Northrop Grumman Awards Contract to Further Australia’s Guided Weapons Manufacturing Capability

On the same subject

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  February 3, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Pentagon finalizes first set of cyber standards for contractors

  Mark Pomerleau The Pentagon has finalized the long anticipated cybersecurity standards contractors will have to follow before winning contracts from the Department of Defense, a new process called the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 1.0. The model is a tiered cybersecurity framework that grades companies on a scale of one to five based on the level of classification and security that necessary for the work they are performing. “The government and the contractor community must keep working together to address real and growing cybersecurity threats, and we need a robust response to protect our infrastructure, information, and supply chains,” said David Berteau, president and chief executive of the Professional Services Council, a trade association for federal contractors. “With today's announcement, DoD has achieved a significant milestone. Here's what industry officials need to know about the version finalized Jan. 31. Why it was needed Previously, the Pentagon did not have unified standard for cybersecurity that businesses needed to follow when bidding for contracts. Companies could claim to meet certain industry standards for cybersecurity, but those assertions were not tested by auditors, nor did the standards take into account the type of work a company was bidding to complete. Since then, defense officials have said that cybersecurity is not a one size fits all approach. In the meantime, adversaries have discovered it is easier to target unsuspecting down tier suppliers, rather than prime contractors. “Adversaries know that in today's great power competition environment, information and technology are both key cornerstones and attacking a sub-tier supplier is far more appealing than a prime,” Ellen Lord, the under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, told reporters in a briefing at the Pentagon Jan. 31. Officials have said cyber theft by adversaries costs the United States about $600 billion a year. What will change? Contracts will mandate bidders reach a certain level of certification to win specific jobs. For example, if businesses aren't bidding on a contract that has extremely sensitive information, they must only achieve the first level of certification, which involves basic cybersecurity such as changing passwords and running antivirus software. More sensitive programs will require more stringent controls. Smaller companies down the supply chain will not, however, have to have the same level of certification as primes, said Katie Arrington, chief information security officer for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and the point person for the certification. Another significant change with the new process is the creation of an accreditation board and assessors. The board is an outside entity, separate from DoD, that will be charged with approving assessors to certify companies in the process. The accreditation body was formed earlier this month and officials are working on identifying and training the assessors, which will be called Certified Third-Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAO). What's next? Officials explained Jan. 31 that CMMC will follow a crawl, walk, run approach to ensure companies aren't unprepared for the change. The accreditation board is in the process of training the auditors that will oversee the certificaion. Once the requirements are met, a company's certification is good for 3 years. In the meantime, DoD plans to release 10 requests for information and 10 requests for proposals that will include the new cyber standards this year. The first solicitation could come as early as June. Arrington said earlier this week that she expects 1,500 companies to be certified by the end of 2021. She added that all new contracts starting in fiscal year 2026 will contain the cybersecurity requirements, however, Lord noted that they will not be not retroactive to previous contracts. https://www.fifthdomain.com/dod/2020/01/31/pentagon-finalizes-first-set-of-cyber-standards-for-contractors/

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  January 30, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  Suisse: Dans la com de l'armée et lobbyiste pour le Gripen

  Christian Trottmann est un passionné d'avions de combat. Il est non seulement commentateur officiel de la Patrouille Suisse, mais aussi rédacteur pour l'équivalent alémanique de la «Revue militaire suisse». Mais tout ça appartient désormais au passé, a révélé dimanche la «SonntagsZeitung». Viola Amherd, nouvelle ministre de la Défense, a décidé de l'exclure de la Patrouille Suisse. Il ne pourra plus non plus écrire pour le magazine. Depuis décembre dernier, Christian Trottmann travaille en effet en tant que lobbyiste pour Saab. Sa mission est de convaincre la Suisse d'acheter les Gripen du constructeur suédois. Raison pour laquelle le Département de la défense (DDPS) craint que sa double casquette n'engendre un conflit d'intérêts. Or, selon le journal dominical, Viola Amherd n'a réglé que la moitié du problème. Car le premier-lieutenant continuera à remplir ses obligations militaires en tant qu'officier de milice au sein du service de communication des Forces aériennes. Renato Kalbermatten, chef de la communication du DDPS, n'a pas précisé pourquoi cette fonction pose moins de problème que celle à la Patrouille Suisse. En attendant, la situation est vivement critiquée par des membres du DDPS et des politiciens de tous bords. Le conseiller national Thomas Hurter (UDC/SH) a qualifié la décision du DDPS d'«incohérente». L'élue Priska Seiler Graf (PS/ZH) dénonce pour sa part une situation «malheureuse et délicate». https://www.20min.ch/ro/news/suisse/story/Dans-la-com-de-l-armee-et-lobbyiste-pour-le-Gripen-16612589

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  July 9, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - July 8, 2019

  DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY Affinity Innovations LLC,* Hanover, Maryland (HC1047-19-D-2020); Applied Systems Engineering Joint Venture LLC,* Annapolis Junction, Maryland (HC1047-19-D-2021); A Square Group LLC,* Rockville, Maryland (HC1047-19-D-2022); Business Computers Management Consulting Group LLC,* Falls Church, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2023); Bluestone Logic LLC,* Washington, District of Columbia (HC1047-19-D-2024); Credence Management Solutions LLC,* Vienna, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2025); DHPC Technologies Inc.,* Woodbridge, New Jersey (HC1047-19-D-2026); InCadence Strategic Solutions Corp.,* Manassas, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2027); INNOPLEX LLC,* Columbia, Maryland (HC1047-19-D-2028); Innovation Evolution Technologies JV LLC,* Reston, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2029); Innovative Government Solutions JV LLC,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2030); Integrated Systems Inc.,* Tysons Corner, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2031); Interactive Process Technology LLC,* Billerica, Massachusetts (HC1047-19-D-2032); Mission Support LP,* McLean, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2033); NetCentric Technologies Inc.,* Wall, New Jersey (HC1047-19-D-2034); Riverside Engineering LLC,* Vienna, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2035); Semper AASKI Alliance Inc.,* Canyon Lake, Texas (HC1047-19-D-2036); Superlative Technologies Inc.,* Ashburn, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2037); Synergy Business Innovation & Solutions Inc.,* Arlington, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2038); TekSynap Corp.,* Reston, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2039); Tiber Creek Consulting Inc.,* Fairfax, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2040); ValidaTek Inc.,* Arlington, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2041); and VOLANT Associates LLC,* Chantilly, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-2042), were each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract for Systems Engineering, Technology and Innovation (SETI). This was a competitive solicitation for a multiple-award ID/IQ contract. Two pools were solicited, one unrestricted and one restricted for small businesses. These awards are for the restricted pool. The contracts in the unrestricted pool were awarded on June 14, 2018. The face value of the entire ID/IQ is a ceiling amount of $7,500,000,000. Awardees will each receive a minimum guarantee of $500 applicable to the base ordering period only. All other funding will be obligated at the task order level. Performance locations will be identified at the task order level and may be worldwide. Proposals were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website and 99 proposals were received for the restricted pool. The period of performance is a five-year base period with one five-year option period. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, National Capital Region, is the contracting activity. NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $41,269,021 for modification P00002 to a previously awarded order (N00019-19-F-2474) placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification exercises an option for the design, procurement and integration of flight test instrumentation and data processing solutions for F-35 Lightning II development test aircraft to support the Tech Refresh-3 and the Follow on Modernization Block 4 mission systems configuration. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in February 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participant funds in the amount of $2,470,993 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($16,501,005; 40%); Navy ($8,250,503; 20%); Marine Corps ($8,250,503; 20%); and non-U.S. DoD participants ($8,267,010; 20%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Deloitte Consulting LLP, Arlington, Virginia, is awarded a $21,656,574 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for execution of sustainment and technical support for special projects and electronic systems for experimental, demonstration and developmental technology for the Navy, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies. This is one of four multiple-award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $52,659,079. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work is expected to be completed July 7, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through July 7, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders and are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); and Department of Homeland Security. This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-18-R-0110, which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Four offers were received and four were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0111). Serco Inc., Herndon, Virginia, is awarded an $18,163,831 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for execution of sustainment and technical support for special projects and electronic systems for experimental, demonstration and developmental technology for the U.S. Navy, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies. This is one of four multiple-award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $44,421,226. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work is expected to be completed July 7, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through July 7, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders and are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); and Department of Homeland Security. This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-18-R-0110, which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Four offers were received and four were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0113). McKean Defense Group LLC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $17,594,138 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for execution of sustainment and technical support for special projects and electronic systems for experimental, demonstration and developmental technology for the Navy, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies. This is one of four multiple-award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $42,574,062. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work is expected to be completed July 7, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through July 7, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders and are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); and Department of Homeland Security. This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-18-R-0110, which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Four offers were received and four were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0112). Alutiiq Information Management LLC, Kodiak, Alaska, is awarded a $15,292,491 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for execution of sustainment and technical support for special projects and electronic systems for experimental, demonstration and developmental technology for the Navy, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies. This is one of four multiple-award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $36,742,366. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work is expected to be completed July 7, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through July 7, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); other procurement (Navy); and Department of Homeland Security. This contract was competitively procured via Request for Proposal N66001-18-R-0110, which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Four offers were received and four were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-0110). ARMY The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $21,567,229 modification (P00004) to foreign military sales (United Kingdom) contract W58RGZ-17-D-0052 for engineering services. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 2, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Princeton Hydro LLC,* Ringoes, New Jersey, was awarded a $9,900,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineering services for navigation and flood damage projects. 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 July 7, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-19-D-0003). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Parker Hannifin Corp., Irvine, California, has been awarded a maximum $13,828,991 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-KP2V) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPE4A1-17-G-0011) for F/A-18 spare parts. 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 47-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a June 30, 2023 performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 Navy aircraft procurement funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. UPDATE: Easy Street JD&S LLC, Carol Stream, Illinois (SPE8EC-19-D-0041), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract issued against solicitation SPE8EC-17-R-0002 announced Nov. 8, 2016. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1898178/source/GovDelivery/