The US made the wrong bet on radiofrequency, and now it could pay the price

On the same subject

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  February 11, 2021 | International, C4ISR

  Urgently needed: Tech-savvy defense leaders

  By: Nate Ashton Defense priorities are shifting toward emerging technologies at an unprecedented pace, but still not fast enough to keep America ahead of potential adversaries. We need to hit the accelerator by drastically increasing the tech savviness of defense leaders. The defense establishment is better at this than it used to be. We've seen a rapid expansion of new authorities and programs to drive tech innovation since Pentagon leaders started talking about the “third offset” in 2014. The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act continues that trend, establishing a national cyber director position, elevating the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, and calling for open-systems architecture and API usage in some key programs. But we will not keep our current military superiority through these kinds of incremental changes alone. We need a radical shift in how the Department of Defense does business. Any organizational transformation starts with the right leadership. This is doubly true in government, where the bureaucracy is built to maintain the status quo and avoid risk to guarantee continuity of operations and effective stewardship of taxpayer dollars. But understanding where risk and opportunity lies — in areas from cybersecurity to agile procurement — is now much more important than knowing how to manage a major, multibillion-dollar weapons system procurement. The Biden administration and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin should start by filling key acquisitions and management roles with leaders who have experience in the tech or venture sector, or have a record of disruptive innovation within the DoD itself. These people must bring both an understanding of the current tech landscape and a willingness to back the innovators under them. Without a clear, top-down mandate to disrupt the status quo, nothing will change. The new administration should also make it a priority to heed the advice of defense and technology advisory boards. Oftentimes leaders who have spent their careers in tech, venture, and private research and development may be unsuited for full-time government positions, yet bring invaluable perspective and expertise. The Biden administration should continue and accelerate the work already being done to implement the Defense Innovation Board's recommendations for training and software acquisition and the Cyberspace Solarium Commission's recommendations for security. More than identifying useful, new technologies, defense leaders must transform culture and skills at all levels of the DoD to operationalize tech innovation. The hardest part of driving change in a big organization is not recognizing the end goal nor setting policies to get there, but rather operationalizing it at all levels across the millions of active-duty, civilian and contractor personnel doing the day-to-day work. This will take massive investments in training the existing workforce, strengthening the pathways between defense and the national tech and venture ecosystems, and changing processes to enable and incentivize new ways of doing business. The DoD needs to make aggressive investments in the near term. In the near term, defense leaders should: Train all DoD personnel on emerging technology. The need for these types of knowledge across the DoD simply can't be met by existing resources, which is why Dcode has worked with the Defense Acquisition University, AFWERX and others to equip defense leaders to innovate like a startup, evaluate tech like an investor and understand the emerging tech landscape. Provide advanced training and specialization on commercial tech procurement and software procurement for contracting and information security personnel. Today's purchases are best-value decisions that require true subject matter expertise to scope problem sets, assess the best solutions and bring those solutions in. In contracting, the practice of rating bids based on meeting rigid requirements and competing on price alone simply does not work. In security, moving from compliance-based to risk-based approaches will require a massive influx of technical talent and training. Expand, promote and incentivize industry exchange programs both ways: pulling in private sector talent, and sending the DoD's talent on loan to the tech and venture industry. Fund and empower tech innovation hubs. Some of the biggest successes in recent years have come from newer innovation hubs and centers of excellence that are proliferating across agencies and programs. Efforts like these should be encouraged to both replicate best practices from existing hubs that have seen success, seeded with funding to try new things, and matured into programs of record as their business model proves out. One need only look at the significant measurable outcomes that the Defense Innovation Unit and AFWERX have driven in recent years, with a relatively minimal amount of resources, to see that they are only just beginning to scratch the surface. Driving internal disruption at scale will take an exponential increase in the number of people and amount of funding. The future of defense innovation is bright, and the community of passionate leaders inside and outside of the government working to move things forward is incredibly inspiring. I'm hopeful the Biden administration and new Congress will see 2021 as the year to make ambitious investments for the future. https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/02/10/urgently-needed-tech-savvy-defense-leaders/

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  April 29, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval

  Navy Looking to Buy Aircraft Engines as Civilian Demand Dwindles

  By: Megan Eckstein The Navy is moving forward with its plans to take advantage of a commercial aviation slowdown by accelerating new orders, buying spare parts and conducting depot maintenance – all in conjunction with the other services, to get the maximum benefit of what the industry has to offer even while combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Navy acquisition chief James Geurts told reporters today that, both because customers are avoiding commercial air travel and because aviation manufacturing sites are being hit by the coronavirus, “commercial aviation is still remarkably challenged, and remarkably important because we do get a lot of benefit in the DoD from commercial aviation sector, from those companies that work in both areas. So we're working closely with them.” Geurts had said two weeks ago that the Navy was early in the process of identifying what opportunities might exist to keep aviation-related production lines moving despite limited commercial demand, while also building up Navy readiness by boosting the inventory of spare parts or getting ahead of schedule on acquisition or maintenance efforts. After Geurts made those remarks, his counterpart, Defense Department acquisition chief Ellen Lord, said that aviation was the hardest-hit sector in the defense industrial base due to the COVID-19 pandemic and response. Today, asked what opportunity there was to get ahead on aviation acquisition and maintenance even amid the sector's great disruptions, Geurts told USNI News during a media teleconference that the effort is moving forward and that aviation propulsion would be a key focus. “We're working closely with our partners in the other services so we have a whole-of-DoD approach to those companies in those efforts,” he said. He added that his focus would be less about awarding new contracts and instead looking at rephasing or accelerating work, connecting companies with grants and loans they might not otherwise have access to, and more. “We're looking at the full tools we have available and then trying to rapidly tailor those tools and the right mix to each individual sector and each individual situation,” he said. “I don't see a giant DoD-level contract. I think it's more about synchronizing efforts and working closely with my counterparts in the other services so that we're working together to get the maximum benefit, and I think that's more an alignment of strategies and tools than in a large new kind of joint contract.” For example, the Navy is looking at construction programs where “we may not have planned to buy the engine for three months, but maybe we can buy it now and gain some efficiency.” On programs like the P-8A Poseidon, a military version of the popular Boeing 737, the Navy could find money within the program to stock up on parts, or to leverage Boeing depot repair capabilities not being used by commercial planes. “There will be a natural limitation of funding and whatnot, so we can't do that infinitely, but we're looking to leverage all the different toolsets we have,” Geurts said. Outside the Navy budget, Geurts said the Navy has been trying to help its smaller suppliers get connected with the Small Business Administration to apply for loans so they can keep their production moving or even accelerate. And in the Navy's own Small Business Innovative Research, the service has $250 million in awards that Geurts is trying to get out to industry as quickly as possible over the next couple months. More broadly, Geurts said the Navy had already been taking a close look at its domestic and international supply chain and is in a good position now to be making informed decisions as the entire world faces disruptions from this pandemic. In hard-hit Italy, for example, companies that make parts for the Marine Corps' amphibious combat vehicle (ACV) – which BAE Systems builds in partnership with Italian defense contractor Iveco, which designed the vehicle for the Italian Navy – have had to shut down. “Everybody is working very aggressively to manage around it,” Geurts said, adding “there's nothing I would put in a crisis mode yet, we're just keeping an eye on it.” He said for ACV and other programs that rely on international suppliers, the program offices are looking to rephrase elements of construction to account for certain components being delayed, or may look at using spare parts for already-fielded vehicles to support construction. The latter move, though, would have to be done carefully to balance both production and sustainment needs, he said. https://news.usni.org/2020/04/28/navy-looking-to-buy-aircraft-engines-as-civilian-demand-dwindles

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  July 10, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - July 9, 2019

