September 18, 2019 | International, Aerospace
By: Kelsey D. Atherton
In a nondescript parking lot in Andover, Massachusetts, outside an aggressively generic office building, I am piloting an InstantEye quadcopter gently over the Merrimack River. At around 300 feet above the ground, I can no longer hear its rotors or make out its roughly basketball-sized body against the bright sky.
With a press of a button and a slight change in angle, the InstantEye MK-2 turns and moves its camera to the porch where I am standing. The shade hides us a little, but after pressing another button the infrared camera identifies several bodies. If I was not piloting the drone, I would have no idea it was out there, looking at me.
In recent years, the quadcopter has moved from a hobbyist toy that might see battlefield use to a dedicated family of drones at hobbyist, commercial and military levels. They all aim to provide roughly the same advantage: an unobtrusive eye in the sky, priced cheaply enough to replace easily if lost. That hobbyist drones have been adapted by uniformed militaries and nonstate actors into bomb-dropping threats is a natural outgrowth of technology cheap enough to make expendable.
Now the Army wants to take advantage of this paradigm shift.
“The UAS asset should be designed to be a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that is rapidly deployable in austere, harsh environments,” read an Army solicitation posted in April 2019 to the FedBizOpps website. Besides VTOL, the Army wanted a drone with a camera payload, providing electro-optical/infrared radar video on a stable gimbal.
It is the kind of capability that an officer could likely pick up for a few hundred dollars at the Pentagon City Mall.
The future of tactical war likely looks like what happened with quadcopters: commercial technology cheap and useful enough to be adapted to military ends. But the drone market is compounded by one fact: the majority of hobbyist drones and their components are built in China, and working outside that market means foregoing much of the cost savings that make quadcopters so attractive.
“We paint a large portion of the intelligence picture with minimal risk to men and equipment. What may take a scout team a day to do, may only take three hours for us,” Sgt. Christopher Curley, an Army SUAS master trainer, said in 2018. “The quadcopter is a great tool for quick recon. I relate it to fishing; you cast your reel, check that area and then move on.”
Curley's suite of drones included the longer-range fixed-wing Ravens and Pumas, built to military specifications. Combined, the set of small drones can gather up to 60 percent of intelligence in training exercises. When it came to the quadcopters, Curley's unit relied on off-the-shelf drones.
The Army is already training for a future where military quadcopters are ubiquitous. But to get there, it's had to rely heavily on commercial products.
The phantom of the ops era
“We don't market our products toward military use, nor we do sell direct to commercial or industrial users,” said Michael Oldenburg, a spokesman for DJI North America.
DJI's drones have become ubiquitous in the civilian world and ever-present in military use, both formal and informal, as one of the simplest, cheapest ways to put a camera in the sky. All this even though DJI never intended to be a military contractor, and largely shies away from that role.
Formally Da Jiang Innovations, the China-based firm was founded in 2006 as a company that made components for remote-control hobbyists. The DJI as we know it today starts in 2013, with the release of the ready-to-fly out of the box Phantom quadcopter. In the six years since the Phantom's release, DJI-produced drones have shown up on battlefields in Ukraine and Iraq. None of this was intended; after footage was released of a DJI Mavic releasing bombs in Ukraine, the company said “DJI strongly deplores any attempts to use our drones to cause harm; we build our products for peaceful purposes.”
That DJI looms so large over the military quadcopter market is a second-order effect of the company's market share in the civilian world. A 2018 survey by Skylogic Research (funded, in part, by DJI) estimated that the company owned 74 percent of the hobbyist drone market, a figure that climbed to 86 percent when considering drones that cost $1,000 - $1,999.
How extensively has the Pentagon used these drones?
DJI said it only offers its products through resellers and so doesn't track what gets purchased by who and only learns about any military acquisitions after the fact. But it is possible to infer the extent of DJI drone use by the agencies within the Pentagon that have explicitly banned the company's products.
“We are okay with our products not meeting all of the needs of the DoD,” Oldenburg said.
“They're not MilSpec; they're not designed to be used in the field of war or by any military organization that is conducting sensitive missions. We've never made that claim.”
Robotic boom, robotic bust
To understand how the Pentagon repeatedly found itself buying drones made outside the United States, consider another company: 3DR, a U.S.-based and venture-backed company that started making drone parts, transitioned to a retail quadcopter, and is now a software company for drones.
