News

By Paul Lungen, Staff Reporter Col. Amos Nachmani has been in Canada for a couple of years now and, along with his family, he's embraced the cold. It's not something he's used to, coming as he does from warm weather Israel. Winter snow and skiing are something they've learned to enjoy, so while they're here, they'll take full advantage of it. As Israel's defence attaché in Ottawa, his sojourn in Canada is slated to last three years. But it's a busy three years, during which he represents the Israeli military and serves as a liaison to the Canadian Armed Forces. It turns out that there is a great deal of co-operation between the two militaries – everything from the exchange of ideas, to trade in hardware. Nachmani, a former tank combatant, infantry battalion officer and intelligence officer, is one of only 22 international military attachés stationed in Canada. The Canadian Armed Forces liaises with other militaries from around the world, but most of them are based in Washington, D.C. Yet ever since then-prime minister Stephen Harper and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to a greater level of military co-operation in 2011, Israel has stationed a military attaché to Canada. At the same time, Canada has its own attaché in Tel Aviv. Military co-operation between the two countries has continued under both Conservative and Liberal governments. “Our relationship is robust and totally agnostic to the notion of who is in power,” Nachmani said. Nachmani said he engages “regularly with the different services in the Canadian Armed Forces, to understand your capabilities, your needs, your plans, in order to see where we can help each other out.” During his time in Canada, he has been invited to military briefings, witnessed exercises and visited bases. In 2017, Nachmani joined former Canadian chief of the defence staff, Gen. Thomas J. Lawson, to discuss “The Future of the Israel-NATO Strategic Partnership.” On Nov. 11 for the past two years, Nachmani laid a wreath during the Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. He's discussed with his Canadian colleagues “force buildup,” in which they share tactical methodologies, best practices and partake in military diplomacy. The idea, he said, is to find areas of common interest, “bridge gaps and find common solutions,” and make sure his Canadian counterparts understand “our side of the picture.” How does that translate in a practical sense? Nachmani points to Canadian involvement in Afghanistan, where our military was part of an international effort to fight al-Qaida. Canadian forces had unfortunate experiences with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which caused casualties. “This is a serious problem. We also encountered this in the past in southern Lebanon and Gaza,” Nachmani said. The two militaries addressed the problem jointly by engaging in research and development of a system that would warn of concealed IEDs. “That brought a good, robust solution and both militaries have implemented it,” Nachmani said. Trade is also part of the military relationship between the two countries. Altogether, Israel defence industries sell to Canada an annual average of a little under US$100 million ($133 million) in military hardware, mostly radar and electronic warfare equipment, he said. Prior to moving to Ottawa, Nachmani commanded the IDF's International Cooperation Unit, where he met Canadian officers. For other militaries, the IDF “is a very valuable partner and ally for a country like Canada, due to our deep understanding of the situation in the Middle East, our intelligence capabilities and assessment, and our operational experience,” he said. Canada has sent troops to Afghanistan, on peacekeeping missions and to Iraq to fight ISIS. Canada turns to Israel, and others, for added value in learning ways to understand the Middle East, he said. From his experience interacting with Canadian soldiers, Nachmani believes the IDF and the Canadian Forces share many values: “These are two Western allies that value the Western way of living, liberal values, law-abiding militaries and countries.” Both have a respect for human life and always try to minimize collateral damage in their operations, he added. While Canada is much larger in size than Israel, its Armed Forces are much smaller. They include only 65,000 career soldiers and another 35,000 reservists. Israel has about 40,000 career soldiers, along with 100,000 conscripts serving at any one time. In times of emergency, it can call up as many as 650,000 soldiers, he said. As for the differences between Israeli and Canadian soldiers, Nachmani pointed out that when Canadians are deployed, they're often sent to the other side of the world. “They don't think how this will affect the people at home,” he said, whereas the average Israeli soldier is usually deployed an hour drive from home, so the attacks on Israel feel personal. https://www.cjnews.com/news/canada/israeli-defence-attache-cultivates-ties-with-canadian-military

NAVY BAE Systems, Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Hudson, New Hampshire, is awarded a $2,684,650,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II full rate production Lots 8-12. This award procures WGU-59/B units to upgrade the current 2.75-inch rocket system to a semi-active laser guided precision weapon to support Navy, Army, Air Force, and foreign military sales requirements to include the governments of Iraq, Lebanon, Netherlands, Jordan, Afghanistan, United Kingdom, Tunisia, Philippines and Australia. Work will be performed in Hudson, New Hampshire (54%); and Austin, Texas (46%), and is expected to be completed in December 2025. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-D-0026). Methuen Construction Co. Inc., Plaistow, New Hampshire, is awarded a $59,397,989 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a paint blast and rubber consolidation facility located at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Work will be performed in Kittery, Maine, and is expected to be completed by September 2023. Project P-293 will consolidate paint, blast, rubber manufacturing, and plastic molding operations into one location within the controlled industrial area by constructing a new facility, converting existing buildings, and demolishing excess footprint. The new facility will be low-rise and consist of high and low-bay industrial shop areas, as well as offices, break rooms, locker rooms, training and support spaces. Buildings #55, #60 and #74 will be renovated and converted to support industrial, maintenance and their administrative functions. Project relocates and consolidates Shop #06 into Building #60. The new facility will support installation of new blast and paint booths requiring ventilation systems, dust collectors, and full floor grit recovery systems. New production areas will also support consolidation of rubber production and molding operations, fiberglass repairs, adequate cleaning/prep areas and environmentally controlled storage for curing preserved products. The high bay area and shaft refurbishment booth will be equipped with bridge cranes. The very large parts work area will have convenient access for portal crane from the waterfront and trucks for component delivery. Fiscal 2018 military construction, (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $59,397,989 are obligated on 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 two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-19-C-9261). BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $50,383,950 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (P00037) to a previously awarded and announced contract (N00030-17-C-0001) to provide services for the U.S. and United Kingdom Trident II D5 strategic weapon system programs, U.S. SSGN (guided missile submarine) attack weapon systems, nuclear weapon surety, and future concepts. Work will be performed at Rockville, Maryland (70.3%); Washington, District of Columbia (14.33%); Kings Bay, Georgia (5.1%); Silverdale, Washington (2.7%); Norfolk, Virginia (1.5%); San Diego, California (1.5%); Alexandria, Virginia (1.1%); Barrow, United Kingdom (1.1%); Ocala, Florida (0.20%); Ball Ground, Georgia (0.20%); Saint Mary's, Georgia (0.20%); Pittsfield, Massachusetts (0.17%); Montgomery Village, Maryland (0.15%); Thurmont, Maryland (0.15%); Buffalo, New York (0.15%); New Lebanon, New York (0.15%); New Paris, Ohio (0.15%); Downington, Pennsylvania (0.15%); Wexford, Pennsylvania (0.15%); Alton, Virginia (0.15%); Springfield, Virginia (0.15%); Vienna, Virginia (0.15%); and Baltimore, Maryland (0.10%), with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. Subject to the availability of funding, fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $39,721,974; and the United Kingdom funds in the amount of $10,661,976, will be obligated. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole source acquisition in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and (4). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00030-17-C-0001). Crowley Government Services Inc., Jacksonville, Florida, is awarded a $49,329,212 modification for the fixed-price portion of a previously awarded contract (N6238715C3135) to fund the operation and maintenance of six maritime prepositioning force vessels, which include the five USNS 2ND LT John P. Bobo class vessels and USNS GYSGT Fred W. Stockham (T-AK 3017). This modification exercises the fourth of four one-year option periods of this contract. The vessels will continue to support Military Sealift Command's worldwide prepositioning requirements. Work will be performed at sea worldwide and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2020. Navy Working Capital Funds in the amount of $49,329,212 are obligated for fiscal 2020, and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N6238715C3135). U.S. Marine Management Inc., Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded a $17,838,903 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N3220517C3503) to fund the third one-year option period. The option will continue to provide one U.S.-flagged Jones Act tanker, M/T Maersk Peary (T-AOT 5246) for the transportation of petroleum product in support of Operation Deep Freeze. The vessel is capable of deployment to worldwide locations. The current contract includes a seven-month firm period of performance and four one-year option periods. Work will be performed worldwide and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2020. The option will be funded by fiscal 2020 transportation working capital funds. