Pentagon reviewing NMCI tests

EDS has completed testing of the Navy Marine Corps Intranet in preparation for the critical May 3 decision by Pentagon officials about the future of the program.

"We have received all the test results, and we are completing our assessment at the moment," an NMCI spokesman confirmed April 23.

The testing is a critical part in meeting the first milestone for the Navy's $6.9 billion initiative to create a single network across its shore-based facilities. The law authorizing NMCI allowed the Navy to roll out about 60,000 seats in order to test the concept.

Under a September 2001 agreement, John Stenbit, the Defense Department's chief information officer, and Michael Wynne, deputy undersecretary of Defense for acquisition and technology, must approve the pilot sites' progress before the project can proceed. Their approval would allow the Navy to lease an additional 100,000 seats. NMCI will cover 411,000 seats when fully rolled out.

DOD officials told the Navy they will make a decision on NMCI by May 3.

"We will be briefing Stenbit in time for him to make his decision on May 3," the NMCI spokesman said. But he noted that there have been "no show stoppers."

Rear Adm. Charles Munns, who was named as NMCI director in February, has been intensely focused on completing testing and on the "milestone one" decision.

In a briefing with analysts EDS chairman and chief executive officer Dick Brown said that EDS has spent more than $550 million laying the infrastructure for NMCI so far. But he said he expects the Pentagon will sign off on NMCI next month.

Congress mandated the increased testing requirements after the Navy and EDS signed the NMCI contract, Brown noted. That has forced the company to pay for more of the expense of the contract up front.