ORBCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq: ORBC) has announced that Kevadiya Inc. (Kevadiya) has selected ORBCOMM to provide satellite and cellular communications services and asset tracking and monitoring devices in support of the Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The VA recently extended the VTS program based on the success of the ORBCOMM-Kevadiya telematics solution. In 2015, Kevadiya, one of Michigan’s top full-spectrum cloud and mobile computing solution providers to the government, healthcare, manufacturing, and consumer market segments, was originally awarded VA contract number VA741-15-C-0008 for a base year and two option years, which will equip approximately 1,200 vehicles when fully deployed.
ORBCOMM's smart cellular M2M gateway — the SG-7100.
The combined Kevadiya and ORBCOMM solution for the VTS provides comprehensive routing, scheduling and trip history for vans and shuttle buses used to transport veterans in need of transportation assistance to VA medical facilities for healthcare appointments. Kevadiya utilizes the ORBCOMM SG-7100 cellular gateway and IDP-280 satellite modem to track and monitor the VTS vehicles. Both of these robust ORBCOMM devices are connected to a Samsung tablet hosting the Kevadiya mobile fleet application used by the driver, offering dual-mode communications coverage nationwide. The VTS has equipped approximately half of its vehicles with the ORBCOMM-Kevadiya solution to date.
The VTS program was created to provide veterans with an established and high-quality transportation network that will ensure they get to their healthcare appointments and receive the care they have earned. Many of the veterans utilizing this service are elderly, have visual impairments or have been immobilized due to disease or disability and are living in remote and rural areas, which can make travel to the VA medical facilities very difficult. Through this solution, ORBCOMM and Kevadiya provide the VTS dispatch team with complete visibility into the location and status of their vehicle fleet, while enabling efficient navigation, routing, driver management and scheduling of patient pick-ups and drop-offs along with enhanced security.
Marc Eisenberg, ORBCOMM’s Chief Executive Officer, noted that this important project has enabled ORBCOMM to further expand into the government services market as well as help the VA to run their VTS operation more efficiently by leveraging the firm's reliable communications networks and high-performance on-board and mobile telematics systems.
Nilesh Patel, PhD, Vice President of Engineering for Kevadiya, Inc, added that having the ability to optimize veteran transportation, know locations of VTS vehicles, respond rapidly to issues, and provide reporting and trip analysis has greatly benefited the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA’s extension of this contract speaks to the success of the program thus far.