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220517C3503). The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, is awarded a $16,063,380 modification (P00154) to a previously awarded firm-price-incentive-firm, firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-14-C-0067). This modification provides for the Lots 6-8 retrofit of optical sensor capability A-kits, aircraft updates, remote interface unit wiring and the Dry Bay Fire Protection System as well as the Lots 9-10 production and delivery of the optical sensor capability and the Dry Bay Fire Protection System for the Navy and the governments of Australia, the United Kingdom and Norway in support of P-8A aircraft retrofits and production. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida (50%); Seattle, Washington (30%); and City, Australia (20%), and is expected to be completed in February 2024. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $20,230,172 will be obligated at time of award, $4,137,839 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Navy ($8,609,976; 54%); the government of Australia ($4,190,152; 26%); the government of the United Kingdom ($2,385,272; 15%); and the government of Norway ($877,980; 5%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Sauer Inc., Jacksonville, Florida, is awarded a $12,912,850 firm-fixed-price contract for recapitalization of ordnance magazines at Harvey Point Defense Testing Facility. Work will be performed in Hertford, North Carolina, and is expected to be completed by May 2021. The contract also contains two unexercised options, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $22,511,903. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance, (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $12,912,850 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The work includes demolition of 16 existing magazines and construction of five new magazines. Options if exercised will include demolition of 15 existing magazines and construction of five new magazines. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-19-C-9163). Compunetix Inc.,* Monroeville, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $12,566,654 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract procures hardware and technical services to support the current release of the Mission Voice Platform (MVP) software suite as well as associated hardware components in support of the Atlantic Test Range at the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland. The MVP software supports real-time voice processing, display, and recording capabilities. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in September 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-D-0056). Thales Defense and Security Inc., Clarksburg, Maryland, is awarded an undefinitized contract action delivery order (N00383-19-F-AQ05) with a maximum amount of $11,967,442 under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-17-G-AQ01 for repair of 73 dome sonars in support of the H-60 Airborne Low Frequency Sonar system. Work will be performed in Clarksburg, Maryland (50%); and Brest, France (50%). Work is expected to be completed by December 2020. Fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $6,091,285 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One firm was solicited for this non-competitive requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Woodward Inc., Fort Collins, Colorado, is awarded a $10,517,399 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for interface equipment for the Rolls-Royce 501-K34 and 501-K17 ship service gas turbine generator. Work will be performed at the contractor's facility located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and is expected to be complete by September 2024. Fiscal 2018 and 2017 other procurement (Navy) funding in the total amount of $769,323 will be obligated at time of award, and funding in the amount of $100,802 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the contracting activity (N64498-19-D-4035). EMS Development Corp., Yaphank, New York, is awarded a $10,300,821 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for supplies relating to the maintenance and repair of the Advanced Degaussing Systems onboard T-AKE Lewis and Clark class vessels. Work will be performed at the contractor's facilities in Yaphank, New York, and is expected to be complete by September 2024. Fiscal 2019 Defense Working Capital funding in the amount of $69,014 will be obligated at time of award, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), this contract was not competitively procured (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). EMS is the original designer, developer, and sole manufacturer of the items covered in this requirement. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N64498-19-D-4021). Harris Corp., Government Communications Systems, Palm Bay, Florida, is awarded a $9,251,213 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 79 mass storage units and 198 bulk data cartridges to integrate Distributing Targeting System (DTS) capabilities into the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft production. In addition, this contract provides for a DTS test set Windows 10 to upgrade one existing test set and replace three test sets with the migration to the Windows 10 Operating System. Work will be performed in Malabar, Florida, and is expected to be completed in September 2025. Fiscal 2017 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,059,463 will be obligated at time of award, $1,456,263 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0081). Modutech Marine Inc.,* Tacoma, Washington, is awarded a $7,337,175 firm-fixed price, General Services Administration (GSA) schedule delivery order for construction and delivery of one small harbor tug (YTL) service craft, along with Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) accessories and crew familiarization for the YTL. This GSA delivery order includes construction and delivery of one small harbor tugboat along with crew familiarization, FSS accessories, and a contract option for one additional small harbor tugboat, which also includes crew familiarization and FSS accessories. Work under the order will be performed in Tacoma, Washington, and is expected to be completed by July 2021. The cumulative value of this contract is $13,473,350, which includes the value of options. Fiscal 2019 Shipbuilding and Conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $7,337,175 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set aside via the GSA eBuy website with two quotes received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-F-2240). DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY The Buffalo Group, Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a base year plus four option year time and materials contract (HHM402-19-C-0091) with a ceiling of $301,029,226 to provide service support for intelligence analysis and support activities to U.S. Central Command Intelligence Directorate (J2). Work will be performed at MacDill Air Force Base, with an expected completion date of Nov. 30, 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $41,139,319 are being obligated at time of award. This contract has been awarded through competitive acquisition and 11 offers were received. The Virginia Contracting Activity, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. VAE Inc.,* Springfield, Virginia, was awarded an $8,390,583 firm-fixed-price contract (HHM402-19-F-0240) to provide information technology products necessary for government operations. The required products will be delivered to the Defense Intelligence Agency's Defense Logistics Operation Center by Dec. 30, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount of $8,390,583 are being obligated at time of award. This contract was awarded through a small business set-aside and nine offers were received. The Virginia Contracting Activity, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. ARMY Lockheed Martin Corp., Liverpool, New York, was awarded a $281,076,408 hybrid (fixed-price-incentive (firm target), firm-fixed-price and cost reimbursable (no profit/fee)) contract to acquire 18 Sentinel A4 Radar Systems. Three bids were solicited with three bids received. Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2026. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $6,500,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-19-C-0058). Gilbane Federal, Concord, California (W912GB-19-D-0040); Bryan 77 Construction JV, Colorado Springs, Colorado (W912GB-19-D-0041); Eiffage Infraestructuras SA, Dos Hermanas, Spain (W912GB-19-D-0039); BBGS SP Z O O, Warsaw, Poland (W912GB-19-D-0042); Warbud SA SKE Support Services GMBH MATOC Poland 1 Spolka Jawna, Warsaw, Poland (W912GB-19-D-0043); and Zafer Taahhut Insaat Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Ankara, Turkey (W912GB-19-D-0044), will compete for each order of the $249,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design and build. Bids were solicited via the internet with 14 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 25, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Technology Services, Herndon, Virginia, was awarded an $88,074,985 time and materials contract for research facilitation laboratory services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Monterey, California, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 28, 2022. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $14,043,377 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-19-F-1334). Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $72,470,367 modification (P00037) to contract W911QX-16-C-0012 for support of continued operations, sustainment and integration of the Saturn Arch Program. Work will be performed in Bridgewater, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 16, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $30,657,603 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Washington, was awarded a $43,865,000 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 25, 2023. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-19-D-0016). Michels Corp., Brownsville, Wisconsin, was awarded a $34,748,425 firm-fixed-price contract for replacing three pump stations. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Kansas City, Kansas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2022. Fiscal 2019 civil construction funds in the amount of $34,748,425 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-19-C-1089). Dyncorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded an $18,881,501 modification (P00256) to Foreign Military Sales (Taiwan) contract W58RGZ-13-C-0040 for aviation field maintenance services. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Germany, Honduras and Kuwait with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2019. Fiscal 2010 and 2019 Foreign Military Sales; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the combined amount of $18,881,501 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Echo Ridge LLC,* Sterling, Virginia, was awarded a $12,960,856 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for purchase of hardware and software development of Low-Size, Weight, and Power handheld software-defined radio platform. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 24, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QX-19-D-0007). Tool Masters Inc.,* Tuscumbia, Alabama, was awarded a $12,550,306 firm-fixed-price, economic-price-adjustment contract for the supply of M18/M83 smoke hand grenades, AN-M14 incendiary hand grenades and M8 smoke pot metal parts. 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 Sept. 30, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-19-D-0089). Patriot,* Dunkirk, Maryland, was awarded an $11,717,372 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation (Building 3072). Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of March 18, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $11,717,372 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-19-C-0039). Edaptive Computing Inc.,* Dayton, Ohio, was awarded a $10,934,280 modification (P00007) to contract W911QY-17-C-0114 for improving medical technology. Work will be performed in Falls Church, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 25, 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $4,836,038 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $10,048,373 cost-plus-fixed-fee Foreign Military Sales (Iraq) contract for technical services, logistics, maintenance training and repairs. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 25, 2020. Fiscal 2019 foreign military sales funds in the amount of $10,048,373 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-C-0198). Pontchartrain Partners LLC,* New Orleans, Louisiana, was awarded a $9,787,000 firm-fixed-price contract for dike raise. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Houston, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 construction and civil works funds in the amount of $9,787,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-19-C-0021). AMTEC Corp.,* Janesville, Wisconsin (W15QKN-19-D-0115); and American Ordnance LLC, Middletown, Iowa (W15QKN-19-D-0118), will compete for each order of the $9,900,000 firm-fixed-price contract for 40mm grenade ammunition integration, fabrication, and testing support. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 25, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Sand Point Services LLC,* Anchorage, Arkansas, was awarded an $8,995,802 firm-fixed-price contract for new temporary lodging facility construction. Four bids were solicited with two received. Work will be performed in Charleston, South Carolina, with an estimated completion date of April 17, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $8,995,802 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, West Virginia, is the contracting activity (W912HP-19-F-7010). TDX Quality LLC,* Cookstown, New Jersey, was awarded an $8,602,603 firm-fixed-price contract for construction, demolition, alteration, and replacement of HVAC components; replacement of electrical components; reconfiguration of interior walls, lighting, plumbing, fire suppression systems; and installation of exterior canopies. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Trenton, New Jersey, with an estimated completion date of March 17, 2021. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 military construction; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $8,602,603 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-19-C-0022). Kleinfelder Inc., Rancho Cordova, California, was awarded an $8,000,000 modification (P00002) to contract W91238-16-D-0019 for geotechnical focused engineering, investigation and design services. 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 Sept. 28, 2021. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento, California, is the contracting activity. Butt Construction Co. Inc.,* Dayton, Ohio, was awarded a $7,816,000 firm-fixed-price contract for renovations (Building 310 and Building 333). Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, with an estimated completion date of April 2, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,816,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-19-C-0043). Structural Associates Inc.,* East Syracuse, New York, was awarded a $7,142,700 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation (Building 252). Bids were solicited via the internet with 10 received. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 25, 2022. Fiscal 2019 sustainment, restoration and modernization funds in the amount of $7,142,700 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (W912WJ-19-C-0013). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Sterling BV Inc.,* San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $54,990,835 firm-fixed-price contract for various bakery items for unitized group rations. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. This is a four-year base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Texas, with a Sep. 24, 2023, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE3S1-19D-Z213). Science Applications International Corp., Fairfield, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $49,500,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical antennas. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New Jersey, with a Sept. 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, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland (SPRBL1-19-D-0078). The Lighthouse for the Blind Inc., Seattle, Washington, has been awarded a maximum $33,868,706 modification (P00014) exercising the second one-year option period to a one-year contract (SPE1C1-17-D-B027) with two one-year option periods for the Multi-Purpose Hydration System (MPHS) and associated components. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Washington, with a Sept. 24, 2020, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Becton, Dickinson and Co., Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $23,686,374 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical surgical products. To date, this is the 14th contract awarded from standing solicitation SPM2D0-12-R-0004. This is a one-year base contract with nine one-year option periods. Location of performance is New Jersey, with a Sept. 28, 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-0007). The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a maximum $11,761,000 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-QM32) against a five year basic ordering agreement (SPE4A1-19-G-0013) for F/A-18 aircraft radomes. This was a sole source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in the Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Location of performance is Missouri, with a Sept. 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using customers are Navy and Foreign Military Sales. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds and Foreign Military Sales funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. IMTT Epic LLC, Savannah, Georgia, has been awarded a maximum $11,728,344 firm-fixed-price contract for contractor-owned contractor-operated services for storage and handling facilities capable of receiving, storing, protecting, maintaining quality and shipping U.S. government owned product. This was a competitive acquisition with one offer received. This is a four-year base contract with one five-year option period and an option to extend, not to exceed six months. Location of performance is Alabama, with a Sept. 30, 2023, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and other federal government agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE603-19-C-5009). American Water Operations & Maintenance LLC, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, has been awarded a maximum $11,503,080 modification (P00033) to a 50-year contract (SP0600-14-C-8290) for the water and wastewater operations and maintenance and the renewal and replacement monthly utility service charge. This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract. Location of performance is Utah, with an Aug. 31, 2064, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded an estimated $10,680,018 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-QM30) against a five year basic ordering agreement (SPE4A1-19-G0013) for aircraft moveable canopies. 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 four-year three-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Missouri, with a Dec. 25, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ZOLL Medical Corp., Chelmsford, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $8,788,500 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for airworthy suction apparatuses under the Corporate Exigency Contract program. 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 Massachusetts, with a Sept. 