Background

As part of a modernization effort, our client initiated a phased hardware and software upgrade of a mission essential system. The upgrade involves the deployment of new hardware and software components to more than 30 CONUS and OCONUS locations.

Solution

Ex Nihilo performed acquisition planning support and information technology (IT) governance for the upgrade to include information assurance and protection, acquisition security, network integration and operational deployment requirements.Ex Nihilo develops and interprets government-provided software methodology and standards; provides expertise for the application of process improvement techniques and engineering methodologies; and conducts deployment readiness reviews of capabilities, systems and upgrades destined for deployment to field sites and operational elements in accordance with agency systems engineering directives and joint site integration standards to ensure the approval of the principal stakeholders prior to obtaining consent to deploy.

Ex Nihilo created, analyzed and evaluated engineering drawing packages to include rack elevations, rack assemblies, facility data sheets, cable and wire lists, hardware control lists, firewall access lists and technical publication support deliverables. Ex Nihilo developed, defined, and documented operational and maintenance concepts (E.G., CONOPS) leading to the development of system requirements and/or specifications.

Ex Nihilo performed requirements management, analysis of alternatives, configuration management planning, risk management and monitoring, Preliminary Design Review, System Requirements Review, Critical Design Review, Milestone Decision Review, Acquisition Logistics Integrated Product Team (ALIPT) coordination and facilitation, facilitation and coordination of Pre-Ship Audit (PSA) and Pre-Ship Review (PSR), development and review of Test and Evaluation Master Plans, provided support for Development Test & Evaluation (DT&E), Operational Acceptance Test & Evaluation (OAT&E) test planning, execution and reporting, performed development and maintenance of Product Support Plans and Acquisition Logistics Support Plans (ALSP).

Results

Ex Nihilo personnel established disciplined processes to ensure compliance with relevant installation standards and the standards of the receiving site, to include programmatic and technical standards of external organizations receiving agency developed capabilities.  Ex Nihilo personnel tracked all liens and discrepancies on deployed capabilities at the time of their conditional acceptance into the sites' operational baseline, and worked with the sites and the sponsoring office in tracking the liens to resolution. The upgraded system has reached Final Operational Capability (FOC) and the former system has been decommissioned.