Feds to drop $3 billion on new radios

The Homeland Security Department has inked a potential $3 billion contract for tactical communications to support the entire department, along with the White House and the Interior, Justice and State departments, DHS officials announced this week.

Thirty large and small businesses, including Motorola Solutions, Affigent, AT&T, Eyak Technology, Thales Communications, Patriot Towers and Unisys Corp., will divvy up the award during the five-year work period. The vendors will fulfill orders for radio upgrades, support the agencies' existing technologies and offer ways of making communications systems more compatible, according to an October 2011 contractor solicitation.