News

ARMY AECOM International Inc., Neu-Isenburg, Germany (W912GB-19-D-0028); Atkins-UC JV,* Alexandria, Virginia (W912GB-19-D-0029); Exp-Onyx JV LLP, Chicago, Illinois (W912GB-19-D-0030); HDR Engineering Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado (W912GB-19-D-0031); Jacobs Government Services Co., Arlington, Virginia (W912GB-19-D-0032); Louis Berger U.S. Inc., Washington, District of Columbia (W912GB-19-D-0033); Michael Baker-Cardno JV, Moon Township, Pennsylvania (W912GB-19-D-0034); Parsons Government Services Inc., San Antonio, Texas (W912GB-19-D-0035); and Woolpert-Black & Veatch JV, Beavercreek, Ohio (W912GB-19-D-0036), will compete for each order of the $94,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect, engineering, master planning and design services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 11 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 25, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wiesbaden, Germany, is the contracting activity. QED Systems LLC, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, was awarded a $9,616,948 modification (P00041) to contract W15P7T-14-C-C012 for program management, engineering, logistics, business, administrative, operations and security services. Work will be performed in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 26, 2020. Fiscal 2019 Foreign Military Sales; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $9,616,948 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE UES Inc., Dayton, Ohio, has been awarded a $90,300,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for molecular assessment sensing technologies. This contract provides for basic, applied and advanced technology development research, as well as development and demonstration of discovery of molecular signatures of Airman performance and the operational environment and sensing of these signatures in Air Force relevant scenarios. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is expected to be complete by Aug. 31, 2027. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,222,857 on three task orders are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-D-6109). PAE Aviation and Technical Services LLC, Marlton, New Jersey, has been awarded a $19,156,738 modification to previously awarded contract FA4890-15-C0018 for the Aerial Targets Program. The contract modification provides for the exercise of an option for an additional year of service under the multiple year contract, which directly supports live-fire weapons system testing and enables the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group to perform developmental and operational weapons testing for all air-to-air missiles for the F-15, F-16, F-22, and F-35 aircraft. Work will be performed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida; and Holloman AFB, New Mexico, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds are being used and no funds were obligated at the time of award. The Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Sonalysts Inc., Waterford, Connecticut, is being awarded a $14,516,477 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00008) to the previously awarded contract FA8806-19-C-0002 for Standard Space Trainer Mission-Specific Vendor Plug-in (MSVPs) for the Upward Early Warning Radar. The contract modification provides for future development of MSVPs. Work will be performed at Waterford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $7,300,000 are being obligate at time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $35,209,586.00. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, California, is the contracting activity. NAVY Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, is awarded $74,091,217 for cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification P00055 to a previously awarded contract (N00019-16-C-0002). This modification procures pre-operational support for the Next Generation Jammer-Mid Band pod through the completion of the engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) phase as well as development, test and evaluation (DT&E) activities. Procured support includes organizational-level maintenance, repair, supply chain management, and material support for equipment delivered under the EMD contract, and associated peculiar support equipment/test, measurement, and diagnostic equipment to support DT&E. Work will be performed in Forest, Mississippi (39%); Dallas, Texas (35%); El Segundo, California (16%); Andover, Massachusetts (8%); and Fort Wayne, Indiana (2%), and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,228,948 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. General Dynamics Missions Systems Inc., McLeansville, North Carolina, is awarded a $44,595,146 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N61331-11-C-0017 for low-rate initial production of the Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (SMCM UUV), also known as Knifefish. The Knifefish program is an ongoing effort to provide a UUV that detects and classifies undersea volume, bottom and buried mines in high-clutter environments. The Knifefish system is part of the Littoral Combat Ship Mine Countermeasures Mission Package and can also be deployed from vessels of opportunity. The low-rate initial production effort will provide the initial systems for the Navy to test and operate. Work will be performed in Quincy, Massachusetts (35%); Taunton, Massachusetts (23%); Braintree, Massachusetts (19%); a location to be determined (15%); McLeansville, North Carolina (6%); Reston, Virginia (1%); and Ann Arbor, Michigan (1%), and is expected to be completed by August 2021. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $44,595,146 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Physical Optics Corp.,* Torrance, California, is awarded $27,230,891 for modification P00012 to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-17-C-0078) in support of F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft for the Navy and the government of Kuwait. This modification exercises an option for data transfer unit production support, 160 data transfer units, 160 ground data transfer units, 14 maintenance access cables, 600 mission data transfer devices, and 459 maintenance data transfer devices in support of the Navy's F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G program. In addition, this option exercise procures 37 data transfer units, 35 ground data transfer units, 11 maintenance access cables, 122 mission data transfer devices, and 90 maintenance data transfer devices in support of the Kuwait Super Hornet program. Work will be performed in Torrance, California, and is expected to be completed in August 2021. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Navy ($22,334,109; 82%); and the government of Kuwait ($4,896,782; 18%) under the FMS Program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Airborne Tactical Advantage Co. LLC, Newport News, Virginia, is awarded $13,495,999 for modification P00020 to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00019-15-D-0026. This modification provides for contractor-owned and operated Type IV supersonic aircraft for airborne threat simulation capabilities in support of the Contracted Air Services Program. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia (44%); Point Mugu, California (37%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (19%), and is expected to be completed in May 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award, funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Melbourne, Florida, is awarded $9,938,480 for modification 004502 to a previously issued delivery order 0045 placed against a basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0026). This modification procures eight E-2C compatible AN/APX-122A Mode 5/S interrogators for the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Greenlawn, New York (82%); and Melbourne, Florida (18%), and is expected to be completed in September 2023. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $9,938,480 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 LOGISTICS AGENCY C.E. Niehoff & Co.,* Evanston, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $11,806,163 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for engine air conditioner generators. 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 Illinois, with an Aug. 25, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-D-0152). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1944232/source/GovDelivery/

NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $2,426,326,544 for modification P00002 to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00019-19-D-0015 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter initial spares for the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Spares to be procured include global spares packages, base spares packages, deployment spares packages, afloat spares packages and associated consumables. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (24.4%); El Segundo, California (9.1%); Owego, New York (8.6%); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (7.2%); Cheltenham, United Kingdom (6.2%); Nashua, New Hampshire (5.8%); Torrance, California (5.5%); Orlando, Florida (4.9%); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (3.7%); San Diego, California (3.6%); Phoenix, Arizona (3.1%); Melbourne, Florida (3.1%); Irvine, California (2.5%); North Amityville, New York (2.4%); Windsor Locks, Connecticut (2.2%); Baltimore, Maryland (2.2%); Papendrect, The Netherlands (1.9%); Rolling Meadows, Illinois (1.8%); and Alpharetta, Georgia (1.8%). All orders are expected to be placed no later than December 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award, funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California, is awarded a $1,077,009,532 fixed-price-incentive modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-2235 for the procurement of detail design and construction of Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) 6 and ESB 7, as well as definitization of ESB 6 long lead time material, pre-production and engineering support. Work will be performed in, San Diego, California (57.9%); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (6.0%); Santa Fe, California (5.9%); Beloit, Wisconsin (4.8%); Crozet, Virginia (4.5%); Mexicali, Mexico (3.1%); and various other locations, each accounting for less than 2% (17.8%), and is expected to be complete by January 2025. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $1,626,008,493, and be complete by January 2025. Fiscal 2019 and 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,004,317,973 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with U.S. Code 2304(c) (1) – only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Caterpillar Defense, Peoria, Illinois, is awarded a $54,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-price task order for the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) supporting the Navy's expeditionary force fleet of Caterpillar Heavy Construction Civil Engineering Support Equipment (CESE) at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, California. The purpose of this contract is to provide a SLEP for the heavy construction CESE (motorized and non-motorized), special military construction and commercial support equipment, mineral products and plant facility equipment and power production equipment to support the Navy and other Department of Defense components worldwide. This contract contains an option which, if exercised, will bring the contract value to $65,000,000. Work will be performed in Port Hueneme, California; and Gulfport, Mississippi, installations, and is expected to be completed August 2020. If the option is completed, work will continue through February 2025. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Task orders will be funded by fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funds. Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-19-D-2123). RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Haifa, Israel, is awarded a $13,336,344 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a five-year ordering period for intermediate level and depot level test equipment, spare parts, fixturing, repairs, training, engineering services and material support services to establish organic U.S. government I-Level and D-Level Toplite family of electro-optic sights. Work will be performed in Haifa, Israel, and is expected to be complete by August 2024. Fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $4,407,485 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is awarded on a sole-source basis in accordance with the statutory authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c) (1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-19-D-JQ77). ARMY Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, was awarded a $534,000,000 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for Horizontal Technology Integration Second Generation Forward Looking Infrared (2GF) Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV), azimuth drive assemblies, azimuth drive armor caps and rings, spares, and engineering services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 23, 2026. