How to Negotiate Contract Performance and Deliverables During COVID

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AITC’s president Gabe Ruiz shares his thoughts on “How to Negotiate Contract Performance and Deliverables During COVID.”  In this candid interview with Jenny Clark, host of #FreedomFriday, he answers the questions that most want to know and provides insightful advice to help others navigating this new reality.

#FreedomFriday is a virtual place for connection on LinkedIn for small businesses and government contractors to meet mentors, peers, subject matter experts and advocates.  Each week, there is a featured speaker that addresses the interests and concerns of the government contracting community.

To learn more and become part of the community, contact Jenny Clark at https://www.linkedin.com/in/solvabilityjwc/ 

David E. Gardner Selected as CEO to Lead AITC Into Next Phase of Growth

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David E. Gardner
David E. Gardner

AITC has announced the appointment of David E. Gardner to the position of CEO effective March 2, 2020, succeeding Gabriel Ruiz, who will serve as President.  Gardner is the first CEO to join the team, bringing more than three decades of leadership experience and success transforming several businesses from small, mid-tier and large companies.  Through his management expertise and organizational development skills Gardner has enacted executive management whose accomplishments resulted in >$25B in total contract growth for Inc. 5000, Fed 100, and Fortune 100 Information Technology (IT) and Engineering firms in the Department of Defense, federal and health sectors as well as international markets.

“We’re moving from a position of strength to high growth for the future. David is the right CEO to lead AITC to continue our global transformation.  I am confident he will move the company forward with the agility required to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead by utilizing industry best practices,” says Gabriel Ruiz, AITC Owner & President.

Gardner’s success is driven by his diverse experience in building strong executive management teams and developing mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships.  His exceptional ability to manage resources ensures each project operates at peak performance yielding optimal results in an efficient and effective manner.

“I am thrilled to have been offered the opportunity to lead AITC at such an important time in its development. AITC has an incredible brand and market strength that has generated solid growth in recent years. I am looking forward to building a performance-based business yielding optimal results, while simultaneously ensuring we remain focused on delivering the very best quality service to our customers,” says David E. Gardner, AITC CEO. 

Headquartered in Winter Springs, Florida, AITC is a leading SDVOSB and SBA 8(a) certified Systems Integration firm providing IT and Professional Services and Solutions to the Department of Defense, Federal Government and Public Sector agencies. 

Prior to joining AITC, Gardner was CEO/president of his own executive consulting business.   He has also held management positions for private companies including Northrop Grumman/PRC, CACI, General Electric Company, RS Information Systems, Inc., STG Inc. and NCI Information Systems, Inc., among others.

Gardner has an MBA in Finance/MIS from The College of William and Mary in Virginia and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering/Computer Technology from the University of Rhode Island.

When not working, Gardner is an avid boater – but most importantly, loving husband to his wife Susan and dad to their 20-year old son and University of Virginia student Devin. The Gardners live in Oak Hill, Virginia and Orlando, FL.

USAISEC expertise powers cutting-edge 2nd Infantry Division cyber operations center

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Reposted from US Army 

Jacob Kriss, March 25, 2020

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — For many Americans, the Korean War may seem like distant history, as the armistice that ended hostilities was signed in 1953. However, for the Soldiers of the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Division, or 2ID, the potential for large-scale conflict on the Korean peninsula is far from a schoolroom memory — it’s a reality they live and breathe every day.

The 2ID, based in South Korea, is tasked to defend our allies, deter North Korean aggression and, if necessary, be ready to “fight tonight.” To accomplish its mission, 2ID relies on the U.S. Army Information System Engineering Command, which designed and managed the command, control, communications, computers, cyber and intelligence, or C5I, fielding within the state-of-the-art secure operations center where those capabilities come together.

End-to-end management

Part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, USAISEC has extensive experience providing engineering support to enable mission command of the Army and joint warfighters. However, the operations center was the first time the command created a project management office from the ground up, overseeing the C5I design, implementation, integration and sustainment process from beginning to end, according to Project Manager Rob Wellborn.

