Elbit Systems Awarded Approximately $53 Million Contract to Supply Crossbow Unmanned Turreted Mortar Systems for a European Customer

On the same subject

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  March 1, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 27, 2019

  NAVY General Electric Aviation, Lynn, Massachusetts, is awarded a $366,206,842 five-year, firm-fixed-price requirements, long-term contract for the repair of 18 different head-of-family part numbers in support of the T-64 engine. Work will be performed in Cherry Point, North Carolina, and work is expected to be completed by February 2024. 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. One company was solicited for this sole-source, non-competitive requirement 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. (N00383-19-D-UK01) The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $157,700,000 firm-fixed-price contract to procure two operational flight trainers (OFTs), two weapons tactics trainers (WTTs); six brief/debrief stations (BDSs);, to include two OFT BDSs, two WTT BDSs; and two weapons system trainer BDSs; one part task trainer, ten electronic classrooms, two scenario generation stations, one training system support center, two virtual maintenance trainers and supporting technical data such as software, books and other publications. In addition, this contract provides contracts, logistics, engineering and management technical expertise required to procure, design, build, test, deliver, install- and inspect P-8A training systems for the government of the U. K. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (55 percent); Tampa, Florida (30 percent); Lossiemouth, Scotland (10 percent); Jacksonville, Florida (2 percent); Dallas, Texas (2 percent); and Seattle, Washington (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2022. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $157,700,000 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 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(4). The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (N61340-19-C-0004). General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was awarded $34,732,571 for cost-plus-fixed-fee order N6339419F0028 under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N6339416G0005 for providing in-service engineering and lifecycle support services required to maintain and support the command, control, communications, computers, combat systems and intelligence elements for the Austal Independence variant littoral combat ship. The services provided will include program planning and control, resource management, cost and schedule control, installation and modernization, software development and testing, and training support. Work will be performed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts (80 percent); and at various shipyards dependent on ship's schedule along the east coast of the U. S. (20 percent), and is expected to be complete by February 2021. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,886,257 will be obligated at time of award and funding in the amount of $896,755 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N63394-19-F-0028). (Awarded Feb. 26, 2019) General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut, is awarded an $18,251,709 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-09-C-2104 for planning and execution of USS South Dakota's (SSN 790) post-delivery work period (PDWP). General Dynamics Electric Boat will perform planning and execution efforts, including long lead time material procurement, in preparation to accomplish the maintenance, repair, alterations, testing, and other work during its scheduled PDWP. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by December 2020. Fiscal 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $14,651,709 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Groton, Connecticut, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $14,121,444 for cost-plus-incentive-fee order N0001919F2693 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This order provides for the development of the F-35 Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS). The AGCAS is an on-board system that prevents controlled flight into terrain. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in March 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $5,109,509 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Air Force ($5,926,519; 42 percent); Navy ($2,110,071; 15 percent); Marine Corps ($1,378,177; 10 percent); and non-U.S. Department of Defense participants ($4,706,677; 33 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ARMY Dobco Inc., Wayne, New Jersey, was awarded a $47,962,590 firm-fixed-price contract for the replacement of Welch Elementary School and Dover Air Base Middle School at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 25, 2021. Fiscal 2015, 2016 and 2107 military construction funds in the amount of $47,962,590 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (W912BU-19-C-0017). NextGen Federal Systems LLC,* Morgantown, West Virginia, was awarded a $27,527,066 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for staff augmentation services. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 26, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56JSR-19-D-0011). Brayman Construction Corp., Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $21,744,985 firm-fixed-price contract to construct a cellular cofferdam at the Bluestone Dam in Hinton, West Virginia. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Hinton, West Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2019. Fiscal 2015, 2018 and 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $21,744,985 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, West Virginia, is the contracting activity (W91237-19-C-0002). AIR FORCE Collins Aerospace, a division of Goodrich, Westford, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $47,606,589 modification (P00007) to previously awarded contract FA8620-18-D-3014 for the DB-110 Tactical Reconnaissance Pod program. This modification provides foreign military sales (FMS) partner nations an ordering vehicle for the DB-110 Tactical Reconnaissance Pod program, including the following procurement of DB-110 reconnaissance pods, rogram infrastructure, airborne data link terminals, surface terminal equipment, mobile ground stations, fixed ground stations, transportable ground stations, and data and travel in support of orders. This modification brings the contract ceiling to $183,104,667 and involves FMS to Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Work will be performed in Westford, Massachusetts, and is expected to be complete by Nov. 14, 2023. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. TAC Industries Inc., Springfield, Ohio, has been awarded a $7,190,190 delivery order (FA8534-19-F-0028) to previously awarded contract FA8532-14-D-0003 for the production of 463L low profile nets and 463L top nets. This delivery order provides for aircraft cargo nets that secure a wide variety of cargo to the pallets prior to loading, which also minimizes the risk of the cargo shifting during flight. Work will be performed in Springfield, Ohio, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement funds in full amount are being obligated at time of award. This task order brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $54,494,482. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Federal Prison Industries Inc.,* doing business as UNICOR, Washington, District of Columbia, has been awarded a maximum $12,210,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for moisture wicking t-shirts. This is a 24-month contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Georgia, South Carolina, and Washington, District of Columbia, with a Feb. 25, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-F021). (Awarded Feb. 26, 2019) WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES Cargo Transport System Co., Safat,, Kuwait, has been awarded a contractmodification (P00007) on contract HTC711-17-D-R021 in the amount of $10,000,000. This modification provides continued stevedoring and related terminal services to the 595th Transportation Brigade. This includes vessel loading, vessel discharge, receipt of cargo, disposition of cargo, stuffing/unstuffing of cargo, intra-terminal transfer of cargo, inland transportation of cargo, customs clearance, yard management and management expertise. Work will be performed in ports of Kuwait. The period of performance is from March 9, 2019, to Sept. 8, 2019. Fiscal 2019 transportation working capital funds were obligated at award. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $27,709,945from $17,709,945. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Feb. 25, 2019) * Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1769868/

