Drone maker to pay $25M over military gear parts

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  May 23, 2019 | International, C4ISR, Security

  Cyber innovation at the forefront of UK’s approach to modern warfare

  Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt has announced £22 million in funding for Army cyber operations centres Speaking this evening at the NATO Cyber Defence Pledge Conference in London, Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt will address the need for the UK and NATO members to recognise offensive cyber as central to modern warfare. As the UK has already demonstrated against Daesh in the Middle East, it can be a vital tool to keep people in the UK and overseas safe from virtual and physical threats. The military continues to develop its cyber capabilities as part of the £1.9 billion investment into the National Cyber Security Strategy, focused on boosting the UK's cyber security. Recent UK innovations have included the creation of the National Cyber Security Centre which brings together government, intelligence agencies and the private sector into one organisation. The state-of-the-art Defence Cyber School, which marked its first anniversary in March this year, is also training the next generation of cyber experts. The Defence Secretary will today expand that commitment, announcing £22 million in funding to stand up new Army cyber operations centres across the UK. Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt will say: We know all about the dangers. Whether the attacks come from Russia, China or North Korea. Whether they come from hacktivists, criminals or extremists. Whether its malware or fake news. Cyber can bring down our national infrastructure and undermine our democracy. It's time to pay more than lip service to cyber. We must convince our adversaries their advances simply aren't worth the cost. Cyber enemies think they can act with impunity. We must show them they can't. That we are ready to respond at a time and place of our choosing in any domain, not just the virtual world. We need coherent cyber offense as well as defence. So today I can announce we will be investing £22m to create new cyber operations centres. Putting the Army at the forefront of information warfare, the centres will draw together cyber capability from a range of sources – including both national intelligence and open source data – to give the Army the competitive edge across all environments. The cyber centres will provide the Army with 24/7 information and analysis, dispel misinformation and give the UK Armed Forces and our allies the upper hand on emerging digital threats. The centres are likely to be used to support overseas operations, humanitarian missions, and efforts to protect UK digital communications on home soil. The centres will work with existing Army capabilities, such as 77 Brigade – a modern and information-focused British Army unit – but will also have regular contact with joint and other national security organisations. Major General Tom Copinger-Symes, General Officer Commanding Force Troops Command: These new cyber centres will allow the Army and Defence to transform the way we use data, at speed, so that we can compete with our adversaries in a way fit for the 21st Century. Combining artificial intelligence with our military analysts will help us better understand threats and exploit opportunities, in turn enabling us to get the truth out much more rapidly, quashing the noise of disinformation from our enemies. While details on locations are yet to be confirmed, building in support of the centres is due to begin next year, with operations expected to commence in the early 2020s. The MOD is embracing transformation at an ever-faster rate and investments in truly high-tech innovation, such as in the provision of cutting-edge cyber centres, that will develop the Armed Forces of the future. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cyber-innovation-at-the-forefront-of-uks-approach-to-modern-warfare

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  October 7, 2019 | International, Land

