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November 19, 2020 | International, C4ISR

Army tactical network acquisition office releases $850M solicitation for encryption device

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army's tactical network acquisition office released a solicitation Nov. 16 for an $850 million contract for its new encryption device to protect the joint network.

The Army expects the 10-year contract for the Next Generation Load Device-Medium (NGLD-M) will be awarded to multiple vendors and will delivery the strongest NSA-certified cryptographic keys on the tactical, strategic, and enterprise network systems from the Secret level and higher. The RFP was release by the Army's Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications-Tactical.

According to the PEO C3T news release, modern cryptographic algorithms will be transferred using the NGLD-M device to counter cyber and electronic warfare threats.

The release was delayed in June after the service adjusted the acquisition strategy competition.

“Based on market research conducted earlier this year, the program adjusted some aspects of the strategy to help increase multi-vendor competition, enable rapid software integration options, leverage mature Non-Developmental Item (NDI) potential solutions, and accelerate NSA certification,” said Paul Mehney, director of communications for PEO C3T, in a news release.

"The NGLD-M replaces the fleet of legacy fill devices including the aging Simple Key Loader (SKL), which the Army began procuring fifteen years ago,” said Mike Badger product manager for the NGLD-M effort. “The NGLD-M will be an NSA Type 1 certified, ruggedized, battery-powered, hand-held device used to manage and transfer cryptographic key material and mission planning data.”

The NGLD-M device allows network managers “to reconfigure cryptographic products, perform Over-The-Network-Keying, conduct remote software downloads, and improve operational environment awareness,” according to a PEO C3T news release.

The device will be used by all command echelons, other government agencies and foreign military partners, the release said.

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/2020/11/18/army-tactical-network-acquisition-office-releases-850m-solicitation-for-encryption-device/

On the same subject

  • An ocean apart: Few naval vendors manage to pierce US and European protectionism

    January 15, 2019 | International, Naval

    An ocean apart: Few naval vendors manage to pierce US and European protectionism

    By: Tom Kington , Andrew Chuter , and Sebastian Sprenger ROME, LONDON and COLOGNE, Germany — The U.S. and European shipbuilding industries lead largely separate lives against the backdrop of a massive Asian naval buildup, but some trans-Atlantic projects still manage to thrive. The building of warships has always been a prime example of nations nurturing a highly specialized industry deemed so crucial that outside economic forces cannot be allowed to intervene. And while some European nations have begun to think about pooling shipbuilding forces on the continent, analysts and industry executives in Europe say the wall separating the U.S. and European naval markets remains high. Barring missile launchers and the Aegis combat management system, U.S. firms have not grabbed a large slice of naval work in Europe, and no change is on the horizon, according to Peter Roberts, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute in London. “Warships are historically linked to national power, and if you stop building them you are no longer seen as a great power — you are at the bidding of others,” Roberts said. “The Spanish, the British, the French — they haven't given up shipbuilding, even if they were better off buying off the shelf, and we are unlikely to see a reduction of yards in Europe,” he added. At the same time, the U.S. market has been relatively closed off to European shipbuilders, though there is a chance that could change somewhat with the Navy's Future Frigate program. “It's a bit like two different planets,” said Sebastian Bruns, head of the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University in northern Germany. The reflex to buy only American-made warships is especially strong in the current political climate, he added. The sheer number of ships needed on each side of the Atlantic creates a natural differentiator, according to Bruns, who spent time working U.S. naval policy as a House staffer on Capitol Hill. He said the Navy tends to prefer no-frills designs made for maximum war-fighting power in a great powers competition, while Europeans have taken to building vessels with a kind of peace-maintenance role in mind, affording a greater level of automation and comfort for the crew, for example. One British naval executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the lack of trans-Atlantic industrial touch points wasn't limited to market access, arguing that cost-effectiveness was also an issue. “Despite the problems we have and the programs that don't go exactly according to plan ton for ton and capability for capability, the U.K. manages to build and deliver surface ships at a much lower cost than the United States,” he said. “The U.S. shipyards know they would have difficulty competing in the region, particularly if you are talking about yards that have built a good track record. Naval Group, Fincantieri, Damen Shipyards, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems — these are yards that have been competitive and build with export experience behind them. They are already ahead of the game and I do think it comes back to the cost base, I think it is difficult for the United States to build as cost-effectively as the Europeans,” the executive argued. Full article: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/01/14/an-ocean-apart-few-naval-vendors-manage-to-pierce-us-and-european-protectionism

