March 13, 2018 | International, Aerospace

Air Force orders freeze on public outreach

By: Valerie Insinna , David B. Larter , and Aaron Mehta

WASHINGTON — The Air Force is slashing access to media embeds, base visits and interviews as it seeks to put the entire public affairs apparatus through retraining — a move it says is necessary for operational security, but one which could lead to a broader freeze in how the service interacts with the public.

According to March 1 guidance obtained by Defense News, public affairs officials and commanders down to the wing level must go through new training on how to avoid divulging sensitive information before being allowed to interact with the press.

The effort, which represents the third major Defense Department entity to push out guidance restricting public communication over the past 18 months, creates a massive information bureaucracy in which even the most benign human-interest stories must be cleared at the four-star command level.

Before settling on retraining its public affairs corps and commanders, the service considered an even more drastic step: shutting down all engagement with the press for a 120-day period, a source with knowledge of the discussions said.

Instead, the service settled on the retraining plan, a temporary move which Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas, director of public affairs, said could be completed “in the coming weeks.”

“In today's challenging information environment marked by great power competition, we will continue to be as transparent with the American public as possible while protecting sensitive information on our operations and capabilities,” Thomas told Defense News. “We owe both to the public, and it is vitally important for the public to understand what we are doing on their behalf and with their tax dollars.”

But two former Air Force secretaries and an influential congressman all raise the same concern: that intentionally or not, this will send a message that engaging with the public simply isn't worth the risk.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., told Defense News the memo fits into a trend of recent moves inside the Defense Department towards less transparency, which could ultimately undermine DoD's efforts to address long-standing problems. Gallagher serves on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which oversees several key Air Force programs like the B-21 bomber.

“I fully support the National Defense Strategy's focus on great power competition,” Gallagher told Defense News, “but I think the department has it backwards; It is precisely because of the scale of the challenges before us that transparency is more important than ever. I worry that by failing to discuss problems, we will only ensure there is no public pressure to fix them.”

Shrinking Air Force access

The renewed focus on operational security stems from the Trump administration's recently released national defense strategy, according to the Air Force guidance. That document, which was marked as “for official use only,” was distributed to public affairs officials following a February 2018 memo on operational security signed by Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein.

“As we engage the public, we must avoid giving insights to our adversaries which could erode military advantage,” the March 2018 guidance read. “We must now adapt to the reemergence of great power competition and the reality that our adversaries are learning from what we say in public.”

Until wing-level spokesmen have been certified by their corresponding major command, responses to reporter queries that potentially could include details about “operations, training or exercises, readiness or other issues which may reveal operational information to potential adversaries” are subject to approval by the Air Force's public affairs headquarters at the Pentagon, known as Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs or SAF/PA. Exceptions can be made for human interest stories, community engagement pieces or other lighter, fluffier news, which can be approved by major command public officials.

What this means is that if public affairs officials at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas haven't received their training, a local story about military working dogs would need the approval of Air Education and Training Command before being allowed to proceed with an interview or any engagement.

Beyond limiting the Air Force's interactions with journalists, the new guidelines pose new restrictions on public appearances such as air show demonstrations, trade shows, industry conferences and think tank events, which can move forward if authorized by SAF/PA's engagement division.

And although Air Force band performances will be permitted to continue, all band members who interact with the media must receive training from public affairs.

Exactly what constitutes sensitive information is unclear. The Air Force's guidance lays out “potential engagement areas” alongside topics that could possibly pose “operational security risks.” Classified information and vulnerabilities are included in the latter area, but so are details about flag exercises, the number and location of operational assets, or information related to current readiness — some of which are routinely shared with the public.

The guidance notes that “neither list is all inclusive,” and that public affairs professionals “use sound discretion and exercise discretion when evaluating all engagement opportunities.”

Pausing a turnaround

The guidance comes as the Air Force was finally repairing a damaged public affairs reputation. The service infamously clamped down on talking after the 2008 firing of both its chief of staff and service secretary, which had a chilling effect across the service.

The situation culminated in a 2016 informal poll by Foreign Policy magazine, which found reporters ranking the Air Force as the worst service to deal with. That result resonated heavily within Air Force leadership, triggering promises of more open lines of communication.

Deborah Lee James, Wilson's predecessor as Air Force secretary, told Defense News it was her belief the service needs to be more open, not less.

