- General Dynamics Mission Systems will provide operations and sustainment support for the Rescue 21 system
- The contract covers engineering services, equipment support and technology lifecycle management
- The company will also sustain existing IT resources and support equipment obsolescence upgrades
The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems a potential $339 million contract to continue supporting the Rescue 21 Coastal communications, or R21-C, system.
What Does the Rescue 21 Coastal Sustainment Contract Cover?
According to the award notice posted Thursday on SAM.gov, the Coast Guard’s Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Cyber and Intelligence Service Center will use the five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide management, engineering, personnel, materials and equipment needed to operate, maintain and sustain the R21-C system and its associated subsystems.
Awarded on a sole-source basis on July 31, the contract also covers sustainment of existing IT resources, including Microsoft servers and workstations, as well as equipment obsolescence upgrades such as base station radios.
The contract will be executed through firm-fixed-price and time-and-materials task orders and is funded entirely through fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance appropriations.
Reliable communications systems such as Rescue 21 remain critical to Coast Guard operations and the broader DHS mission. Government and industry leaders will discuss technology investments, operational capabilities and emerging mission requirements at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 10. Reserve your spot today.
What Is the R21-C Communications System?
Rescue 21 Coastal supports 32 Coast Guard sectors within the continental U.S. and its territories, aiding the service in search-and-rescue operations. The system functions as an advanced communication system with command, control and direction-finding capabilities, and operates under set requirements for coverage and availability.
The Rescue 21 award comes as the Coast Guard continues investing in technology modernization initiatives. In May, the service disclosed plans for a contract valued at more than $100 million to support data, analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities within multiple mission and business domains.
