May 31, 2021 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
Army Makes Prudent Cuts Funding for Research Procurement
Army Makes Prudent Cuts Funding for Research Procurement
June 1, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
The European Union’s defense ambitions are still showing signs of life
COLOGNE, Germany — A new budget proposal for the European Union shows that the bloc's defense plans are back on the table as the continent pushes to revive its economy following the coronavirus crisis.
Two flagship programs to that end — the European Defence Fund and the Military Mobility initiative — are set to receive €8 billion (U.S. $9 billion) and €1.5 billion (U.S. $1.7 billion), respectively, in the seven-year plan beginning in 2021, according to a proposal unveiled this week by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Those figures are lower than the initial proposal of €13 billion and €6.5 billion for the two budget lines. But they represent an uptick compared with recent negotiation positions that envisioned defense-related spending slashed even more.
Defense spending remains an unbeloved subject in many European countries, and it is notable that there is no dedicated political narrative around building military prowess in the context of the bloc's recovery plan, dubbed Next Generation EU during a May 27 speech by von der Leyen.
Still, the fact that the European Defence Fund — designed to foster intra-continental defense cooperation — remains in the mix is in itself a statement, according to analysts. Defense-spending advocates in Europe believe a robust military can strengthen the EU's hand in trying to assert its role on the world stage with other players like China and Russia.
The new proposal of €8 billion for the European Defence Fund may not seem like much, given the high, upfront costs for multinational military equipment projects, said Sophia Besch, a senior research fellow at the Center for European Reform. “But it's a win for the [European] Commission in the current political context,” she added.
“COVID-19 has shifted the priorities, and even before the crisis there were signs that defense was losing ground in the traditional budget battles,” Besch said. Given that, the new proposal is “better than nothing,” she argued.
At the same time, the de facto reduction would make it harder to prove for the commission that the intended effects can be achieved with the amount envisioned, Besch predicted.
Funding through the European Defence Fund and its associated channels ensures that certain projects in many member states can happen at all, said Yvonni-Stefania Efstathiou, an Athens, Greece-based defense analyst specializing in the emerging European defense-cooperation framework PESCO, or Permanent Structured Cooperation.
“Allocations to the EDF have the potential of triggering more defense cooperation, as those funds will be used to finance collaborative research and common capability development projects,” she said.
What is still missing, however, is an overarching context of where the EU wants to go with its defense ambitions, she argued. “The impact of these funds will be limited unless there is also progress on the common definition of strategic priorities and military requirements.”
The cut to the budget line for military mobility means member states stand to pay more of their own money for updating bridges, roads and rail networks to ensure military equipment can quickly move along the continent in the event of a standoff with Russia.
The work is seen as a critical interface between the EU and NATO, and alliance officials previously expressed hope for a funding injection that could speed projects along, especially in Eastern Europe.
“Unless we have the full costings of how much bridges and roads will cost, it is hard to evaluate whether the funds are sufficient,” Efstathiou said. “What is easy to predict, however, is the dissatisfaction of the Eastern European states.”
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April 30, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR
US makes it cheaper for foreign nations to buy American weapons
By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON ― The Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced this week that it is reducing a surcharge on American defense goods sold abroad from 3.5 percent to 3.2 percent, effectively dropping the price foreign nations have to pay when buying weapons through the Foreign Military Sales system. The change will go into effect June 1. The funding from the surcharge is used to support the FMS process, by which the U.S. government acts as the go-between for industry and a foreign customer, using the American acquisition system. The announcement comes days after the Trump administration rolled out a new set of guidelinesfor conventional arms transfers and unmanned systems as part of a broader push to increase American weapon sales abroad. The U.S. sold $41.9 billion in arms through the FMS process in fiscal 2017, per a DSCA statement. Based on that figure, the U.S. took in roughly $1.46 billion through the 3.5 percent surcharge. Reducing it to 3.2 percent would drop that number to around $1.34 billion. DSCA head Lt. Gen. Charles Hooper tied the surcharge cut directly to that broader goal, saying in the announcement that the change “will immediately reduce the cost of doing business for our international partners.” “It demonstrates the Department of Defense's commitment to charge only what is needed in order to support the administration of the FMS program which includes the sale of defense articles, defense services, and military training,” Hooper added. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2018/04/27/us-makes-it-cheaper-for-foreign-nations-to-buy-american-weapons/
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April 30, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - April 29, 2020
ARMY FN America LLC, Columbia, South Carolina (W56HZV-20-D-0024); and Colt's Manufacturing Co. LLC, West Hartford, Connecticut (W56HZV-20-D-0025), will compete for each order of the $383,311,941 firm-fixed-price contract to provide M16A4 rifles for Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan, Grenada, Iraq, Lebanon and Nepal). 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 April 28, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Travis Association for the Blind, Austin, Texas, was awarded a $12,483,935 modification (P00004) to contract W56HZV-18-C-0067 to support repairing, cleaning, warehousing and distribution of organizational clothing and individual equipment. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Austin, Texas, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $12,483,935 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California, was awarded a $9,933,000 firm-fixed-price contract (W911QY-20-P-0154) for up to 333,000 COVID-19 assays. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $9,933,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 27, 2020) Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Washington, was awarded a $7,675,998 modification (P00002) to contract W912P8-20-C-0010 to exercise option hours for the dredge Glenn Edwards. Work will be performed in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2020 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,675,998 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY American Water Military Services LLC, Camden, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $70,000,000 modification (P00001) to a 50-year contract (SP0600-19-C-8327) with no option periods for additional wastewater utility system construction, repair and replacement work at Target Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant, U.S. Army Garrison West Point, New York. This is a fixed-price contract. Locations of performance are New Jersey and New York, with a Sept. 30, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2016 through 2020 Army military construction funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Raytheon Co., Andover, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $13,688,190 firm-fixed-price, one-time purchase contract for radomes. 