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 (SPE2D1-19-D-0034). Petro Marine Services,* Seward, Alaska, has been awarded a maximum $8,652,127 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for marine gas oil. This was a competitive acquisition with 41 responses received. This is a 60-month contract with one six-month option period. Location of performance is Alaska, with an Oct. 31, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE608-19-D-0371). Bell Helicopter, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $7,930,951 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-M21T) against a five year basic ordering agreement (SPRPA1-16-G-001W) for H-1 aircraft yoke assemblies. This was a sole source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulations 6.302-1. This is a three-year eight-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Texas, with a May 31, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2022 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AIR FORCE Good Vocation, Macon, Georgia, has been awarded a maximum value of $35,000,000 requirements, indefinite delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to support Air Force Material Command. This contract supports Robins Air Force Base-Wide custodial services. This contract provides for a one year basic contract, with four one-year annual ordering periods for a total period of performance of five years. Work will be performed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2024. This award is the result of a mandatory source acquisition in conjunction with Source America and AbilityOne. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance and Consolidated Sustainment Activity Group funds will be used and no funds have been obligated to the time of award. The Air Force Material Command Operational Contracting, Warner Robins, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8501-19-D-A018). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a $33,119,511 firm-fixed-price task order to deliver Windows 10 migration of the Ground Minuteman Automated Test Stand. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2023. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,523,781 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, ICBM Contracting Division, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8204-19-F-0062). Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, Fairborn, Ohio, has been awarded a $16,253,772 task order for natural gas distribution. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2029. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,353,792 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8601-19-F-A207). Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada, has been awarded a $14,586,963 cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract for Agent Based Core Development and Capabilities software. This contract will extend the Enterprise Engine Model-Oriented Development Environment to an open standards-based agent development architecture and framework and apply it to intelligence and defense use cases. Work will be performed at Sparks, Nevada; and Herndon, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 25, 2022. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation in the amount of $4,812,383 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-C-0139). The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, has been awarded an $11,986,000 modification (P00154) to previously awarded contract FA8625-11-C-6600 for radio frequency (RF) simulator equipment and support. This modification will provide for an RF simulator capable of integrating with the suite of equipment included in the ongoing MDF reprogramming center equipment effort. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington; and Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and is expected to be completed by July 20, 2021. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $11,986,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. The Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Pensacola, Florida, has been awarded an $8,974,967 contract for the Peerless Operator Biologic Aptitude effort. This contract maps the complex and hierarchical networks of molecular expression circuits that drive physical, physiological, cognitive, behavioral, and team performance phenotypes considered key to operator success. The contract provides phenotypic assays and biological circuit feature sets predictive of operator and cadre performance as well as multilayered expression circuit analysis tools and platform. Work will be performed in Pensacola, Florida; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Princeton, New Jersey; Birmingham, Alabama; New York, New York; La Jolla, California; and Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by May 31, 2021. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 15 offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $250,000 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-C-7944). Raytheon Co., Marlborough, Massachusetts, will be awarded a $7,961,184 modification (P00041) to previously awarded contract FA8204-13-F-0009 for the communications installation and sustainment support contract. The contract modification is to definitize a change order and pay actuals incurred for the modification to the design of the Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network program update racks. This modification provides for the installation performed under the basic contract. Work will be performed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana; F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming; and Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2021. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $62,018,401. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 missile procurement funds in the amount of $7,961,184 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity. General Electric Research, Niskayuna, New York, has been awarded a $7,202,223 contract for the Measuring Biological Aptitude effort. The contractor will develop a generalizable computational platform to assess warfighter aptitude and performance based on expression circuits that link macroscopic phenotypes to the underlying molecular biology of the individual. Work will be performed at Niskayuna, New York; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Storrs, Connecticut; and Bethesda, Maryland, and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2021. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 15 offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $250,000 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-C-7945). DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY FCN Technology Solutions, Rockville, Maryland (HE125419F3015), has been awarded a delivery order for laptop computers, desktop computer, and computer carts in the amount of $11,659,268. The location of delivery will be U.S., European and the Pacific regions. The initial delivery is 90 days after receipt of award and covers 12 months. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds will be used to fund the initial order. This contract was competitively procured via a request for quote HE125419Q3018 under the NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, with four offers received. The contracting activity is the Department of Defense Education Activity, Alexandria, Virginia. (Awarded Sept. 23, 2019) *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1971381/source/GovDelivery/

Le budget du ministère des Armées va de nouveau croître en 2020, à 37,5 milliards d'euros. C'est un budget qui ne connaît pas la crise, malgré le contexte économique. Le budget du ministère des Armées va de nouveau croître en 2020 à 37,5 milliards d'euros, soit +4,5%, conformément à la loi de programmation militaire 2019-2025 (LPM), permettant d'investir dans de nouveaux équipements militaires. Il s'agit du ministère qui bénéficie de la plus forte hausse des crédits dans le projet de loi de finances (PLF) pour 2020. "L'effort en faveur de la défense, très nécessaire après une dizaine d'années de restrictions très fortes, est assez exceptionnel dans le contexte budgétaire et financier actuel", commentait-on mercredi dans l'entourage de Florence Parly. Les crédits de la mission "Défense" (nouveaux programmes d'armements, défense spatiale, cybersécurité, nouvelle politique de rémunération des militaires) seront augmentés de 1,7 milliard d'euros l'an prochain après deux années consécutives de hausse. Objectif: 2% du PIB d'ici 2025 Hors de ce périmètre, les crédits de la mission "Anciens combattants" baissent quant à eux d'environ 150 millions d'euros. La LPM prévoit que le budget défense bénéficie d'une hausse de 1,7 milliard d'euros par an jusqu'en 2022, avant des "marches" de 3 milliards par an à partir de 2023. En 2020, les dépenses consacrées à la défense atteindront ainsi 1,86 % du PIB français. L'exécutif s'est engagé à y consacrer 2% du PIB d'ici à 2025. "Les engagements sont tenus", se félicitait mardi soir la ministre Florence Parly au micro d'Europe 1. L'an prochain, "deux tiers de cette hausse, soit 1,1 milliard d'euros, seront consacrés à l'accroissement de nos capacités" militaires, souligne-t-on au ministère des Armées. En 2020, dans le cadre du programme Scorpion de renouvellement des capacités de combat terrestre, le ministère prévoit de commander 271 blindés lourds Griffon (destinés à remplacer la flotte vieillissante de véhicules de l'avant blindé - VAB), 364 blindés légers Serval et 42 engins de reconnaissance et de combat Jaguar, comme prévu dans la LPM. Dans la Marine, les sept premiers avions de reconnaissance maritime (AVSIMAR) seront commandés, ainsi que trois avions de guet aérien Hawkeye E2D. L'Armée de l'Air bénéficiera de la rénovation de quatre avions de transport C-130H. Côté livraisons, les armées recevront en 2020 128 blindés Griffon et quatre blindés Jaguar, le premier sous-marin d'attaque (SNA) de type Barracuda, deux hélicoptères NH90, deux avions ATL-2 rénovés, deux Mirage 2000D rénovés, un avion ravitailleur A330 Phénix ainsi que deux avions de transport militaire A400M. Quelque 12 000 nouveaux fusils d'assaut Les militaires français recevront 12 000 nouveaux fusils d'assaut HK-416 (remplaçant du Famas), dont le nombre dans les forces s'élèvera à 41 300 d'ici fin 2020. Côté ressources humaines, quelque 300 postes supplémentaires seront créés dans les armées en 2020 (contre 450 en 2019), dont 150 dédiés au renseignement et une centaine dans la cyber-défense. Dans un souci de fidélisation, le ministère consacrera par ailleurs 40 millions d'euros à des "mesures catégorielles", notamment sous la forme de primes. "L'enjeu est de retenir les militaires, alors que l'on recrute 26 000 personnels par an", explique le cabinet de Florence Parly. Le montant des provisions destinées à financer les opérations extérieures (Sahel, Levant...) sera augmenté l'an prochain à 1,1 milliard d'euros, contre 850 millions en 2019. https://lexpansion.lexpress.fr/actualite-economique/defense-un-budget-en-hausse-de-4-5-tourne-vers-les-nouveaux-equipements_2099727.html

