The Analytical Laboratory Systems (ALS) have served the Civil Support Teams (CSTs) well but are aging and in need of replacement. The replacement program, the Common Analytical Laboratory (CALS) has already been delayed 18 months because non-National Guard users have joined the program causing specification and requirement issues, resulting in additional Variants (see below). The CALS will be at least 18 years old at the time scheduled replacement begins in FY 18. Given the aging ALS fleet, further delays in the program schedule and fielding will compromise mission readiness and safety. CALS fielding plan has been stretched out from 3 years to 7 - 8 years which is unacceptable because supporting two different systems in the field at the same time cause inefficiencies in training, support, and compromise mission readiness.

The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD), Chemical Biological Defense Plan (CBDP) has budgeted funding to satisfy the full CST National Guard requirement for 61 CALS: one system for each of the 57 CSTs and 4 maintenance/float CALS to ensure 100% operational readiness nationwide for the 7 - 8 year fielding schedule. The three year fielding plan is currently unfunded.

Future CALS configurations:
- Field Confirmatory (FC, which will be fielded to CSTs)
- Theater Validation (TV, fielded to AML, CARA and other labs)
- Analytical Capability Set (ACS, fielded to Air Force and some other labs)

TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION: CONCUR
NGB RECOMMENDATION: No Comment