By Bernie Monegain, Healthcare IT News

The U.S. Army has signed a $322 million contract with General Dynamics Information Technology for the initial outfitting and transition support of the newly renovated Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and the newly constructed Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia.

General Dynamics, based in Falls Church, Va., will lead a team of companies that will:

• Support hospital transition planning and all preparations to move and activate operations in the new facilities.
• Plan, provision and install medical and non-medical equipment, information technology equipment and furniture.
• Relocate all equipment that will move to the new facilities.

The 365-bed Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is being moved to the grounds of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. The new 1.2 million-square-foot Fort Belvoir Community Hospital will have 120 beds.

"General Dynamics understands that simultaneously moving and constructing two hospitals in a 50-mile radius during the same timeframe is an enormously challenging endeavor that has not been attempted before in military medicine," said Zannie Smith, senior vice president of General Dynamics Information Technology's army solutions division. "We are excited to partner in this opportunity to make a dramatic impact on the healthcare received by America's warriors and the beneficiaries of the military health system."

General Dynamics Information Technology provides information technology, systems engineering, professional services and simulation and training to customers in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, health, federal civilian government and commercial sectors.

With approximately 16,000 professionals worldwide, the company manages large-scale, mission-critical IT programs delivering IT services and enterprise solutions.

General Dynamics employs approximately 92,300 people worldwide.