News

NAVY Siemens Government Technologies Inc., Arlington, Virginia, was awarded $828,828,020 for firm-fixed-price task order N3943019F9909 under a previously awarded multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, energy savings performance contract (DE-AM36-09G29041) at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay. The work to be performed provides for the construction, operations and maintenance of energy conservation measures to improve energy efficiency and reliability, which include heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades, lighting upgrades, commercial refrigeration upgrades, distributed generation, renewable energy photovoltaic for both the demand and supply sides, energy storage, power control, supervisory control and data acquisition, water retrofits and wastewater. Work will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and is expected to be completed by April 2043. No funds will be obligated with this award, as private financing obtained by the contractor will be used for the 31-month construction (i.e. implementation) phase of the project. Eight proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity for the task order. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden, Colorado, is the contracting activity for the basic contract. (Awarded July 24, 2019) Baldi Brothers Inc.,* Beaumont, California, is awarded a $30,108,978 firm-fixed-price contract which includes an option for airfield improvements at Naval Base Coronado. The work includes demolishing the existing aircraft parking apron and constructing a new aircraft parking apron, apron expansion, a wash rack, a taxiway and renovating the helipad. The parking apron, taxiway and helipad will include high heat signature paving to support aircrafts. The option provides a thicker apron pavement section including concrete, aggregate base and compacted subgrade. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by August 2022. Fiscal 2019 military construction, (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $30,108,978 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 three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-C-1211). United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded a not-to-exceed $25,000,000 undefinitized firm-fixed-price modification (P00003) to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-19-C-0054). This modification procures milling machines, fixtures and tooling to increase production capacity for critical F135 components. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in February 2022. Fiscal 2019 defense production act purchases (Defense) funds in the amount of $12,500,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Sygnos Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded a $20,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for water and sewer line construction alterations, renovations and repair projects at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Projects will be primarily design-bid-build (fully designed) task orders or task order with minimal design effort (e.g. shop drawings). Projects may include, but are not limited to, alterations, repairs and construction of water and sewer line installation projects. Work will be performed in Seal Beach, California (50 percent); and Oceanside, California (50 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of July 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-D-2607). ARMY Textron, AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland (W911QY-19-D-0033); Arcturus UAV,* Rohnert Park, California (W911QY-19-D-0050); Martin UAV,* Plano, Texas (W911QY-19-D-0032); and L3 Technologies, Ashburn, Virginia (W911QY19D0051), will compete for each order of the $99,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Future Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with 11 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 24, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Solis Applied Science,* Falls Church, Virginia, was awarded a $77,383,996 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for National Ground Intelligence Center remote sensing and image science support services. Three bids were solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 24, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W911W5-19-D-0001). HCS Group P.C.,* Montgomery, Alabama (W91278-19-D-0033); HDR Engineering Inc. of the Carolinas, Charlotte, North Carolina (W91278-19-D-0014); ILSI-Arcadis Small Business JV LLC,* New Orleans, Louisiana (W91278-19-D-0024); Baskerville & Donovan Inc., Mobile, Alabama (W91278-19-D-0013); and Thompson Engineering/Mott MacDonald JV, Mobile, Alabama (W91278-19-D-0015), will compete for each order of the $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect engineer services to support planning, design and construction. Bids were solicited via the internet with 15 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 24, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Ati-Cti JV LLC,* Columbia, Maryland, was awarded a $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect engineer environmental services. Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 25, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-19-D-0044). Messer Construction, Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded a $7,375,000 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of basement and addition to Building 45 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Dayton, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of March 11, 2021. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $7,375,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-19-C-0024). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY City Public Services of San Antonio, doing business as CPS Energy, San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $39,858,681 modification (P00006) to a 50-year contract (SP0600-17-C-8324) with no option periods for additional utility services for the electric and natural gas distribution systems at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract. Location of performance is Texas, with a June 30, 2069, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2069 Air Force operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Aerojet Rocketdyne, Huntsville, Alabama, is being awarded a competitive $18,984,061 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for axial upper stage (AUS) technology risk reduction. The contract award includes a base period in the amount of $11,987,247 and an option period in the amount of $6,996,814. Aerojet Rocketdyne will mature AUS component technologies and analytical tools to demonstrate component, material and architecture solutions to support future development efforts. The work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama. The period of performance for the base period is 24 months, from July 2019 through June 2021. The period of performance for the option period is 18 months, from July 2021 through January 2023. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website under the Missile Defense Agency's Special Topic Broad Agency Announcement for Hypersonic Defense Component Technology, HQ0147-18-S-0002. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $8,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0147-19-C-6501). AIR FORCE Cummins Power Generation Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been awarded an $8,412,000 delivery order (FA8534-19-F-0062) against previously awarded contract FA8533-09-D-0004 for basic expeditionary airfield resources power units. This delivery order brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $263,906,007 from $255,494,007. Work will be performed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is expected to be completed by April 1, 2021. Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $8,412,000 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1917119/

