Iraq
The computerization of 84 Schools in Iraq under a USAID Financed Educational Program (Centers of Excellence).
American Manufacturers Export Group acting as a Procurement Agent for Creative Associates, Inc. awarded ICS Technologies, Inc. the contract to computerize 84 schools in different regions around Iraq. The award also included 25 Servers for the Ministry of Education.
Iraq faces significant challenges in education. Many of Iraq's universities, schools, libraries, and laboratories are ill-equipped, and teachers lack training in the modern educational methods required providing the education Iraqi youth need. Literacy is particularly challenging, as Iraq has one of the lowest rates in the Arab world (65%).
USAID Educational programs have focused on improving teacher training, creating model schools and building or rehabilitating 900 schools nationwide. USAID's education program works closely with the Ministry of Education (MoEd) and local Directorates of Education throughout Iraq to build their capacity to create and maintain a high-quality education system. The centerpiece of USAID's education program is the establishment of 84 "model" schools, four in each governorate and 16 in Baghdad, to pilot child-centered teaching styles coupled with computer and science labs. ICS will equip and install LAN Based Lab in each with State-of-the-Art equipment. ICS has chosen Dell Computer Systems to be its lead partner on this project. Once established, the goal is for the MoEd to replicate these "centers of excellence" throughout Iraq to serve as the basis for the transformation of the Iraqi education system.
Tatweer Project: U.S. Agency for International Development
Management Systems International (MSI), the prime contractor of USAID Tatweer Project awarded ICS Technologies, Inc. in July of 2008, multi-million dollar task orders comprising of five different contracts in its effort to computerize the Ministry of Planning in Iraq.
The USAID Tatweer project (development in Arabic) provides comprehensive assistance to Iraqi ministries and offices delivering services to the Iraqi people. Tatweer helps the government of Iraq rebuild its civil service as part of a general U.S. commitment to a strong, independent Iraqi government providing its people with food, medicine, power, and a better future.
The contracts included the following Task Orders:
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Provide complete network of Video-conferencing Telecommunication between 15 different site in different areas in Iraq using the state-of-the-art Polycom VTC systems; Provide and install IT equipment (computers, servers, printers, scanners,) at two COSIT sites for the Ministry of Planning—Baghdad. Provide and install V-SAT equipment in two Ministry of Planning locations together with provision of Bandwidth. Effect an integrated solution together with various software applications throughout the department as a gateway for Electronic Government. Provide and Install Video Conferencing Facilities in the Ministry of Planning location in Baghdad using Tandberg Video Conferencing System
University of Mosul/ VSAT /USAID Program
First University in Iraq to be connected via VSAT under a USAID Financed Program. ICS Technologies, Inc. has completed the establishment of a complete LAN and WAN for the University of Mosul to be the first university in Iraq to be connected to the Internet under a USAID financed program. ICS was awarded this contract from the Mississippi Consortium for International Development on behalf of USAID to carry out IT Infrastructural improvement at the University of Mosul Campus including consultancy, design and implementation for over 58 campus building.
ICS activities under this program included the following:
The design of a complete Fiber Optic Backbone infrastructure. All fiber optic cables were spliced, terminated, and tested and then certified. Complete network of manholes, ducting system and termination pits were provided.
The design of LAN and WAN using state of the art Cisco switches and routers together with Cisco firewall, VPN application, DMZ and SSH-SSL encrypted data transmission, Intrusion Detection Sensor System.
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR )
The Multinational Corps (MNC-I) a division of the U.S. Army in Iraq awarded ICS Technologies, Inc. of McLean, VA, a multi-million-dollar contract to procure, and install IT H/W, S/W, and VSAT Bandwidth and provide basic operation and maintenance training to MoHESR computer lab technical support personnel at each computer lab site.
The purpose of this contract is to provide IT laboratory infrastructure to facilitate eight (8) sites and the training necessary to operate and maintain the system. The infrastructure will encompass both the hardware (PCs, servers, switches, cabling, network sockets, access points, etc.) and the software (operating systems and applications) together with VSAT and bandwidth joining all sites within one Wide Area Network to support a fully functional technical training environment in several Centers all over Iraq.
VSAT Connection, World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Health Organization (WHO) office in Amman Jordan, awarded ICS Technologies, Inc. in August 2008, the contract to establish 20 computerized centers connected via VSAT in 20 different location all over Iraq. ICS was commissioned by the World Health Organization with this critical project for its operations in Iraq and those of the Ministry of Health where communication between various Primary Health Units was seen as the first step in building up Health Care Services in Iraq. The project duration from the arrival of equipment to final installation was schedule for 3 months but it was achieved in 34 days thus exceeding all client and end user expectations based on previous experiences.
As part of the ICS commitment under contract, the ICS TAC Team continues to monitor connectivity on a 24-hour basis reporting progress and troubleshooting all technical issues as they occur and directly with IT Engineers in each of the 20 sites.
This project not only demonstrates ICS Technical and Logistical Capabilities but goes to underline its ability to work under accelerated schedules, where needed, its commitment to completion ahead of agreed schedules and its ability to take on strategic projects
