General Dynamics lands $152M Alabama supercomputer authority contract
General Dynamics Information Technology, the tech services division of the Reston, Virginia, defense firm, announced on Tuesday that it was awarded a $152 million cybersecurity and software development contract by the Alabama Supercomputer Authority.
The new contract — which was awarded in December and has a five-year base period with two potential option years — adds support for the authority’s information technology systems, including high-performance computing, enterprise network management, cybersecurity, application development and hosting in a hybrid multi-cloud environment, according to a news release. The deal builds on a 30-year partnership between the authority and GDIT, which currently provides it with professional services and facilities, the release said.
“This contract supports sustainability of ASA’s broadband connectivity and related services to more than 780 educational clients in the state,” authority CEO Debra Wallace said in the release. “I am pleased to have the expertise of the GDIT staff in supporting our mission of advancing Alabama through technology.”
Founded in 1989, the authority is a state-funded corporation that manages two projects: the Alabama Supercomputer Center in Huntsville, which is run for research and college coursework, and the Alabama Research and Education Network. Through the education network, the authority provides internet access and supercomputer resources free of charge to faculty, staff and students of public K-12 schools, charter schools, community colleges, universities and public libraries across the state.
“This contract will enhance ASA’s ability to provide fast, secure and reliable access to research and education resources across the state of Alabama,” Scott Mack, GDIT vice president and general manager for state and local government, said in the release.