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY GSL Solutions Inc., Vancouver, Washington, has been awarded a maximum $450,000,000 firm‐fixed‐price, indefinite‐delivery/indefinite‐quantity contract for automated pharmaceutical equipment, accessories, maintenance and training under the Patient Monitoring and Capital Equipment Program. This is a five-year base contract with one five‐year option period. This was a competitive acquisition with 36 responses received. Location of performance is Washington, with a July 23, 2024 performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D1‐19‐D‐0016). Crown Clothing Co., Vineland, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $12,386,162 modification (P00009) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-18-D-1079), with four one-year option periods for men's coats and replacement collars. This is a fixed-price contract. Location of performance is New Jersey, with an Aug. 8, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. FN America LLC, Columbia, South Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $10,589,029 firm-fixed-price contract for receiver cartridges. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is South Carolina, with a July 26, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-D-0112). Communications & Power Industries, Palo Alto, California, has been awarded a maximum $7,050,384 firm-fixed-price contract for electron tubes. 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 three-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a June 23, 2022 performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7LX-19-D-0169). NAVY Data Link Solutions LLC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded a maximum potential value $62,300,000 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract (N00039-15-D-0042) for the Block Upgrade II retrofit of Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) low volume terminals. The terminals provide secure, high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital data and voice communications capability for Navy, Air Force and Army platforms. Work will be performed in Wayne, New Jersey (50%); and Cedar Rapids, Iowa (50%). Work is expected to be completed by December 2026. No funding is being obligated on the contract at the time of award. Contract actions will be issued and funds obligated as individual delivery orders are issued. This contract modification was not competitively procured because it is a sole source acquisition pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source (Federal Acquisition Regulation, subpart 6.302-1). The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity and awarded the contract on behalf of the MIDS Program Office. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $27,425,442 for firm-fixed-price delivery order N00024-19-F-5632 under previously awarded contract N00024-15-D-5217 for 165 Technical Insertion Sixteen (TI-16) Common Display System (CDS) Variant A water-cooled production consoles. The CDS is a set of watch station consoles designed to support the implementation of Open Architecture in Navy combat systems. The TI 16 CDS is the next evolution in the CDS family and consists of a three-eyed horizontal display console. This delivery order combines purchases for the Navy (85%); and the government of Japan (15%) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be complete by March 2020. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy); fiscal 2014, 2016 and 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and FMS Japan funding in the amount of $26,935,062 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. ARMY Baysinger-Bric JV,* Marion, Illinois (W91248-19-D-0005); Johnson-McAdams Firm P.A.,* Greenwood, Mississippi (W91248-19-D-0004); and American Engineers Inc.,* Glasgow, Kentucky (W91248-19-D-0006), will compete for each order of the $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineering design services that include preparation of designs, plans, specifications and cost estimates for various projects at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. 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 July 31, 2024. U.S. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1915574/

The Army's retooled rapid capabilities office has received approval to move ahead with its programs to deliver an initial combat capability for a hypersonic weapon in fiscal year 2023, with plans to announce a prototype award in August, and a Stryker-mounted... https://www.defensedaily.com/armys-rapid-tech-office-set-deliver-initial-hypersonics-capability-fy23-50kw-laser-weapon-fy22/army/

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Innovation Associates Inc., Johnson City, New York, has been awarded a maximum $450,000,000 firm‐fixed‐price, indefinite‐delivery/indefinite‐quantity contract for automated pharmaceutical equipment, accessories, maintenance and training under the Patient Monitoring and Capital Equipment Program. This is a five-year base contract with one five‐year option period. This was a competitive acquisition with 36 responses received. Location of performance is New York, with a July 22, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D1‐19‐D‐0017). Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, has been awarded a maximum $9,804,501 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-C15B) against basic ordering agreement SPRPA1-17-G-C101, for H-53 hydraulic fluid tanks. 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 one-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Connecticut, with a Sept. 30, 2020, 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. ARMY ASNA, Santa Ana, California (W911QY-19-D-0045); and Mills Manufacturing Corp.,* Ashville, North Carolina (W911QY-19-D-0046), will compete for each order of the $249,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase T-11 Personnel Parachute System. 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 July 22, 2019. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind, Raleigh, North Carolina, was awarded a $42,289,265 firm-fixed-price contract for full food services to be provided at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2024. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9124J-19-D-0014). NAVY GCR-MDI LLC,* Pinehurst, North Carolina, is awarded an $8,014,356 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operations support services at Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, and outlying areas. The work to be performed provides for base operations support services to include custodial, pest control, integrated solid waste management, grounds maintenance and landscaping, pavement clearance, and other related services. The maximum dollar value including the base period and four option years is $40,320,917. Work will be performed in Kings Bay, Georgia (99%); and outlying areas (1%), and is expected to be completed by September 2020. If all options are exercised, work will continue through September 2024. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2020 Defense Health Program; and fiscal 2020 family housing operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $7,527,488 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the base period. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-19-D-1725). *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1914030//