Defects found in a $5 electrical component will delay the Navy and Air Force nuclear warhead refurbishment program by 18 months and cost more than $1 billion to fix, a National Nuclear Security Administration official said during a congressional hearing Wednesday. The faulty components are small commercially available capacitors that were to be used in upgrades to the Navy's W88 nuclear warheads. These weapons are deployed on the Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missile systems. Similar capacitors are needed to upgrade the Air Force's B61-12 gravity bomb, Charles Verdon, deputy administrator for defense programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration, told members of the House Armed Services subcommittee on strategic forces during the unclassified portion of Wednesday's hearing. When engineers evaluated available parts, they ran tests to determine if the off-the-shelf capacitors were compatible with the systems due for upgrades, Verdon said. Initial results suggested the components would work in the short-term. “Early tests on the capacitors now in question and subsequent tests including component, major assembly and full-up integrated system flight tests demonstrated that these components meet requirement today. Industry best practices were used to stress the components beyond their design planned usage as a way to establish confidence that they will continue to work over the necessary lifetime of the warhead,” Verdon said. “During stress testing, a few of these commercially available capacitors did not meet the reliability requirements.” The problem is, these parts used in the warhead upgrades must survive for decades, up to 30 years after production, Verdon said. However, the quality of each capacitor production lot varied, which led to the stress testing failure. Instead of using the capacitors and risking readiness in the future, Verdon said his agency decided to delay the upgrade work, initially scheduled to begin in December. Replacement capacitors are being produced but will cost about $75 per unit, compared with the $5 per unit cost of the off-the-shelf capacitors that failed stress testing. “The use of commercial-off-the-shelf electric components needs to be improved to reduce future COTS-related risk,” Verdon said. The Navy is working with U.S. Strategic Command to understand how the 18-month delay will affect near-term deployments, Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, the director of strategic systems programs for the Navy, told the panel. “Currently, today, based on what we're doing with STRATCOM, we will meet the requirements as we move forward,” Wolfe said. The Navy and STRATCOM are developing a mitigation plan which includes is reevaluating how to turn around the submarine-based nuclear missile stockpile and how to schedule warheads for upgrades in the future, Wolfe said. More details on the Navy's plan to be discussed in a classified hearing. “If you look at the age of these systems and the technology we're using, these are tough, tough issues to solve, and it's critical technology that we're learning as we modernize these,” Wolfe said. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), chair of the strategic forces subcommittee, said he held the hearing because he wanted more information on what NNSA was doing to avoid more delays. He called the recapitalization “both necessary and hugely expensive” in his written opening statement. “Maintaining Congress and the public's confidence in these programs, and their effective execution, is imperative,” he wrote. https://news.usni.org/2019/09/25/faulty-5-parts-cause-18-month-1-billion-delay-to-navy-air-force-nuclear-upgrades

bY Michael Bruno Lockheed Martin recently broke ground on two new buildings in Courtland, Alabama, a small town 45 mi. west of Huntsville. The buildings will house the manufacturing and testing of hypersonics weapon programs. Lockheed expects to move at least 72 new jobs into Courtland and add another 200 in Huntsville over the next three years. It is big news for Courtland, which saw its population drop to 609 in the 2010 U.S. Census from 769 in 2000. But in the grand scheme of things, the dozens or perhaps hundreds of jobs involved—it is unclear how many are new hires versus relocations or backfill—are a fraction of Lockheed's roughly 105,000-person workforce. Yet it is what President Donald Trump wants to see—and where—and a result of record national security spending of $750 billion annually under his administration that includes new technology priorities such as hypersonics. Not surprisingly, Alabama's powerful Republican Senate appropriator Richard Shelby and Gov. Kay Ivey as well as Lockheed Chairman, CEO and President Marillyn Hewson and officials from the Air Force, Army and Navy made sure to be in Courtland for the public relations event Sept. 16. In 2016, Trump campaigned with a promise to provide a $1 trillion infrastructure plan to upgrade America. Roads, bridges and airports featured prominently. After he took office, Trump latched on to a contentious Republican proposal to outsource FAA air traffic control, which the White House called the cornerstone of his infrastructure push. All of it died legislatively. But before Democrats or others try to score points over the failure, they should understand Trump has still delivered. The truth is that Trump's defense spending and government support of commercial aviation and space are today's equivalent of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. They have been what passes for infrastructure spending, just without roads, bridges and airports. Increasingly, the employment figures are adding up, and so are the beneficiaries such as Courtland. The U.S. aerospace and defense (A&D) industry was responsible for more than 2.56 million jobs in 2018, a 5.5% gain over 2017, thanks primarily to a return to growth across the top tier and supply chain, according to September statistics from the Aerospace Industries Association. The trade association says A&D accounted for 20% of all U.S. manufacturing jobs and paid nearly $237 billion in wages and benefits last year, up 7.72% from 2017. In 2018, the average wage of an A&D worker was $92,742, an increase of 1.36%. That made the average A&D salary 87% higher than the national average salary of a U.S. worker. Hewson promises to hire thousands of workers, almost all in the U.S. “Roughly 93% of our employees are U.S.-based, as are 93% of our 16,000 suppliers, making Lockheed Martin a proud driver of broad-based economic development and opportunity in America,” the company says. A map of employment shows the company has at least 100 employees in half of the 50 states. This is the story across the industry, which is the model for farming taxpayer-funded work across the states in order to build political coalitions to support major A&D programs. On the same day of the Courtland event, Northrop Grumman unveiled its industry team bidding for the Ground-based Strategic Deterrent, including a contractor army of more than 10,000 people in at least 32 states. But all good things come to an end, and warnings are emerging that A&D's infrastructure-like run could sunset. “Trump is now in full ‘2020-reelection mode,' with continued 2022-26 defense funding growth rapidly becoming a secondary issue,” notes longtime defense consultant Jim McAleese. He points to a Sept. 9 rally in North Carolina at which Trump characterized the “rebuilding” of the U.S. military as “complete.” This can matter a lot to communities where federal A&D spending is focused. The Pentagon began to push out information this year to help states and local communities understand how much they depend on defense appropriations. In a report unveiled March 19 at the Brookings Institution, the Defense Department found the top 10 states by total defense spending received in fiscal 2017 accounted for $239.7 billion of the $407 billion total tracked that year. “There's no obvious correlation of red states or blue states, not that there should be,” noted Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow and Brookings analyst. Officials say communities should plan ahead. “It gets back to the rural areas,” says Patrick O'Brien, director of the Pentagon's Office of Economic Adjustment. “Some rural areas see a lot of defense spending; others do not. Where it is occurring, you probably have a very important facility or you have an important presence. And it's up to these local officials to get a better handle on it.” https://aviationweek.com/defense/why-federal-ad-spending-modern-interstate-highway-system

Madrid, September 25, 2019 - The Spanish Ministry of Defence has awarded Star Defence Logistics & Engineering (SDLE) the contract for the maintenance of the Leopard 2A4 vehicle towers. This service for the Spanish Army covers the repair of assemblies and sub-assemblies of the vehicle's fire control systems, as well as the preventive and evolutionary maintenance of the systems. The preventive maintenance will be carried out at the different Army Operating Units, while the corrective and evolutionary maintenance will be fulfilled at SDLE main headquarters, located in Móstoles (Madrid). The company's facilities are fitted with infrastructure for the repair of complete vehicles. Within this contract, all systems failures will be repaired, as well as the obsolescences and product improvements will also be done. This contract, with a total budget of 1.5 million euros, will be developed until the end of 2021. During the last year, SDLE tripled its workforce, currently having 160 employees. This growth has come from the strong commitment and investment in R&D, which earned the company the recognition of Innovative SME in 2018. SDLE has recently expanded its facilities and opened new Optronics, Electronics and Communications & Security Departments, which join the company's Engineering Department for the development of logistical support software at military operations. About SDLE Star Defence Logistics & Engineering (www.sdle.info) has an extensive experience as independent distributor of spare parts for military vehicles and equipment. SDLE is one of the main suppliers of the military sector in Spain, and is already exporting products and services to more than 25 countries. Its continuous growth and commitment to innovation have led the company to also be a leader in logistical and technological support services, as well as in the development of UAVs. Aeronáutica SDLE is the Group Divison specialized in the development and integration of unmanned aerial systems for Defence and Security use. In this field, it stands out for the development of anti-drone systems and solutions to improve the situational awareness of land vehicles. Communication Department Star Defence Logistics & Engineering S.L. Tel. (+34) 914 989 196 tmartinez@sdle.es www.sdle.info https://www.epicos.com/article/486812/sdle-has-been-awarded-contract-maintenance-leopard-2a4-towers