“In 12 months,” Forbes wrote in 2016, “the company has gone from an industry leading U.S. drone startup to an organization struggling to survive – the result of mismanagement, ill-advised projections and a failed strategy that relied on a doomed flagship drone.”
Still, there was one area where 3DR could reliably claim an advantage over DJI: the fact it was based in the United States.
In August 2018, the Department of the Interior contracted 3DR for a modest purchase of 109 Solo quadcopters. This followed an earlier 2016 contract
for the Solo, but by 2017, with 3DR transitioning from the hardware to the software business, Interior still needed a quadcopter that could meet its specific needs. So, the department turned to the makers of the quadcopters that kept showing up in the military.
“Market research ... indicated the remaining UAS available from U.S.-based companies were up to 10x less capable for the same price, or up to 10x more costly than similarly capable DJI aircraft,” wrote the Department of the Interior in an evaluation of its DJI systems.
In collaboration and consultation with the Interior Department, DJI created a more cyber-minded firmware and software suite for its existing drone hardware, dubbed “Government Edition.” That includes security features like the drone never needing to go online, and being unable to pair with regular, out-of-the-box commercial remotes. Government Edition drones come at a premium, but one of those quadcopters costs less than two retail models.
Interior Department testing of the Government Edition hardware/firmware package, done in conjunction with NASA Kennedy Space Center, found “there was no indication that data was being transmitted outside the system and that they were operating as promised by DJI,” which largely matches the independent cybersecurity assessment DJI commissioned from Kivu Consulting.
While not designed for military use, the Interior Department's evaluation of DJI quadcopters left an opening: the Pentagon could learn to work with the off-the-shelf drones it has, rather than buy the off-the-shelf drones it wants.
Instant eye for the battlefield sky
It is easy to assume the military is limited to hobbyist quadcopters built abroad. That's not the case. Most small uncrewed aerial systems used by the military are fixed-wing drones like the Raven, Dragon Eye and Wasp. Specialized quadcopters — such as the Canada-made Aeryon Scout, a high-end military quadcopter — were supplied to anti-Gaddafi forces in Libya in 2012.
The problem is that the military version of Aeryon Scout is the $100,000 price tag. Commercial quadcopters — such as the DJI Phantom, Parrot drones and even 3DR Solo — were all available at a fraction of the price, and in many cases they were more than adequate to do the job.
Pairing the lower cost in the civilian space with the capability and security expected from a product built to military specifications is tricky, but not impossible.
But it is happening, for example, in Andover, Massachusetts.
InstantEye is a product of Physical Science Inc. Developed with funding from, among other sources, the Army and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the InstantEye Mk-2 GEN3 quadcopters became a program of record for Special Operations Command in 2014.
The InstantEye Mk2 and Mk3 quadcopters look like they could be sold on a shelf alongside hobbyist products, with the soft military gray casing slotting in between the bright whites and matte blacks of consumer models.
Physical Science said the Pentagon has roughly 2,000 InstantEye kits across all combatant commands. (Each kit has two quadcopters, which means that's roughly 4,000 individual drones). These drones have seen action in Syria and the horn of Africa. A heavy-lift model can carry up to a 44-ounce payload, making it an ideal tool for clearing explosive ordnance with explosives of its own. Code in the drone allows it to maintain the same hovering position while releasing the payload, rather than the sudden loss of weight sending it rocketing upwards.
Within the military specification drone market, PSI sees the InstantEye family as a direct competitor with the Black Hornet drone used by the U.S. Army, a sparrow-sized remote-control helicopter that fits into pockets and comes with a hefty price tag. PSI was vague on the cost but said it came in significantly less than the Black Hornet, which costs roughly $60,000 apiece.
PSI officials said the drones are Buy American Act compliant, certified through the Defense Logistics Agency. At present capacity, PSI's Andover production facility makes about 50 two-drone kits a month. With greater demand and staffing, the company estimates it could produce between 80 and 100 such kits per month, if needed.
In 2018, the Army requested roughly 1,700 small drones. Should FY2021 see a similar quantity of drones requested, it's possible that PSI's Andover facility could, with a modest increase in staffing, supply the whole lot.
The Army can presently roll out quadcopters as a specialized piece of kit. But it might not be ready to provide quadcopters to every unit that wants one.