“You’re taking a bunch of infantrymen and telling them, ‘Here’s what you have to do for project management oversight,’” he said. “To ensure project success, the USAISEC team worked hand in hand with the 2ID transition cell and deputy chief of staff to involve them throughout the entire project.”

Camp Humphreys rises

The project’s origins date to 2004, when the United States agreed to relocate the bulk of its forces in South Korea from the Yongsan Garrison in Seoul to Camp Humphreys, 40 miles south. Over the next decade, Camp Humphreys expanded to more than 34,000 personnel and added 680 buildings, including a new 2ID headquarters, Freeman Hall, in which the operations center is located.

In 2014, the U.S.-Republic of Korea C5I Joint Working Group asked USAISEC to deliver the C5I infrastructure needed for 1,425 U.S. and Korean intelligence, operations and cyber warfighters. The total project called for five secure compartmented information facilities, or SCIFs, on Camp Humphreys. Two have been completed, including the Freeman Hall operations center, while the remaining three are scheduled for completion in 2021-2022.

DevOps design

Inside the operations center, 175 2ID Soldiers operate complex, multi-level audio-visual systems that transport data around the facility and provide a common operating picture of 2ID and enemy activities. For the design process, USAISEC borrowed a concept from software development known as DevOps, which focuses on close collaboration with actual users.

“We were involved with the users from the beginning, interviewing them on how they needed to use visual information systems to accomplish their wartime mission,” Wellborn said. “It was an iterative process to ensure the center was exactly what they were looking for, and it hit the mark right in the bullseye.”

Complex coordination

The project required intense cooperation among numerous parties. For example, the Army Corps of Engineers coordinated construction by both Korean and U.S. contractors. After construction, bringing the facility online in 2018 required input from the Camp Humphreys Network Enterprise Center, the Defense Information Systems Agency, various civilian and military intelligence agencies, and more.

Despite these challenges, the project came in on time and budget at $9.6 million thanks to careful management, said Deputy Project Manager Ricardo Alonzo. “As the project evolved we got greater cost fidelity on efforts and materials,” he said. “That enabled us to refine the cost and reinvest the savings into the project.”

Today, USAISEC continues to provide on-site technical sustainment for the center, one of 18 mission command center modernization projects USAISEC is supporting worldwide. The center has become the central hub for 2ID cyber and intelligence operations and a showcase tour stop for visits from dignitaries and VIPs. In the future, the USAISEC team will continue to capitalize on its successes with 2ID to ensure the cyber warriors in the remaining SCIFs are equally satisfied with their C5I capabilities.

Visit the USAISEC home page

Visit the CECOM home page

Article Source: https://www.army.mil/article/233977

Photo: U.S. Army

AITC Recruits Top Talent for QA Specialist

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Paula Sylva

AITC has recently recruited Paula Silvia to the team as a Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist.

Ms. Silvia brings more than 30 years of quality assurance and process improvement expertise to AITC.

She has contributed to seven successful CMMI SCAMPI-A appraisals, including AITC’s recent achievement of being appraised at CMMI-SVC Maturity Level 3, where Ms. Silvia served as an appraisal team member.

Prior to joining AITC, Ms. Silvia held positions supporting both private companies and government agencies, ranging from small software start-ups to large well-established organizations, such as Banyan Systems, Motorola, EMC Corporation, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In these positions, she has received several awards and recognitions for her outstanding achievements in process improvement.

When asked about joining the team at AITC, Ms. Silvia says, “I look forward to contributing to AITC’s successes. I am honored to work alongside so many veterans and I’m inspired by their dedication to such a meaningful mission.”

Ms. Silvia continually utilizes the training and certifications she has received in problem-solving, quality assurance, ISO 9001, and CMMI-DEV, CMMI-SVC, and CMMI-ACQ.

“She has a long track record of successfully guiding teams through improvement efforts and AITC is fortunate to have her lead the activity,” says Gabriel Ruiz, AITC’s President & CEO.

