Boeing subsidiary lands defense logistics contract

Boeing subsidiary Tapestry Solutions will provide In-Transit Visibility (ITV) for ground transportation logistics in the U.S. Central Command's area of operations as part of a new contract with the U.S. Army, the company said this week.

The contract calls for the deployment of Tapestry's Global Distribution Management System (GDMS) to track and manage civilian contractors who move Army equipment and supplies throughout Kuwait, the Trans-Arabian Network and Iraq, the company said. The deal expands on Tapestry's current GDMS/ITV program with the U.S. military in Afghanistan, which has been in place since 2009, the firm also said.

Using GPS-based transponders, the system gives the U.S. military near real-time visibility, tracking metrics and accountability for all registered commercial vehicles. Among its functions, the system provides panic alerts to contractors as they pass hazards and checkpoints, and displays mission data on topographical maps, according to the company.

Administratively, GDMS supports transportation management requests, captures actual delivery times, supports invoicing and validates demurrage charges. The data, captured in the GDMS-Mission Tracker (GDMS-MT) database, also assists with insurance claims, investigations and the military's litigation efforts, the company said.

The contract begins immediately and includes a base year and one-year options, according to Tapestry Solutions.