“I have not seen the memo. However, I am sorry to hear about this development. If true, it certainly runs against the grain for what I tried to do as secretary of the Air Force,” James said. “Sometimes there's positive news to talk about, and our airmen can be the best communicators. Sometimes there's negative news to talk about. But much better that we be the ones to describe that news and frame it for the American people.”

Whit Peters, who from 1997-2001 served as both Air Force secretary and undersecretary, acknowledged there are times when the military needs to keep information back for security reasons. He said the memo restrictions remind him of the way the service handled information during the conflict in Bosnia. But he also warned the memo may have a chilling effect far beyond its printed text.

“The penumbra of this memo is worse than the memo itself. If you're already an Air Force officer, who is disinclined to talk to the press, this just gives you one more reason to think it is not career enhancing to talk to the press,” Peters said. “And that is unfortunate because the Air Force at all levels needs to be talking to the American public about what a valuable service it provides.”

“I still think the Air Force does not do enough publicly to explain its mission and to explain why it needs to rejuvenate its whole fleet, both in air and space,” Peters continued. “So I would hope this doesn't get in the way of the Air Force telling its story on why it's important, and why it needs to be funded by the taxpayers.”

The Navy: A Case Study

A test case for the potential impact of the memo can be seen in the recent status of the Navy.

In March 2017, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson issued a memo that directed admirals to continue to engage with the media. But it also implored Navy officials not to give “too much” information — even unclassified information — in a public setting.

“When it comes to specific operational capabilities however, very often less is more,” he said in the memo. “Sharing information about future operations and capabilities, even at the unclassified level, makes it easier for potential adversaries to gain an advantage.”

The memo, which was broad and lacked specific guidance, created a persistent atmosphere of uncertainty throughout the Navy where leaders and program managers have been unsure about what they can talk about and what they can't.

And last October, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis released a memo calling for employees to be “vigilant” in preventing leaks.

“It is a violation of our oath to divulge, in any fashion, non-public DoD information, classified or unclassified, to anyone without the required security clearance as well as a specific need to know in the performance of their duties,” he said.

The information chill both inside the Navy and DoDwide has been noticed by lawmakers, who have called on the military to err on the side of transparency.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., discusses the budget and transparency at the Surface Navy Association's annual symposium on Jan. 10, 2018.

At a Navy conference in January, Gallagher dismissed Richardson's concerns about giving away secrets in the press, arguing that if the Navy doesn't talk about what it's doing, members of Congress can't convince their fellow members not on defense committees, let alone their constituents, that more resources are necessary.

“Despite the old adage that ‘loose lips sink ships,' non-existent strategic communications can sink entire navies,” he continued. “If the bias is towards silence to prevent adversaries from finding out about unique capabilities or potential weaknesses: guess what, there will never be a public constituency for acquiring or mitigating them.

“And, oh by the way, our adversaries probably have a decent idea of what we're up to anyways.”

The powerful chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), spoke out in January as well, saying that while secrecy is important, so is transparency, saying it makes a difference in DoD's bottom line.

“As we've talked before, some of the folks in DoD are reluctant to talk too openly about our shortfalls because you're broadcasting that to your potential adversaries,” Thornberry said. “And I admit, it's a fine balance. But if we're going to convince my colleagues who are not on this committee, as well as the American people, to fix these things, I think we do have to at least talk somewhat openly about what our problems are.”

https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2018/03/13/air-force-orders-freeze-on-public-outreach/

