Air Force awards five-year deal for Joint Operation Planning tool

The Air Force has awarded a five year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract valued at up to $98 million to Northrop Grumman for the enhancement and maintenance of the Global Adaptive Planning Collaborative Information Environment (GAP CIE) software system, the company announced. 

GAP CIE is a Web-based, collaborative Joint Operation Planning (JOP) tool for the combatant commander and strategic level. The system provides contingency and crisis action planning, allowing multiple combatant command staffs, other agencies and subordinate commands to collaborate online.

GAP CIE itself is a part of U.S. Strategic Command’s Integrated Strategic Planning and Analysis Network (ISPAN), which is an operational planning an analysis network modernization program that supports the command’s global strike, missile defense and information operations, along with nuclear deterrence responsibilities.

GAP CIE includes two functional components – the GAP CIE planning environment, and the Global Situational Awareness Tool (GSAT). The planning environment provides Deliberative Planning, Crisis Action Planning, and Decision Support tools, while GSAT allows commanders to view geospatial, temporal and relational planning data. Both parts allow subject matter experts to share situational awareness, according to the original presolicitation.

"The GAP CIE is designed for emerging crisis situations, so it's important we automate courses of action tools to let joint operation planners focus on the quality of the information and the plan," said Doug Pachunka, director of strategic command and control for Northrop Grumman Information Systems.

Northrop will make software deliveries for the sustainment and enhancement of GAP CIE under the direction of the strategic command, incorporating new tools for campaign assignment, plan tasking, and contingency plans and orders.