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 18, 2018

    December 19, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 18, 2018

    MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Lockheed Martin Corp., Moorestown, New Jersey, is being awarded a $585,206,351 fixed-price incentive delivery order for the Homeland Defense Radar - Hawaii (HDR-H). The contractor will design, develop, and deliver the HDR-H radar providing autonomous acquisition and persistent precision tracking and discrimination to optimize the defensive capability of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) and counter evolving threats. This award is the result of a competitively awarded acquisition in which one offer was received. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research development test and evaluation funds in the amount of $51,389,757 are being obligated at time of award. The work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey; and Oahu, Hawaii. The exact location in Oahu, Hawaii, will be determined at the conclusion of the ongoing site selection and National Environmental Policy Act processes. The period of performance is from Dec. 18, 2018, through Dec. 17, 2023. The Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0147-19-F-0018). DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Reston, Virginia, was awarded a competitive, single award indefinite-delivery/indefinite–quantity, firm-fixed-price contract for X86 processor capacity services. The total lifecycle amount of the contract is $323,921,060. The minimum guarantee for this effort is $770,000, $675,000 of which is being met by the first delivery order under HC1084-19-F-0001, and is funded by fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds. Performance will be at current Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) data centers or future DISA centers in the continental U.S. (CONUS), DISA outside CONUS (OCONUS) data centers, and other DISA or DISA-approved locations worldwide in which DISA may acquire an operational responsibility. Proposals were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities websites, and six proposals were received from the proposals solicited. The period of performance is for a base of five years beginning Dec. 19, 2018, and five one-year periods through Dec. 18, 2028. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Scott AFB, Illinois, is the contracting activity (HC1084-19-D-0002). NAVY General Electric Co., Lynn, Massachusetts, is awarded $290,834,776 for modification P00014 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-17-C-0047) for the procurement of eight F414-GE-400 install engines for the Navy. In addition, this modification provides for the procurement of 56 F414-GE-400-1A install engines; four F414-GE-400 spare engines; two spare engine containers and 12 spare engine modules for the government of Kuwait. These engines power the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. Work will be performed in Lynn, Massachusetts (59 percent); Hooksett, New Hampshire (18 percent); Rutland, Vermont (12 percent); and Madison, Kentucky (11 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2020. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy); and foreign military sales funds in the amount $290,834,776 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the. Navy ($33,261,704; 11 percent); and the government of Kuwait ($257,573,072; 89 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $91,720,000 ceiling-priced, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of new aircrew and maintenance training systems, as well as upgrades and modifications to the existing F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircrew and maintenance training systems to ensure the systems are representative of fleet aircraft and systems and interface with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Joint Simulation Environment. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in December 2023. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Air Force); fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); and 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $32,260,000 will be obligated at time of award, $32,097,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This contract combines purchase for the Navy ($90,836,000; 99.03 percent); and the Air Force ($884,000; 0.97 percent). The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (N6134019D0906). Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is awarded $65,648,632 for firm-fixed-price delivery order N00383-19-F-HC02 under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00383-15-G-005D) for the repair of the Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared system used in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas (77 percent); Jacksonville, Florida (20 percent); and El Segundo, California (3 percent). Work is expected to be completed by December 2020. Working capital funds (Navy) in the full amount of $65,648,632 will be obligated to fund the delivery order and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this non-competitive requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Nashua, New Hampshire, is awarded a $32,396,621 five-year, firm-fixed-price requirements, long-term contract for the repair of 103 items of the ALQ-126B electronic countermeasures systems and two items of the ALE-55 radio frequency countermeasure system to support countermeasures for various aircraft. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire (47 percent); Jacksonville, Florida (48 percent); and Crane, Indiana (5 percent). Work is expected to be completed by December 2023. Working capital funds (Navy) will be obligated as individual task orders are issued and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304(C)(1) and Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00383-19-D-UA01). Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded $14,915,670 for modification P00004 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-18-D-0004) to exercise additional contract line item numbers under Option Year I for the manufacture and delivery of additional quantities of the AN/ARC-210 family of radio equipment in support of Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed in September 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded $11,740,000 for not-to-exceed delivery order N0001919F2610 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0003) for the Navy and Air Force. This order provides for non-recurring engineering for the redesign of the Control Actuation System electronic controller and the requalification of the dimeryl diisocyanate utilized in the AIM-9X Sidewinder Block I/II/II+ missiles. Work will be performed in Santa Clarita, California (48 percent); Rocket Center, West Virginia (33 percent); and Tucson, Arizona (19 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2021. Fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2019 missile procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $3,471,918 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Navy ($5,870,000; 50 percent); and the Air Force ($5,870,000; 50 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. L3 Adaptive Methods, Centreville, Virginia, is awarded a $7,674,780 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-15-C-5220) to exercise an option for the accomplishment of services for the Undersea Warfare and Surface Warfare command and control systems. The services include systems engineering, program management, software development, risk management, prototype development, information assurance, training, and integrated logistics support. Work will be performed in Centreville, Virginia (50 percent); and Keyport, Washington (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2019. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy); and fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $4,279,000 will be obligated at time of award and funding in the amount of $420,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $141,447,329 firm-fixed-price contract (FA8672-19-C-0010) to exercise an option to previously awarded contract FA8672-10-C-0002 for Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) II. The contractor will provide low-rate initial production for 1,260 SDB II Lot Five munitions, 389 single-weapon containers, 344 dual-weapon containers, 20 production reliability incentive demonstration effort captive vehicles, 20 production reliability incentive demonstration effort tests, 36 weapon load crew trainers/conventional munitions maintenance trainers and data. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2022. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition resulting from follow-on to competition. Fiscal 2019 missile procurement funds in the amount of $141,447,329 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, has been awarded a $7,394,373 modification (P00063) to contract FA808-12-C-0010 for Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite vehicles 5/6. The contract modification is for Space Vehicle 5 Liquid Apogee Engine (LAE) 4-corners testing request for equitable adjustment. Work for this effort is complete. The testing of the LAE engine took place in Tokyo, Japan, the removal and replacement took place in Sunnyvale, California. Fiscal 2017 missile procurement funds will fund the contract. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $2,032,081,111. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. ARMY M.A. Mortenson Co., doing business as Mortenson Construction, Minneapolis, Minnesota, was awarded a $36,298,000 firm-fixed-price contract to design and construct a 61,515 square foot administrative facility including administrative spaces, classrooms, and secure spaces. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, with an estimated completion date of March 10, 2021. Fiscal 2018 military construction funds in the amount of $36,298,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity (W9128F-19-C-0006). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Michelin North America Inc., Greenville, South Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $26,289,870 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, requirements contract for aircraft tires supporting the Global Tire Program. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is South Carolina, with a Dec. 17, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7LX-19-D-0046). Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, has been awarded a maximum $24,047,839 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, requirements contract for aircraft tires supporting the Global Tire Program. This was a competitive acquisition with two offers received. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Ohio, with a Dec. 17, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7LX-19-D-0045). The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a maximum $17,040,935 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-18-F-0003) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPRPA1-14-D-002U) for F/A-18 depot level repairable parts support. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a four-year, four-month contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Missouri, California, Florida and North Carolina, with an April 18, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $9,549,053 firm-fixed-price contract for 128 display control modules for the Abrams tank. This was a sole source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a two-year base contract with one six-month option period. The option is being exercised at the time of award. Location of performance is Texas, with an April 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-C-0070). Tennier Industries Inc.,* Delray Beach, Florida, has been awarded a $9,309,281 modification (P00007) to a one-year contract (SPE1C1-17-D-1090) with two one-year option periods for various parkas. This is a fixed-price contract. Locations of performance are Florida and Tennessee, with a Dec. 19, 2019, performance completion date. Using military services are Marine Corps and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc., San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $24,916,847 modification (P00036) to previously awarded contract HR0011-16-C-0001 for classified information technology services. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $105,016,388 from $80,099,541. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, with an expected completion date of February 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $20,949,939 are being obligated at time of award. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1717218/source/GovDelivery/

  • INTERPOL Disrupts Over 22,000 Malicious Servers in Global Crackdown on Cybercrime

    November 6, 2024 | International, Land, C4ISR, Security

    INTERPOL Disrupts Over 22,000 Malicious Servers in Global Crackdown on Cybercrime

    INTERPOL dismantles 22,000 cyber threat servers in a global operation, seizing devices and arresting suspects.

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