IITSEC 2018 Photo Gallery

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[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”2″ gal_title=”IITSEC 2018 Photo Gallery”]

Innovations Improving Human Performance and Training

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Innovations Improving Human Performance and Training

AITC partners with leading-edge innovators.  At I/ITSEC 2018, the world’s largest modeling, simulation, and training conference held annually in Orlando, AITC invited SIMETRI, an 8(a) woman-owned, minority-owned, small business located in Winter Park, FL, to present their latest training innovations.  SIMETRI has been providing end-to-end solutions for critical training support and works with AITC to provide network engineering and architecture design support.

One of SIMETRI’s medical research assistants, Jordan Coulter, explained how SIMETRI’s technologies integrated with others, such as Laerdal manikins, for specific medical procedures and for more inclusive medical training.

SIMETRI’s Manikin Innovations

One of SIMETRI’s anatomical innovations is a leg which can be screwed into a manikin for an amputation procedure.

“It has the tubing where you can connect it into their blood system so that it actively bleeds and you can practice for the applications of tourniquet and other clinical procedures,” Coulter explained.

With more women joining the military, there’s a growing need to train for casualties which affect women, and that means having an anatomically correct manikin to train on. Usually, most manikins are male by default, but it can be expensive to buy a separate manikin for that purpose. So SIMETRI has a more cost-effective solution – a manikin retrofit kit which can be placed on a manikin, without voiding warranties or limiting the manikin’s capabilities.

“You can still do all the procedures, that includes the mask, the vest with the correct female anatomical parts. You can [perform] urinary catherization, needle chest decompressions, etc.” Coulter said.

A part of the kit’s innovation is the silicon skin which allows students to perform venipuncture and phlebotomy procedures. It’s quite resilient to puncture wounds, but they aren’t visible.

Part Task Trainers

Part task trainers allow medical students to perform specific procedures on various parts of the body. At I/ITSEC, SIMETRI showcased some of these devices.

One-part task trainer is for a fasciotomy in a lower leg. This is a surgical procedure where the fascia (connective tissue which covers muscles or internal organs) is cut to alleviate the pressure of a swollen injured muscle or tissue. The common ailment treated by a fasciotomy is called compartment syndrome. By performing a fasciotomy, this can help increase blood flow to the injured muscle and prevent the loss of a limb. SIMETRI’s part task trainer allows a medical student to train on all four compartments of a lower leg.

Not presented at I/ITSEC, but another part task trainer available from SIMETRI is the humeral head intraosseous (IO) trainer, which is a trainer for inserting a needle into the humerus bone for IO infusion into the bone marrow. This type of injection is performed on a patient when intravenous (IV) methods can’t be used. The humeral head is the more rounded part of the upper arm bone which inserts into the shoulder.

With this procedure, the patient’s arm is rotated so that the humerus is in the right position for the needle injection.  Most trainers have only a removable patch of skin to expose the humerus to see if the insertion was done correctly.

SIMETRI’s trainer also has that removable patch of skin, but it also allows surgical students to position a manikin torso with a rotatable arm, simulating how the injection would occur with an actual patient. Instructors can also use this trainer to demonstrate how to correctly position the arm for an IO insertion.

AITC and SIMETRI – Working Together

Innovations Improving Human Performance and TrainingAs a systems integrator, AITC can connect customers with SIMETRI’s medical training solutions such as the park task trainers.  Together we provide systems engineering and integration services and other professional services such as supply chain management, iterative prototyping and development, and systems engineering.

“It’s a win-win for both of us,” said Angela Albán, President and CEO of SIMETRI. “AITC helps us to expand our portfolio, and SIMETRI helps to expand AITC’s. Our partnership is based on a friendship, with a desire to collaborate and find work together.” “By teaming up together, AITC and SIMETRI can use their unique capabilities to bring tailored solutions for their customers,” says Dave Balleweg, AITC’s Director of Sales and Marketing.

To learn more about how AITC can create end-to-end IT solutions for your organization, please contact Lydia Perez in our sales department at sales@aitcinc.com.

