February 19, 2024 | International, C4ISR
The Singapore Airshow is set to begin amid efforts by the city state to train its air-warfare capabilities at home and in faraway locales.
December 17, 2023 | International, Land
The DIA is revamping itself as the Pentagon shifts its geographic focus away from the Greater Middle East to confront Russian and Chinese ambitions.
November 9, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
By: Joe Gould and Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — The American defense industry is warning that defense cuts proposed by the Trump administration could undermine the Pentagon's efforts to modernize the military and address threats from Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and transnational terrorism. The Aerospace Industries Association, with the weight of the country's large and small defense firms behind it, issued a statement Thursday warning President Donald Trump and Congress “to provide steady and stable growth in defense spending in the fiscal year 2020 budget request and beyond” if they want to be able to meet those threats. The message comes as Democrats — expected to prioritize domestic spending and question record defense increases — won the House this week, and after White House budget director Mick Mulvaney ordered the Pentagon to prepare for a $700 billion national defense budget proposal for fiscal 2020. (For comparison's sake, the Pentagon is also continuing to prep the $733 billion budget it was expecting.) AIA argued in its statement that the last two years of budget growth have helped the Department of Defense and industry turn things around after years of war and budget instability, but not entirely. “As a result, military readiness is improving, and our industry is responding with more innovation and advanced capabilities,” the statement reads. “But the shortfalls of the last decade cannot be erased in the space of two years, and now the Administration has announced potential reductions in defense investment that could undermine the improvements that are just now materializing.” Last year, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis testified that the Pentagon needed 3 to 5 percent annual growth above inflation through 2023 to stay ahead of near-peer adversaries Russia and China. Congress responded with a $700 billion national defense budget for 2018 and $716 billion for 2019 — but also a $1 trillion tax cut that's grown the national deficit. National security adviser John Bolton said publicly, days before Tuesday's election, that the national debt is “an existential threat to society” and that Pentagon spending will have to “flatten out” in the near term. Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan had signaled in recent weeks that modernization programs like hypersonic weapons systems would take a hit if the budget falls. “It comes down to a judgment call, how fast do we modernize? And that's probably the biggest knob that we have to turn,” he said. Along similar lines, AIA argued that to achieve the Pentagon's National Defense Strategy — which "requires armed forces that are large and capable enough to meet multiple threats in multiple environments” — “we must continue to invest in the most effective technology and weapons we can provide.” “America's competitors and adversaries have made huge strides in their offensive and defensive capabilities, from submarines to cyberspace, and continue to develop advanced technology and sophisticated operational concepts,” the statement warns. Though it's unclear how sensitive the administration will be to this call, it has been vocal about its focus on the defense-industrial base in concert with Trump's emphasis on the American economy. A Trump-ordered study found roughly 300 gaps and vulnerabilities across America's network of defense suppliers; Pentagon officials are hopeful a third of those issues will be addressed in the next year. Whatever the administration does with its budget submission, it will be up to the new Congress to tweak it. Following the midterm elections, analysts have predictedlawmakers in next year's divided government will overcome gridlock to reach a budget deal that maintains flat defense spending. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2018/11/08/us-defense-industry-pushes-back-on-white-houses-proposed-33b-budget-cut
November 6, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Dynetics Inc., Hunstville, Alabama (HHM402-19-D-0023), was awarded a five-year base with possible five-year option, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling value of $737,992,267. This contract will provide support services for the Missile and Space Intelligence Center. Work will be performed at Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville, Alabama, with an expected completion date of Oct. 31, 2029. The contract was awarded through a full and open solicitation, and one offer was received. The Virginia Contracting Activity, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY AGENCY METIS/Celestar JV, Tampa, Florida, was awarded a $100,000,000 single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). The contract provides administrative support services to support DCSA. Work locations under this contract will be determined at the individual task order level. Most work will be performed at DCSA Headquarters at the Russell-Knox Building, Quantico, Virginia, and at various DCSA field offices as directed. No funds will be obligated on the base contract award. Due to a small business size protest on Sept. 24, 2019, fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,200,000 are being obligated on the first task order within the next two days. The anticipated delivery schedule includes a five year base period. The request for proposal was posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website on June 27, 2019. Forty proposals were received. The DCSA Contracting Office, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HS0021-20-D-0002). AIR FORCE Mission Essential Personnel LLC, New Albany, Ohio, has been awarded a $95,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for advisory and assistance services. This contract provides for technical and analytical services to support and improve policy development, decision making, management, administration and systems operation. Work will be performed primarily at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE); USAFE bases; USAFE geographically separated units; U.S. European Command; U.S. Africa Command; and U.S. Army in Europe, including Installation Management Command, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 12, 2026. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition, and 11 offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,500 are being obligated at the time of the award. The 764th Specialized Contracting Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is the contracting activity (FA5641-20-D-0001). NAVY CH2M Hill Constructors Inc., Englewood, Colorado (N62470-13-D-6019); Environmental Chemical Corp., Burlingame, California (N62470-13-D-6020); Kellogg, Brown, & Root Services Inc., Arlington, Virginia (N62470-13-D-6021); and URS Group Inc., Morrisville, North Carolina (N62470-13-D-6022), are being awarded an $80,000,000 modification to increase the maximum dollar value of an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract for global contingency construction projects worldwide. The work to be performed provides for the Navy, the Navy on behalf of the Department of Defense, and the Navy on behalf of other federal agencies when authorized, an immediate response for construction services. The construction and related engineering services would respond to natural disasters, humanitarian assistance, conflict or projects with similar characteristics. Work will be predominately construction. The contractor, in support of the construction effort, may be required to provide initial base operating support services, which will be incidental to construction efforts. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $966,000,000, raising the contract value from $886,000,000. The contract completion date was May 2019. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on subsequent modifications for work on existing individual task orders. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Jacobs-Ewingcole JV, Pasadena, California, is awarded a $15,313,983 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of task order N62473-19-F-4996 under an architect-engineer indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for China Lake Conceptual Master Planning Site Payout and Development at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake. The work to be performed is to provide design and engineering services in support of the NAWS China Lake earthquake restoration program. Work will include project definitions for the following: air operations facility and air traffic control tower, Michelson Mission Systems Integration Laboratory, magazines and inert storage facility, aircraft rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) station and community support facilities. Additionally, work will include design build request for proposal development for the following: Hangar 3 replacement, apron, taxiway and utilities, the integration lab, air operations facility and air traffic control tower, the Michelson Mission Systems Integration Laboratory, aircraft parking apron in support of Hangar 2 replacement, the advanced weapons hangar, magazines and inert storage facility, ARFF station and the community support facilities. The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, engineering, materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies and transportation to perform all work described in the request for proposal. After award of this modification, the total cumulative task order value will be $21,822,789. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. Fiscal 2020 military construction, (Navy) contract funds for $15,313,983 will be obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-18-D-5801). ARMY Chinook Systems Inc.,* Arlington, Virginia (W912DY-20-D-0008); Exp Federal, Chicago, Illinois (W912DY-20-D-0009); Shearer and Associates,* Huntsville, Alabama (W912DY-20-D-0010); and HDR Engineering, Omaha, Nebraska (W912DY-20-D-0011), will compete for each order of the $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architectural and engineering services for cyber in support of the various divisions and programs. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 18, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. The Ross Group Construction Corp., Tulsa, Oklahoma, was awarded a $35,042,773 firm-fixed-price contract for construction, repairs, new roofing system, metal wall panel repair, demolition and deconstruction of existing materials and renovations of office space, conference rooms, server rooms, a dock and receiving area and information technology-related activities. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $35,042,773 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (W912BV-20-C-0001). J.F. Brennan Company Inc., La Crosse, Wisconsin, was awarded a $12,828,650 firm-fixed-price contract for construction and installation of lock chamber bulkhead recesses. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Morris, Illinois, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 20, 2020. Fiscal 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $12,828,650 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W912EK-20-C-0011). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Biomet 3I LLC, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $49,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for dental equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency Electronic Catalog. This was a competitive acquisition with 100 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Florida, with a Nov. 4, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-20-D-0021) Aptiv Services 3 US LLC, Irvine, California, has been awarded a maximum $28,370,372 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for F-15 aircraft electrical special purpose cable assemblies. 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 five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a Nov. 5, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Virginia (SPE4A6-20-D-0016). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2009294/source/GovDelivery/