  Lynx 41 disqualified from Bradley replacement competition

  By: Jen Judson WASHINGTON — The Army has disqualified Raytheon and Rheinmetall's bid for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle prototype competition, Defense News has learned. The OMFV is meant to replace the service's Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The Army's plan was to take the bid samples submitted this week, evaluate them over a period of time and then choose two companies to deliver 14 prototypes each and then would pick a single winner after further evaluation. The Army's goal was to begin replacing Bradleys in 2026. The Army would not comment on the disqualification and said in a statement sent to Defense News that the solicitation for the OMFV prototyping effort closed on Oct. 1 and “we are now in the competition sensitive Source Selection Evaluation process.” The service noted in the statement that it “remains committed to rapidly execute the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle program,” its number two modernization priority. But multiple sources have confirmed that the bid — Rheinmetall's Lynx 41 Infantry Fighting Vehicle — was disqualified and the bid sample, the only one in existence, remains in Germany at the company's facility in Unterluss. The Army required the competitors to deliver a single bid sample — a full-up working vehicle — to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, by Oct. 1. The Lynx has left the Rheinmetall compound several times before, notably to travel to be unveiled in Paris at Eurosatory in June 2018 and again at the Association of the U.S. Army's annual conference last fall. Raytheon and the Rheinmetall announced at AUSA that they would partner on the OMFV program and submit Lynx as its offering. The disqualification of the team means that General Dynamics Land Systems' offering is the only vehicle remaining in the competition. According to sources, no other company submitted. Hanwha, a South Korean defense company, was interested in competing but chose not to participate, multiple sources claim. Industry sources have said that several companies who wanted to compete or submitted bids had asked for extensions, roughly 90 days in the case of Rheinmetall, to meet requirements. According to multiple sources, potential bidders expressed concern to the service that meeting the requirements, the timeline and a combination of the two wasn't possible. What snarled Rheinmetall, for instance, according to sources, was the timeline it needed to get approvals from the local municipal government to transport the vehicle by tractor trailer or rail and then via air. Sources said that the company had requested a four-week extension to deliver the vehicle to Aberdeen and also offered to hand over the vehicle to the Army under lock and bond in Germany by the Oct. 1 deadline and both were denied. But a larger issue, multiple sources conveyed, was the clear differences between what the Army acquisition community and what Army Futures Command wanted to do. Sources confirmed that the acquisition side of the house was willing to agree to extensions, for instance, but AFC, who is in charge of rapid requirements development and prototyping efforts ahead of programs of record, insisted the Army must adhere to the schedule. Industry also expressed concern to the Army over the roughly 100 mandatory requirements, with just six tradeable ones, expected to be met over 15 months using non-developmental vehicles. Brig. Gen. Ross Coffman, who is in charge of Next-Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) modernization efforts, said at the Defense News Conference in September that he was confident the requirements set for OMFV are appropriate and had no plans to change them. Presently, the OMFV competition is on hold due to a congressionally mandated continuing resolution that prevents the effort from kicking off. The Army had planned to begin the $378 million program in the first quarter after taking receipt of the bid samples at the start of the new fiscal year. As the Army enters its competition to build prototypes to replace the Bradley, Australia is running a similar effort and recently downselected to two competitors: Rheinmetall's Lynx and an offering from Hanwha. GDLS was competing but did not make the final cut. Australia laid out just five mandatory requirements for its competition. GDLS has not yet detailed its offering for OMFV but said it was “purpose built” for the U.S. Army. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/10/04/lynx-41-disqualified-from-bradley-replacement-competition/

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  August 27, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 27, 2020

