US Army Contract
Distributed Common Ground System
Phacil was the prime contractor to the US Army for work on DCGS-A

Overview
Phacil was the prime contractor on the US Army’s Distributed Common Ground Systems (DCGS-A).  DCGS-A involves the migration of legacy systems and databases into a Net-Centric architecture designed to efficiently provide critical information to users throughout the enterprise.  DCGS-A links with Joint and Army-wide systems, bringing commanders dependable information and situational awareness via a common portal.

Phacil developed and fielded a wide range of tools to integrate alerts, databases, and input to and from multiple sources such as analysts and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).  Our technical team tested, deployed and trained users on DCGS-A.  This included deployment and training of multi-function workstations at mobile units and pre-deployment training on the Joint Intelligence Operations Center-Iraq (JIOC-I).

Phacil personnel directly assisted the Program Manager in determining enterprise-wide requirements, including requirements definition, development, testing, fielding and maintenance of the Enterprise Intelligence System and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) backbone. The DCGS-A Integrated Backbone (DIB) supports the architectural evolution of the multi-intelligence sources, incorporating eleven (11) Army Programs of Record and requiring joint and interagency interoperability.  Phacil brought the program unique background having instantiated SOAs in the past for commercial customers.

To best meet and exceed DCGS-A program requirements, our engineers used industry best practices and made consistent use of our Solutions Database, leveraging our commercial industry experience and employing Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) principles.

Phacil Innovations
As part of the initial implementation transition, Phacil developed the first “proof of concepts” for the integration of the JIOC-I using a JBOSS application server coupled with a COTS Ajax-based portal engine. Phacil constructed an initial enterprise service-bus-based capability, which permitted the testing of a content-based routing message queue.  This approach permitted the overlaying of both a pub/sub and XML/WSDL/UDDI based web service mechanism to coexist on the same architectural platform.  The proof of concept addressed everything from the construction of indications lists (to assist in strategic early warning), down to collection management and the indexing of spot reports into an integrated portal WIKI framework.  Integral to the design of the Phacil-sponsored architecture was the integration of proxies that permitted aggregated sensor data (SIGINT, MASINT, HUMINT) to be distributed across a broad range of user platforms including PDAs.

Technologies Supported
Phacil brought a team with a wide range of skills and experience required for the DCGS-A web portal and DIB.  Personnel on this contract had a deep understanding and experience with BEA technologies, including WebLogic and AquaLogic, as well as databases such as Oracle, SQL, and Sybase.  Other technologies supported included Windows Operating Systems, .NET, SOAP, Java, HTML, XML, IBM WebSphere, Cognos, and Coldfusion.  There was also a good deal of media integration from aerial reconnaissance input such as real time imagery from UAV surveillance.  The wide range of environments (fixed plant, mobile and varied infrastructures) required that our engineers have in depth knowledge of LAN/MAN/WAN technologies, switched networking, and remote technologies and applications. 

Results and Highlights of DCGS-A
Phacil participated in a research project requested by the G2 of the Army to evaluate Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) tools for use in the JIOC-I.  The time-frame given for the survey/evaluation was four (4) days and involved some 400 tools used by military intelligence (MI) analysts.  A team consisting of subject matter experts from several prime contractors was assembled to conduct a modified Delphi Analysis.

Within thirty-six (36) hours, Phacil had designed, developed, and deployed an online web-based survey form that populated a Phacil-designed, developed and deployed SQL database tool.  This system permitted the team, and thus G2, to determine which DCGS-A tools might be the best candidates for inclusion in a JIOC tool set.  The internal DCGS-A program support easily integrated their own modifications and enhancements as the needs of the survey team changed.  This rapid-development project highlighted Phacil’s ability to respond quickly and efficiently to turn around high-value software system development programs that integrate web services, SQL databases and custom program logic using standards that permit real-time migration of program support from Phacil developers to the Army customer.

Contract Additions: Future Combat System (FCS)
Phacil added direct work with the FCS Program.  Phacil Data Modeling Engineers supported the FCS Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) integrated data models.  They provided management, administrative, technical, configuration management and quality assurance work within an assigned Integrated Product Team (IPT) and worked cohesively with other C4ISR sub IPT data modeling teams to ensure an accurate, integrated data model across the FCS program.

Phacil Solution for FCS
The Phacil Team created a model manipulation tool integrating global changes to increase quality, which repaired a large number of FCS issues and created a greater level of control.  The Team integrated over 800 data tables and created metadata catalogs, increasing the size of the model by 50%, all while maintaining consistent staffing. 

Further Information
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