Back to news

July 25, 2019 | International, Aerospace

Florence Parly dévoile la stratégie spatiale française de défense

La France va investir 700 millions d'euros supplémentaires dans le spatial militaire d'ici à 2025, pour renforcer ses moyens de surveillance et se doter de capacités d'auto-défense dans l'espace. Une somme qui s'ajoute aux 3,6 milliards d'euros déjà prévus pour le spatial de défense dans la Loi de programmation militaire française 2019-2025.

« Aujourd'hui, nos alliés et nos adversaires militarisent l'espace. Et alors que le temps de la résilience se fait de plus en plus court, nous devons agir. Nous devons être prêts. »

Jeudi 25 juillet, Florence Parly, ministre des Armées, s'est rendue au Commandement de défense aérienne et des opérations aériennes (CDAOA), situé sur la Base aérienne 942 de Lyon Mont-Verdun afin de présenter les grandes orientations militaires françaises dans le domaine spatial.

Véritable enjeu, l'espace est devenu un lieu de confrontation de plus en plus militarisé. Indispensables au bon déroulement des opérations militaires, nos satellites et leur sauvegarde constituent un impératif stratégique.

C'est pourquoi Florence Parly a annoncé que la France allait investir 700 millions d'euros supplémentaires dans le spatial militaire d'ici à 2025, pour renforcer ses moyens de surveillance et se doter de capacités d'auto-défense dans l'espace. Une somme qui s'ajoute aux 3,6 milliards d'euros déjà prévus pour le spatial de défense dans la Loi de programmation militaire française (LPM) 2019-2025.

La stratégie spatiale dévoilée par la ministre des Armées se décline selon trois axes : organisationnel, juridique et capacitaire.

Montée en puissance progressive du commandement de l'espace

Ainsi, comme l'avait annoncé Emmanuel Macron le 13 juillet, un grand commandement de l'espace verra le jour le 1er septembre à Toulouse. Il sera placé sous l'autorité de l'armée de l'Air qui deviendra l'armée de l'Air et de l'espace. Son rôle : fédérer et coordonner tous les moyens consacrés au domaine spatial de défense. « A terme, il doit conduire l'ensemble de nos opérations spatiales, sous les ordres du chef d'état-major des armées et en lien avec le CPCO à l'instar de l'ensemble de nos opérations », a précisé Florence Parly. Doté d'une équipe de 220 personnes, ce commandement de l'espace montera progressivement en puissance sur la durée de la loi de programmation militaire, d'ici à 2025.

Pour mettre en place sa stratégie spatiale, la ministre souhaite une évolution des textes régissant l'utilisation de l'espace pour intégrer la spécificité des opérations spatiales militaires. « J'ai décidé que le ministère des Armées assumerait la fonction d'opérateur spatial »explique-t-elle. « Si nous souhaitons être en mesure de mener de véritables opérations spatiales militaires, il nous faut développer une autonomie d'action. »

Enfin, Florence Parly a annoncé vouloir perfectionner les capacités de défense spatiale, par le biais d'un nouveau programme d'armement nommé « Maîtrise de l'Espace ». Celui-ci intègrera deux volets : la surveillance et la défense active. Actuellement, la France est une des rares nations à disposer de ses propres capacités de surveillance de l'espace, gr'ce aux radars Graves et Satam ainsi qu'aux télescopes du CNRS et d'Ariane Group. « Demain, nous ferons appel à des moyens et des services plus sophistiqués encore », a souligné la ministre. « Le successeur de Graves devra être conçu pour déceler des satellites de la taille d'une boîte de chaussures à une distance de 1 500 kilomètres. » Afin de mieux protéger nos satellites, des actions seront menées, comme l'intégration de caméras de surveillance aux satellites de communication Syracuse pour leur autoprotection ou encore l'acquisition de nano-satellites patrouilleurs à partir de 2023.