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W909MY-19-D-0015). MD Helicopters Inc., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $50,440,584 modification (P00024) to Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan) contract W58RGZ-17-C-0038 for logistics support for the Afghanistan Air Force MD-530F aircraft fleet. Work will be performed in Kabul, Afghanistan; and Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 Afghanistan Security Forces, Army funds in the amount of $50,440,584 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp., Overland Park, Kansas (W912DY-19-D-0014); AECOM Services Inc., Boston, Massachusetts (W912DY-19-D-0015); and Zapata Group Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina (W912DY-19-D-0016), will compete for each order of the $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architectural and engineering services. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 22, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co. Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, was awarded a $9,800,000 firm-fixed-price contract for pre-design investigation and design services for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, San Carlos Irrigation Project, power transmission infrastructure improvements located in Coolidge, Arizona. 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 Aug. 22, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles, California, is the contracting activity (W912PL-19-D-0009). WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES Signature Renovations LLC, Capital Heights, Maryland, has been awarded a $100,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. The work to be performed provides various design-build/bid-build construction services at the Pentagon and the surrounding Pentagon Reservation. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2019 Pentagon Reservation Maintenance Revolving Fund will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the contract period. Work performance will take place in Arlington, Virginia. The expected completion date is Aug. 23, 2023. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HQ0034-19-D0018). DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $48,000,000 modification (P00087) exercising the second two-year option period of a three-year base contract (SPE5EY-14-D-0562) with two two-year option periods and one three-year option period for supply chain management of industrial hardware used in aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul. This is a firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and California, with a Sept. 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. B&H International LLC,* Bakersfield, California, has been awarded a maximum $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for computer subassemblies in support of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 2 system. 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 an Aug. 22, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-19-D-0071). AIR FORCE Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Virginia, has been awarded an $8,004,263 modification (P00005) to contract FA4890-17-F-3042 for Cyber Command readiness inspection. This contract will support at 15 U.S. Air Force bases in the continental U.S. The contract modification provides for the exercise of an option for an additional year of cyber security support services under the multiple year contract. Work will be performed in accordance with the performance work statement and is expected to be completed by Sept. 24, 2020. Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Next Century Corp.,* Annapolis Junction, Maryland, has been awarded a $7,607,221 cost-plus-fixed-fee/completion type contract for Multimodal Open Interfaces for Reasoning by Artificial Intelligence software prototype system. This contract provides for an integrated platform that hosts algorithms developed by Technical Area 1 (TA1) and TA2 Knowledge-directed Artificial Intelligence Reasoning Over Schemas performers. Work will be performed in Falls Church, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by May 22, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 35 offers were received. Air Force Research Laboratory/RIKE, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-C-0105). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1943009/source/GovDelivery/

NAVY Diversified Maintenance Systems Inc.,* Sandy, Utah, is awarded a maximum amount $90,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for other specialty trade contractors construction alterations, renovations and repair projects at Naval Bases Coronado, Point Loma, and San Diego, and Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. Projects will be primarily design-bid-build (fully designed) task orders or task order with minimal design effort (e.g. shop drawings). Projects may include, but are not limited to, alterations, repairs, and construction of electrical, mechanical, painting, engineering/design, paving (asphaltic and concrete), flooring (tile work/carpeting), roofing, structural repair, fencing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and fire suppression/protection system installation projects. Work will be performed in San Diego, California. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of August 2024. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 18 proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-D-2626). General Dynamics Mission Systems, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is awarded a $64,838,526 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the Strategic Weapon System Fire Control Subsystem hardware, associated deliverables, and spares for production efforts supporting the second hull of the United Kingdom (U.K.) Dreadnought Class ballistic missile submarines, nuclear, recently named as HMS Valiant, and the U.K. Software Facility. Work will be performed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed Aug. 22, 2025. United Kingdom funds in the amount of $7,570,000 will be obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is being awarded on a sole-source basis to General Dynamics Mission Systems in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(4) and was previously synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunity website. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Butt Construction Co. Inc.,* Dayton, Ohio (N69450-19-D-0517); CORE Engineering & Construction Inc.,* Winter Park, Florida (N69450-19-D-0514); Healtheon Inc.,* New Orleans, Louisiana (N69450-19-D-0515); OAC Action Construction Corp.,* Miami, Florida (N69450-19-D-0518); Optimum Construction,* Lafayette, Louisiana (N69450-19-D-0516); and Signature Renovations LLC,* Loretto, Tennessee (N69450-19-D-0513), are each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award design-bid-build construction contract for construction projects located within the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Mid-South area of responsibility. The maximum dollar value for the five-year ordering period for all six contracts combined is $45,000,000. The work to be performed provides for, but is not limited to, general building type projects (new construction, renovations, alterations, demolition, roofing, repair work), including industrial infrastructure, administrative, training, dormitory and community support facilities. Signature Renovations LLC is awarded the initial task order at $234,859 for Building 789, chiller equipment upgrades, located at NSA Mid-South, Millington, Tennessee. