ARMY AL&T


Teamwork Using a previously tested and proven enclosure with self-contained power and environmental control, the team researched and procured the necessary commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) refill devices to integrate within that container. The team members worked diligently during a 2-month period obtaining the components, designing a layout, and mounting the hardware. Their quick actions resulted in a proof of concept that was displayed and demonstrated at the quarterly Tool Set and Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment Transformation Board of Directors meeting in December 2009. “The IPT’s approach to address this urgent requirement provides an outstanding example of how a system can be rapidly developed without significantly impacting logistical considerations,” stated LTC Brian Tachias, PM SKOT.


The enclosure assembly is fully pro- visioned and organically supported. Transportability of the system will use existing vehicular and Material Handling Equipment systems. The refill equipment is a COTS solution with publications that will be validated and augmented for Army use. Supply support for the COTS items will be provided by the PM SKOT warranty/ replacement website, which provides support for all Army SKOT under PM SKOT’s charter. “We are looking


The refill equipment is a COTS solution with publications that will be validated and augmented as required for Army use. (U.S. Army photo by Laura MacManus, PM SKOT.)


to field a mission-capable system in approximately 12–14 months,” added Tachias. “Traditional approaches in the acquisition of Acquisition Category III systems of this type can take two to three times that long.”


Safety certification testing of a product representative system (PRS) was com- pleted at Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), AZ, in March 2010. Following safety certification, the PRS will be released to Afghanistan for user feedback. A compet- itive solicitation will be used to ultimately award a production contract to support the quantities required by the ONS.


“This once again shows that the PM SKOT team is up to the challenge to support the warfighter,” added Tachias.


“The fielding of this system will not only increase readiness, but will ulti- mately save more lives by keeping crucial fire suppression systems fully mission capable.”


PM SKOT PM SKOT is aligned under the manage- ment of the U.S. Army Project Manager Joint Combat Service Support, which is under the leadership of Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support. Their vision is to provide the Army and joint services with life-cycle oversight for all SKOTs, while providing high-quality services, modernizing and modularizing current SKOTs, and optimizing the logistical footprint for future systems. They provide warfighters with SKOTs that are high- quality, durable, reliable, modernized, deployable, and serve as a “one-stop shop” for life-cycle management service.


Safety certification testing of a PRS was completed at YPG in March 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Laura MacManus, PM SKOT.)


PAT SCHLUE is a Senior SKOT Engineer from the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, providing engineering and logistic sup- port services to PM SKOT. He holds a B.S. in industrial engineering from St. Ambrose University. Schlue is certified Level III in systems planning, research, development, and engineering and life-cycle logistics, and is a U.S. Army Acquisition Corps member.


JULY –SEPTEMBER 2010 39


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