On the same subject

May 14, 2020 | International, Naval, C4ISR

Navy inks deal for synthetic aperture radar imagery
Nathan Strout Capella Space announced May 13 that it signed a deal to provide synthetic aperture radar to the U.S. Navy, even though the company has yet to put a satellite on orbit. Unlike traditional electro-optical satellite imagery, which can be degraded or denied by adverse lighting conditions or weather, SAR creates images with radar, meaning it can produce images regardless of the weather or lighting conditions. Additionally, SAR sensors can provide data on material properties, moisture content, precise movements, and elevation, meaning that SAR can be used to build 3D recreations of a given geographical area. Capella says its planned SAR satellite constellation will be able to collect sub-0.5 meter imagery, capable of identifying various types of aircraft or vehicles at ground level. Still, the company has yet to put a single payload of their planned 36 satellite constellation on orbit. Although Capella executive hoped to have satellites launched by the end of 2019, it noted in January that the first satellite wouldn't launch until March, with six more to follow by the end of the year. With this latest announcement, the company simply stated the first launch would take place later this year. Until then it will collect imagery by flying its synthetic radar on a specially outfitted airplane. The Navy signed a contract with the company through the Defense Innovation Unit's Commercial Solutions Opening. Under the new contract, Capella will provide imagery as well as in-house analytics for interpreting that data. The Navy deal is just the latest military and intelligence contract for the company. “Defense & intelligence agencies utilize Capella's SAR data for a variety of purposes, including disaster recovery, infrastructure monitoring and indications and warnings of potential threats,” said Capella CEO and Founder Payam Banazadeh. “The continuous work we receive from these agencies is a testament to the future they see where Capella services play an important role in our national security.” The Air Force awarded the company a contract in November to use its SAR for virtual reality software, missile defense and developing predictive intelligence to foresee foreign threats. On the intelligence side, the National Reconnaissance Office issued a commercial study contract to the company in December as part of its efforts to diversify what types of imagery the agency purchases from commercial companies. https://www.c4isrnet.com/space/2020/05/13/navy-inks-deal-for-synthetic-aperture-radar-imagery/
February 6, 2023 | International, Other Defence

Pentagon, EU ready pact to spur defense cooperation â with exceptions
The document envisages as âspecific activitiesâ the areas of military mobility, supply chain problems and the impact of climate change on defense.
September 17, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