Gr'ce à ces futures capacités de surveillance, une défense active pourra être mise en place. La ministre prévient qu'il ne s'agit que d'autodéfense et non d'une stratégie offensive : « Si nos satellites sont menacés, nous envisagerons d'éblouir ceux de nos adversaires. Nous nous réservons le moment et les moyens de la riposte : cela pourra impliquer l'emploi de lasers de puissance déployés depuis nos satellites ou depuis nos nano-satellites patrouilleurs », a-t-elle précisé.

https://www.defense.gouv.fr/actualites/articles/florence-parly-devoile-la-strategie-spatiale-francaise-de-defense

On the same subject

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - September 24, 2019

    September 25, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - September 24, 2019

    ARMY Globe Tech LLC, Plymouth, Michigan,* was awarded a $132,473,932 firm-fixed-price contract for Explosive Hazard Pre-detonation roller system and ancillary support parts. 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 Sept. 23, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-D-0101). TRAX International Corp., Las Vegas, Nevada, was awarded a $90,080,397 modification (P00025) to contract W9124R-18-C-0001 for non-personal test support services. Work will be performed in Yuma, Arizona; and Fort Greely, Arkansas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Yuma, Arizona, is the contracting activity. ACC Construction Company Inc., Augusta, Georgia, was awarded a $28,917,160 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a consolidated mission complex. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Warner Robins, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2018 military construction funds in the amount of $28,917,160 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-19-C-0042). Honeywell International Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, was awarded a $21,227,814 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) contract for engine parts for the Advanced Gas Turbine-1500 tank engine rebuild. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Phoenix, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2022. Fiscal 2019 firm-fixed-price funds in the amount of $21,227,814 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Property and Fiscal Office, Topeka, Kansas, is the contracting activity (W912JC-19-C-5716). HDT Expeditionary System Inc., Solon, Ohio, was awarded a $14,236,369 firm-fixed-price contract for new production, resets, and independent demands for the F-100 Environmental Control Unit. 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 Sept. 23, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-D-0109). M1 Services LLC, Denton, Texas, was awarded a $13,875,215 modification (P00040) to contract W9124G17C0104 for aviation maintenance. Work will be performed in Fort Rucker, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 15, 2028. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $13,875,215 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Rucker, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Sevenson-USA Environmental JV,* Niagara Falls, New York, was awarded a $12,035,237 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for environmental remediation construction, investigation, production piping and cleanup of environmental contamination. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in De Soto, Kansas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2024. Fiscal 2019 Defense Environment Restoration Account, and Base Realignment and Closure funds in the amount of $12,035,237 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-19-C-3003). BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., San Jose, California, was awarded a $10,987,920 modification (P00111) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0099 for systems technical support, engineering, logistics and fielding support for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle Family of Vehicles, the Multiple Launch Rocket System Carrier, and the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier Family of Vehicles. Work will be performed in San Jose, California; and Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 24, 2020. Fiscal 2017 and 2019 procurement defense wide funds in the amount of $10,987,920 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Jacobs Ewing Cole JV, Pasadena, California, was awarded a $9,900,000 firm-fixed-price for architect and engineering services. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-19-D-0010). Ashford International LLC,* Killen, Texas, was awarded a $9,548,666 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of Building 26041. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Fort Hood, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $9,548,666 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Hood, Texas, is the contracting activity (W91151-19-C-0038). Bhate Environmental Associates Inc., Birmingham, Alabama, was awarded an $8,829,287 firm-fixed-price contract for demolition services, abatement and removal of asbestos containing materials and other regulated materials, disconnect and capping of utilities, complete removal of utilities, disposal of all debris materials and restoration of the site to a specified condition. Nine bids were solicited with five bids received. Work will be performed in Panama City, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 25, 2021. Fiscal 2010 Air Force funds in the amount of $8,829,287 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W912DY-19-F-1248). Roen Salvage Co.,* Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, was awarded an $8,433,900 firm-fixed-price contract for pier repair. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Duluth, Minnesota, with an estimated completion date of July 1, 2021. Fiscal 2019 civil works; and operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,433,900 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W911XK-19-C-0020). Seneca Construction Management LLC,* Killen, Texas, was awarded an $8,230,000 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of Building 44012. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Fort Hood, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $8,230,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Hood, Texas, is the contracting activity (W91151-19-C-0039). Ashridge Inc.,* St. Stephen, South Carolina, was awarded a $7,395,279 firm-fixed-price contract for Eagle Island disposal area improvements. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Wilmington, North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of March 25, 2021. Fiscal 2019 civil construction; and rivers and harbors contributed and advanced funds in the amount of $7,395,279 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, North Carolina, is the contracting activity (W912PM-19-C-0034). NAVY Blue Rock Structures Inc.,* Pollocksville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6300); Daniels and Daniels Construction Co. Inc.,* Goldsboro, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6301); Joyce and Associates Construction Inc.,* Newport, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6302); Military and Federal Construction Co. Inc.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6303); Quadrant Construction Inc.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6304); and TE Davis Construction Co.