latest embassy news 

U.S. Grants Assistance to Lithuanian Mapping Center

November 7, 2001

November 7, 2001-- In June 2000 the National Imagery and Mapping Agency of the United States of America agreed to assist the Ministry of Defense (MOD) of Lithuania to procure a "Digital Prepress Front End" (Computer to Plate) and a Large Format Five Color Printing Press. This equipment is state of the art and allows Lithuania to rapidly print NATO Standard Mapping, Charting and Geodesy (MC&G) products in support of the ministry’s national security objectives.

This system was procured as part of a larger security assistance package. All facets of the printing operation were considered, from training and site preparation, to installation and integration, as well as maintenance of the equipment and the provision of consumable supplies for two years. Operator and maintenance training, technical assistance, initial and follow-on support to operations are included, as well as the provision of printing supplies, tools, test equipment, storage cabinets, cleaning kits, documentation and manuals, spares and repair parts for an extended period. Finally, data integration services, shipping, packing and crating, handling and installation were included.

The contract to provide this support was awarded to the Heidelberg company, the prime contractor for the system installation. This approach minimized the risk of the having multiple vendors working to integrate and install a solution. This approach allowed for a total " turn-key" system provided by Heidelberg to insure full functionality and a fully integrated computer to plate printing press system. This approach insures the compatibility of all elements of the system. The printing operation is stage one of a three-stage process. Follow-on procurements will augment the existing system with capabilities to enhance the existing database with militarily significant information. These will enable the Ministry to more rapidly respond to national emergency situations with custom tailored MC&G products.

After gaining independence in 1991, Lithuania was left with a military that had no capability to generate MC&G data, and no capability to print existing maps. In 1997 the National Imagery and Mapping Agency began a dialog with the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense in response to requests to assist the MOD in their efforts to develop this capability. The system is scheduled to be ready for operation on November 7 2001 and it will be handed over to the Lithuanian MOD the following day, November 8, 2001. This procurement was funded through the United States Department of State’s Foreign Military Financing Program (FMFP).