Revolutionizing Communications for Civilian Mariners The U.S. Military Sealift Command has awarded Booz Allen Hamilton a $96,076,412 contract to install and maintain wireless networks for civilian mariners, marking a significant investment in modernizing maritime communications. A Strategic Move in Defense Contracting The contract, based on fixed pricing and time-and-material billing, was issued as a sole-source procurement under the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). This approach follows the Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype regulations, ensuring efficiency and streamlined execution. Global Implementation and Future Milestones Booz Allen Hamilton, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, will oversee the project across multiple locations worldwide, with completion expected by June 15, 2027. The U.S. Navy has already allocated $30,351,258 in operational funds for fiscal year 2025, which must be utilized before the year ends. What Comes Next? This agreement remains an undefinitized contract action (UCA) for now and will be finalized following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.603-2(a) guidelines. As maritime operations increasingly rely on advanced connectivity, this project could set a new standard for wireless communications at sea.