Contract Awards by US Department of Defense – September 16, 2020
AIR FORCE Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, California, has been awarded a $298,044,362 firm-fixed-price Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications contract. This contract provides a payload to develop hardware and software. Work will be performed in Redondo Beach, California, and is expected to be completed May 2025. This is a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $31,190,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8808-20-C-0049). L3Harris Technologies Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded a $13,534,278, fixed-price incentive firm modification (P00008) to contract FA8823-20-C-0004 for system sustainment services Option Year 1. This modification updates and revises the maintenance of space situational awareness integrated capabilities sustainment performance work statement requirements for the current option year. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Dahlgren, Virginia, and is expected to be completed Jan. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $21,165,500 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $98,994,351. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the contracting activity. NAVY Core Tech-Hawaiian Dredging LLC, Tamuning, Guam, is awarded a $42,876,637 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of Munitions Storage Igloos Phase 3 at Andersen Air Force Base. The work to be performed includes construction of 20 adequately sized, configured, sited and protected munitions storage igloos required to support forward-positioned munitions at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The facilities will include reinforced concrete foundations, rated 7-bar construction, floor slabs, columns, beams, lighting and electrical support, fire protection systems, lightning protection systems, intruder detection systems and all necessary supporting utilities for complete and usable facilities. The contract also contains four unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $49,677,730. Work will be performed in Yigo, Guam, and is expected to be completed by June 2023. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Air Force) contract funds in the amount of $42,876,637 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website with seven proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-20-C-1324). The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $41,437,959 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract provides intermediate level repair capability at Fleet Readiness Centers. Additionally, it provides for the development of support equipment to test and troubleshoot aircraft armament equipment specifically pylons, bomb rack units, sonobuoy launchers, armament control panel and the aft pneumatic source in support of the P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (60%); Indianapolis, Indiana (30%); Whidbey Island, Washington (5%); and Jacksonville, Florida (5%), and is expected to be completed in September 2024. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $34,897,349; and fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,540,610 will be obligated at time of award, $34,897,349 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-20-C-0843). Lockheed Martin Rotary Mission Systems, Orlando, Florida, is awarded a $21,405,614 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract procures the Electro-Optics fourth generation (EO4) console and replaces the legacy Electro-Optics third generation console configuration to mitigate obsolescence, decreased availability and rising sustainment costs. The EO4 console subsystem is hosted by the electronic Consolidated Automated Support System family of automatic test systems and is used to test, diagnose and repair the H-60 Multi-spectral Targeting System and F/A-18 Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared weapon systems. This contract covers the EO4 program lifecycle with emphasis on the engineering and manufacturing development phase, which includes design and development, production and delivery of five engineering development models, spares and calibration equipment as well as support for integration, test and other program requirements. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed in September 2023. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal and two offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-20-D-0935). BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $20,306,232 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00017) to previously awarded and announced contract N00030-19-C-0007 to provide logistics engineering and integration support of the U.S. Ohio-class and UK Vanguard-class Strategic Weapon System (SWS) platforms, including support of future concepts. Work will be performed in Saint Mary's, Georgia (45.4%); Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (30.1%); Rockville, Maryland (13.6%); Silverdale, Washington (2.9%); Portsmouth, Virginia (1%); Mount Dora, Florida (1%); New Market, Maryland (1%); Carlisle, Pennsylvania (1%); Mooresboro, North Carolina (1%); Mesa, Arizona (1%), Saint Simons Island, Georgia (1%); and St. Peters, Missouri (1%), with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2021. Subject to the availability of funding, fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $16,641,589; and United Kingdom funds in the amount of $3,664,643 will be obligated. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source acquisition pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1)(4). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00030-19-C-0007). Shape Construction Inc.,* Poulsbo, Washington, is awarded a $13,726,809 firm-fixed-price task order (N44255-20-F-4357) under a multiple award construction contract to construct the Navigation, Seamanship and Shiphandling Trainer (NSST) Naval Station Everett, Washington. The work to be performed involves the renovation of Bldg. 2200 on Naval Station Everett into a multi-level space for the installation of the NSST. Renovation will include, but is not limited to, supports, power, data pathways, curtain supports and infrastructure, structural modifications, a new elevator, removal of existing equipment, replacement of roof, design and construction of a perimeter wall, and all utility and system interfaces for the new space. Work will be performed in Everett, Washington, and is expected to be completed by March 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $13,726,809 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity (N44255-17-D-4006). Communications and Power Industries LLC, Beverly, Massachusetts, is awarded a $13,211,358 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 60 precision approach landing systems radio frequency components and assemblies in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Webster Outlying Filed Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems Division. Work will be performed in Beverly, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed in September 2025. No funds are being obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-20-D-0047). Salmons Dredging Corp.,* Charleston, South Carolina, is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum amount of $12,000,000 for crane rental and crane operator services at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. The initial task order is being awarded at $3,753,761 for barge crane and mobile crane rental and operator services at the Nuclear Power Training Unit, Goose Creek, South Carolina. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by June 2021. All work on this contract will be performed in Goose Creek, South Carolina. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of September 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (O&M,N) contract funds in the amount of $4,880 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M,N. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website with one proposal received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-20-D-0062). The Clement Group LLC,* Montgomery, Alabama, is awarded a $10,933,245 firm-fixed-price task order (N69450-20-F-0894) under a multiple award construction contract for a police station and emergency operations center (EOC) facility at Marine Corps Support Facility (MCSF), Blount Island, Florida. The work to be performed provides for the construction of a new two-story police station and EOC facility within MCSF Blount Island. The new facility will be masonry with a metal roof, special foundations and emergency power circuits and will feature sustainable technologies. The options, if exercised, provide for furniture, fixtures and audio visual equipment. The task order also contains two unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase the cumulative task order value to $12,014,234. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida, and is expected to be completed by March 2022. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $10,933,245 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-19-D-0918). Leidos Inc. Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $7,090,632 cost-plus-ﬁxed-fee task order issued under a General Services Administration (GSA) One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services (OASIS) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This task order provides research support services to the chief science executive and the Research Services Directorate at the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC), San Diego, California, by conducting high-level technical and programmatic support tasks on various Navy and Marine Corps projects and contractor assistance in program execution. Work will be performed onsite at NHRC in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by September 2024. The base period of performance under this task order will be awarded with fiscal 2020 Navy research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) funds. Fiscal 2020 Navy RDT&E funding in the amount of $752,337 will be placed on the task order at time of award and the remainder will be incrementally funded. The total aggregate value of the task order for the base period and three option periods is $7,090,632. This task order was competitively solicited to all OASIS Unrestricted Pool 4 large business award holders with one offer received. The Naval Medical Logistics Command, Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N62645-20-F-0263). (Awarded Sept. 14, 2020) ARMY Chavis Inc., Maxton, North Carolina (W91247-17-D-0015, P00002); Outside the Box LLC, Richmond, Virginia (W91247-17-D-0014, P00002); CMC Building Inc., Bolton, North Carolina (W91247-17-D-0013, P00002); Lifecycle Construction Services LLC, Fredericksburg, Virginia (W91247-17-D-0017, P00002); and W4 Construction Group, Kalamazoo, Michigan (W91247-17-D-0018, P00002), were awarded $36,0000 in modifications to execute a broad range of maintenance, repair and minor construction projects at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Bids were solicited via the internet with 17 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2022. U.S. Army 419th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is the contracting activity. Critical Solutions International, Charleston, South Carolina, was awarded a $35,685,503 modification (P00012) to contract W56HZV-17-D-0045 for support of the Husky 2G Vehicle-Mounted Mine Detection. Work will be performed in Charleston, South Carolina, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2022. Fiscal 2020 and 2021 Pseudo-Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $35,685,503 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Intercontinental Construction Contracting Inc.,* Passaic, New Jersey, was awarded a $23,566,504 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of the Caven Point Army Reserve Center Facility. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Jersey City, New Jersey, with an estimated completion date of March 18, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Army Reserve) funds in the amount of $23,566,504 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-20-C-0036). Nova Group Inc., Napa, California, was awarded a $22,124,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Ellsworth Type III Hydrant Fuel System installation. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 15, 2022. Fiscal 2016 and 2020 military construction (defense-wide) funds in the amount of $22,124,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity (W9128F-20-C-0039). Nova Group Inc., Napa, California, was awarded a $16,577,550 firm-fixed-price contract to replace and construct a new jet fuel complex at the Fresno Air National Guard Base. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Fresno, California, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2022. Fiscal 2016 and 2018 military construction (defense-wide) funds in the amount of $16,577,550 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento, California, is the contracting activity (W91238-20-C-0022). Rice Lake Contracting Corp., Deerwood, Minnesota, was awarded a $15,286,000 firm-fixed-price contract for waste water treatment plant alterations at Fort McCoy. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of July 13, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Army Reserve) funds in the amount of $15,286,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity (W9128F-20-C-0043). Messer Construction Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded an $11,471,000 firm-fixed-price contract for addition and alteration of an aircraft maintenance hangar at Grissom Air Reserve Base. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Grissom, Indiana, with an estimated completion date of March 10, 2022. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Air Force Reserve) funds in the amount of $11,471,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-20-C-0039). Canvas Inc.,* Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $9,015,348 time-and-materials contract for programmatic service support for the Aviation Mission Systems and Architecture program office. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 15, 2021. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Army); operations and maintenance (Army); research, development, test and evaluation (Army); and Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan, Albania, Croatia, Greece, Jordan, Latvia, Morocco, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Taiwan, and United Arab Emirates) funds in the amount of $9,015,348 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-20-F-D003). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Mount Rogers Community Services,** Atkins, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $14,834,277 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for advanced combat shirts. This is a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Virginia, Florida, and Kentucky, with a Sept. 15, 2021, ordering period end date. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-20-D-N120). The National Industries for the Blind,** Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $14,834,277 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for advanced combat shirts. This is a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, and New York, with a Sept. 15, 2021, ordering period end date. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-20-D-B090). M&M Manufacturing,*** Lajas, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $9,213,750 modification (P00015) exercising the first one-year option period of an 18-month base contract (SPE1C1-19-D-1145) with three one-year option periods for various types of blouses and coats. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with a Sept. 19, 2021, ordering period end date. Using military services are Navy, Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND Amyx Inc., Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a $10,352,459 modification (P00044) for contract HTC711-17-F-D001 providing continued non-personal advisory and assistance service support providing functional, engineering and resource management services for entire acquisition lifecycles for information technology systems supported and in support of the U.S. Transportation Command and other associated supporting organizations. Work will be performed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The option period of performance is from Oct. 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2021 transportation working capital (TWCF) operating funds; TWCF capital funds; and operations and maintenance funds will be obligated on Oct. 1, 2020. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $48,590,167 from $ $38,237,708. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott AFB, Illinois, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY UPDATE: The contract ceiling for the award announced on Sept. 3, 2020, to Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Reston, Virginia (HC1084-20-D-0009), for Enterprise Storage Solutions (ESS) III for Defense Information Systems Agency's Operations Center, has been updated to $640,000,000 from $79,452,482. The face value of this action is $70,250,013. The period of performance for the base period has also been revised to Oct. 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2025, and the option years follow consecutively through Sept. 30, 2030. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2350212/source/GovDelivery/

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Air Force orders freeze on public outreach

On the same subject

Pentagon, EU ready pact to spur defense cooperation â with exceptions The document envisages as âspecific activitiesâ the areas of military mobility, supply chain problems and the impact of climate change on defense.

Pentagon, EU ready pact to spur defense cooperation â with exceptions
The document envisages as âspecific activitiesâ the areas of military mobility, supply chain problems and the impact of climate change on defense.