Lt. Gen. Neller visits SP-MAGTF Africa. Photo: Cpl. Shawn Valosin, U.S. Marine Corps

[Via Satellite 09-11-2014] The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has exercised the first option year period in its contract with TeleCommunication Systems (TCS). Issued under the joint DISA/General Services Administration (GSA) Future Commercial Satcom Acquisition Program, the agency awarded $13.7 million for Ku-band satellite capacity as well as terrestrial support services for the U.S. Marine Corps‘ Tactical Satellite Communications Network.

The funding provides commercial satcom from Aug. 1 until July 31, 2015. TSC uses a network of satellite bandwidth pools through which it can increase or decrease bandwidth in different parts of the world. The company is one of eight that received awards in August 2012 through the $2.6 billion Custom Satcom Solutions (CS2) contract vehicle. CS2 ends in August 2014, but has two one-year follow on options.