the seat charge until all of the performance categories had been met. When a facility reaches 90 percent and officials determine that all performance categories have been met, EDS will be allowed to charge the full seat price.
After reviewing NMCI rollout data, Navy officials determined that EDS was eligible for the additional 5 percent payment at 491 sites by July.
COMMENTS
- By far the saddest thing about the NCMI fiaso is the willingness of Navy Admirals to lie about its results. A succession of three COs at my comand have been honest enought to make it clear that NCMI is a bad idea, is raising costs, and providing lousy service. Unfortunately, honesty isn't a criteria for being an Admiral. GovExec.com reader Posted November 5, 2004 2:18 PM
- What a bunch of bull. Conduct an independent customer survey to see what we really think about NMCI and the service it offers. To the personnel who never had a connection it is an improvement but to anyone with a choice-NMCI is a lousy system. NMCI User GovExec.com reader Posted November 4, 2004 12:11 PM
- Improved performance based on the end results now? So how do I register my opinion of the improved performance; I have a Blackberry that has been sitting on my desk as a paper weight for the past month waiting for installation. I call the NMCI Strike Force help desk and they say I need to get my local service technician to do the hardware install. I e-mail my local service technician and get no response. Guess I'll have to print a copy of this article and hunt him down to show him he's now providing improved performance?? Boy do I wish this was corporate America, I would have found a new service provider weeks ago. GovExec.com reader Posted November 4, 2004 7:33 AM
