NetApp scores $28m Defence deal

NetApp has scored a $28 million deal as the major computer equipment supplier to the Department of Defence's Next Generation Desktop project.

The project, which has been running since 2011, will allow personnel to access multiple, classified networks from a single device, replacing the current practice of having separate machines for ‘restricted’ and ‘secret’ domains.

The project is being led by defence integrator Thales, which has secured millions of dollars in contracts over the past couple of years, including a $28.2 million contract awarded in November.

NetApp was awarded 24 contracts throughout May, with the equipment being installed "in accordance with the project schedule – from now until the end of 2014", according to a Defence spokesperson.

The contracts are largely billed as computer equipment, with some listed as networking and storage.

They range in price from $10,000 for "engagement of specialist to commission hardware" to $4.3 million for "assorted network equipment", with six notices for "computer equipment" priced between $1.5 million and $1.7 million.

"NetApp is the major computer equipment supplier for this contract and is one of the Department’s standard storage platforms and the basis of the Next Generation Desktop design," said the spokesperson.

"The Next Generation Desktop project is a new capability, so the NetApp infrastructure will supplement existing ICT technologies."

The spokesperson said that major Defence contractor Thales has been working in partnership with the Next Generation Desktop Project to integrate the NetApp technology.

The department is also undertaking a thin client/desktop refresh, though the spokesperson would not reveal details "due to commercial sensitivities".

According to iTnews, the department is rolling roll out thin clients across 90,000 seats, following a 2012 trial of 550 devices based on Thales Raytheon Trusted Thin Client software and virtualised application packages.

A NetApp spokesperson told CRN they were unable to offer any details on the project or the technology being provided, but said: "NetApp have been a consistent supplier to Defence for over a decade. NetApp continue to have an excellent working relationship with the Department."