  ARMY Avon Protection Systems Inc., Cadillac, Michigan (W911SR-20-D-0001); and Canadian Commercial Corp., Ottawa, Canada (W911SR-20-D-0002), will compete for each order of the $127,200,000 firm-fixed-price contract to qualify and procure M61 canisters for the Joint Service General Purpose Mask. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 26, 2027. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Vectrus Systems Corp., Colorado Springs, Colorado, was awarded an $116,821,426 modification (P00064) to contract W91RUS-13-C-0006 for continued support of critical operation, maintenance and defense of Army communications, which supports the Army Operational Base Communications Information Systems and infrastructure in support of U.S. Central Command forces. Work will be performed in APO Kuwait, APO United Arab Emirates, APO Afghanistan, APO Jordan, APO Bahrain, APO Iraq and APO Qatar, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $73,992,653 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Bowhead Mission Solutions LLC,* Springfield, Virginia, was awarded a $115,752,117 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for system engineering and technical assistance support for the Center of Excellence, Space and Missile Defense School. 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 Aug. 8, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91260-20-F-5002). Aptim Aecom Decommissioning, Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded a $42,861,305 hybrid (cost-plus-incentive-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for decommissioning and disposal activities for the Stationary Medium Power Plant Number 1 Reactor Facility in Fort Belvoir. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 1, 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $42,861,305 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-20-C-0031). Affolter Contracting Co. Inc.,* La Marque, Texas, was awarded a $12,364,000 firm-fixed-price contract furnishing all plant, labor, materials and equipment, and constructing the Upper Yazoo Projects in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Greenwood, Mississippi, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2024. Fiscal 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $12,364,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Mississippi, is the contracting activity (W912EE-20-C-0006). AIR FORCE Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a $93,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This requirement is for a follow-on to continue performance of highly specialized technical services in support of product data systems, data management, migration processes and transformation initiatives. Work will be performed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and is expected to completed May 9, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. The first order obligates fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance; and working capital funds in the amount of $19,847,079. Air Force Sustainment Center, Robins AFB, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8571-20-D-0006). Olgoonik Enterprises LLC, St. Robert, Missouri, has been awarded a $75,000,000 firm-fixed-price, single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Fort Riley, Kansas; and McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Sunflower Simplified Acquisition Base Engineering Requirements (SABER) to maintain facilities and infrastructure at both bases. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and seven offers were received. Task orders will be funded either by Army or Air Force operations and maintenance (O&M) funds. The initial task order for this contract was funded by Army O&M funds in the amount of $334,749. Work will be performed at Fort Riley, Kansas; and McConnell AFB, Kansas, and is expected to be completed Sept. 25, 2025. The 22nd Contracting Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kansas, is the contracting activity (FA4621-20-D-0002). NAVY Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $58,905,547 modification (P00004) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-19-C-0051. This modification provides for the development of Adaptive Radar Countermeasure (ARC) Software/Firmware (SW/FW) capabilities and integration of ARC SW/FW on the AN/ALQ-214A electronic countermeasure host. ARC SW/FW supplements F/A-18C-F survivability in the presence of radio frequency guided surface-to-air and air-to-air weapons systems. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia (50%); Clifton, New Jersey (25%); Goleta, California (10%); St. Louis, Missouri (10%); Raleigh, North Carolina (3%); and Huntsville, Alabama (2%), and is expected to be completed in February 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,894,969 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. DZSP 21 LLC, Marlton, New Jersey, is awarded a $50,794,396 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract with one three-month base period and one three-month option period for base operating support (BOS) services at Joint Region Marianas. Work will be performed at various locations on the island of Guam, and is expected to be completed by February 2021. The work will provide facility and BOS for the following services: management and administration, port operations, material management, facility management, sustainment, restoration and modernization, electrical, wastewater, steam, hot water and demineralized water, potable water, transportation and environmental. Fiscal 2020 working capital funds (Defense); fiscal 2020 transportation Air Force working capital funds; fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy, Air Force and Defense); fiscal 2020 family housing operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps, Army, Army National Guard and Air National Guard); fiscal 2020 health program funds (Defense); fiscal 2020 General Fund; and fiscal 2020 Defense Commissary Agency contract funds in the amount of $23,319,610 are obligated on this award, and all will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was issued as a sole-source procurement under the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-20-C-3603). Nexagen Networks Inc.,* Morganville, New Jersey, is awarded a $45,970,509 single-award, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide subject matter expertise in the areas of program management; development management; operation support; systems engineering support; systems administration; information assurance; network security; configuration management; service desk support; web application development and technical writing in support of the management and operation of the coalition and allied programs and the Naval Tool for Interoperability and Risk Assessment under Naval Information Forces. The contract will include a five-year base ordering period with an additional six-month ordering period option pursuant of Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-8 – option to extend services, which if exercised, will bring the total value to $49,700,700. The base ordering period is expected to be completed by September 2025; if the option is exercised, the ordering period will be completed by March 2026. Work will be performed in Suffolk, Virginia (60%); Norfolk, Virginia (20%); Honolulu, Hawaii (15%); and various continental U.S. locations (5%). Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (OMN) funds in the amount of $10,000 will be obligated to fund the contract's minimum amount and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Annual OMN funds will be obligated as individual task orders are issued. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set-aside pursuant to the authority set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation 16.504 and solicited through Navy Electronic Commerce Online and the Federal Business Opportunities websites, with four offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00189-20-D-0027). Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Owego, New York, is awarded a $35,317,218 cost-plus-incentive-fee order (N00019-20-F-0358) against basic ordering agreement N000019-19-G-0029. This order procures labor and hardware for the development of preliminary software for Phase 2 Network Enabled Weapons (NEW) capabilities. Specifically, this order provides software coding, testing and integration of NEW into a software development branch of the MH-60R/S software configuration with a merge into MH-60R/S fleet release baseline after the capability has established maturity. Work will be performed in Owego, New York, and is expected to be completed in August 2023. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,761,000 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. RQ Construction LLC, Carlsbad, California, is awarded a $33,146,000 firm-fixed-price task order (N62473-20-F-5288) under a multiple award construction contract for the design and construction of a new child development center (CDC) complex at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar. The task order also contains one planned modification, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $33,327,250. The work to be performed provides for two single story CDC facilities for infants, pre-toddlers, toddlers and pre-school aged children of military and authorized civilian personnel at MCAS Miramar. Combined total square footage for the two facilities shall not exceed 62,000 square feet. The CDC will provide adequate space for children between six weeks and five years of age. These two CDC facilities combined will provide an essential facility offering military personnel and authorized civilians and their families with full time, quality childcare and development for about 462 children. The new facilities will be single story reinforced concrete masonry unit, reinforced concrete foundation, slab on grade and composite steel deck, standing seam metal roof over metal deck and steel framing. Functional programmed spaces will include entrance vestibule, lobby, reception/sign-in, administration offices and work areas individual child activity rooms appropriately designed and sized for each children's age group, training room, staff break room, lactation room, central storage, restrooms for staff and public use, kitchen, laundry room, janitor's room, mechanical, electrical and telecommunication support spaces. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by September 2022. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $33,146,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-18-D-5851). Mechanical Engineers of Hawaii Corp.,* Honolulu, Hawaii, is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $15,000,000 for design and engineering services for mechanical engineering projects and related projects at various locations in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii area of operations (AO). The work to be performed provides for request for proposal (RFP) documentation for design-bid-build (DBB) mechanical engineering projects with associated multi-discipline architect-engineering support services for new construction, alteration, repair and installation of mechanical systems and associated facilities. Other design and engineering services may include, but not limited to, design-build RFP documentation, engineering investigations/concept studies, functional analysis concept development/charrettes and post construction award services. Initial task order is being awarded at $281,952 for a DBB construction package, consisting of full plans, specifications, detailed cost estimate and other services to repair the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Telephone Exchange Building at Marine Corps Base Camp Smith. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by May 2022. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Hawaii AO. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of August 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (O&M,N) contract funds in the amount of $281,952 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; O&M (Marine Corps); and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with five proposals received. NAVFAC Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62478-20-D-5034). Kellogg Brown and Root Services Inc., Houston, Texas, is awarded a $9,885,076 combination firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) modification for the exercise of Bridge Option Three under an IDIQ contract for base operating support services at Isa Air Base. After award of this bridge option, the total cumulative contract value will be $191,719,675. The work to be performed provides for but is not limited to, all management, supervision, tools, materials, supplies, labor and transportation services necessary to perform galley services, bachelor quarters and laundry services, facility management, emergency service requests, urgent service, routing service, minor work, facilities investment, custodial, pest control service, integrated solid waste, grounds maintenance, wastewater, operate reverse osmosis water treatment system and base support vehicles, environmental, fire emergency services and explosive safety officer services at Isa Air Base, Bahrain. Work will be performed in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This option period is from September 2020 to November 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Fiscal 2020 and 2021 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $9,885,076 for recurring and non-recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the option period. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Europe, Africa, Central, is the contracting activity (N62470-14-D-6012). Raytheon Co., Space and Airborne Systems, El Segundo, California, is awarded an $8,357,826 modification (P00079) to previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract N00019-16-C-0002. This modification provides additional contractor logistics support maintainers for pre-operational support to facilitate logistics and maintenance activities in support of the Next Generation Jammer engineering and manufacturing development and test and evaluation activities. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (49%); Point Mugu, California (38%); and Crane, Indiana (13%), and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,357,826 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 Seiler Instrument and Manufacturing Co., Inc.,* St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a maximum $8,972,159 firm-fixed-price, requirements contract for production of the panoramic telescope. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Missouri, with an Aug. 31, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-20-D-0127). Campbellsville Apparel Co., Campbellsville, Kentucky, has been awarded a maximum $7,709,600 modification (P00012) exercising the fourth one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-16-D-1083) with four one-year option periods for undershirts and moisture wicking t-shirts. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Kentucky, with a Sept. 7, 2021, ordering period end date. Using military service is 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. Cobham Mission System, Davenport, Iowa, has been awarded a maximum $13,028,470 firm-fixed-price contract for oxygen concentrators. 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, two-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Iowa, with an Oct. 6, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPRPA1-20-C-W070). UPDATE: JCB Inc., Pooler, Georgia (SPE8EC-20-D-0064), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract announced on Aug. 29, 2017, for commercial construction equipment, issued against solicitation SPE8EC-17-R-0005. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2327934/