ARMY Globe Tech LLC, Plymouth, Michigan,* was awarded a $132,473,932 firm-fixed-price contract for Explosive Hazard Pre-detonation roller system and ancillary support parts. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-D-0101). TRAX International Corp., Las Vegas, Nevada, was awarded a $90,080,397 modification (P00025) to contract W9124R-18-C-0001 for non-personal test support services. Work will be performed in Yuma, Arizona; and Fort Greely, Arkansas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Yuma, Arizona, is the contracting activity. ACC Construction Company Inc., Augusta, Georgia, was awarded a $28,917,160 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a consolidated mission complex. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Warner Robins, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2018 military construction funds in the amount of $28,917,160 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-19-C-0042). Honeywell International Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, was awarded a $21,227,814 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) contract for engine parts for the Advanced Gas Turbine-1500 tank engine rebuild. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Phoenix, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2022. Fiscal 2019 firm-fixed-price funds in the amount of $21,227,814 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Property and Fiscal Office, Topeka, Kansas, is the contracting activity (W912JC-19-C-5716). HDT Expeditionary System Inc., Solon, Ohio, was awarded a $14,236,369 firm-fixed-price contract for new production, resets, and independent demands for the F-100 Environmental Control Unit. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-D-0109). M1 Services LLC, Denton, Texas, was awarded a $13,875,215 modification (P00040) to contract W9124G17C0104 for aviation maintenance. Work will be performed in Fort Rucker, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 15, 2028. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $13,875,215 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Rucker, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Sevenson-USA Environmental JV,* Niagara Falls, New York, was awarded a $12,035,237 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for environmental remediation construction, investigation, production piping and cleanup of environmental contamination. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in De Soto, Kansas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2024. Fiscal 2019 Defense Environment Restoration Account, and Base Realignment and Closure funds in the amount of $12,035,237 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-19-C-3003). BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., San Jose, California, was awarded a $10,987,920 modification (P00111) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0099 for systems technical support, engineering, logistics and fielding support for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle Family of Vehicles, the Multiple Launch Rocket System Carrier, and the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier Family of Vehicles. Work will be performed in San Jose, California; and Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 24, 2020. Fiscal 2017 and 2019 procurement defense wide funds in the amount of $10,987,920 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Jacobs Ewing Cole JV, Pasadena, California, was awarded a $9,900,000 firm-fixed-price for architect and engineering services. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-19-D-0010). Ashford International LLC,* Killen, Texas, was awarded a $9,548,666 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of Building 26041. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Fort Hood, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $9,548,666 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Hood, Texas, is the contracting activity (W91151-19-C-0038). Bhate Environmental Associates Inc., Birmingham, Alabama, was awarded an $8,829,287 firm-fixed-price contract for demolition services, abatement and removal of asbestos containing materials and other regulated materials, disconnect and capping of utilities, complete removal of utilities, disposal of all debris materials and restoration of the site to a specified condition. Nine bids were solicited with five bids received. Work will be performed in Panama City, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 25, 2021. Fiscal 2010 Air Force funds in the amount of $8,829,287 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W912DY-19-F-1248). Roen Salvage Co.,* Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, was awarded an $8,433,900 firm-fixed-price contract for pier repair. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Duluth, Minnesota, with an estimated completion date of July 1, 2021. Fiscal 2019 civil works; and operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,433,900 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W911XK-19-C-0020). Seneca Construction Management LLC,* Killen, Texas, was awarded an $8,230,000 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of Building 44012. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Fort Hood, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $8,230,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Hood, Texas, is the contracting activity (W91151-19-C-0039). Ashridge Inc.,* St. Stephen, South Carolina, was awarded a $7,395,279 firm-fixed-price contract for Eagle Island disposal area improvements. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Wilmington, North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of March 25, 2021. Fiscal 2019 civil construction; and rivers and harbors contributed and advanced funds in the amount of $7,395,279 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, North Carolina, is the contracting activity (W912PM-19-C-0034). NAVY Blue Rock Structures Inc.,* Pollocksville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6300); Daniels and Daniels Construction Co. Inc.,* Goldsboro, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6301); Joyce and Associates Construction Inc.,* Newport, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6302); Military and Federal Construction Co. Inc.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6303); Quadrant Construction Inc.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6304); and TE Davis Construction Co.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-16-D-6305), are being awarded a $67,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contracts for general construction services within the Marine Corps Installations East area of responsibility. After award of this modification, the total maximum dollar value for all six contracts combined will be $249,000,000. The work to be performed provides for general construction services including, but not limited to, new construction, demolition, repair, total/partial interior/exterior alteration/renovation of buildings, systems and infrastructure, and may include civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, communication systems, installation of new or extensions to existing high voltage electrical distribution systems, extensions to the existing high pressure steam distribution systems, extensions to the potable water distribution systems, extensions to the sanitary sewer systems, additional storm water control systems, painting, removal of asbestos materials and lead paint, and incidental related work. Work will be performed at Navy and Marine Corps installations at various locations including, but not limited to, North Carolina (90%); Georgia (3%); South Carolina (3%); Virginia (3%); and other areas of the U.S. (1%), and is expected to be completed by December 2020. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance, (Marine Corps); and military construction funds. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia (N61331-19-D-0010); L-3 Unidyne Inc., Norfolk, Virginia (N61331-19-D-0011); and Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia (N61331-19-D-0012), are awarded a combined $48,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award supply contract for the provision of hardware, materials, and supplies to support the expeditionary warfare, maritime, littoral and mine warfare programs. The companies will compete for individual delivery orders. Work will be conducted in various Navy ship homeports, and is expected to be completed in September 2020. If all options are exercised, work will continue through September 2024. At the time of award, Booz Allen Hamilton is awarded a delivery order for $224,228; L-3 Unidyne is awarded $10,000; and Atlantic Diving Supply Inc. is awarded a delivery order for $159,714 and a delivery order for $316,757. Fiscal 2017 other procurement, (Navy) funding in the amount of $476,471 (67%); 2019 operation and maintenance, (Navy) funding in the amount of $183,529 (26%); and Navy working capital funding in the amount of $50,699 (7%), will be obligated at the time of award, and funding in the amount of $183,529 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Florida, is the contracting activity. Sauer Inc., Jacksonville, Florida, is awarded a $46,672,691 firm-fixed-price contract for design-build renovation of Building X132 for Military Sealift Command consolidation at Naval Station Norfolk. The contract also contains three planned modifications, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $61,869,188. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction for a comprehensive renovation of Building X132. The project purpose is to consolidate the administrative spaces of Military Sealift Command. The administrative spaces include open office, closed offices, classrooms, conference rooms, meeting rooms, break rooms, a secure enclave, two new security entrance vestibules, and two new stairwells. Four new passenger elevators and one new freight elevator will be provided, using three of the existing elevator shafts. The planned modifications, provides for the furniture fixtures and equipment, audio visual, and electronic security system. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by March 2022. Fiscal 2019 Navy working capital fund, contract funds in the amount of $46,672,691 are obligated on 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 four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-19-C-9263). Ocean Ships Inc., Houston, Texas, was awarded a $47,539,641 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N3220517C3100) to fund the second one-year option period for the operation and maintenance of six Oceanographic Survey ships and USNS Waters (T-AGS 45). This contract includes a 12-month base period, four 12-month option periods, and one six-month option period, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $176,193,231. Work will be performed at sea, starting Oct. 1, 2019, and is expected to be completed, if all options are exercised, by Sept. 30, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $47,539,641 are being obligated and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 23, 2019) Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $38,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-16-C-4316) to continue performance of the repair, maintenance, upgrades, and modernization efforts on the USS Helena (SSN 725) dry-docking selected restricted availability. The contracted requirements include advance and new work efforts necessary to repair, and maintain full unrestricted operation of the submarine, as well as upgrades and modernization efforts required to ensure the submarine is operating at full technical capacity as defined in the availability work package during the Chief of Naval Operations scheduled availability. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be complete in January 2020. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $38,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, USN, Newport News, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Woodward HRT Inc., Santa Clarita, California, is awarded $20,612,550 for delivery order N00383-19-F-NM0K under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-18-G-NM01 for the repair of 402 hydraulic drive units in support of the V-22 aircraft. Work will be performed in Santa Clarita, California, and will be completed by November 2020 with no option periods. Fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy) will be used and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Funds in the full amount of $20,612,550 will be obligated at the time of award. One company was solicited for this non-competitive requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News, Virginia, was awarded a $20,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-15-C-4301 to continue performance of the repair, maintenance, upgrade and modernization efforts for the USS Columbus (SSN 762) engineered overhaul. The contracted requirements include the continuance of execution and new work efforts arising from the availability work package and additional required work discovered during the inspection of shipboard components. This work is necessary to ensure the submarine is operating at full technical capacity as defined in the availability work package during the Chief of Naval Operations scheduled maintenance availability. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2020. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $20,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Newport News, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 23, 2019) Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $20,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-15-C-4301 to continue performance of the repair, maintenance, upgrade and modernization efforts for the USS Columbus (SSN 762) engineered overhaul. The contracted requirements include the continuance of execution and new work efforts arising from the availability work package and additional required work discovered during the inspection of shipboard components. This work is necessary to ensure the submarine is operating at full technical capacity as defined in the availability work package during the Chief of Naval Operations scheduled maintenance availability. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2020. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $20,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Newport News, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Mercury Defense Systems Inc., Cypress, California, is awarded a $13,720,509 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N6833519F0285) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-17-G-0017). This order is for 27 Type II advanced digital radio frequency memories hardware and software for the Navy, Air Force, National Guard and Reserve components. Work will be performed in Cypress, California (72%); and West Caldwell, New Jersey (28%), and is expected to be completed in June 2021. Fiscal 2018 research, development test evaluation (Air Force); 2019 missile procurement and aircraft procurement (Air Force); 2019 National Guard and Reserve Equipment (Defense); and 2019 working capital funds (Defense) funds will be obligated at time of award, $5,589,837 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($8,130,672; 59%); National Guard and Reserve ($5,081,670; 37%); and Department of Defense ($508,167; 4%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Sealift Inc., Oyster Bay, New York, is awarded a $10,090,017 modification under a previously awarded firm, fixed-price contract (N32205165C3501) to fund the fourth one-year option period. The option will continue to provide one U.S. flagged vessel, M/V SSG Edward A. Carter Jr. (T-AK 4544), for the transportation and prepositioning of cargo (including, but not limited to, hazardous cargoes, explosives, ammunition, vehicular, containerized, and general cargoes); and for military readiness for the Department of the Army. The vessel is capable of deployment to worldwide locations. The current contract includes a five-month firm period of the performance, four one-year option periods and one five-month option period. Work will be performed worldwide and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2020. The option will be funded by fiscal 2020 working capital funds. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Delphinus Engineering Inc.,* Eddystone, Pennsylvania (N55236-18-D-0001); Q.E.D. Systems Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N55236-18-D-0002); Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc.,* National City, California (N55236-18-D-0003); Tecnico Corp.,* Chesapeake, Virginia (N55236-18-D-0004); Southcoast Welding & MFG LLC,* Chula Vista, California (N55236-18-D-0005); Bay City Marine Inc.,* National City, California (N55236-18-D-0006); Pacific Ship Repair & Fab Inc.,* San Diego, California (N55236-18-D-0007), and Miller Marine Inc.,* San Diego, California (N55236-18-D-0008), are awarded a combined $7,092,147 firm-fixed-price contract modifications to exercise Option Year Two of their respective previously-awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award contracts to provide depot level repairs, interior and exterior preservation, barge modernization upgrades, dockside and dry dock services for Navy barges in the Pacific Southwest (San Diego) California area. Each contractor shall furnish the facilities and human resources capable of completing berthing and messing barge repair and maintenance services for barges assigned to or visiting the port of San Diego, California. Each contractor will compete for each delivery order when a requirement is identified. Work is expected to be completed by October 2020. No funding is being obligated at time of award. The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., doing business as ADS, Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $30,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity bridge contract for facility maintenance, repair, and operations supplies and related incidental services. 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 an 11-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Southwest Africa, with an Aug. 26, 2020, performance completion date. Using customers are U.S. forces in U.S. Africa Command. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Europe and Africa, Kaiserslautern, Germany (SPE5B1-19-D-0003). Golden State Medical Supply, Camarillo, California, has been awarded a maximum $9,500,000 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for Ziprasidone HCL capsules. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Locations of performance are California and Canada, with a Sept. 23, 2020, performance completion date. Using customers are Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Indian Health Services, and Federal Bureau of Prisons. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D2-19-D-0081). Propper International Inc., Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $8,586,758 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Type I and II flame resistant pants. This was a competitive acquisition with two offers received. This is one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with a Sept. 24, 2024, performance completion date. Using customer is the U.S. Forest Service. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-1195). Alamo Strategic Manufacturing,* San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $7,329,798 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Intermediate Cold Flyers Gloves. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a one-year base contract with three one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Massachusetts and Texas, with a Sept. 23, 2023, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-1194). TRC Government Services LLC, Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been awarded a maximum $7,063,200 firm‐fixed‐price contract for contractor-owned, contractor-operated optimization for retail/bulk fuel services. This was a competitive acquisition with three offers received. This is a four‐year base contract with two five‐year option periods, a four year, six month option period, and an option to extend, not to exceed six months. Locations of performance are Oklahoma and Texas, with a Sept. 24, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE603‐19‐C‐5011). Noble Sales Co. Inc., doing business as Noble Supply and Logistics, Rockland, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $7,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity bridge contract for facility maintenance, repair, and operations supplies and related incidental services. 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 an 11-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Southeast Africa, with an Aug. 26, 2020, performance completion date. Using customers are U.S. forces in U.S. Africa Command. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Europe and Africa, Kaiserslautern, Germany (SPE5B1-19-D-0002). AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $22,656,895 modification (P00027) to previously awarded contract FA8621-15-C-6397 for F-15C and F-15E Mission Training Center. The contract modification is for implementation of Suite 9.1/Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) into F-15C and F-15E MTCs to update F-15 MTCs with Suite 9.1 and add EPAWSS capabilities to the F-15E MTC simulators. Work will be performed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina; Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom; and Kadena Air Base, Japan, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 23, 2021. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $$255,261,067. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $22,656,895 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY Southeastern Paper Group, Spartanburg, South Carolina, is being awarded a firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustment modification (P00026) to exercise the third option period to previously awarded contract HDEC05-16-D-0002. This modification provides miscellaneous operating supplies and paper bags for multiple commissary stores in the continental U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Pacific Theater. The award amount is estimated at $13,056,618 for the option period. Actual obligations using defense working capital funds will occur upon issuance of delivery orders during the period of performance. The contract third option period will begin Nov. 1, 2019, through Oct. 31, 2020. Defense Commissary Agency, Fort Lee, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1970213/source/GovDelivery/

By: Jaroslaw Adamowski WARSAW, Poland — U.S. President Donald Trump and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda inked a joint declaration on advancing defense cooperation Sept. 23 in New York, paving the way for an increased U.S. military presence in Poland. The two countries “continue to develop the plan to bolster Polish–United States military ties and United States defense and deterrence capabilities in Poland. These capabilities presently include approximately 4,500 rotational United States military personnel. As noted, this enduring presence is expected to grow by approximately 1,000 additional United States military personnel in the near term,” according to the declaration. The partners have determined six locations for this designed enhanced military presence. Poznań, in western Poland, is to host the Division Headquarters and the U.S. Army area support group. Drawsko Pomorskie, in the country's northwest, will host the primary Combat Training Center for joint use by the Polish and U.S. Armed Forces. Wrocław-Strachowice, in southwestern Poland, is to host the U.S. Air Force aerial port of debarkation, and Łask, in the country's central part, will host the U.S. Air Force remotely piloted aircraft squadron. Powidz, in western Poland, is to host a combat aviation brigade, a combat sustainment support battalion, and a special operations forces facility, while Lubliniec, in the country's south, will host a special operations forces facility, according to the document. Warsaw and Washington are also in dialogue about “the most suitable location in Poland for an armored brigade combat team,” the declaration says. Warsaw has been seeking a permanent U.S. military presence in Poland, dubbed “Fort Trump,” amid rising security concerns over Russian activities in the region. As part of these efforts, the Polish government offered to earmark at least $2 billion toward the project under which the U.S. would establish a military base in the country. Last June, Duda met with Trump in Washington to discuss the initiative and sign a joint declaration on defense cooperation regarding U.S. force posture in Poland. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/09/24/us-polish-presidents-sign-pact-to-boost-american-military-presence-in-poland/

By Byron Callan This year has shaped up as a record one in terms of the volume of major defense transactions so far announced. Considering deals of $100 million or more in announced value where defense is the primary factor, the 2019 total exceeds $61 billion. Of course, the largest single example is the Raytheon-United Technologies Corp. (UTC) merger. There are reasons to expect heightened activity in 2019 and 2020. Some reasons are known and others can be assessed, but one that does not appear to be affecting market expectations is the Raytheon-UTC deal. Since it was announced on June 9, the companies' share prices have declined from the June 7, close: Raytheon's by 4% and UTC's by 5.7%. The S&P 500 has been flat. However, share prices of peers have risen—General Dynamics is up 5.4%, L3Harris Technologies has increased 6.2%, Lockheed Martin and Leidos have climbed 7% and Northrop Grumman is up 14.4%. These price moves may be attributable to safe-haven seeking by investors who were spooked by global economic concerns and trade wars, but the budget deal reached by Congress also was a factor, as were July earnings reports. The price reactions, however, do not suggest that investors are particularly concerned about the impact of the competitive strength of the Raytheon-UTC union and its ability to take market share away from peers. Nor do they suggest that the deal will trigger a rush by defense-focused companies to merge with commercial ones. Were the latter to be the case, the price reactions may have been similar to Raytheon and United Technologies'. There have been other known developments that raise the question of what is next. Kaman Corp. sold its industrial distribution business for $700 million and will seek to redeploy that capital into engineering products businesses, some of which could involve defense. L3Harris signaled in June that it is undertaking a portfolio cleanup after the completion of the merger, and so there should be divestitures from that company. Textron announced in August that it was reviewing “strategic alternatives” for Kautex, which makes blow-molded fuel systems and other parts primarily for the automotive industry. Presuming that it leads to a sale of that business, Textron will have cash, some of which might be spent on defense. There are general factors as well that could spawn sector merger and acquisition activity in 2019-20. One of the biggest is the potential uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the 2020 U.S. elections. Buyers and sellers have to weigh a number of variables. If the current administration is reelected and control of Congress remains split at least through 2022, then it may be safe to assume that the status quo will continue. One variable within the status quo is how contractor portfolios could be affected by the ongoing efforts of the Pentagon to better align its programs with the National Defense Strategy. Like the Army's “night court” process, this may yet spawn a reassessment of specific programs and their future growth outlook. But if the status quo does not prevail, defense contractors could face a wall of uncertainties in 2020 and may choose to act before rather than after these uncertainties are clarified. First, they will have to assess which Democratic candidate could win the primary cycle and then the nomination. If it is a centrist candidate, the Defense Department spending outlook might not change all that much, although exports to some countries might be curtailed and there could be changes in some Pentagon budget priorities, particularly for nuclear forces modernization. A more progressive-leaning candidate might raise the risk of a more subdued defense budget outlook, particularly if fiscal resources are instead directed toward health care, infrastructure, student debt and other nondefense priorities. Second, there will have to be an assessment of whether a Democratic win of the White House could also flip control of the Senate to the Democrats. If there is a Democrat in the White House but a Republican majority in the Senate, the Senate could still check budgets or policies that may be detrimental to defense. It might also block efforts to roll back changes to tax laws made in 2017. A third variable to be assessed is the attitude of a new administration toward defense mergers and acquisitions, contractor financing and risk. A more progressive administration could look very differently at the structure and financial status of contractors. All these variables will lead to different analyses of current and future value in defense. Is it a good time to hunker down and wait to see what happens or to act in the time that remains in 2019-20 before investors and creditors draw their own conclusions? These uncertainties alone suggest that some will act in anticipation of a change rather than just wait and see. https://aviationweek.com/defense/opinion-after-major-mergers-what-s-next-defense-market