manual merge from mct project

This is the first drop of a new component/feature described [here](https://github.com/nasa/mct/issues/97#issuecomment-28424453).

Wrote or re-wrote unit tests (Y/N): N/A - manual integration test
Ran entire suite of unit tests successfully (Y/N): N/A it's a new stand-alone MCT component
Verified bug fix with the described replication steps or verified the implementation meets the requirement cited (Y/N): N/A
Code coverage requirements satisfied (new code=80%, changed code=at least as high as existing) (Y/N): Y
Code review date and attendees: pull request
Describe potential impact on other areas of the code: no impact
Describe any test prerequisites for this fix (e.g., restart the database): N/A
For bugs marked "Regression - Yes", describe the cause of the regression: N/A
Did you modify any pom.xml file? If yes, did you thoroughly document your changes and reasons? N