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  July 9, 2020 | International, Aerospace

  US Air Force ready to test tech for new battle management system

  Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — The Air Force is ramping up its efforts to test and field a suite of new hardware and software that will become the military's command and control backbone. Since February, the Air Force has published three separate broad area announcements seeking technologies that could be funneled inside the Advanced Battle Management System, the service's effort to seamlessly connect all of the Department of Defense's equipment and pool together its data to form a complete picture of the battlespace. Then, in May and July, it awarded the first two mega-batches of ABMS contracts, with 46 companies in total winning $1000 and a chance to compete for more money down the road. “We want a wide variety of companies, and we definitely want fresh blood in the ABMS competition,” Will Roper, the Air Force's acquisition executive, told reporters on May 14. “There is a lot that can be contributed from companies that are commercially focused, that know a lot about data, that know a lot about machine learning and AI and know a lot about analytics. Those are going to be the most important parts of the Advanced Battle Management System.” ABMS is the Air Force's piece of the military's fledgling Joint All Domain Command and Control concept. The vision involves networking every shooter and sensor to a cloud computing environment and using artificial intelligence to ensure that relevant information is immediately sent to whichever platform needs it. In practice, that could look like compiling data from a Global Hawk drone and a naval destroyer to help cue a fighter jet to lock its missile on a nearby target. While the Air Force has some big picture ideas of the products that will comprise ABMS — such as cloud computing tools, machine learning technologies and apps — it hasn't set firm requirements or laid out exactly what products it needs to build out the system. Through the BAAs, the government plans on bringing in companies using different styles of contracts and agreements, which Roper said will allow startups, commercial tech firms and other nontraditional players to “find their fit with this mission.” Those companies will then bring their products and technologies for week-long field tests, held three times a year. The next phase of experiments is planned to start on Aug. 31. While the service had already performed one experiment with technologies that could become part of ABMS and had put several dozen companies on contract prior to May, the Air Force sees the broad area announcements as vehicles to capture a wider array of technology firms that may not already do business with the government, Roper said. Each BAA has multiple rolling deadlines, with the Air Force hoping to award contracts anywhere from four to six weeks after a company submits a proposal. The first announcement seeks out proposals for traditional indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts. The second solicits ideas and technologies through a two-step process, where industry would submit information about the concept before being invited to submit a formal proposal, which the service says will allow participation from contractors “who are unsure about how they want to proceed but want to share their idea.” The third announcement invites companies with existing products to join ongoing ABMS technology demonstrations — at no cost to the government — through cooperative research and development agreements. The service also held a series of industry days, starting May 13, to help answer questions about the effort, especially from businesses that don't usually work with the Defense Department. “We had over a hundred companies just in the first day, and we are expecting more than 300 before the end of this first event,” Roper said. “Three hundred companies for the first industry day ... is a good start. That's certainly broader than the number of defense primes that we have or even the major suppliers.” Each of the announcements specify seven broad areas where the service is seeking new technologies or ideas: Digital architecture, standards and concepts: The Air Force is looking for digital modeling and simulation technologies, trade studies and other standards development tools and processes that it can use to map out the entire ABMS architecture virtually and test how it would work in practice. Sensor integration: In essence, the service wants any hardware or software that will allow different equipment to share data. “A key interest of ABMS is the compatibility and interoperability capabilities through the use of open interfaces to enable improved control of systems and the processing of their data,” the service said in the BAA. Data: The Air Force is also interested in “cloud-based data repositories” that could pass information across domains to the different services. These libraries of data points will be “meta tagged,” analyzed and then fused using AI algorithms to help inform military decision makers. Secure processing: The service needs technologies that will be able to move the appropriate data across technologies with different security levels, ensuring that classified information stays protected while sharing what is feasible. It also includes deployment, training and support services for all devices and processing environments. Connectivity: These tools include line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight communications networks, as well as technologies that can turn a platform into a data node, reduce latency, provide improved anti-jamming capabilities or other functions that improve the speed and breadth of communications gear. Applications: iPhone analogies have become Defense Department clichés at this point, but the Air Force is hoping to commission the design and development of apps to process, fuse and help present data to different audiences across domains. Effects integration: These involve networked weapons that can be integrated with existing platforms for a greater combined effect. “This includes, but is not limited to smart munitions and low-cost autonomous platforms” that can carry out functions such as data relay. The Air Force is slated to spend $300 million on the Advanced Battle Management System through fiscal year 2021, according to the Government Accountability Office, which has also warned that the nontraditional structure of the program could put it “at greater risk for schedule delays, cost growth, and integration issues.” Preston Dunlap, the Air Force's chief architect charged with overseeing the ABMS effort, said the the price of technologies will undeniably be an important criteria, and the service will try to reduce costs by using affordable and readily available commercial products whenever possible. “That's one of the core principles that we have to manage costs,” he said during a May 7 event hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. “We're able to take advantage of the commercial pressures and marketplace to keep the costs down. That's different. Normally it's flipped. If we're the primary customer here, we've got to be very concerned about cost growth associated with that. Right now, in some sense, we're the small buyer.” While the Air Force will better be able estimate the total cost of ABMS as experiments go on, the current focus of the effort is figuring out how to inject innovative commercial tech into the military system as quickly as it becomes available, Dunlap said. “I'm less worried at the moment about some of those cost issues because if we're in that cycle we're probably not doing it right,” he said. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/c2-comms/2020/07/08/us-air-force-ready-to-test-tech-for-new-battle-management-system/