Market forces, forces market
The durability and use of InstantEye shows that the Pentagon can, if so determined, fund a quadcopter company into existence. It means that, in the face of concerns about the cybersecurity of off-the-shelf drones, the Pentagon still largely has access to the simple utility of an easy-to-fly aerial camera.
What remains to be seen is if Pentagon investment can produce a drone made in the United States, priced at a point close to consumer drones and assembled abroad with parts sourced from across the globe.
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord announced in May the launch of the “Trusted Capital Marketplace,” a partnership to facilitate private and public capital going to investment in companies deemed critical to the defense industrial base and national security. At an August briefing, Lord announced that the first project for the marketplace would be the development of a small UAS.
Why start with quadcopters?
“It's because where we are right now in terms of having our entire U.S. marketplace eroded,” said Lord. “Essentially, we don't have much of a small UAS industrial base because DJI dumped so many low-price quadcopters on the markets. And we then
became dependent on them, both from the defense point of view and the commercial point of view, and we know that a lot of the information is sent back to China from those.”
DJI disputes Lord's claims, highlighting the Kivu Consulting cybersecurity audit that found no evidence of data automatically sent back to China, and stating that DJI's “market-leading position in the drone industry” is because it “continued to research, develop and deliver the most capable products to the market.”
Lord gave other reasons for the focus on small drones as the marketplace's first project. One is that small drones are easy for the public to understand. There is also the possibility that, by funding military quadcopter development, the work could rebound into commercial market.
“Plus, if we meet our defense needs, we feel that there are simpler versions that would be very, very attractive for the commercial market, as well,” said Lord. “So, there was a great pathway there for industry.”
Matrice reloaded
Ultimately, the present state of military and domestic quadcopter markets appears guided far more by happenstance than anything else.
DJI, which fell into the off-the-shelf drone market following demand from the hobbyist market, has inadvertently found its products repeatedly sanctioned as inappropriate for roles they were never designed to fill. Companies like 3DR stumbled as much because of errors in execution as stiff competition.
Through it all, the Pentagon has been able to foster and develop its own quadcopters built to military specifications, specifically by contracting for exactly what it needs. It just has yet to capture the same price point as commercial models.
It remains to be seen if new initiatives such as the Trusted Capital Marketplace can balance stated goals of low-cost, military specifications and domestic production. But it is a problem the Army needs to solve. As one product manager for the service told Popular Science earlier this year, “There's no organic quadcopter capability in the Army.”
https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2019/09/17/can-the-army-secure-an-american-made-quadcopter/
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ARMY Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $106,108,230 firm-fixed-price domestic and foreign military sales (Netherlands and United Kingdom) contract for Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor systems, subcomponent production and technical services for the Apache Attack Helicopter. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-17-D-0043). SRCTec LLC, Syracuse, New York, was awarded a $91,400,000 modification (P00013) to contract W15P7T-13-D-C702 for lightweight counter mortar radar systems, vehicle mounts, spare parts, retrofit kits and support services. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 16, 2021. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $47,684,233 modification (P00029) to contract W58RGZ-16-C-0023 for Version 6/Improved Drive System-enhancement cut-in on the Apache Attack Helicopter (AH)-64E production line and for the Apache Longbow Crew Trainers. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2022. Fiscal 2010, 2018 and 2019 foreign military sales, and aircraft procurement, Army funds in the combined amount of $23,365,274 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., was awarded a $21,954,252 modification (P00007) to contract W58RGZ-19-C-0027 for procurement of performance based logistics support services for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System. Work will be performed in Poway, California, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $9,733,334 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Morrish-Wallace Construction Co.,* Cheboygan, Michigan, was awarded an $18,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for complete repairs on the Buffalo North Breakwater. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 26, 2022. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo, New York, is the contracting activity (W912P4-19-D-0002). Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Washington, was awarded a $14,079,784 firm-fixed-price contract for consulting services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of June 27, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $5,866,577 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91RUS-19-F-0235). Ross Island Sand & Gravel Co., Portland, Oregon, was awarded an $8,745,321 firm-fixed-price contract for annual maintenance dredging of the Sacramento and Stockton Deep Water Ship Channels. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Sacramento and Stockton, California, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 15, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, civil funds in the amount of $8,745,321 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco, California, is the contracting activity (W912P7-19-C-0011). AIR FORCE CACI Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, has been awarded a $45,992,341 firm-fixed-price task order (FA7014-19-F-A106) to the previously awarded indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract (47QTCK-18-D-0009) for the Secretary of the Air Force Financial Management Financial Information Systems Maintenance Support Services. This task order provides the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Financial Management Budget Operations and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army Financial Management & Comptroller IT maintenance and support services for their existing financial information systems: the automated schedule and reporting system; the exhibit automation system; the planning, programming, budget and execution portal and the data analysis reporting tool. These services are performance-based, and they provide maintenance via web portals and access via the internet. The tools assist the government by providing a myriad of analytical reports that allow budget analysts to identify program trends and discrepancies for improved program justification of program changes. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia, and is expected to be complete by June 21, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,236,756 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Dell Federal Systems LP., Round Rock, Texas, has been awarded a $35,800,000 firm-fixed-price contract for mobile interceptor platform and deployable interceptor platform. The contract provides for hardware refresh which cyber protection teams use to defend mission partner enclaves and platform information technology from cyber threats. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 28, 2019. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers received. Fiscal 2019 procurement funds in the amount of $20,464,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA8732-14-D-0002/FA8307-19-F-0095). Dataminr Inc., New York, New York, has been awarded a $35,766,667 firm-fixed-price modification (P0001) to previously awarded contract FA7014-19-C-A011 for First Alert proprietary alerting system. Worked will be performed in New York, New York, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 11, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $24,923,077 are being obligated at the time of the award. Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Exbon Development, Garden Grove, California (FA486117-17-D-A100); DSB-RLR JV, American Folk, Utah (FA4861-17-D-A101); North Star Construction, Yuba City, California (FA486117-17-D-A102); North Wind Construction, Las Vegas, Nevada (FA4861-17-D-A103); Kautaq-Northcon Team Tempe, Arizona (FA486117-17-D-A104); Sierra Range Construction of Visalia, California (FA4861-17-D-A105); West Point Contractors Inc., Tucson, Arizona (FA486117-17-D-A107), have been awarded a $30,000,000 ceiling increase modification (P00003) to previously awarded multiple award contract FA4861-17-D-A10X for a broad range of maintenance, repair and minor construction work on real property. This modification will increase the contract value from $40,000,000 to $70,000,000. Work will be performed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, and is expected to be completed by May 2022. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The 99th Contracting Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Fullerton, California, has been awarded a $26,600,000, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm‐fixed-price, cost-plus fixed fee, cost‐reimbursable contract for the Situation Awareness Data Link program. This contract provides software maintenance and engineering services support services. Work will be performed in Fullerton, California, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 21, 2024. This award is the result of a sole‐source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,012,233 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contract activity (FA8574‐19‐D‐0001). Universal Technology Corp., Dayton, Ohio, has been awarded an $11,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for nondestructive evaluation exploratory development and inspection support for Air Force systems. This contract provides for quick reaction response support for failure analysis and materials and processes issues relating to nondestructive inspection in support of the systems support division of the Air Force Research Laboratory's materials and manufacturing directorate. Work will be performed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and Dayton, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Sep. 28, 2024. This contract was a competitive source acquisition, with one offer received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $200,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-D-5625). Barnett Paving & Sealing LLC,* Wichita Falls, Texas, has been awarded a $10,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity task order contract for airfield pavements. This contract provides for the repair and sustainment of the airfield pavements along with restriping and rubber removal. Work will be performed at Little Rock Air Force Base, and is expected to be completed by June 2024. This award is the result of a competitive, hub zone small business acquisition and two offers were received. No funds are being obligated at the time of award, however, fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $164,659 will be obligated on the first task order immediately after award. The 19th Contracting Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, is the contracting activity (FA4460-19-D-A003). Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, California, has been awarded a $7,085,068 cost reimbursement contract modification (P00153) to previously awarded contract (FA8810-08-C-0002) for Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) Operational Migration to Enterprise Ground Services (EGS) Step 1 development and test campaign support. The contract modification is for Lockheed Martin system engineering integration test support for our HOME RS test campaign, as well as anomaly response matrix validation, flight software validation, synchronized pre-deployment and operational tracker support, and a few minor HOME development efforts. Work will be performed at Aurora, Colorado; Azusa, California; Boulder, Colorado; and Sunnyvale, California, and is expected to be completed by March 6, 2020. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $7,085,068 are being obligated at the time of award. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, California is the contracting activity. NAVY Diversified Maintenance Systems Inc.,* Sandy, Utah, is awarded a maximum amount $40,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract for other specialty trade contractors construction alterations, renovations and repair projects at Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, and Naval Air Station Lemoore. Projects will be primarily design-bid-build (fully designed) task orders or task order with minimal design effort (e.g. shop drawings). Projects may include, but are not limited to, alterations, repairs and construction of electrical; mechanical; painting; engineering/design; paving (asphaltic and concrete); flooring (tile work/carpeting); roofing; structural repair; fencing; heating, ventilation and air conditioning and fire suppression/protection system installation projects. Work will be performed in Monterey, California (33%), China Lake, California (34%), and Lemoore, California (33%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of June 2024. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy) funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-D-2629). Advanced Crane Technologies LLC,* Reading, Pennsylvania (N62470-19-D-1006); Crane Technologies Group Inc.,* Rochester Hills, Michigan (N62470-19-D-1007); HECO-Pacific Manufacturing Inc.,* Union City, California (N62470-19-D-1008); Mid-Atlantic Crane,* Raleigh, North Carolina (N62470-19-D-1009); Piedmont Hoist and Crane Inc.,* Colfax, North Carolina (N62470-19-D-1010); and Sievert Crane and Hoist,* Forest Park, Illinois (N62470-19-D-1011) are each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for ordering new, and overhauling existing, weight handling equipment located primarily within Navy, Marine Corps and other federal activities worldwide. The maximum dollar value including the base period and four option years for all six contracts combined is $30,000,000. Piedmont Hoist and Crane Inc. is being awarded the initial delivery order at $241,700 for the design, fabrication, assembly, testing, delivery, installation and inspection of one two-ton, under-running, underhung, single girder electric traveling crane and one half-ton monorail trolley and hoist to be installed in Building 124 at Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, in Lakehurst, New Jersey. Work for this delivery order is expected to be completed by December 2020. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of June 2024. Fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds in the amount of $241,700 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future delivery orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy), operation and maintenance (Navy) and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with six proposals received. These six contractors may compete for delivery orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. McNally Industries LLC, Grantsburg, Wisconsin, is awarded a maximum value $21,246,166 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N00174-19-F-0373 under previously-awarded basic ordering agreement N00024-17-G-5385 to overhaul Mk 6 Mod 19 ammunition hoist assemblies. This basic ordering agreement is to provide materials and services required to receive, inventory, stage, disassemble, inspect, convert, repair, overhaul, upgrade, manufacture, procure, assemble, test, preserve, package and ship Mk 6 Mod 19 ammunition hoist assemblies. Work will be performed in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, and is expected to be completed by May 2022. Fiscal 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $7,843,136 will be obligated at time of award, and $980,392 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity. POWER Engineers Inc., Hailey, Idaho, is awarded an $18,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N62742-16-D-0002) for architect-engineering services for various electrical engineering projects and related services at various locations in all areas under the cognizance of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $38,000,000. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Pacific area of operations including, but not limited to Guam (70%), Hawaii (25%) and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (5%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of November 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (planning and design). Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is awarded $16,132,820 for job order 0012 under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00164-17-G-JQ02 for seven Multi-spectral Targeting Systems “B” AN/DAS-3. The Multi-spectral Targeting Systems “B” AN/DAS-3 are in support of the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP 3 and 4) efforts of the MQ-4C Triton Program. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be complete by July 2021. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $16,132,820 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity. Didlake Inc., Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $10,384,079 modification under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N40085-15-D-0083) to exercise option four for annual custodial services at Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek – Fort Story. The work to be performed provides for annual custodial services, including, but not limited to, all management, supervision, tools, materials, supplies, labor and transportation services necessary to perform custodial services for office space, restrooms and other types of rooms at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek – Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Virginia. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $53,428,936. Work will be performed at various installations in Virginia Beach, Virginia (77%) and Portsmouth, Virginia (23%), and work is expected to be completed June 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $10,250,107 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the option period. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded $7,823,461 for modification 11 to a firm-fixed-price delivery order 5306 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0004). This modification procures 36 Nacelles Production Kits in support of the H-53 aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in December 2020. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,823,461 will be obligated at time of award, $1,738,547 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY World Fuel Services Inc., Miami, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $9,289,995 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with 148 responses received. This is a 45-month contract with one six-month option period. Location of performance is Florida, with a March 31, 2023, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE607-19-D-0092). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1890122/source/GovDelivery/