Cole Engineering Services, Inc.

Cole Engineering Services, Inc., doing business as CESI, is a subsidiary of By Light Professional IT Services LLC headquartered in Orlando, Florida. The company is a specialized provider of modeling, simulation, and training solutions to the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. CESI focuses on developing and delivering live, virtual, and constructive training environments, systems integration, software development, and technical operations support across multiple military domains. The company serves as a critical partner for military readiness and personnel effectiveness through innovative training technology solutions.

CESI has executed a substantial portfolio of prime federal contracts totaling over $1 billion in awards since 2021, with the vast majority funded by the Army's Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI). The company's contract work encompasses a wide range of capabilities including the development and sustainment of the Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE) platform, production and delivery of Reconfigurable Virtual Collective Trainer (RVCT) units, infrastructure build-out and compute storage system modernization, software development factory services, content development, mission rehearsal support, and technical operations support. Notable prime contracts include an $88.5 million delivery order for enterprise compute and storage systems modernization for PCTE (awarded July 2024), a $125.5 million delivery order for content development and technical operations for PCTE (awarded April 2022), a $356.2 million other transaction order for RVCT production and delivery (awarded April 2023), and multiple contracts for infrastructure maintenance, software license renewals, and specialized cyber training system development. CESI has also received significant contracts from the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command for advanced simulation technology research ($10.6 million, awarded September 2025), as well as work funded by the National Security Agency, Naval Air Warfare Center, and the Air Force. All of these awards have been executed without small business set-aside designations, indicating open and full competition. CESI also functions as a subcontractor to prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., and others on various simulation and engineering support efforts.

CESI maintains five active federal contract Indefinite Delivery Vehicles totaling approximately $2.95 billion in ceiling value. The company's largest and cornerstone IDV is a $957.7 million single-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with PEO STRI for the Persistent Cyber Training Environment platform, issued in December 2021 with performance extending through November 2029. Under this vehicle, CESI has executed numerous delivery orders supporting software development, infrastructure modernization, content development, and operations and maintenance services. A second major vehicle is a $500 million Other Transaction Indefinite Delivery Vehicle awarded by PEO STRI in April 2023 for the Reconfigurable Virtual Collective Trainer program, supporting production and delivery of aviation platforms, ground platforms, and dismounted infantry collective training capabilities. CESI also holds a $921.2 million multiple-award Indefinite Delivery Contract with PEO STRI, awarded in March 2025, for the Bridge to Enduring Synthetic Training Environment Tactical Engagement Simulation Systems (BEST) program supporting modernization and life extension of tactical engagement simulation infrastructure. Additionally, CESI was awarded a $113.0 million Other Transaction IDV by PEO STRI in September 2023 supporting production and enhancement of Army training and simulation capabilities. Finally, CESI participates in a $900 million multiple-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center issued in December 2022 to develop innovative approaches for multi-domain systems capabilities. Collectively, these IDVs position CESI as the Army's primary strategic partner for advanced simulation, training, and instrumentation solutions across the full spectrum of military training requirements.