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by February 2020. All work on this contract will be performed in Tennessee. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of August 2024. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance Navy (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $239,859 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be funded by O&M, N. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 19 proposals received. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity. Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded a $44,454,546 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for UHF/VHF standard rack mounted receiver/transmitter radios and accessories to replace out-of-date, non-upgradable radios currently deployed at tactical training ranges worldwide in support of the Systems Replacement and Modernization Program. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed by August 2024. Fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy); and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,689,585 will be obligated at time of 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, Corona Division, Corona, California, is the contracting activity (N64267-19-D-0006). BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $34,872,647 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for up to 505,560 man-hours of technical, engineering, operations and maintenance support for communication-electronic equipment/systems and subsystems. These services are in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Special Communications Mission Solutions Division. Work will be performed at various locations outside the continental U.S. (90%); and California, Maryland (10%), and is expected to be completed in August 2024. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals; two offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-D-0077). Raytheon Co., Intelligence, Information and Services, Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded a $29,919,648 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00421-19-F-0531) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0003). This order provides for the procurement of V-22 Software Support Activity (SSA) systems and software engineering, avionics integration and testing, software testing, avionics acquisition support, and SSA operations to include classified and unclassified laboratories, configuration and data management, and release of avionics software products and related systems. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2017 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force); fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Air Force and Defense Wide) funds in the amount of $29,919,648 will be obligated at time of award, $13,464,417 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Navy ($17,456,960; 58%); the Air Force ($10,847,531; 36%); and the Department of Defense ($1,615,157; 6%). The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded $23,664,866 for modification P00017 to previously issued order 0025 placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-16-G-0001. This modification exercises an option for engineering, logistics, and program management of F/A-18A-D, E/F, and EA-18G aircraft in support of reducing fleet out of reporting rates and maintenance planning. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in September 2020. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,822,000 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. I.E.-Pacific Inc.,* Escondido, California, is awarded $13,231,000 for firm-fixed-price task order N62473-19-F-5136 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-17-D-4628) for construction of a supply warehouse and administrative facility at Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton. The work to be performed provides for construction of a new supply warehouse facility with administrative spaces that will consolidate all supply and administrative support functions for the School of Infantry, West, into one building. In addition, the project will construct an outdoor covered training structure to support and conduct training of personnel for assembly and equipment issuance. The task order also contains one planned modification, which, if awarded, would increase cumulative task order value to $13,332,316. Work will be performed in Oceanside, California, and is expected to be completed by August 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $13,231,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Barnhart-Reese Construction Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded $11,456,209 for firm-fixed-price task order N62473-19-F-5115 under a previously awarded multiple award contract (N62473-17-D-4635) for construction of a satellite fire emergency response station in Area 27 of Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton. The building square footage should not exceed 15,285 square feet. The fire station is anticipated as a single-story building constructed with concrete masonry unit exterior bearing walls, concrete slabs, foundations and a steel frame supported standing seam metal roof. The complex will include administrative spaces, living quarters, changing areas, showers, laundry rooms, training facilities, storage spaces, a fitness room, kitchen/dining/day room facilities, a covered patio, bathrooms, maintenance areas, storage areas and vehicle apparatus bays. The task order also contains one planned modification, which, if awarded, would increase cumulative task order value to $11,490,362. Work will be performed at Camp Pendleton, California, and is expected to be completed by June 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $11,456,209 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Insight Pacific LLC,* Brea, California, is awarded $8,577,620 for firm-fixed-price task order N62478-19-F-4209 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62478-18-D-4026) for repair and maintenance of pumps at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The work on Main Pumps 3 and 4 at Dry Dock 4 includes disassembly, removal, main pump overhaul, motor cleaning/repair rewind and reinstallation. The work will also include the repair/replacement of the pump thrust bearings, shaft, shaft couplings and sleeves, bearing supports, piping, baffle plates, hydraulic blade angle systems and controls, oil head and the complete removal and reinstallation of the existing pump impellers. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by March 2021. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $8,577,620 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is awarded $7,229,582 for cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N00019-19-F-4153 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0003) in support of the Maritime Strike Tomahawk (MST) Rapid Deployment Capability. This delivery order provides for an updated technical data package of the guidance test set, upgrade of existing units to support the MST upgrades, including hardware, software. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (85.2%); Logan, Utah (14%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (0.8%), and is expected to be completed in July 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,229,582 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 LOGISTICS AGENCY Phoenix Textile Corp., O'Fallon, Missouri, has been awarded a maximum $42,261,856 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical surgical products. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a one-year base contract with nine one-year option periods. Location of performance is Missouri, with an Aug. 24, 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 warstopper funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D0-19-D-0006). CORRECTION: The contract announced on Aug. 15, 2019, for Sysco Alabama, Calera, Alabama (SPE300-19-D-3234), for $37,893,960, was announced with an incorrect award date. The correct award date is Aug. 20, 2019. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY The University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, California, was awarded a $19,843,137 cost-no-fee contract for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency research project. Work will be performed in Marina del Rey, California; Arlington, Virginia; and Columbia, Maryland, with an expected completion date of August 2023. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $2,905,000 are being obligated at time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition under a broad agency announcement and nine offers were received. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR0011-19-C-0084). ARMY Weeks Marine Inc., Covington, Louisiana, was awarded an $8,385,050 firm-fixed-price contract for furnishing one fully crewed and equipped hydraulic pipeline cutterhead dredge. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Lafourche, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 7, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Recovery Act, civil funds in the amount of $8,385,050 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity (W912P8-19-C-0061). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1941859/source/GovDelivery/

Posted By: Miriam McNabb Drone technology has direct potential to save lives when used in public safety – but public safety agencies need the drone industry's help to get them implemented. Now, the DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance, an advocacy and resource group for the public safety sector, and the Commercial Drone Alliance have announced a partnership to help get public safety departments the resources they need. “The effort will build bridges between manufacturers, solutions providers, industry, and public safety UAS technology users to help save lives,” says a joint press release. Those bridges are increasingly important. A recent study published by DRONERESPONDERS points out that while adoption of drone technology for fire, police, search and rescue, and disaster response has increased dramatically; needs for training, certification, and other operational tools has also increased. Stay tuned for our upcoming interview with Christopher Todd, Executive Director of Airborne International Response Team (AIRT®) about the work that AIRT and DRONERESPONDERS are doing around the world to save lives with drones. The following is a DRONERESPONDERS and Commercial Drone Alliance press release. WASHINGTON D.C. – The DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance – a 501(c)3 non-profit program of AIRT, Inc. – and the Commercial Drone Alliance, an independent 501(c)6 organization working to collectively merge policy with innovation in the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry – today announced a partnership to assist public safety UAS programs in implementing UAS technologies to yield lifesaving benefits. The partnership between the Commercial Drone Alliance and DRONERESPONDERS will increase dialogue and establish relations between the UAS industry and first responders who are embracing unmanned systems to help lifesaving missions and protect property. According to recent research from DRONERESPONDERS, a majority of public safety agencies are either already operating drones or working on implementing a UAS program. “We are seeing incredible interest in using drones for public safety at the local, state, and federal levels,” said Lisa Ellman, Executive Director for the Commercial Drone Alliance. “Our partnership with DRONERESPONDERS – theworld's fastest growing non-profit program supporting public safety UAS – will serve to strengthen the ecosystem surrounding how first responders work with industry to deploy drones in the national airspace system.” Commercial Drone Alliance members include several of the most prominent technology firms in the U.S. and DRONERESPONDERS will explore ways to leverage this expertise to strengthen public safety's use of drones and UAS related technology. “The Commercial Drone Alliance is home to an amazing roster of companies symbolizing America's technologicalmight,” said Chief Charles Werner (ret.), Director of DRONERESPONDERS. “We welcome the opportunity to work with their members to help deliver cutting-edge UAS-related solutions that benefit public safety agencies across the U.S. and around the world.” The Commercial Drone Alliance and DRONERESPONDERS will collaborate on various initiatives designed to bring lifesaving UAS solutions and related technologies to public safety end users. Part of their efforts will focus on maximizing opportunities at marquee industry events such as the upcoming Commercial UAV Expo Americas in Las Vegas to strengthen ties between the drone industry and first responders using UAS technology. DRONERESPONDERS will hold the 2019 U.S. Public Safety UAS Summit in partnership with the Commercial UAV Expo Americas from October 28-30. “We'll be working directly with the Commercial Drone Alliance in advance of