The Critical Resource 80% of Federal Leaders Don’t Know About

On a typical day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agents and officers process 992,243 people, conduct 1,153 apprehensions, seize 11,945 pounds of drugs and conduct operations across thousands of miles of U.S. border. For over 18,000 Border Patrol Agents stationed at the U.S.-Mexico Border, communication is critical. Yet the systems being used are increasingly antiquated.

CBP operates and maintains one of the largest radio networks within the Federal Government. Land Mobile Radio (LMR), which includes voice-to-voice communications equipment like walkie-talkies, is used daily for primary communications and ensuring officer safety. However, CBP’s older technology can be unreliable or simply unavailable in the canyons of the border--unable to send voice-to-voice or increasingly important mission critical data such as text, pictures and video. A DHS Inspector General finding in August 2013 noted “many of these systems have exceeded their service-life and urgently need to be modernized.”

To address these communication modernization challenges, DHS established TacCom, a department-wide IDIQ designed to standardize requirements, provide next generation integrated solutions and increase competition to drive acquisition costs down. Leveraging the TacCom IDIQ Contract, DHS established the TacCom-1 program with a charter to modernize existing LMR systems by migrating from analog to digital—a move enabling sophisticated encryption, narrowband spectrum usage and interoperability with local authorities.

TacCom is a critical tool in CBP’s modernization efforts, moving the agency toward a seamless border network. New technologies on this network, such as rapidly deployable mobile networks, will increase situational awareness by providing voice communications and video monitoring in areas where no fixed infrastructure currently exists.

While TacCom has numerous benefits--including the ability to streamline the tactical communications acquisition process, reduce costs and eliminate duplication--few organizations are using it for their acquisition needs. The reason, a recent survey found, may be because acquisition leaders haven’t heard of it yet.

While the contract is four years old, a recent survey of more than 200 senior federal leaders by Government Business Council (GBC) found that nearly 80 percent of respondents were unfamiliar with TacCom, with only six percent saying they’d used it. TacCom may hold the greatest promise for DHS component agencies like the US Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the US Secret Service--agencies that are qualified to use TacCom but have only done so in a limited capacity.

According to the survey, 40 percent of federal leaders say their equipment needs replacing, but nearly half are unsure what equipment their agency needs most. For DHS agents on the frontlines, and the procurement officers and program managers supporting them, TacCom makes identifying those needs simpler (there are five defined technical categories) and procuring that equipment cost-effective (30 approved prime contractors drive costs down).

A modernized DHS requires modern technology and aging radio systems, susceptible to everything from coverage gaps to outside interference, are no longer the best technology for the challenges at hand. TacCom exists to help front-line personnel meet their mission and make the job of modernizing communications across DHS simpler. To ensure mission effectiveness at DHS and, most importantly, the safety of the officers using this equipment, it’s crucial TacCom no longer remain a secret.

Learn more about how TacCom can modernize your agency.

About General Dynamics Information Technology

As a trusted systems integrator for more than 50 years, General Dynamics Information Technology provides information technology (IT), systems engineering, professional services and simulation and training to customers in the defense, federal civilian government, health, homeland security, intelligence, state and local government and commercial sectors.  With approximately 28,000 professionals worldwide, the company delivers IT enterprise solutions, manages large-scale, mission-critical IT programs and provides mission support services.  General Dynamics Information Technology is one of four business units of the General Dynamics Information Systems and Technology business segment. Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., General Dynamics Information Technology has major offices worldwide. For more information visit www.gdit.com.

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