Security Levels
History
1993 - The Coast Guard Office of Operations formally acknowledged that a significant problem loomed for a majority of its deepwater ships and aircraft.
Nov. 1995 - The Deepwater Mission Analysis Report (MAR) was approved to define the problem and estimate the scope. The MAR reviewed all missions performed in the deepwater environment and provided an estimate of what capabilities the Coast Guard would require to effectively carry out these responsibilities. The analysis confirmed that the Coast Guard would continue to have deepwater responsibilities well into the future, but would suffer major shortcomings in both resource availability and capability.
Aug. 1996 - The development of the Mission Need Statement (MNS) documented a continuing need for deepwater assets, current interconnectivity and interoperability difficulties and decline of mission capability. The MNS further stated that the Deepwater Project would be developed as an "integrated system of surface, air and sensor components”. The project was designated as a major system acquisition and authorized to proceed.
March 16, 1998 - The Coast Guard released the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Phase 1 of the program to all prospective offerors. Deepwater was comparable in magnitude to DoD’s major acquisitions and attracted the interest and participation from the giants of American industry.
Aug. 20, 1998 - Contracts were awarded to three industry teams to begin the initial concept exploration. Deepwater’s industry teams included the major domestic shipyards, aircraft designers and manufacturers, and the leaders in hi-tech Command, Control, Communications and Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR).
December 1999 - The Interagency Task Force on Coast Guard Roles and Missions provided their report entitled "A Coast Guard for the Twenty First Century." The report focused on long-term maritime issues facing the nation and the challenging environment in which the U.S. Coast Guard expects to operate in the year 2020. The Task Force agreed on six overarching conclusions which validated the Coast Guard's roles and missions as well as the Deepwater Program.
Aug. 1, 2000 - The System Performance Specification was published and provided a baseline performance specification for the Deepwater Program.
June, 15, 2001 - The first phase of the Deepwater Program was completed. The program had achieved its goal for Phase 1 with three industry teams poised to develop final proposals, providing comprehensively priced and scheduled Deepwater Program implementation plans.
June 29, 2001 - The Phase 2 RFP was released. The competing industry teams were invited to submit proposals in a limited competition for system development. Proposals were received by September 28th, 2001.
June 25, 2002 - The Deepwater Program contract was awarded to Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a joint venture of equal partnership established by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
June 2004 - The revised Mission Needs Statement (MNS) was released to align the Deepwater Program with the Department of Homeland Security's mission, vision, and strategic goals. It outlined what was required to respond to the changes in mission emphasis and recognition of the Coast Guard's role as the lead federal agency for maritime security.
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