CSIAC

Cyber Security and Information Systems Information Analysis Center

/ Journal Issues / Welcome to the CSIAC / First Consolidated Basic Center Operations Contract to Quanterion

First Consolidated Basic Center Operations Contract to Quanterion

Published in Journal of Cyber Security and Information Systems
Volume: 1 Number: 1 - Welcome to the CSIAC
Author: Preston MacDiarmid
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Quanterion Solutions is thrilled to be competitively selected to operate the Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Security and Information Systems (CSIAC) Basic Center Operations (BCO), the first consolidated Information Analysis Center (IAC) contract. The consolidation includes three previous IACs: the Information Assurance Technology Analysis Center (IATAC) previously operated by Booz, Allen and Hamilton, the Modeling & Simulation Information Analysis Center (MSIAC) operated by Alion Science and Technology and the Data and Analysis Center for Software (DACS) operated by Quanterion Solutions. The CSIAC also includes a new technology area, Knowledge Management/Information Sharing.

Quanterion Solutions Incorporated was formed in 2000 as a small business to perform services for government and industry using QUANTitative critERION for decision-making, hence the name Quanterion. The company of four has grown to more than forty in twelve years, rapidly expanding its technical services and customer base. While its beginning focused on services in reliability, maintainability and quality, it has since grown to address materials engineering, software engineering/development and information assurance/cyber security. Its software products include desktop engineering analysis tools as well as asynchronous online training courses.

The company skills in operating IACs come from a long line of current and past IAC Directors, Deputy Directors and other key personnel with more than 110 cumulative years helping to make the program a success. Past Directors Dave Rose (Advanced Materials, Manufacturing and Testing IAC (AMMTIAC)), Tom McGibbon (DACS) as well as RAC/RIAC’s Dave Nicholls and Dave Mahar are well known in IAC-circles.

After leaving the IAC business area to form Quanterion, 2005 represented the re-entry of the company staff into the IAC program when a Quanterion assembled team with Wyle Laboratories as the prime was awarded a competitive contract to operate the Reliability Information Analysis Center (RIAC), with the “I” for “information” added to “RAC” to emphasize that the Center is part of the IAC program. In 2010 IAC Program’s contracting strategy was restructured to introduce greater competition for customer-funded tasks and to create more opportunities for small business in the program. As a result, Quanterion was successful in competing as a small business to operate the DACS Basic Center Operations (DACS BCO).

While the company’s staff has been successful in operating IACs for a long time, the information world has undergone tremendous change. It’s obvious that the IAC operating teams have to continuously change accordingly, continuing to make the right data and information available, in the most effective formats, in a timely manner. We also have the challenge to capture the lessons-learned knowledge of our rapidly aging technical workforce, now in a truly global economy. A recent independent study performed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) acknowledges the IACs’ contributions, specifically in the areas of “data-to-decisions”, “better buying power” and “acquisition support.” We believe that we have effective and innovative plans for our IAC work in the future, but we certainly don’t have all the answers. We welcome your ideas as IAC customers regarding how we can serve you better. What do you need to do your job better? Think in terms of data/information, tools/models, publications/ critical technology assessments, and/or training? We have the flexibility in our IAC contracts to be responsive to your needs, so please let us know what they are by contacting:

  • Software Engineering & Knowledge Management/
    Information Sharing Needs: Tom McGibbon
  • Cyber Security/Information Assurance Needs: Michael
    Weir
  • Modeling & Simulation Needs: Steve Swenson
  • Reliability, Maintainability, Quality Needs: Dave Nicholls

The CSIAC award marks the start of a new phase in the highly successful DoD IAC program, reducing the ten previous IACs to three, while at the same time expanding the breadth of the Center’s technical scope. Next on the horizon is the expected January of 2013 award of the Homeland Defense and Security IAC (HDIAC), expanding the current Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear IAC (CRRNIAC) currently operated by Battelle to add Biometrics, Medical, Cultural Studies and Alternative Energy. The third Center is planned for award in September of 2013 consolidating the Reliability Information Analysis Center (RIAC), the Advanced Materials, Manufacturing and Testing IAC (AMMTIAC), the Weapon Systems Technology IAC (WSTIAC), the Sensors IAC (SENSIAC), the Chemical Propulsion IAC (CPIAC) and the Survivability/Vulnerability IAC (SURVIAC).

Author

Preston MacDiarmid
Preston MacDiarmid
Mr. MacDiarmid is the President of Quanterion Solutions Incorporated, a twelve-year old engineering and software development company (quanterion.com) emphasizing knowledge management and information center operation. Previous to forming Quanterion, Mr. MacDiarmid was Director of the Reliability Analysis Center (now RIAC) for ten years and Vice President of Information Analysis Center (IAC) Operations for IIT Research Institute (IITRI) (now Alion). Mr. MacDiarmid holds a BSME from the University of Buffalo, an MSME from Syracuse University, and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is an ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer, a Senior Member of the IEEE Reliability Society, and a Member of the ASME. He was the Mohawk Valley Engineers Executive Council 2002 Excellence in Engineering Award Winner for his contributions to the field of reliability. Under his leadership, Quanterion Solutions was presented the 2007 Mohawk Valley “Leading Edge” award for the company’s technical work.

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