Integrated Deepwater System Program  

The Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) is an acquisition program designed to recapitalize the U.S. Coast Guard's aging Deepwater assets by modernizing or replacing them with a state-of-the-market, interoperable system of cutters and aircraft, including their supporting command, control, computer, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) and logistics infrastructure.

The Deepwater Program provides unique opportunities to support the U.S. Coast Guard's international engagement activities by facilitating international contacts with foreign countries that share similar maritime missions and requirements. This system will provide the U.S. Coast Guard with the necessary capabilities to continue performing its fourteen federally mandated missions well into the 21st century. Deepwater will also enhance the U.S. Coast Guard's ability to conduct joint operations with U.S. Navy and U.S. allies.

In the past, the U.S. Coast Guard replaced its ships and aircraft as they became obsolete or insupportable, normally on a platform class by platform class basis. The Deepwater Program broke from that paradigm. For Deepwater, industry was provided with specifications for the capabilities the U.S. Coast Guard needs to perform its Deepwater missions rather than specifications for specific assets. This innovative approach empowers industry to leverage state-of-the-market technologies and processes to achieve Deepwater's overarching goal of maximizing operational effectiveness while minimizing total ownership costs.

On June 25, 2002, the U.S. Coast Guard awarded the Integrated Deepwater System contract to Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), a joint venture of equal partnership between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. In executing the contract, ICGS will modernize or replace the U.S. Coast Guard's major cutters and aircraft and their supporting communications, sensors, and logistics systems, transforming the current fleet of aging assets into an integrated, interoperable network-centric system.

In developing their proposals, ICGS and the other competitors were given specifications for the capabilities the U.S. Coast Guard needs to perform its Deepwater missions instead of specifications for the assets themselves. As stated earlier, this innovative, performance-based approach empowered industry to leverage state-of-the-market technologies to develop an integrated system that achieves Deepwater's overarching goal of maximizing operational effectiveness while minimizing total ownership costs.