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 two-year base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with a March 31, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA2-20-C-0023). UPDATE: Werres Corp., Frederick, Maryland (SPE8EC-20-D-0058) has been added as an awardee to the multiple-award contract for commercial material handling equipment, issued against solicitation SPE8EC-17-R-0002 and awarded June 9, 2017. AIR FORCE Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $32,780,869 fixed-price-incentive-fee, undefinitized contract action for StormBreaker Lot 6 Contract Line Identification Number 6001 - All Up Round (AUR); Simmonds Precision Product and multicut. This contract provides for Simmonds Precision Product and multicut material and labor for parts used in a StormBreaker AUR. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 21, 2022. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 missile procurement funds in the amount of $6,612,745 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8672-20-C-0005). (Awarded April 28, 2020) NAVY Physical Optics Corp.,* Torrance, California, is awarded a $17,783,583 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N68335-20-F-0001) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N68335-19-G-0041. This order provides non-recurring engineering for the production, test, integration and delivery of the T-45 Head-Up Display (HUD) and its associated internal software. Work will be performed in Torrance, California, and also provides airworthiness substantiation and supports the joint software support activity lab and government flight test demonstration for the HUD. This is a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III for research and development performed under the SBIR Topic Numbers N091-003, N152-096 and 04-A-A1.01. Work is expected to be complete by April 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,166,435; fiscal 2019 fiscal aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,387,148; and fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $230,000 will be obligated at time of award, $230,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Vectrus J&J Facilities Support LLC, Colorado Springs, Colorado, is awarded a $17,090,690 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operating support (BOS) services at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Patuxent River, Maryland; Webster Field, St. Inigoes, Maryland; Solomons Annex, Solomons, Maryland; and Point Lookout, St. Mary's County, Maryland. The maximum dollar value including the base period and seven option periods is $190,007,916. All work will be performed in Calvert County (8%) and St. Mary's County (92%), Maryland. The BOS services to be performed include: general information, management and administration, airfield facilities, facilities support including facility management; facility investment; integrated solid waste management; other (swimming pools); special events; and utility management, wastewater, water and environmental services. Work is expected to be complete by June 2028. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $17,090,690 for recurring work will be obligated on an individual task order issued during the base period. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, and seven proposals were received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-20-D-0009). CFM International, West Chester, Ohio, is awarded a $13,582,486 modification (P00172) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-18-C-1071). This modification exercises an option to procure one CFM56-7B27AE commercial-off-the-shelf engine for the government of the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Villaroche, France (50%); and Durham, North Carolina (50%), and is expected to be complete by April 2021. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $13,582,486 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc., Chicago, Illinois, is being awarded a $9,940,010 hybrid-fixed-price, time and materials schedule task order for whole facilities maintenance at various commissaries located in the U.S. and its territories. The task order is for a one-year base period beginning July 1, 2020. The task order includes four one-year option periods. If all options are exercised, the task order will be completed June 30, 2025. Quoters were solicited on the General Services Administration eBuy website, available to 03FAC contract holders, five quotes were received. The Defense Commissary Agency, Enterprise Acquisition Division, Construction Design Branch, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (HDEC03-20-F-0028). Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc., Chicago, Illinois, is awarded a $9,632,375 hybrid-fixed- price, time and materials schedule task order for whole facilities maintenance at various commissaries located in the U.S. and its territories. The task order is for a one-year base period beginning July 1, 2020. The task order includes four one-year option periods. If all four option periods are exercised, the task order will be completed June 30, 2025. Quoters were solicited on the General Services Administration eBuy website, available to 03FAC contract holders, five quotes were received. The Defense Commissary Agency, Enterprise Acquisition Division, Construction Design Branch, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (HDEC03-20-F-0027). Nelson Refrigeration Inc., La Vista, Nebraska, is awarded an $8,840,133 hybrid-fixed-price, time and materials schedule task order for whole facilities maintenance at various commissaries located in the U.S. and its territories. The task order is for a one-year base period beginning July 1, 2020. The task order includes four one-year option periods. If all four option periods are exercised, the task order will be completed June 30, 2025. Quoters were solicited on the General Services Administration eBuy website, available to 03FAC contract holders, five quotes were received. The Defense Commissary Agency, Enterprise Acquisition Division, Construction Design Branch, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (HDEC03-20-F-0033). J&J Worldwide Services, Austin Texas, is awarded a $7,822,654 hybrid-fixed price, time and materials schedule task order for whole facilities maintenance at various commissaries located in the U.S. and its territories. The task order is for a one-year base period beginning July 1, 2020. The task order includes four one-year option periods. If all four option periods are exercised, the task order will be completed June 30, 2025. Quoters were solicited on the General Services Administration eBuy website, available to 03FAC contract holders, five quotes were received. The Defense Commissary Agency, Enterprise Acquisition Division, Construction Design Branch, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (HDEC03-20-F-0030). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2170148/source/GovDelivery/