the DRONERESPONDERS U.S. Public Safety UAS Summit at Commercial UAV Expo Americas to lay the groundwork for us to build bridges between the drone industry and public safety,” said Werner. “I expect this will be a hallmark event for the UASindustry.” To register for the DRONERESPONDERS U.S. Public Safety UAS Summit at the Commercial UAV Expo Americas at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, please visit: summit.droneresponders.org About Commercial Drone Alliance Commercial Drone Alliance is an industry-led, 501(c)(6) non-profit association representing commercial drone end users and the broader commercial drone ecosystem. Our members include key leaders in the commercial drone industry, including manufacturers, service providers, software developers, and end users in vertical markets such as oil and gas, precision agriculture, construction, security communications technology, infrastructure, news gathering, filmmaking, and more. For more information, visit: http://commercialdronealliance.org/ About DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance DRONERESPONDERS is the world's fastest growing non-profit program supporting public safety UAS. The DRONERESPONDERS non-profit mission is to facilitate preparedness, response and resilience using unmanned aircraft systems and related technologies operated by public safety, emergency management, and non- governmental volunteer organizations around the world. The DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance is a 501(c)3 non-profit operating program of AIRT, Inc. For more information on DRONERESPONDERS, please visit:http://droneresponders.org https://dronelife.com/2019/08/22/the-partnership-between-commercial-drones-and-public-safety-drone-stakeholders-and-why-its-important/

Hughes Defense connects the ground user with the helicopter giving over the horizon cellular comms from air-to-ground. Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, in partnership with Virtual Network Communications, Inc. (VNC), today announced new joint solutions to extend mobile network connectivity using an integrated combination of VNC's deployable LTE technology with Hughes JUPITER™ and HM satellite systems. The new solutions support various global applications for government, militaries, first responders, and commercial Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). “We're excited to work with Hughes to help expand high speed 4G services cost-effectively in underserved parts of the world, as well as providing the tactical edge for military and first responders,” said Mohan Tammisetti, chief executive officer of VNC. “VNC developed this innovative, edge-centric approach to positively impact lives and keep critical missions connected. Additionally, a new 5G solution is on our development roadmap and we look forward to integrating it with the Hughes JUPITER platform.” For Government & Military: Designed to provide wireless coverage for soldiers or first responders, the new Hughes HeloCell™ Solution integrates VNC's LTE technology with the Hughes HeloSat™ Solution, which provides Beyond Line of Sight (BLoS) communications on rotary-wing aircraft. For military and emergency applications, the Hughes and VNC technologies combine to form an “airborne cell tower” when installed aboard a helicopter or an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The solution provides an extended cellular coverage radius of tens of kilometers, with the satellite terminal backhauling the mobile traffic to and from the network core. The solution can also scale to support more than 100 simultaneous active users on a single, layered system architecture. “Adaptable for rotary-wing aircraft and UAVs, the HeloCell Solution is ideal for extending mobile connectivity in a disaster area or warzone,” said Wayne Marhefka, senior director of business development for Hughes Defense Division. “Together with VNC, Hughes can extend connectivity to soldiers and first response teams who need wireless communications to carry out their missions, especially in remote and disconnected environments. Integrating with our innovative HM and JUPITER Systems technology, these new cellular capabilities will help the DoD build a layered and unified communications network architecture for faster and more-informed decision-making.” For Commercial Mobile Network Operators: The VNC LTE technology can also be integrated with the JUPITER System to backhaul mobile traffic, enabling MNOs to quickly and cost-effectively provide 4G access to people in areas unserved or underserved by terrestrial connectivity – especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas. In tests, the integrated solution sent 4G LTE traffic to the core network at speeds of 200 Mbps. “An economically efficient way for mobile network operators to reach new customers is by backhauling 4G LTE traffic over satellite in areas where it's too expensive to build terrestrial infrastructure,” said Vinay Patel, senior director, International Division at Hughes. “Now, we can offer VNC's innovative 4G LTE technology integrated with our Hughes JUPITER™ System to offer operators a new and cost-effective option to expand their networks.” For more information about Hughes defense solutions, please visit defense.hughes.com For more information about Hughes cellular backhaul solutions, please visit www.hughes.com About Virtualnetcom Virtual Network Communications, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and supports a line of network products for wireless network operators, mobile virtual network operators (MVNO), cable TV system operators, and government and business enterprises that enable new sources of revenue and reduce capital and operating expenses. Our vision is to reinvent how wireless networks service mission critical communications for Public Safety, Homeland Security, Department of Defense and commercial Private Network users. We envision the future of virtualized MICRO networks blanket the Globe, without expensive Terrestrial based Radio Towers and Building installations. For more information, please visit the Virtualnetcom website at www.virtualnetcom.com About Hughes Network Systems Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in broadband satellite technology and services for home and office. Its flagship high-speed satellite Internet service is HughesNet®, the world's largest satellite network with over 1.3 million residential and business customers across the Americas. For large enterprises and governments, the company's HughesON™ managed network services provide complete connectivity solutions employing an optimized mix of satellite and terrestrial technologies. The JUPITER™ System is the world's most widely deployed High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) platform, operating on more than 20 satellites by leading service providers, delivering a wide range of broadband enterprise, mobility and cellular backhaul applications. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 7 million terminals of all types to customers in over 100 countries, representing approximately 50 percent market share, and its technology is powering broadband services to aircraft around the world. Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes operates sales and support offices worldwide, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), a premier global provider of satellite operations. For additional information about Hughes, please visit www.hughes.com and follow @HughesConnects on Twitter. About EchoStar EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in secure communications technologies through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. For more information, visit www.echostar.com. Follow @EchoStar on Twitter. https://dronescrunch.com/hughes-partners-with-startup-to-create-new-solutions-for-extending-lte-coverage-using-helicopters-uavs/

By Kimberly Hoodin Rowan University will lead a $14.5 million Department of Defense/Army Research Lab project to create new composite materials – and ways to process those materials – that will help modernize the Army and improve the safety of soldiers in the field. The project, titled “Advancing Structural Materials for Army Modernization Priorities via Direct-Write Approaches,” will be led by researchers from Rowan University teamed with PPG, Drexel University, Northeastern University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst to create new advanced composite and plastic materials and ways to process them. The project is driven by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory. The team will work on developing innovative materials by using “cold-spray” advanced manufacturing technologies. The work will focus on polymers, starting with polystyrene, then move on to more advanced composite materials and systems, as designated by the Army. “The high particle velocity of cold spray enables rapid cure and adhesion of polymers. This should result in the fast and efficient production of high-performance composite parts or repair of parts,” said John La Scala, associate chief the ARL's Materials and Manufacturing Sciences Division and cooperative agreement manager for the research program. “Additionally, this novel manufacturing methodology is a layer-by-layer production of composites, which should reduce void and flaw content. This should improve strength and durability significantly, thereby opening the potential of using this manufacturing technique to prepare composites for extreme conditions, while replacing the current expensive manufacturing methods with a much more economical methodology.” Researchers hope to develop materials to be used for making military equipment stronger and lighter, soldiers more agile and vehicles more durable. Longer-term, the team sees the potential for use of the materials in the fields of civil aviation, automotive, health care and space exploration. “We will work to make materials more quickly, to make them better and easier to repair offsite and, importantly, onsite in the field,” Dr. Joe Stanzione, associate professor of chemical engineering at Rowan University said. “That includes everything from parts for tanks and jeeps, to usable tools, and helmets.” http://compositesmanufacturingmagazine.com/2019/08/rowan-university-project-will-develop-composite-materials-used-to-protect-soldiers/

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is to get at least two new Leonardo CH-149s as part of the Canadian government's $1.39 billion mid-life upgrade for its Cormorant fleet. Announcing the move Aug. 22 in Comox, B.C., Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said the upgrades to the existing fleet of 14 Cormorants, which are primarily used for search and rescue (SAR) operations, would extend their life to at least 2042. The upgrade program will bring the Cormorants to the latest AW101-612 standard, currently being delivered to Norway to provide that country's new search and rescue fleet. The capability enhancements and equipment improvements in the upgrade include upgraded avionics in a new glass cockpit; new sensors, radar and search enhancement technology; more powerful digitally-controlled engines; wireless in-cabin communications; LED lighting; and rescue hoist upgrades. “Canadians rely on the women and men of the Royal Canadian Air Force to conduct successful search and rescue operations in challenging circumstances,” said Sajjan. “These enhancements to the CH-149 Cormorant fleet will ensure that search and rescue crews have the right equipment to continue providing these life-saving services.” The upgrade program also includes synthetic training solutions delivered by CAE, including Canada's first AW101 full motion simulator. Other companies working to deliver the upgrade include IMP Aerospace and Defence, GE Canada (which will provide the new engines), and Collins Aerospace (which will provide the new cockpit displays and avionics). “Every year, the Royal Canadian Air Force flies about 1,000 missions in support of search and rescue, a core mission of the Canadian Armed Forces,” said LGen A.D. Meinzinger, commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force. “These upgrades to the CH-149 Cormorant, and an increase in fleet size ensures the RCAF will continue to deliver search and rescue services in the challenging Canadian environment.” Canada's Cormorant fleet began service in 2000, and are currently based at 19 Wing Comox, B.C,; 9 Wing Gander, N.L.; and 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S. In 2005, CH-149s from the Trenton main operating base were redistributed to those three bases, but with the addition of at least two CH-149s to the fleet, the type will return to Trenton and replace Bell CH-146 Griffons in the SAR role. Leonardo said the upgrade program will be delivered with “no interruption or reduction” in Canada's rotary search and rescue capabilities. https://www.skiesmag.com/news/rcaf-to-get-2-more-ch-149-cormorants-as-part-of-fleet-modernization/