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  October 9, 2020 | International, Aerospace

  Space Development Agency wants someone to launch its first 28 satellites

  Christina Mackenzie PARIS – The French government is to order by year-end another 12 Rafale fighter aircraft for its Air and Space Force to replace the 12 in its current inventory of 102 that are being sold to Greece. “We have the intention, between now and the end of the year, to place an order, in parallel with the orders for Greece, of 12 aircraft for the Air & Space Force," Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly told parliamentarians at the National Assembly's Defence Commission during a hearing on the defense budget. When Greece announced that it would be buying 18 Rafales from France, of which 12 would be second-hand, the French government had said that each Rafale removed from the inventory would be replaced in order not to impact operations. “I'd like to reassure you. Together we've agreed that by 2025, in conformity with the military program law, we would have 129 Rafale aircraft and I have every intention of abiding by that,” Parly said. The purchase of these new Rafales cannot be paid for with the funds that Greece will pay for their 18 aircraft. The Hellenic order is valued at “between €1 billion and €2 billion,” according to Parly's Cabinet. She explained that these monies technically would go straight into the state budget and not into her ministry's. That means a new battle is afoot with the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Recovery about the transfer of funds into defense coffers to pay for the replacements, she admitted. In addition to this order for 12, Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of the Rafale, still has 28 aircraft to deliver to France between 2022 and 2024. The 12 new ones would be delivered “immediately after this,” according to Parly. And by 2023 the Armed Forces Ministry plans to order a further 30 which would be delivered from 2027. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/10/08/france-moves-to-replace-the-12-rafales-sold-to-greece/

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  May 19, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Our nation’s defense supply chain imperative

  By: Bill Brown, L3Harris Technologies The Department of Defense and defense industry have a long history of responding quickly and forcefully to crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. Today, hundreds of thousands of dedicated defense workers remain at their posts – delivering mission-critical products and services to support our troops around the world, while also providing personal protective equipment and other supplies to first responders and health care workers here at home. However, this most recent crisis has re-exposed weaknesses in our defense industrial base – highlighting the need to significantly bolster the nation's vital supply chain. This serves as a call to action to develop a strategic, long-term approach across government and industry. We witnessed the fallout from the 2008-09 financial crisis. Thousands of suppliers shuttered or permanently shifted precious capacity to other verticals when defense budgets were indiscriminately cut following the Budget Control Act of 2011 and sequester of 2013. When budgets began to recover several years later, the damage was clear – longer lead times that in some cases doubled or more, and increased reliance on single-source and international suppliers for critical components, such as microelectronics. In 2017, President Trump signed an executive order and established a multi-agency task force to study supply chain resiliency. The task force identified five macro forces that create risk to the supply chain and national security preparedness including sequestration and the uncertainty of government spending, the overall decline of U.S. manufacturing capabilities and capacity, harmful government business and procurement practices, industrial policies of competitor nations, and diminishing U.S. STEM and trade skills. Task force members proposed a comprehensive set of risk-reduction actions – ranging from establishing sustained and predictable multi-year budgets and developing an adaptive acquisition framework, to directing investment to small businesses and diversifying the supplier base. Over the past two years, the government has made initial strides on a number of these fronts, including working to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources for critical rare earth minerals and decreasing the country's dependence on China and other international suppliers for semiconductors and related components. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged before these and other task force initiatives gained serious traction and forced the DoD to refocus its near-term priorities. And the urgency escalated when we began to see the brutal impact the pandemic was causing in the commercial aerospace sector, an important vertical market for many defense suppliers. The department quickly designated defense suppliers as essential and increased progress payments, spurring larger defense contractors to accelerate payments to thousands of small business suppliers. These actions helped companies to continue operating, maintain their employment and hiring goals, and sustain critical spending on internal research and development (IRAD) to keep the innovation engine humming. At L3Harris, for example, we recommitted to investing nearly 4 percent of revenues in IRAD, hiring 6,000 new employees and maintaining our apprenticeship and internship programs to provide opportunities for the workforce of the future. The combined DoD and industry efforts demonstrate the power of a focused, collaborative approach to mitigate and address the damaging effects of the pandemic and to support the broader defense industrial base. Today, we are at a critical juncture. We have an opportunity to make the necessary strategic investments that could significantly strengthen our supply base for generations to come, including: · Ensure sustained/predictable budgets – stable, long-term funding helps companies better plan and encourages them to invest in staffing, technology and facilities needed for the country to maintain its technical superiority. Now is not the time to pull back the reins on defense spending. · Accelerate contract awards – shorter decision and acquisition cycles enable suppliers to invest in and deliver technologies faster than with traditional methods, and in the near term could help offset the impact of the commercial aerospace downturn. · Expand domestic supplier base – increasing domestic capabilities reduces vulnerabilities and increases access to critical components, such as rare earths and microelectronics, and over time can help reduce the proportion of sole/single-source supply. · Increase workforce investment – providing advanced STEM education opportunities drives innovation and productivity by enhancing critical skillsets for existing employees, while attracting, training and growing the workforce of the future. · Institutionalize process improvements – the COVID-19 pandemic forced government and industry to find new and more efficient ways to work. The challenge now – to make these advances permanent. These are not quick fixes. However, they provide a strong platform for a more resilient national defense supplier base, which is vital at a time when near-peer adversaries continue to invest heavily in new technologies that threaten our nation's security. The imperative is clear – and the opportunity is now. Bill Brown is chairman and CEO at L3Harris Technologies. https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/05/18/our-nations-defense-supply-chain-imperative/