Preparing America’s Warfighter for Success on the Battlefield

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Preparing America’s Warfighter for Success on the Battlefield

The primary function of I/ITSEC 2018, the world’s largest modeling, simulation and training conference held annually in Orlando, is to demonstrate a promising exchange of information among industry, the military, and the educational communities.  Ranging from the keynote addresses, to the exhibit hall and demonstrations, the conference was filled with discussions about preparing the warfighter to train as they fight on the battlefield.   Among many vendors present, were several showcasing target  capabilities.   AITC offered insight at our exhibit, to show and provide military training leaders and industry some of the latest technologies available – even if they’re still developing – as a way to know what is possible and how it can help the military meet its training goals.

As part of our interactive demonstrations, AITC showcased an end-to end solution for the military which involves target practice with a Stationary Infantry Target (SIT) or a SIT lifter. This lifter had a 3D Ivan silhouette that was about three feet tall, but there are larger lifters available for vehicle targets.

These digital targets are typically used in live fire ranges, where soldiers use lasers to shoot instead of live ammo. The SIT can also be outfitted with sensors that soldiers can aim and shoot at. There are other capabilities available which can show where the laser round hit the target.

The targets are controlled via laptop through a government-owned computer program called TRACR (Target Range Automated Control and Recording). This software allows the SIT to be fully controlled in any given scenario, and that can be through a direct cable connection, a Wi-Fi connection, or an LT connection.

The SIT is battery powered, but it can be operated on solar energy and electricity. With these features, live fire range trainings with this SIT and the TRACER can be more mobile and can be taken to more remote areas. Field cameras can also be used to show how trainees perform during target practice.

AITC helps as a system integrator and creates added benefits to military customers by taking all of these components – SIT lifters, computers, the software, the necessary internet connections and other equipment – to provide an end-to-end IT solution.   “In order to set up a live fire range, AITC can plan and set up the entire operation without the burden of dealing with hardware and software complexities,” says Steve North, AITC Senior Systems Engineer.

This is just one way that AITC provides tailored IT solutions for customers. To learn more about how AITC can leverage our partnerships and expertise to help your organization, please contact Lydia Perez in the sales department at sales@aitcinc.com.

Orlando Organizes Concert in Favor of Puerto Rican Entrepreneurs

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    “For love of Puerto Rico ” will be held on February 24th under the auspices of Hermes Croatto

    (Translated from LaPrensa – February 12, 2019)
    A non-profit organization Foster Advance Initiative (FAI) and Emmy-winning Puerto Rican singer Hermes Croatto have joined forces to carry out a special concert entitled ‘ For the love of Puerto Rico ‘. The concert revenue will be allocated to Puerto Rico Business Harbor, a social impact campaign aimed at helping Puerto Rican entrepreneurs displaced in Central Florida after Hurricane Maria.

    The charity event will take place on Sunday, February 24th at 5pm at the Orlando Art Museum, 2416 N. Mills Avenue.

    Croatto is a new folklore-style artist. With his music he seeks to keep alive the culture and identity that celebrates the history of Puerto Rico. Son of the legendary Tony Croatto, Hermes inherited the love of music and composition, so on February 24th he will be delighted with the audience with familiar songs from his father and original compositions written by him.

    On the other hand, Central Florida has become the second natural home for thousands of Puerto Rican families composed of professionals and entrepreneurs who work to recover, be self-sufficient and contribute to the economy of the state of the sun. There are also Puerto Rican entrepreneurs who are trying to expand their companies to the Orlando metropolitan area.

    “In order to help these newcomer entrepreneurs, Puerto Rico Business Harbor was established, which aims to provide commercial guidance, access to tutoring, connections and access to seed capital for selected participants. For this reason, this concert is special because it will benefit this platform and allow to carry out tutorials, workshops and trainings specifically designed for Puerto Rican entrepreneurs who want to be part of the Florida business System, ” Gabriel Ruiz, founder of FAI, said.

    Last year was difficult for many Puerto Ricans, especially for those entrepreneurs who have had to struggle with the recovery after the devastation that Hurricane Maria left. But the bright side was that the world discovered the beauties that the island of Enchantment has to offer its visitors. The Puerto Rican people inspired the world with its cheerful heart, courage and resistance from many heroes, innovative leaders and commercial propellants who acted quickly to help rebuild the beautiful paradise and now need support to grow and Expand your business opportunities here in Florida.

