With the promise of improved functionality and reduced costs, Government organizations have come to rely on commercial applications to supplement, enhance, or replace proprietary systems. Failure to select and implement the right commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components can result in poorly implement, failed or over-budget projects.

The advantages of buying a COTS product and integrating it into an existing infrastructure rather than building a custom solution from the ground up weighs strongly in the buy vs. build decision-making process. A COTS product that implements established commercial and open standards can often meet the majority of integration requirements, resulting in reduced costs and quicker realization of benefits or enhancements.  The challenge is to successfully and seamlessly integrate the product into your existing systems and processes. FGM has successfully helped customers integrate COTS products, including the development of “glue code” and interfaces for seamless integration.

FGM’s approach to COTS integration focuses on your environment—technical, strategic, financial, and cultural. COTS products are successfully integrated after both the technical (glue code and interface) and human (training and acceptance) have occurred. Our COTS integration approach includes the migration of capabilities from custom designed web-based interfaces using ColdFusion® to portals from BEA® and Oracle®, reengineering user interfaces with Microsoft Sharepoint®, implementation of information discovery and report generation using Information Builder’s Web Focus, and implementation of content management solutions from Vignette® and Oracle®. FGM's incremental approach to COTS implementation—keeping customers involved throughout the process—ensures that the integration project stays within scope and budget, and ultimately results in a successful implementation and a satisfied customer.

Integrating solutions that focus
on your unique environment.

	John W. Wilmer Vice President Integrated Defense Systems jwwilmer@fgm.com Ph.: 703.885.1000 Fax: 703.885.0130