By John D. Johnston

The company installing the new Navy-Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) is now accepting requests from Navy contractors to tie into the new network, which begins coming on line at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) this summer.

Electronic Data Systems (EDS) of Plano, Texas, won the five-year, $6.9 billion NMCI contract in October 2000 to integrate data, voice and video communications throughout the entire Navy and Marine Corps infrastructure.

This new intranet will replace the Navy’s collection of more than 200 computer networks, allowing the service to standardize its communications protocols and information security and to refresh technology at the pace of industry since the entire network and all equipment will be provided and managed through the contract. The intranet will also include a universal e-mail directory throughout the Navy.

NMCI will dramatically shift the information technology culture in the Navy. Under this new culture, a desktop computer and the network behind it are considered a utility, like a telephone. Instead of purchasing computer hardware, software and network services, Navy commands and contractors will receive access through “seats.” A seat includes all the hardware, software, cables, connections, training, and data services necessary to use the network. The Information Strike Force (ISF), the collection of EDS with all its subcontractors and partners, will provide and maintain the entire seat, including owning the hardware.

Although the types of data services vary, the basic data service covers items, such as e-mail, file sharing, Web access, printing, help desk assistance, training, and software distribution and upgrades. By 2003, the Navy may also use NMCI for telephone communication and video teleconferencing services.

Under NMCI, Navy contractors must purchase seats for employees who need access to the Navy’s single information technology system. The types of seats available include a fixed workstation and portable workstations.

Companies are highly encouraged to work with NAVAIR in determining their NMCI order. NAVAIR plans to purchase seats for some contract employees, such as those working on-site under overhead contracts. Companies may need to place orders for employees working with NAVAIR on direct programs. Companies may contact the NAVAIR NMCI Warroom Director at 301-342-4087.

Contractors who sit outside of Navy facilities need to purchase a connection to the network. For each offsite NMCI seat, a connectivity charge will be separately priced on individual orders.

In preparation for NMCI becoming available at NAVAIR, contractors need to order seats directly from EDS. The steps for ordering seats for contractors funded by direct programs who sit in government facilities are as follows:

1. Obtain written authorization from the contracting officer indicating permission to acquire NMCI services. This authorization needs to include the period of performance and the identifying number for the government contract.

2. Prepare a purchase request indicating the NMCI services requested. This request must include the contractor’s point of contact for the request, along with the written authorization from Step 1.

3. Send the written authorization and the purchase request to Electronic Data Systems Corporation, 13600 EDS Drive, Attn: NMCI Contracts (Jennie Williams), Herndon, VA 20171.

The process for onsite government contractors to order directly from EDS may be found at http://www.eds.com/nmci/on-site_contractor_ordering_process.doc.

In addition to these steps, contractors who require offsite seats must also work with their NAVAIR customer to supply the necessary requirements for the ISF to calculate the network connectivity charges. This information must be supplied to EDS along with the written authorization and the purchase request.

The process for offsite government contractors to order directly from EDS may be found at http://www.eds.com/nmci/off-site_support_contractor_ordering_process.doc

For more information about NMCI in general, visit http://www.eds.com/nmci.