    “We encourage the community, the government, the private sector and academia to join us in this special event and support the concert ‘ for the love of Puerto Rico ‘ that will open the door to great resources and growing opportunities that will help create a smooth landing, for Puerto Rican entrepreneurs who come to Central Florida, “Ruiz added.

    Tickets for the concert are now on sale at Ticketerapr.com/hermes-croatto. For more information about the Puerto Rico Business Harbor Program and how to get involved, visit: www.fosteradvanceinitiative.org.

    AITC Secures Fort Jackson Security Contract

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    AITC was awarded a three-year contract to update the US Army’s security infrastructure.

    The United States Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) at Fort Jackson, South Carolina has awarded Advanced IT Concepts (AITC), Inc. a three-year contract (base year with two options) to update its security infrastructure.  Headquartered in Orlando, AITC is a Network and Systems Engineering and Information Technology (IT) Professional Services company.  AITC was awarded the contract based on its cybersecurity services experience and expertise and past performance successfully supporting transition of information systems from traditional Certification and Accreditation to the Risk Management Framework Assessment and Authorization (A&A).

    “AITC is thrilled to support this effort,” says Gabe Ruiz, President and CEO.  “We’ve invested in our people’s training for security systems and Cyber Security certifications and it’s fantastic to be supporting the Army to keep our future warfighters safe.  We hit the ground running with a fully capable team at Fort Jackson, our client is happy, and we will continue to make it happen for them,” adds Ruiz.

    Fort Jackson is the largest and most active Initial Entry Training Center (IETC) in the United States Army, training over 50 percent of all soldiers and nearly 60 percent of female soldiers entering the Army each year. They provide highly trained, disciplined, motivated and physically fit warriors that use hundreds of facilities; living quarters, dining facilities, offices, warehouses, exchange stores, a military community hospital and mission support structures requiring security systems and compliance.  The contract provides Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), operations and maintenance, monitoring and repair, and network and system equipment updates, and upgrades necessary for transition to the Risk Management Framework (A&A).

    “We are proud to receive this contract to provide the Enhanced Separate and Secure (ESS) security services

    for Fort Jackson’s training facilities.  We are working with the Army to enhance their security systems for (A&A) and ensure our soldiers have a safe and secure environment during basic training,” says Jeff Lohrman, AITC’s Director of Programs.

    US Department of Agriculture Forest Service Awards AITC Three Contracts Valued at $10 Million

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    ForestServiceLogoOfficial.svgAdvanced IT Concepts (AITC) has secured three contracts with the  U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The first was a $3.2 million contract to support the U.S. Forest Service, where the primary network equipment is reaching the point of being replaced and updated.  AITC is helping to address the security concerns of the older equipment with new replacements and modernizing current technology.

     Over the past five years, the U.S. Forest Service’s network capacity has increased rapidly with increased user demands and new technological requirements.   The Forest Service will procure new Cisco products and licenses to refresh its current network equipment deployed in the Forest Service Network Sites throughout the country.

     The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.

     “We are excited that we have the chance to work with the USDA Forest Service again on a larger scale.  As we have shown over the past ten years, we have been a reliable and valuable resource for the federal government to obtain cost-effective, innovative technology solutions.  This is a great opportunity to cultivate additional business for long-term relationships,” says Gabe Ruiz, AITC President & CEO.

    The total value of the USDA contract is $3.99 million.  AITC continues to make headlines receiving 10 new contracts (including the USDA) in total with an additional $13 million in value.  The U.S. Army awarded the company its largest contract award ever, a $70 million over five years. AITC was awarded the contract based on several years of exceptional past performance in a similar capacity. 

     “Being awarded the USDA Forest Service contract represents a growing business relationship that we look forward to developing as we continue to move forward with our accelerated sales goals.  We have received high remarks for the fact that our team has consistently met and exceeded expectations on reporting and project management from previous contracts which led to this success,” says Lydia Perez, AITC Field Sales Manager.