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6305), are being awarded a $67,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contracts for general construction services within the Marine Corps Installations East area of responsibility. After award of this modification, the total maximum dollar value for all six contracts combined will be $249,000,000. The work to be performed provides for general construction services including, but not limited to, new construction, demolition, repair, total/partial interior/exterior alteration/renovation of buildings, systems and infrastructure, and may include civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, communication systems, installation of new or extensions to existing high voltage electrical distribution systems, extensions to the existing high pressure steam distribution systems, extensions to the potable water distribution systems, extensions to the sanitary sewer systems, additional storm water control systems, painting, removal of asbestos materials and lead paint, and incidental related work. Work will be performed at Navy and Marine Corps installations at various locations including, but not limited to, North Carolina (90%); Georgia (3%); South Carolina (3%); Virginia (3%); and other areas of the U.S. (1%), and is expected to be completed by December 2020. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance, (Marine Corps); and military construction funds. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia (N61331-19-D-0010); L-3 Unidyne Inc., Norfolk, Virginia (N61331-19-D-0011); and Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia (N61331-19-D-0012), are awarded a combined $48,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award supply contract for the provision of hardware, materials, and supplies to support the expeditionary warfare, maritime, littoral and mine warfare programs. The companies will compete for individual delivery orders. Work will be conducted in various Navy ship homeports, and is expected to be completed in September 2020. If all options are exercised, work will continue through September 2024. At the time of award, Booz Allen Hamilton is awarded a delivery order for $224,228; L-3 Unidyne is awarded $10,000; and Atlantic Diving Supply Inc. is awarded a delivery order for $159,714 and a delivery order for $316,757. Fiscal 2017 other procurement, (Navy) funding in the amount of $476,471 (67%); 2019 operation and maintenance, (Navy) funding in the amount of $183,529 (26%); and Navy working capital funding in the amount of $50,699 (7%), will be obligated at the time of award, and funding in the amount of $183,529 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Florida, is the contracting activity. Sauer Inc., Jacksonville, Florida, is awarded a $46,672,691 firm-fixed-price contract for design-build renovation of Building X132 for Military Sealift Command consolidation at Naval Station Norfolk. The contract also contains three planned modifications, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $61,869,188. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction for a comprehensive renovation of Building X132. The project purpose is to consolidate the administrative spaces of Military Sealift Command. The administrative spaces include open office, closed offices, classrooms, conference rooms, meeting rooms, break rooms, a secure enclave, two new security entrance vestibules, and two new stairwells. Four new passenger elevators and one new freight elevator will be provided, using three of the existing elevator shafts. The planned modifications, provides for the furniture fixtures and equipment, audio visual, and electronic security system. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by March 2022. Fiscal 2019 Navy working capital fund, contract funds in the amount of $46,672,691 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-19-C-9263). Ocean Ships Inc., Houston, Texas, was awarded a $47,539,641 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N3220517C3100) to fund the second one-year option period for the operation and maintenance of six Oceanographic Survey ships and USNS Waters (T-AGS 45). This contract includes a 12-month base period, four 12-month option periods, and one six-month option period, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $176,193,231. Work will be performed at sea, starting Oct. 1, 2019, and is expected to be completed, if all options are exercised, by Sept. 30, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $47,539,641 are being obligated and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 23, 2019) Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $38,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-16-C-4316) to continue performance of the repair, maintenance, upgrades, and modernization efforts on the USS Helena (SSN 725) dry-docking selected restricted availability. The contracted requirements include advance and new work efforts necessary to repair, and maintain full unrestricted operation of the submarine, as well as upgrades and modernization efforts required to ensure the submarine is operating at full technical capacity as defined in the availability work package during the Chief of Naval Operations scheduled availability. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be complete in January 2020. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $38,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, USN, Newport News, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Woodward HRT Inc., Santa Clarita, California, is awarded $20,612,550 for delivery order N00383-19-F-NM0K under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-18-G-NM01 for the repair of 402 hydraulic drive units in support of the V-22 aircraft. Work will be performed in Santa Clarita, California, and will be completed by November 2020 with no option periods. Fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy) will be used and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Funds in the full amount of $20,612,550 will be obligated at the time of award. One company was solicited for this non-competitive requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News, Virginia, was awarded a $20,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-15-C-4301 to continue performance of the repair, maintenance, upgrade and modernization efforts for the USS Columbus (SSN 762) engineered overhaul. The contracted requirements include the continuance of execution and new work efforts arising from the availability work package and additional required work discovered during the inspection of shipboard components. This work is necessary to ensure the submarine is operating at full technical capacity as defined in the availability work package during the Chief of Naval Operations scheduled maintenance availability. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2020. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $20,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Newport News, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 23, 2019) Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $20,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-15-C-4301 to continue performance of the repair, maintenance, upgrade and modernization efforts for the USS Columbus (SSN 762) engineered overhaul. The contracted requirements include the continuance of execution and new work efforts arising from the availability work package and additional required work discovered during the inspection of shipboard components. This work is necessary to ensure the submarine is operating at full technical capacity as defined in the availability work package during the Chief of Naval Operations scheduled maintenance availability. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2020. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $20,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Newport News, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Mercury Defense Systems Inc., Cypress, California, is awarded a $13,720,509 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N6833519F0285) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-17-G-0017). This order is for 27 Type II advanced digital radio frequency memories hardware and software for the Navy, Air Force, National Guard and Reserve components. Work will be performed in Cypress, California (72%); and West Caldwell, New Jersey (28%), and is expected to be completed in June 2021. Fiscal 2018 research, development test evaluation (Air Force); 2019 missile procurement and aircraft procurement (Air Force); 2019 National Guard and Reserve Equipment (Defense); and 2019 working capital funds (Defense) funds will be obligated at time of award, $5,589,837 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($8,130,672; 59%); National Guard and Reserve ($5,081,670; 37%); and Department of Defense ($508,167; 4%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Sealift Inc., Oyster Bay, New York, is awarded a $10,090,017 modification under a previously awarded firm, fixed-price contract (N32205165C3501) to fund the fourth one-year option period. The option will continue to provide one U.S. flagged vessel, M/V SSG Edward A. Carter Jr. (T-AK 4544), for the transportation and prepositioning of cargo (including, but not limited to, hazardous cargoes, explosives, ammunition, vehicular, containerized, and general cargoes); and for military readiness for the Department of the Army. The vessel is capable of deployment to worldwide locations. The current contract includes a five-month firm period of the performance, four one-year option periods and one five-month option period. Work will be performed worldwide and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2020. The option will be funded by fiscal 2020 working capital funds. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Delphinus Engineering Inc.,* Eddystone, Pennsylvania (N55236-18-D-0001); Q.E.D. Systems Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N55236-18-D-0002); Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc.,* National City, California (N55236-18-D-0003); Tecnico Corp.,* Chesapeake, Virginia (N55236-18-D-0004); Southcoast Welding & MFG LLC,* Chula Vista, California (N55236-18-D-0005); Bay City Marine Inc.,* National City, California (N55236-18-D-0006); Pacific Ship Repair & Fab Inc.,* San Diego, California (N55236-18-D-0007), and Miller Marine Inc.,* San Diego, California (N55236-18-D-0008), are awarded a combined $7,092,147 firm-fixed-price contract modifications to exercise Option Year Two of their respective previously-awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award contracts to provide depot level repairs, interior and exterior preservation, barge modernization upgrades, dockside and dry dock services for Navy barges in the Pacific Southwest (San Diego) California area. Each contractor shall furnish the facilities and human resources capable of completing berthing and messing barge repair and maintenance services for barges assigned to or visiting the port of San Diego, California. Each contractor will compete for each delivery order when a requirement is identified. Work is expected to be completed by October 2020. No funding is being obligated at time of award. The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., doing business as ADS, Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $30,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity bridge contract for facility maintenance, repair, and operations supplies and related incidental services. 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 an 11-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Southwest Africa, with an Aug. 26, 2020, performance completion date. Using customers are U.S. forces in U.S. Africa Command. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Europe and Africa, Kaiserslautern, Germany (SPE5B1-19-D-0003). Golden State Medical Supply, Camarillo, California, has been awarded a maximum $9,500,000 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for Ziprasidone HCL capsules. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Locations of performance are California and Canada, with a Sept. 23, 2020, performance completion date. Using customers are Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Indian Health Services, and Federal Bureau of Prisons. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D2-19-D-0081). Propper International Inc., Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $8,586,758 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Type I and II flame resistant pants. This was a competitive acquisition with two offers received. This is one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with a Sept. 24, 2024, performance completion date. Using customer is the U.S. Forest Service. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-1195). Alamo Strategic Manufacturing,* San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $7,329,798 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Intermediate Cold Flyers Gloves. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a one-year base contract with three one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Massachusetts and Texas, with a Sept. 23, 2023, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-1194). TRC Government Services LLC, Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been awarded a maximum $7,063,200 firm‐fixed‐price contract for contractor-owned, contractor-operated optimization for retail/bulk fuel services. This was a competitive acquisition with three offers received. This is a four‐year base contract with two five‐year option periods, a four year, six month option period, and an option to extend, not to exceed six months. Locations of performance are Oklahoma and Texas, with a Sept. 24, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE603‐19‐C‐5011). Noble Sales Co. Inc., doing business as Noble Supply and Logistics, Rockland, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $7,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity bridge contract for facility maintenance, repair, and operations supplies and related incidental services. 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 an 11-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Southeast Africa, with an Aug. 26, 2020, performance completion date. Using customers are U.S. forces in U.S. Africa Command. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Europe and Africa, Kaiserslautern, Germany (SPE5B1-19-D-0002). AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $22,656,895 modification (P00027) to previously awarded contract FA8621-15-C-6397 for F-15C and F-15E Mission Training Center. The contract modification is for implementation of Suite 9.1/Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) into F-15C and F-15E MTCs to update F-15 MTCs with Suite 9.1 and add EPAWSS capabilities to the F-15E MTC simulators. Work will be performed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina; Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom; and Kadena Air Base, Japan, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 23, 2021. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $$255,261,067. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $22,656,895 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY Southeastern Paper Group, Spartanburg, South Carolina, is being awarded a firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustment modification (P00026) to exercise the third option period to previously awarded contract HDEC05-16-D-0002. This modification provides miscellaneous operating supplies and paper bags for multiple commissary stores in the continental U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Pacific Theater. The award amount is estimated at $13,056,618 for the option period. Actual obligations using defense working capital funds will occur upon issuance of delivery orders during the period of performance. The contract third option period will begin Nov. 1, 2019, through Oct. 31, 2020. Defense Commissary Agency, Fort Lee, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1970213/source/GovDelivery/