By BRIAN EVERSTINE PALMDALE, Calif.—Northrop Grumman is expanding its side of the secretive Plant 42 facility here and hiring thousands of employees while development of the new B-21 bomber remains largely under wraps. An older tan hangar-turned-production facility sits next to recently built white and blue buildings. Another large hangar is still under construction, and trailers serving as offices are lined up on-site. Heavy equipment dug through the dirt as speakers praised the evolution of the legacy B-2, which is helping lay the foundation for its next-generation successor, at a recent birthday ceremony at Northrop's facilities. The company won't specifically say whether the growth is driven by the B-21 Raider, only that the new construction is for “programs.” But it has funneled “multiple hundreds of millions” of dollars to improve Plant 42, according to Janis Pamiljans, the president of Northrop's aerospace sector. The company has also grown from about 25,000 to 28,000 employees in California alone since 2015 and continues to hire. “We've been on a tremendous hiring spree ... and you can see the kind of structures being built,” Pamiljans said. Northrop moved some of its other systems, such as the RQ-4 Global Hawk and the MQ-4 Triton, to new locations so it can better serve production of those aircraft. The shifts also free up space for other endeavors. Reporters were not allowed near the new facilities during an escorted visit throughout the Southern California site earlier this week. No other companies that are involved in B-21 development were visible on the premises. The promise of a new design remained even as Northrop and the Air Force celebrated the B-2 turning 30 years old at an Aug. 20 event. The “Spirit of Missouri” was parked in front of a hangar that is now partially used to produce F-35 jet fuselage and is partially dedicated to “other programs,” Pamiljans said. The B-21 is eventually expected to replace the stealthy B-2 over the coming decades. Northrop plans to use the Spirit program's focus on supportability, sustainability, and mission-capable rate as the blueprint for maintaining the B-21 as well. Northrop officials say they are taking lessons learned in the development and sustainment of low-observable technology, a key to the B-2's stealth, and applying them to these “other programs,” Pamiljans said. “The B-2 is setting the path, course for the B-21,” Pamiljans said. “What we've learned on B-2, we're finding baselined into the design of the B-21.” Eighth Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. James Dawkins told reporters in Palmdale that aspects of B-2 sustainment like computers, maintenance, and materials can naturally be leveraged for the B-21. He said the platform's cost and schedule performance are “right on expectations.” “From that standpoint, it's been very successful so far,” he said. “We're really happy about the way Northrop has approached this.” The Air Force remains mum about the state of B-21 production, other than to occasionally say it is going well. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen Wilson said last month the service is planning first flight of the B-21 in December 2021. The service is so far sticking with its plan to buy at least 100 of the bombers to go with 75 B-52s that will remain in service. The Air Force and Northrop continue to crunch overall production numbers, and haven't settled on an exact strategy for phasing out the B-2 as the B-21 comes online. There will be a transition period when both the B-2 and B-21 will be part of the strategic bomber fleet, Dawkins said. “I'm optimistic they will take lessons learned” from the B-2 for “any type of program” the company is developing, he added. http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2019/August%202019/Northrop-Grumman-Expands-Plant-42-as-B-21-Continues-Development.aspx

Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A dispute over budgeting processes could delay NATO's efforts to finalize a $1 billion contract to extend the life of 14 aging Boeing E-3A surveillance aircraft, often called NATO's “eyes in the sky,” sources familiar with the program said. NATO officials have invited the 16 member nations in the Airborne Warning & Control System, or AWACS, program to an extraordinary meeting on Sept. 12 to mark the program's 40th anniversary and resolve the budget dispute, the sources said. Unless the issue is resolved soon, the contract will not be awarded to Boeing in time to be announced as planned at the Dec. 3-4 NATO summit in London, the sources said. “It's disappointing that a one-sided interpretation of the rules is putting this much-needed upgrade program at risk,” said one of the sources. The upgrades would keep the 1979/1980-era airplanes, with their distinctive radar domes on the fuselage, flying until 2035. NATO needs the planes to carry out missions such as air policing, evacuations and counter-terrorism operations. A second source said the dispute was not expected to kill the upgrade program outright, but could well push a contract award to Boeing off until next year, marking a setback for the U.S. contractor at a time when it still is struggling to get its 737 MAX commercial airplane back in the air. NAPMA, the NATO agency that manages the AWACS fleet, said in June it expected to finalize by December a $750 million contract with Boeing to extend the life of the aircraft through 2035, with $250 million more earmarked for design, spare parts and testing. But unanimous consent of member states is needed to proceed, and Norway has raised concerns about an uneven flow of funds to the program until its completion by 2027, the sources said. They said Oslo wants the biggest program states - the United States, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands - to transfer the bulk of their payments at the start, but that is not possible due to budgetary rules in those countries. In the United States, for instance, funding for weapons programs is generally authorized and distributed on an annual basis, subject to approval by the U.S. Congress. Ann-Kristin Salbuvik, spokeswoman for the Norwegian defense ministry, said Norway remained committed to the AWACS Final Life Extension Program and was prepared to finance its share of the program in coming years. But she said a decision to launch the program was contingent on approval by all member states, and the Boeing offer had to be “compliant, affordable and feasible.” Boeing spokeswoman Melissa Stewart on Thursday had no comment on the dispute, saying Boeing continued to work with NATO “to assess needs and present the best options and upgrades that will keep their AWACS fleet operational for years to come.” Once NAPMA presented its recommendations later this fall, member nations still have to agree on technical, financial and managerial aspects of the program, she said. A NATO official downplayed the risk to the upgrade program but acknowledged that it still required securing final signatures on multilateral agreements, confirmation of budget arrangements and negotiation of other “last-minute details.” “Despite the complexity of a $1 billion multinational program being conducted by 16 Allies, these preparations are on track. The plan remains to award the contract in December,” the official said. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nato-boeing-awacs/budget-spat-puts-boeing-contract-for-awacs-upgrades-at-risk-sources-idUSKCN1VC2NN