The Integrated Deepwater Systems (IDS) program, or Deepwater program for short, is a $24-billion, 25-year project to replace and modernize the Coast Guard's aging fleet of deepwater-capable ships and aircraft. It is the largest and most complex acquisition effort in Coast Guard history, encompassing 91 new cutters, 124 new small surface craft, and 244 new or converted airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Administration's annual funding requests and overall approach for the program. The Coast Guard is pursuing the Deepwater program as a system-of-systems acquisition project, under which a combination of cutters, patrol boats, aircraft, and supporting assets is to be procured as a single, integrated package. To execute this system-of-systems acquisition approach, the Coast Guard is using a lead system integrator (LSI) -- a private-sector entity responsible for designing, building, and integrating the various elements of the package. On June 25, 2002, the Coast Guard awarded the Deepwater LSI role to Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) -- an industry team led by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems division. ICGS was awarded a contract that includes a five-year baseline term and five potential additional award ...