  • Chinese APT Exploits BeyondTrust API Key to Access U.S. Treasury Systems and Documents

    December 31, 2024 | International, C4ISR, Security

    Chinese APT Exploits BeyondTrust API Key to Access U.S. Treasury Systems and Documents

    U.S. Treasury breached by Chinese APT actors via BeyondTrust API key; critical CVE-2024-12356 exploited.

  • Are meetings with industry actually accelerating military acquisitions?

    September 20, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Are meetings with industry actually accelerating military acquisitions?

    By: Adam Stone Military leaders say they are determined to find faster ways to buy cutting-edge technologies. “We can't afford to spend seven years thinking about a requirement,” Army Undersecretary Ryan D. McCarthy said during a 2018 visit to Fort Belvoir, Virginia. “If it is going to take that long, you are probably not going to get it. So, we need to get these capabilities sooner.” To that end, the Department of Defense has increased the number of engagements with industry, launched alternative contracting vehicles, and taken other steps to streamline innovation more effectively. Industry officials are often clamoring for that interaction, but some say the Pentagon's efforts are beginning to bear fruit. ‘Big change' One area where those changes are most visible has been in the Army's modernization of its battlefield network. David Huisenga, president and chief executive at Klas Telecom Government, said he has noticed a marked difference in the quality and quantity of engagements between industry and the Department of Defense. After more than two decades in the business, “I have seen a really big change in the past two years with how the Army is adopting technology,” he said. “They are really focused on rapid-insert capabilities. I had heard that talked about a lot in the past, but it's only recently that we have really seen that put into action.” The Army's establishment of cross-functional teams has helped to focus energy around priority areas within the C4ISR realm. Those areas include the Synthetic Training Environment Team (STE); the Network, Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence Team (NET); and the Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing Team (APNT). “They have really clarified their priorities within that here are the top five or 10 things they want to do and they have released actual timelines for implementation of those priorities,” Huisenga said. Klas has taken advantage of the technical exchange meetings, supported by the cross-functional teams and Program Executive Office Command Control Tactical, where both industry and military leaders together work through all of the practical details of emerging requirements. “Now you have the CFT with the charter to identify and rapidly field the technology, and you have the program executive office that procures and sustains that equipment, working together with industry, all at the same time,” Huisenga said. For Klas, those engagements helped lead to a recent contract supporting Army's Security Force Assistance Brigade with an initial trial deployment of advanced networking equipment components. Those are slated for service officials to quickly test and refine those components before a final acquisition. Army leaders have said they plan to upgrade the network with new capabilities approximately every two years. “The PEO made these purchases rapidly, probably the fastest acquisition I have ever seen, and now we will be getting real feed-back on that product,” Huisenga said. “We, as industry, know that they will refresh every two years, so we can really focus our engineering on those requirements.” ‘One-stop' model Rosemary Johnston, senior vice president of operations at Savi, a maker of geospatial-enabled logistics solutions, likewise gives the military high marks for its efforts to accelerate tech buys. “The services are doing a phenomenal job of trying to hasten the acquisition process,” she said. She pointed to the Air Force's emerging “one-stop” model as an example. “They encourage vendors to come to a pitch day and if they like what they are hearing they can go ahead and execute a contract right away.” Another helpful tool for Savi is the Pentagon's blanket contract for logistics solutions, under which vendors can be pre-vetted for price and suitability, thus allowing end users in the military to effectively buy direct and bypass the usual prolonged procurement process. Savi recently took advantage of its place on that list to help secure a contract with the Defense Logistics Agency, under which the company will supply 23,000 sophisticated tracking devices to help DLA manage vast inventories