About D ISD
The Directorate is subject to a high level of change as other MoD ICS delivery organisations are transferred in to enable the DCSA to fulfill its role of being the primary ICS provider across Defence. DISD currently consists of 2,500 uniformed and civilian staff but is anticipated to grow by some 1,500 to 4,000 over the next 2 years as ICS provider organisations transfer in from elsewhere in the MoD. Planned transfers include elements of the Army’s 10 Signal Regiment in Autumn 2005. As the DCSA IPT plans for introducing new capabilities mature, the delivery of some services provided by the Directorate will continue to transfer to industry up to 2008/09.
The responsibilities and business interests of the Directorate are broad, consisting of the delivery of ICS, including formal messaging, Information Technology desktop support, telecommunications and logistics applications support. ICS is delivered on a regional basis (DCSA (Germany)), CIS Central South and West (also covering Washington), CIS London North & East and Northwood & Permanent Joint Operating Bases). Support to IS software applications is provided on a functional basis.
Communication & Information Services (CIS)
CIS is divided into two geographical areas: CIS Central South and West (CIS CSW) – which include Washington – and CIS London North and East (CIS LNE). These regions are both headed by an Assistant Director.
CIS is engaged in improving ‘end’ customer service delivery, introducing an Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) throughout its organisation, and, as a result, is continually streamlining its structure. The aim is to provide ICS in an increasingly efficient manner so that customer satisfaction is achieved at an affordable price. The main activities undertaken by CIS business units are:
• IT/IS Support: installation and support of IS hardware and associated software, plus peripherals and spares, and provision of service desks to provide first and second-line support customers IS installation.
• Guaranteed delivery of formal messages within agreed timescales to UK Defence organisations and military units worldwide, as well as Other Government Departments (OGD), Commonwealth armed forces, NATO and other friendly countries and alliances.
• Planning: production of installation wiring and site diagrams, project briefs, installation and design assurance (SCIDA) and project plans
• Installation: Local Area Network (LAN), Voice and Data Systems' equipment fitting, complete with associated cabinet and cross-site wiring
• Commissioning: installation inspections, safety checks and commissioning end-to-end communications links.
• Maintenance: planned (preventive) and corrective maintenance of equipment in accordance with required schedule and response to reported faults.
Defence Communication Services Agency (Germany)
DCSA(G) represents the Agency in mainland Europe (excluding the Balkans) and provides its customers with a single point of contact for all Agency services. Its Headquarters is located with the theatre Joint Headquarters at Rheindahlen, but staff also cooperate from other sites in Germany.
DCSA(G) aims to give customers access to the same benefits that UK based customers can obtain from Agency services in the UK. It provides a customer relations team, service operations and messaging, engineering support, an integrated project group, enabling services (DIO, IA, EST, etc) and a strategic development team. It also interfaces customers to the wider DCSA services delivered through the Agency’s IPTs and their commercial partners. Customers include the Headquarters of the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC), the 1st Armoured Division, United Kingdom Support Command (Germany), the BFG (British Forces Germany) Health Service, Service Children's Education and other Defence Agencies abroad. The central point for monitoring and coordinating service operations and delivery within mainland Europe is the Regional Operations and Security Control Centre (ROSCC), which is manned 24 hours a day by military and civilian staff. The ROSCC has a deployable capability, primarily to support HQ ARRC‘s exercise programme, which allows accountability and delivery of key services to the military commander on exercise or operational deployments.
Application Services Provider
ASP is responsible for the design, development and delivery of new IS software applications, and the enhancement and in-service existing applications in the MoD. Currently, ASP manages a total of 123 applications, business/mission critical, with staff at Ensleigh, Stanbridge, Yeovilton, Wyton, Copenacre, Foxhill and Portsmouth. ASP offers a high quality and flexible to customers, recognising that it is to become as efficient and cost effective as possible. ASP also anticipates the strategic set required to best meets our customers' needs in the future. The main activities undertaken by the ASP include:
• Application Support.
• Development of applications functionality.
• In-Service Support.
• Provision of expert advice and guidance.
ASP skills and expertise include:
• Applications development and ongoing support using a variety of operating languages and various RDBMS Client/Server architectures.
• Implementation and maintenance of Quality Management Systems to certification standards.
• Web-enabled solutions linking disparate current systems to provide consistent, integrated Management Information.
• Computer Centre Service Management including contingency planning, control and scheduling.
• Project Management using PRINCE 2 methodology.
DCSA Northwood and PJOBs
AD Northwood and PJOBs is responsible for the provision of ICS to the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) Northwood and the Permanent Joint Operating Bases (PJOBs). The BU was formed on 1 April 2005, from DCSA Northwood, DCSA Gibraltar and the J6 ICS providers in Northwood, Cyprus, and the South Atlantic Islands (SAI).
This discreet BU was formed in recognition of the unique operational and business requirements of PJHQ and its subordinate Commands. The predominantly military manned BU provides a comprehensive suite of voice, data, VTC, radio and airfield navigation services.
Transition and Business Support
The Transition and Business Support (TBS) area provides Business Support to the Director including business planning, new initiatives, mergers, development of strategic direction, corporate governance and overall responsibility for delivering the Transition Programme. TBS also provides central services to the output delivery Business Units in the areas of Finance QA/SHEF and Corporate Communications.
In addition TBS provides secretariat support to the Director in his capacity as the pan- DCSA owner for the Rationalised CIS Support Workstream which is part of the Agency Change Programme
Further Information
There continues to be considerable challenges ahead for the Directorate, but also significant opportunities to improve the services delivered to our customers. For further information about the Directorate of Information Services Delivery, please contact: Greg Lay 01225 813799
