U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. David Phelan moves a satcom antenna as Sgt. Vincent Flores, both assigned to Alpha Company 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, checks for signal strength with secure data communication equipment while attempting to acquire a signal on a weather deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Photo: U.S. Pacific Fleet

[Via Satellite 07-28-2015] The United States Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has exercised its second year task order option worth $14.2 million for TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) to continue to provide Ku-band satellite bandwidth, terrestrial support and 24-hour support services for the U.S. Marine Corps‘ Tactical Satellite Communications Network. The task order came through the joint DISA/General Services Administration (GSA) Future Commercial Satcom Acquisition program.

TCS is providing the Marine Corps commercial satellite services to various terminals in order to extend the Marine Corps Enterprise Network for deployed users. The additional $14.2 million funding covers the period from Aug. 1, 2015 through July 31, 2016. DISA and GSA are managing this procurement through the $2.6 billion Custom Satcom Solutions (CS2) contract vehicle, of which TCS is one of eight prime contract awardees.