  ARMY General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona, was awarded a $296,100,000 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for the production of Prophet Enhanced systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 15, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56KGY-17-D-0006). Raytheon Lockheed Martin Javelin JV, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded an $11,125,514 modification (P00012) to contract W31P4Q-19-C-0038 for engineering services for the Spiral 3 test and evaluation plan, Spiral 3 system hardware qualification, and Worldwide Ammunition Reporting System requirements to support the Javelin missile system. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 1, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $11,125,514 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp., Atlanta, Georgia, has been awarded a $245,994,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for electronic warfare and avionics system support Georgia Tech Applied Research University and Affiliated Research Center. This contract provides for essential engineering, research and development capabilities and services for the development and sustainment of systems. Work will be performed at Atlanta, Georgia, and is expected to be completed by July 8, 2029. Future orders may include foreign military sales to multiple countries. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,822,133 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Electronic Warfare, Robins Air Force Base, Warner, Robins, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8523-19-D-0006). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Chantilly, Virginia, has been awarded a $92,905,016 ceiling increase and option modification (P00027) to previously awarded FA4600-14-D-0004 for systems engineering, management, and sustainment supporting weather-related missions; increasing the ceiling of the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract and providing for the establishment of options to increase the ordering period by six months. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $392,905,016 from $300,000,000. Work will be performed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2022. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Combat Command 55th Contracting Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is the contracting activity. U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND Maersk Line Limited, Norfolk, Virginia, has been awarded an estimated $170,116,349 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W026). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. American President Lines LLC, Washington, District of Columbia., has been awarded an estimated $140,308,984 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W014). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier LLC, Parsippany, New Jersey, has been awarded an estimated $83,994,841 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W015). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Matson Navigation Company Inc., Oakland, California, has been awarded an estimated $71,217,825 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W027). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Liberty Global Logistics LLC, Lake Success, New York, has been awarded an estimated $68,353,914 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W025). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Farrell Lines Inc., Reston, Virginia, has been awarded an estimated $61,956,899 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W021). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Hapag-Lloyd USA LLC, Piscataway, New Jersey, has been awarded an estimated $55,905,823 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W023). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Central Gulf Lines Inc., New York, New York, has been awarded an estimated $33,998,317 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W017). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. TOTE Maritime Alaska Inc., Federal Way, Washington, has been awarded an estimated $19,451,914 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W036). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico LLC, Jacksonville, Florida, has been awarded an estimated $14,001,976 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W037). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Schuyler Line Navigation Company LLC, Annapolis, Maryland, has been awarded an estimated $12,175,878 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W031). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Young Brothers LTD, Honolulu, Hawaii, has been awarded an estimated $7,293,050 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price contract for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (HTC711-19-D-W040). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2020. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 and 2020 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Henry Schein, Melville, New York, has been awarded a maximum $35,520,833 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for consumable dental items. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Location of performance is New York, with a July 15, 2020, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-19-D-0010). NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $21,256,902 modification (P00004) to a cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (N0001919-F-2512) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification provides for modification kits, special tooling and installation labor for the modification and retrofit of F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in May 2024. Fiscal 2017, 2018, and 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy); non-U.S. DoD participant funds; and FMS funds in the amount of $21,256,902 will be obligated at time of award, $949,495 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Marine Corps ($6,664,143; 31%); Navy ($6,290,194; 30%); Air Force ($4,651,660; 22%); non-U.S. DoD participants ($2,966,510; 14%); and FMS customers ($684,394; 3%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. QED Systems Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, is awarded a $17,630,160 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price ordering provisions for the storage, overhaul, assessment, repair and industrial activity to make ready for issue critical steam plant valves to support Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, engineering, technical, production and subsequent logistic support services (including personnel and facilities) required to develop and integrate technological improvements for Steam Safety and Reliability Program critical spares and 2SCOG program for steam valves installed onboard current LHD-1 class and LCC-19 class, as well as support system life cycle requirements required by Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Code 412. Work will be performed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is expected to be complete by July 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,000,000 will be obligated at award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website with one offer received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N64498-19-D-4026). ATI Wood-Solesi, Corsico, Italy, is awarded a $14,361,448, firm-fixed-price contract for the P1804 Construct Hydrant System at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The work to be performed provides for construction of the P1804 type III hydrant system piping loop and pump control panel that will service fueling operations on ramps 1, 2 and 3. This project will be designed in accordance with the latest Department of Defense standard designs and criteria and will include a hydrant loop with seven hydrant refueling pits, pantograph flush/checkout stand facility, pantograph storage area and the replacement of the pump control panel. This project will increase the efficiency of refueling by decreasing the amount of time refueling operations take and the number of personnel required to refuel the aircraft during peak air operations. Work will be performed in Corsico, Italy, and is expected to be completed by July 2021. Fiscal 2018 military construction, (Defense Logistics Agency) contract funds in the amount of $14,361,448 are obligated at the time of 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 five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-19-C-5022). Cardno-Amec Foster Wheeler Public Works JV, Charlottesville, Virginia, is awarded a $10,934,892 firm-fixed-price task order N62470-19-F-4093 under a previously indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract (N62470-18-D-3009) for inventory existence and completeness of operating materials and supplies at various Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) public works departments. The task order also contains two unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative task order value to $14,868,095. The work to be performed provides for all management, labor, supplies, equipment, information technology, materials and transportation necessary to perform screen of undocumented materials to include identification, inventory, organization, assigning unique locations, and recommendations for disposal. The options, if exercised, provides for the work to be performed at additional NAVFAC locations including Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Sigonella, Italy, Naples, Italy, and Manama, Bahrain. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (22%); Great Lakes, Illinois (9%); Ventura County, California (9%); Norfolk, Virginia (7%); Kingsville, Texas (5%); Coronado, California (5%); Earle, New Jersey (5%); Washington, District of Columbia (4%); Kittery, Maine, (4%); Lemoore, California (3%); Virginia Beach, Virginia (3%); Seal Beach, California (2%); Indian Head, Maryland (2%); Crane, Indiana (2%); Monterey, California (2%); Fort Worth, Texas (2%); Dahlgren, Virginia (2%); Panama City, Florida (2%); Kitsap, Washington (1%); Corpus Christi, Texas (1%); Everett, Washington (1%); New London, Connecticut (1%); Key West, Florida (1%); China Lake, California (1%); New Orleans, Louisiana (1%); Gulfport, Mississippi (1%); Portsmouth, Virginia (1%); and Yorktown, Virginia (1%). The work is expected to be completed by December 2019. Fiscal 2019 Navy working capital fund contract funds in the amount of $10,934,892 are obligated at the time of this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One proposal was received for this task order. NAVFAC AVFAC Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Synensys LLC, Peachtree City, Georgia, is awarded a $9,142,957 firm-fixed-price contract for patient safety services at naval military treatment facilities within and outside of the contiguous United States to include: Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia (25%); Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California (25%); Naval Health Clinic Annapolis, Maryland (10%); Naval Hospital Pensacola, Florida (10%); Naval Health Clinic, Quantico, Virginia (10%); Naval Health Clinic New England, Newport, Rhode Island (10%); and Naval Hospital Naples, Italy (10%). Fiscal 2019 Defense Health Program funds in the amount of $2,198,241 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This is a five-year single award contract and work is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2024. The contract was competitively procured as a total small business set-aside via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with five offers received. The Naval Medical Logistics Command, Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N62645-19-C-0004). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1899728/source/GovDelivery/