of vehicles and equipment stored at multiple distribution sites. That opportunity arose in 2018, with just two months to go before the close of the fiscal year, when there was pressure on the agency to get a deal done before the clock ran out on the 2018 money. Thanks to the rapid acquisition process, “they were able to place the order with us, obligate those 2018 funds, and take delivery before the end of calendar year 2018,” Johnston said. Tools and tactics Officials from both PEO C3T and the network cross-functional team told C4ISRNET these are exactly the type of outcomes that the military is looking for. While it is difficult to gauge the specific outcomes of these early efforts, and many acquisitions departmentwide still drag, officials point to early metrics that suggest industry is responding well. Take, for instance, those technology exchange meetings. “We are averaging 400 people per meeting representing more than 120 companies, from large defense contractors to small businesses and startups,” said Maj. Brian Wong, chief of market research for the network cross-functional team at Army Futures Command. “I don't think we could have seen something like this in the past.” Another tool that officials say has proven useful is the Middle Tier Acquisition authority: Granted by Congress in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, it gives the military the ability to make small purchases for rapid prototyping. “If we see innovation coming out of industry, whether it's server infrastructure or radio waveforms, we can use rapid prototyping and see how that fits in our network design in order to make better decisions,” said Paul Mehney, who helps manage the office's industry affairs. Rapid Innovation Funds offer another means to keep the department ahead of the technology curve. With projects worth as much as $3 million per project, Mehney said, these dollars have been used to explore ways that soldiers can communicate when their first line of communications fail. The funds have also supported advances in dismounted blue force tracking. Rather than require soldiers to access vehicle-mounted equipment for identifying their status in the field, the Army is testing prototypes of handheld variants that could make soldiers jobs easier. On the contracting side, the increasingly popular OTA — or Other Transaction Authority — has freed military planners to buy small quantities of emerging tech solutions for prototyping and testing. The military also is deepening its market research “We are taking a wider look — beyond the traditional defense contracting space — to include startups and smaller companies,” Wong said. “We have discussions with incubators and with the venture capital community to see what may be in their portfolios that could be of interest to government.” The close ties between the CFTs and PEOs help ensure that streamlined buys are targeted to actual military need. PEO C3T leaders point to the fact that they've held four technology exchange meetings with the network team and other program offices. For the vendor community, the fast-track environment presents new opportunities but also new challenges. Klas, for instance, outsources production of its core product. In order to meet new demand for accelerated deployments, Huisenga said, the company must keep up through more frequent and more specific communications with its manufacturer. Johnston said her firm's biggest challenge lies in ensuring that military procurement professionals understand the emerging rules of the road. “We still get requests from contracting officers who aren't familiar with these contracts,” she said. “They'll ask for a quote, they'll send a statement of the work, and we have to let them know that a lot of this has already been negotiated. We need to explain to them the process we have already gone through to get to this point.” Military officials, meanwhile, say their challenge lies in ensuring industry is up to speed on the emerging requirements. Especially in the rapidly evolving C4ISR environment, the military can only meet its accelerated objectives if industry is already up to speed on emerging needs. “It's up to us to make sure industry is informed about what our network design looks like currently, what we anticipate our network design goals to shape up like for future capability sets, and to ensure that industry knows what our architecture looks like so they know how to plug into it,” Mehney said. “We aren't totally there yet. We still owe industry a better lay-down on those three critical components.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/industry/2019/09/19/are-meetings-with-industry-actually-accelerating-military-acquisitions

All news