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Nathan Strout WASHINGTON —SpaceX and and L3 Harris will contribute satellites to track hypersonic weapons to the Space Development Agency's planned mega-constellation, with the nascent agency announcing it had selected the two companies to build its first wide field of view satellites Oct. 5. Under the contracts, each company will design and develop four satellites equipped with wide field of view (WFOV) overhead persistent infrared (OPIR) sensors. Operating in low Earth orbit, the sensors will make up the inaugural tranche of the SDA's tracking layer—the Pentagon's new effort to track hypersonic weapons from space. “This SDA tracking layer is going to consist of a proliferated, heterogeneous constellation of WFOV space vehicles that provide persistent global coverage and custody capability. That's going to combine with activities in the Missile Defense Agency as they build toward their Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) medium field of view (MFOV) space vehicles,” Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Research and Engineering Mark Lewis told C4ISRNET. According to the announcement, SpaceX will receive $149 million while L3 Harris will receive $193 million. According to SDA Director Derek Tournear, the awards were the result of a full and open competition, with the selection based purely on technical merit. SpaceX has made waves with its Starlink constellation—a series of satellites built to provide commercial broadband from low Earth orbit—and the Department of Defense has tested using Starlink to connect various weapon systems. However, the company does not have a history building OPIR sensors. According to Tournear, the company will work with partners to develop the sensor, which it will then place on a bus it is providing. SpaceX already has a production line in place to build a bus based on its Starlink technologies, added Tournear. “SpaceX had a very credible story along that line—a very compelling proposal. It was outstanding,” he said. “They are one of the ones that have been at the forefront of this commercialization and commodification route.” L3 Harris will develop an OPIR solution based on decades of experience with small satellites, small telescopes and OPIR technologies. “They had an extremely capable solution. They have a lot of experience flying affordable, rapid, small satellite buses for the department,” noted Tournear. “They had the plant and the line in place in order to produce these to hit our schedule.” Tracking hypersonic weapons The contracts are the latest development as the SDA fleshes out its National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA), a new constellation to be comprised of hundreds of satellites primarily operating in low Earth orbit. These satellites are expected to make up tranche 0 of the SDA's tracking layer, which will provide global coverage for tracking hypersonic threats. The glue that holds the NDSA together will be the transport layer, a space-based mesh network made up of satellites connected by optical intersatellite links. Like most planned SDA satellites, WFOV satellites will plug directly into that network. “The idea is it connects to the National Defense Space Architecture—the NDSA transport layer—via optical intersatellite links,” said Lewis. “And that will enable low latency dissemination for missile warning indications. It will provide track directly to the joint war fighters.” SDA issued two contracts in August for its first 20 transport layer satellites. York Space Systems was awarded $94 million to build its 10 satellites, while Lockheed Martin was awarded $188 million. That transport layer capability is essential to the tracking layer's mission. Because they are so much closer to the Earth's surface than the U.S. Space Force's missile tracking satellites in geosynchronous orbit, the WFOV sensors will naturally have a much more limited field of vision. In order to track globe traversing hypersonic missiles, the WFOV satellites will have to work together. Once the first satellite picks up a threat, it will begin tracking it until it disappears over the horizon. During that time, it is expected to transmit its tracking data to other WFOV satellites over the transport layer. So as the first satellite loses sight of the threat over the horizon, the next WFOV is ready to pick it up, and so on and so forth. From there, the WFOV satellites will pass the tracking data — either directly or via the transport layer — on to the medium field of view satellites being developed by the Missile Defense Agency as their HBTSS. “SDA is developing the low cost proliferated WFOV space vehicles that provide the missile warning and the tracking information for national defense authorities, as well as tracking and cueing data for missile defense elements,” explained Lewis. “Meanwhile, the Missile Defense Agency is developing the high resolution HBTSS MFOV space vehicles — those can receive cues from other sources including the WFOV system—and they'll provide low latency fire control quality tracking data.” “The MFOV HBTSS satellites will then be able to hone in and actually be able to calculate the fire control solution for that missile, send those data to the transport satellites with a laser comms system ... and then the transport system will disseminate that to the weapons platform as well as back to [the continental United States, where MDA can broadcast that information],” added Tournear. MDA issued $20 million contracts to Northrop Grumman, Leidos, Harris Corporation and Raytheon to develop HBTSS prototypes in Oct. 2019. Tournear noted that proposals for HBTSS “are being written as we speak.” Together, HBTSS and the SDA's tracking layer are meant to provide the data needed to take out hypersonic threats—which Congress is increasingly concerned by. “It's part of an integrated DoD OPIR strategy. So the wide field of view sensors and the medium field of view sensors are really integral to this whole NDSA system and legacy strategic missile warning capability,” said Lewis, praising MDA and SDA for working together to build a heterogeneous solution. Spiral development Of course, this initial tranche won't provide global coverage up front. As part of its spiral development approach, SDA plans to continuously add satellites to its mega-constellation in two-year tranches, with each tranche including more advanced technology. The tracking layer is not expected to reach global coverage until 2026, said Tournear. But as the constellation is built out, the more limited initial capabilities will be used to help integrate the space-based assets with war fighters. “We call tranche 0 our war fighter immersion tranche,” said Tournear. “What that means is, its goal is to provide the data in a format that the war fighters are used to seeing on tactical timelines that they can be expected to see once we actually become operational. The whole purpose of tranche 0 is to allow the war fighters to start to train and develop tactics, techniques and procedures so that they can create operational plans for a battle where they would actually incorporate these data.” With tranche 1 in 2024, the tracking and transport layers will essentially reach initial operating capability, said Tournear. That will include persistent regional coverage. According to Tournear, the tranche 0 satellites are set to launch in September 2022. Tournear told C4ISRNET his agency is planning to issue a separate solicitation for launch services later this week. That solicitation will cover all of the tranche 0 satellites, including the 20 transport layer satellites the agency ordered in August, the eight WFOV satellites and the HBTSS satellites https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2020/10/05/space-development-agency-orders-8-hypersonic-weapon-tracking-satellites/
July 2, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence
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/