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  May 2, 2024 | International, Security

  Popular Android Apps Like Xiaomi, WPS Office Vulnerable to File Overwrite Flaw

  Popular apps like Xiaomi File Manager and WPS Office are vulnerable to a path traversal flaw that could let hackers overwrite files and execute malici

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  April 2, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - April 1, 2019

  MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Lockheed Martin Corp. Missiles and Fire Control, Dallas, Texas, is being awarded a $2,457,390,566 modification (P00015) to a previously-awarded contract HQ0147-17-C-0032 for the production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors and associated one-shot devices to support the U.S. government (USG) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case requirements. The THAAD interceptors and associated one-shot devices will be procured under fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract line items. The value of this contract is increased from $1,431,251,585 to $3,888,642,151. One offer was solicited with one offer received. The work will be performed in Dallas, Texas; Sunnyvale, California; Huntsville, Alabama; Camden, Arkansas; and Troy, Alabama, with an expected completion date of April 1, 2026. Fiscal 2019 USG procurement funds in the amount of $922,729,226; and KSA FMS funds in the amount of $1,534,661,340 are being obligated at time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., Boeing Defense Space and Security, St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $250,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Joint Direct Attack Munition/Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM/LJDAM) technical services, aircraft integration, and sustainment. This contract provides for JDAM/LJDAM-specific activities including, but not limited to, technical services, aircraft integration, and sustainment. Work will be performed in St. Louis, and is expected to be complete by March 2029. This contract involves sales to the U.S. government (52 percent); and foreign military sales (48 percent) to various countries. Fiscal 2019 (Air Force and Navy) procurement and ammunition funds in the amount of $12,829,441 are being obligated on the first task order at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8681-19-D-0005). Peerless Technologies Corp., Fairborn, Ohio, has been awarded for $47,241,075 for advisory and assistance services to support the Air Force Civil Engineering Center energy directorate. This contract provides for support of current Air Force energy policy execution, development of new plans and procedures, and implementation of future centralized energy program management endeavors. Work will be performed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and is expected to be complete by April 10, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and four offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,328,435 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA8903-19-F-0126). NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $151,287,000 fixed-price-incentive-firm modification (P00016) to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-17-C-0001). This modification provides for the procurement of long-lead items for the manufacture and delivery of 21 F-35 Lightning II Lot 14 low-rate initial production aircraft for the governments of Australia (15) and Norway (6). Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30 percent); El Segundo, California (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Florida (10 percent); Nashua, New Hampshire (5 percent); Nagoya, Japan (5 percent); and Baltimore, Maryland (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in Dec 2022. International partner funds in the amount of $151,287,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchase for the governments of Australia ($108,170,000; 71 percent); and Norway ($43,117,000; 29 percent) under a cooperative agreement. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Moog Inc., Elma, New York, is awarded an $84,801,681 firm-fixed-price, long-term contract for repair of three items used on the V-22 aircraft. The contract will include a three-year base period with no option periods. Work will be performed in Elma, New York (85 percent); and Cherry Point, North Carolina (15 percent). Work is expected to be completed by March 2022. Annual 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-sourced requirement 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-P901). MLT Systems LLC,* Stafford, Virginia, is being awarded a $44,822,205 firm-fixed-price task order (M67854-19-F-3000) under previously awarded contract N00178-10-D-6179 for Program Manager Advanced Amphibious Assault support services for business, acquisition, logistics, engineering, and test and evaluation (T&E) related activities to include acquisition policy and program documentation development; program analysis; logistics management support to include government furnished property maintenance; financial management; engineering; and T&E support. Work will be performed in Stafford, Virginia (74 percent); Camp Pendleton, California (18 percent); Aberdeen, Maryland (5 percent); and Albany, Georgia (3 percent); and is expected to be completed by April 23, 2023. Fiscal 2019 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $8,297,486; and fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $2,067,314 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The base contract was competitively procured via SeaPort, Zone 2 – National Capital Region, with four offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-19-F-3000). Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was awarded a $27,333,806 fixed-price indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of up to 62 430 Aircraft Direction Finders; 123 4230 Radio Tuner Panels; and 123 High Frequency 121 Radios in support of Lots 9, 10, and 11 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. These are in support of the Navy and the governments of Australia, the United Kingdom, Norway, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea. In addition, this contract provides for technical and engineering support, repair of repairables, and technical data. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (95 percent); and Thiais Cedex, France (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy); and foreign military sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $6,012,416 will be obligated at time of award, none 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 (N68335-19-D-0007). (Awarded March 29, 2019) Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, is awarded $17,976,489 for cost-plus-fixed-fee level-of-effort completion modification P00001 to a previously awarded contract (N00030-18-C-0023) to provide the United Kingdom (UK) with engineering and technical support services and deliverable materials for the Trident II Fleet Ballistic Missile System. This contract provides for support for technical planning, direction, coordination, and control to ensure that UK Fleet Ballistic Missile Program requirements are identified and integrated to support planned milestone schedules and emergent requirements. Re-entry Systems UK resident technical support, operational support hardware, and consumable spares are also provided for. Work will be performed in Cape Canaveral, Florida (39.41 percent); Sunnyvale, California (37.62 percent); Titusville, Florida (9.54 percent); Coulport, Scotland (5.70 percent); St. Mary's, Georgia (2.17 percent); Silverdale, Washington (2.11 percent); and various places below one percent (3.45 percent), with an expected level-of-effort completion date of March 31, 2020, and a deliverable items completion date of June 30, 2021. UK Funds in the amount of $17,976,489 will be obligated on this award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was awarded on a sole source basis, pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(4), and was previously synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Baltimore, Maryland, is being awarded a $13,429,873 firm fixed-price contract modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-18-C-4208) to exercise options to procure Machinery Control System (MCS) consoles and cabinets for the DDG 51 new construction ship program and DDG 51 midlife modernization program and associated land based engineering sites. The DDG 51 Class MCS provides control and monitoring capability of the ship's auxiliary, damage control, electrical, and propulsion systems. As part of its electrical capability, the MCS interfaces with the ship's power generation and electrical distribution system. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (90 percent); and Baltimore, Maryland (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2021. Fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) in the amount of $13,429,873 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is being awarded a $12,872,342 modification (P00012) to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive contract (N00019-17-C-0018). This modification upgrades three MQ-4C Triton aircraft from a baseline Integrated Functional Capability (IFC) 3 software configuration to a Multi-IFC 4 software configuration. Additionally, this modification updates drawings and associated technical data in support of the MQ-4C IFC software configuration upgrade. Work will be performed in Palmdale, California (48 percent); San Diego, California (38 percent); and Moss Point, California (14 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $12,872,342 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. SJC-BVIL,* Montrose Colorado, was awarded an $11,487,876 firm-fixed-price task order under a previously awarded design-build indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity unrestricted multiple awarded construction contract (N40084-19-F-4319) for commercial and institutional building construction contract to repair receiver site building Facility 201 at U.S. Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. The work to be performed provides replacement of engine generators of North Power Plant 730. The work includes architectural, civil/structural, electrical, mechanical and fire protection. The work will be performed in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, and is expected to be completed by April 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $11,487,876 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Far East, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, is the contracting activity. (Awarded March 31, 2019) T3W Business Solutions Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded a $9,629,274 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee multiple award contract for professional and administrative support services to support Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) corporate operations. Support includes total force manpower management; material control; travel services; facilities operations; data management and visualization; and general administrative support. This is one of three multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes two, two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $30,132,338. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work for the base period is expected to be completed March 31, 2021. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through March 31, 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using working capital funds (Navy) and operations and maintenance (Navy) funds. This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-18-R-0177 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Nineteen offers were received and three were selected for award. NIWC Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3420). Thor Solutions LLC,* Arlington, Virginia, is awarded a $9,482,581 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple award contract for professional and administrative support services to support Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) corporate operations. Support includes total force manpower management; material control; travel services; facilities operations; data management and visualization; and general administrative support. This is one of three multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes two, two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $28,719,124. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work for the base period is expected to be completed March 31, 2021. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through March 31, 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using working capital funds (Navy); and operations and maintenance (Navy) funds. This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-18-R-0177 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Nineteen offers were received and three were selected for award. NIWC Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3421). Kros-Wise Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded a $9,382,074 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee multiple award contract for professional and administrative support services to support Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) corporate operations. Support includes total force manpower management; material control; travel services; facilities operations; data management and visualization; and general administrative support. This is one of three multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes two, two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $28,378,360. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work for the base period is expected to be completed March 31, 2021. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through March 31, 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using working capital funds (Navy) and operations and maintenance (Navy) funds. This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-18-R-0177 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Nineteen offers were received and three were selected for award. NIWC Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3419). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is being awarded a $7,241,880 advance acquisition contract modification (P00002) to a previously awarded cost-reimbursable contract (N00019-18-C-1028). This modification extends the period of performance and provides additional funding to procure long lead components, material, parts and associated efforts required to maintain the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System planned low rate initial production, lot 4 production schedule. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (25.3 percent); Baltimore, Maryland (22.7 percent); Salt Lake City, Utah (20.2 percent); Bridgeport, West Virginia (8.2 percent); Red Oak, Texas (4.7 percent); Vandalia, Ohio (.2 percent); various locations within the continental U.S. (15.1 percent); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (3.6 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2019. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,241,880 will be obligated at time of award, none 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 American Water Operations and Maintenance LLC, Voorhees, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $49,144,712 modification (P00145) to a 50-year contract (SP0600-08-C-8257) with no option periods for the ownership, operation and maintenance of the water and wastewater utility systems at Fort Polk, Louisiana. This is a fixed-price prospective redetermination contract. Locations of performance are Louisiana and New Jersey, with a Jan. 31, 2059, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2017 through 2059 Army operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Polk, Louisiana. ARMY Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, Missouri, was awarded a $48,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineering services. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-19-D-4007). Korean Airlines Co. Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea, was awarded a $9,446,385 modification (P00003) to contract W91QVN-17-D-0003 for depot level helicopter maintenance. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2020. 411th Combat Support Brigade, Seoul, South Korea, is the contracting activity. World Wide Technology, St. Louis, Missouri, was awarded a $7,883,995 firm-fixed-price contract for information technology hardware. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, with an estimated completion date of May 3, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $2,739,383 were obligated at the time of the award. 409th Combat Support Brigade, Wiesbaden, Germany, is the contracting activity (W912CM-19-F-0013). CDW Government LLC, Vernon Hills, Illinois, was awarded a $7,701,689 firm-fixed-price contract for hardware supply, specialty notebooks, standard desktop, performance desktop, Standard Micro Form Factor, Performance Micro Form Factor, rugged tablets and monitors. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Bruchmuehlbach-Miesau, Germany, with an estimated completion date of May 6, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,701,689 were obligated at the time of the award. 409th Combat Support Brigade, Wiesbaden, Germany, is the contracting activity (W912CM-19-F-0018). Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, was awarded a $7,383,058 firm-fixed-price contract for logistics maintenance capability, repair parts, replenishment material, configuration management, product assurance support, special engineering studies, system engineering, failure analysis, test and evaluation, equipment publications, obsolescence redesigns, test evaluation material for repairs, field service representative technical assistance, and contractor repair in support of the Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wireless-guided Improved Target Acquisition System. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2022. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,383,058 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-C-0069). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1802502/