Army photographs by Claire Heininger SchwerinArmy officials hosted more than 120 industry representatives at the Network Integration Evaluation 12.2, June 1, 2012, to show available facilities, answer questions and encourage industry participation in future exercises. The event marked the first time that the Army formally invited industry partners to observe a portion of an ongoing NIE. The Army will host a Network Integration Evaluation Agile Process Industry Day, July 19, 2012, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., for interested industry partners who are participating in, or that wish to participate in the Army’s NIEs/Agile Process.
The U.S. Army will host a Network Integration Evaluation Agile Process Industry Day, July 19, 2012, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., for interested industry partners who are participating in, or that wish to participate in the Army’s NIEs/Agile Process.
The goal of the event is to keep the industrial base informed of upcoming requirements to support Network Integration Evaluation, or NIE, 13.2 to be held in May 2013, and to provide updates on Capability Set Management and the Army’s Agile acquisition Process, of 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.
“It is critically important for the Army to continue open dialog 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,” said Brig. Gen. Dan Hughes, System of Systems Integration Director.
Aberdeen Proving Ground, or APG, hosts the Army’s NIE risk reduction and assessment laboratories. This 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 event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 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.
