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ValidaTek partners with DISA to enable seamless public-private telecommunications spectrum sharing

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) developed the Telecommunications Advanced Research and Dynamic Spectrum Sharing System (TARDyS3) to facilitate sharing of its telecommunications spectrum in the Commercial Broadband Radio Services (CBRS) band with the private sector while protecting incumbent Department of War (DoW) access and safeguarding against electromagnetic interference issues. As the agency’s trusted innovation partner, ValidaTek’s solutions enable rapid development and deployment of the initial minimum viable capability release (MVCR). Leveraging the Air Force’s Platform One software factory, Platform as a Service (PaaS), DevSecOps, and Agile development methodologies ensured that maximum value was delivered at the earliest opportunity and ensured the flexibility to adapt quickly as DISA’s needs evolve.

Our Solution

ValidaTek enables protected spectrum use through a DoW-facing spectrum reservation system with approval workflows that automatically communicate planned spectrum use to commercial Spectrum Access System (SAS) administrators to prevent any potential interference. The system allows DOW users experiencing interference to determine the potential causes using commercial CBRS device deployment data via complex mathematical models and algorithms that were developed and refined for that purpose.

  • Implemented robust Agile DevSecOps processes and methodologies as well as software development lifecycle (SDLC) best practices to manage the deployment, rollout, and operations of the TARDyS3 application. 
  • The TARDyS3 software is developed using a service-oriented architecture to maximize flexibility and re-use. Care and effort were taken to ensure that where possible code was developed in a modular and re-usable format. The project has several libraries published as packages which are reused by numerous services within the architecture.
  • Achieved and maintained a yearly refresh of the TARDyS3 Certificate-to-Field (CtF) under the Platform One Continuous Authority to Operate (cATO).
  • Leveraged industry subject matter experts to work with all stakeholders and elicit requirements from inception to deployment and refinement to ensure that the solution met DISA’s needs from day one.

Exceptional Results

  • The ValidaTek team fully adopted and integrated an Agile continual improvement mindset. By continuously evaluating processes, assumptions, and results, the team constantly improved performance. The implementation of feedback loops ensures delivery capacity is maximized and any issues are identified and addressed quickly. The team has increased velocity of sprints by over 13.28% over the course of one year, increased the average individual completion percentage per sprint to be consistently over 85%, and increased confidence in achieving sprint goals to enable better planning.
  • Automated and continually expanded software quality testing by constantly exceeding required unit test coverage and adding end-to-end, integration, UI, component-level, and automated accessibility testing that resulted in zero production bugs being reported by users.
  • The TARDYs3 Program was appraised for CMMI for Development Maturity Level 5—the highest rating in the CMMI Institute's Capability Maturity Model Integration framework. This achievement indicates our dedication to continuous improvement and our ability to effectively optimize innovative development projects, which translates into transparency, predictability, and scalability for the customer.
  • Earned consistently Exceptional CPARs over 4 years demonstrating the success of ValidaTek’s approach and our commitment to meeting this important mission.

“We are proud to continue our long-term partnership with DISA. We bring innovation and agility to deliver secure, resilient capabilities that improve operational efficiency and help DISA achieve—and exceed—its business objectives. We’re proud to support the mission today and remain focused on continuously increasing the value we provide.”

--Andrew Jones, Vice President, DoW Division