Hardware and Systems Upgrade
TOPS Program, U.S. Transportation Command
The USTRANSCOM's Surface Deployment and Distribution Command's (SDDC) Transportation Operational Personal Property Standard System (TOPS) needed to upgrade its hardware, but had no plan or program to coordinate and organize the effort. Of critical importance was making sure the modernization did not impact the efficient and rapid shipment of critical logistical equipment.
Beyond Procurement
First, GMRI, now Fulcrum, authored a Migration Plan that addressed and solved all of SDDC's operational concerns regarding their daily tasks, outlining in detail all steps required to accomplish the upgrade and all considerations to ensure uninterrupted workflow.
Addressing the requirements of the TOPS Hardware Upgrade Plan, Fulcrum strictly adhered to the hardware specification and configuration data identified in the Hardware Upgrade Plan of Action. In formulating its offering, Fulcrum extensively reviewed and tested its components for Sun/Solaris compatibility, emulation and network protocol, system/software inter-operability, and appropriate connection or interface ability to the TOPS system environment. All Fulcrum research was based on our accrued knowledge of the TOPS system infrastructure, analysis performed in our TOPS Test Bed, the Hardware Upgrade Plan of Action, and the Intel Proof of Concept (POC).
Next, Fulcrum procured 4,200 pieces of computer equipment and set up an Integration Center in which the components were unpacked, installed, loaded with software, configured, and tested, then repackaged for shipping to remote MTMC locations.
Fulcrum coordinated shipment of all equipment to 333 military sites worldwide, and technicians went along to install the systems and train the on site staff.
Fulcrum currently maintains a fully staffed customer response desk to track additional procurements and shipments, along with an 800-number help desk for maintenance calls.
The project demonstrates several key Fulcrum capabilities:
- Fulcrum possesses extensive skills in planning and managing large-scale and complex projects. By creating a Migration Plan accommodating SDDC's operational environment, Fulcrum ensured its complete understanding of customer demands and concerns prior to initiating any tasks.
- The comprehensive Migration Plan enables TOPS to run high-performance and reliable networks while ensuring that future upgrades will be cost-effective, expandable, and provide benefits that fit the needs of the operational environment.
- Fulcrum provided an analysis, based on past experience with customer and site surveys, of existing infrastructure and upgrade plans. The proposed solution underwent proof of concept, study, and approval before implementation, minimizing disruption to critical operating procedures.
- Fulcrum currently maintains a fully staffed customer help desk to track additional procurements and shipments, along with an 800-number help desk for maintenance calls.
- Fulcrum also maintains a test bed facility to help design and configure systems, emulate and resolve customer issues in a lab environment prior to deployment, and provide worldwide technical assistance for TOPS.
- Fulcrum has successful experience providing full planning and technical support to a diverse global community, producing on time, within budget results, and within a multi-platform, multi-configuration environment. Fulcrum completed work on time for 332 of the 333 sites. The delay at one site was due to the events of 9/11/01.
- Contingency plans developed by Fulcrum enable continuation of critical processes despite internal or external problems beyond Fulcrum's control.
- Security and disaster recover plans ensure maximum protection from intentional or unintentional attempts to disrupt the system, protecting against loss of service and corruption of data.
Fulcrum has an ongoing and extremely successful relationship with the USTRANSCOM's Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) which has spanned multiple contracts over many years. Fulcrum is building on its successes with additional tasks for SDDC that continue to the present.