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (July 23, 2019) – Collins Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), has received its sixth order from the U.S. Army to provide PRC-162 software-defined ground radios for the Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Factor (HMS) program. This sixth order was issued under a multiple award contract that the Army awarded to Rockwell Collins and two other companies in 2016. The contract, which has a $12.7 billion maximum firm-fixed-price with an estimated completion date of March 2026, moves the Army another step closer toward modernizing communications on the battlefield. The PRC-162 is a two-channel ground radio, both man-portable and vehicle-mountable, that will enable the Army to tap into next-generation communications capabilities such as the Department of Defense's new Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) while maintaining interoperability with legacy waveforms. An open-architecture design also allows for software-upgradeable capabilities in the future. “Success in today's multi-domain battlespace depends heavily on secure and reliable communications,” said Phil Jasper, president, Mission Systems for Collins Aerospace. “We've applied decades of proven experience in airborne communications to provide the Army with a next-generation ground radio that will give troops a heightened level of situational awareness and a tactical advantage.” The PRC-162 is a part of Collins Aerospace's TruNet™ networked communications family of products, which includes ground and airborne radios, advanced networking waveforms, applications, and support and services that enable ground and airborne elements to exchange critical data, images, voice and video in real time. About Collins Aerospace Collins Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Created in 2018 by bringing together UTC Aerospace Systems and Rockwell Collins, Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio and expertise to solve customers' toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. For more information, visit CollinsAerospace.com. About United Technologies Corporation United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. By combining a passion for science with precision engineering, the company is creating smart, sustainable solutions the world needs. For more information about the company, visit our website at www.utc.com or follow us on Twitter: @UTC. https://www.epicos.com/article/449255/collins-aerospace-gets-sixth-order-us-army-production-next-generation-manpack-radios

By: Jen Judson WASHINGTON — U.S. Army Futures Command is laying the groundwork to strengthen collaboration with academia and small businesses to solve some of the service's most major problems. The Army has struggled with relationships outside of the established defense industry, particularly with small businesses and Silicon Valley. Small businesses have expressed concerns about working with the government, mostly in regard to the time it takes to secure a contract award as well as the complex and cumbersome government-contracting process. The Government Accountability Office issued a report last week that found Army Futures Command could improve how it works with small businesses. The report was released on the eve of AFC's declaration of full operational capability, which is officially set for July 31. “The funny thing is if I talk to defense primes, they are convinced all we are working with is small business, and I talk to small business all they are convinced ... we are working with the defense primes,” Gen. Mike Murray, AFC commander, said during a July 18 press briefing at the Pentagon. “It's going to take a combination of both for us to accomplish our mission, and in many ways a combination of both working together” to achieve the command's goals in modernizing the Army, he said. But Murray agreed there is more to be done. To its credit, the command was built from scratch and was a “blank canvas” just a year ago, Murray said. The command went from 24 pioneers on the ground at its headquarters in Austin, Texas, to 24,000 soldiers and civilians in 25 states and in 15 countries, over the course of the past year. Since landing in Austin, the AFC has established “focused relationships” with industry and academia, he added. Engaging small businesses One critical step toward engagement with small businesses was the creation of the Army Applications Laboratory in Austin's Capital Factory — an innovation hub for entrepreneurs in the heart of the city's downtown. The venue, with more than 100 Army personnel, is to identify novel solutions to benefit the Army's modernization priorities. For example, the lab is kicking off a major effort this week to discover out-of-the-box solutions for an autoloader for its Extended Range Cannon Artillery system in development under its top priority — Long Range Precision Fires. Additionally, a capability the Army was eyeing a year ago — discovered at the Capital Factory — will be tested at the flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama, as the service refines its new lot of virtual reality trainers being tested in a pilot program. The Senseye technology is software that can track a pilot's irises during flight simulation training to determine when a person has neurologically learned a task. The Air Force has already incorporated this technology into its simulators. The commander of the Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker said in April at the Army Aviation Association of America symposium that the technology is promising. If all goes well, the commander added, the tech could be used as part of the Army's Synthetic Training Environment. The Army has a cross-functional team, or CFT, within Futures Command focused on such an environment. The GAO recommended the AFC use its cross-functional teams to enhance small business engagement. The Army Applications Lab was also recently at Fort Hood, Texas, working with soldiers on the ground to identify problems that could be solved by small businesses. The lab also completed a trip overseas, Murray noted, but he would not discuss specifics on the location. “I'm not going to say particularly where. There was some specific re-coding of some mission command systems, which significantly helped,” he said. The GAO also recommended the command focus on better engaging small businesses for research and development programs. The command has established four related initiatives, according to the report: It set up the Army Research Laboratory Open Campus 2.0, which transitions scientific research from universities to Army technology development efforts. The command set up the Army Capability Accelerator to help small businesses mature concepts into prototypes and validate early-stage technology. This is managed within the Army Applications Lab. The Army Strategic Capital restructures a prior effort that takes venture capital to offset Army development costs by investing in existing Army Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Lastly, Halo is an effort to accelerate the “adaptation and transition of commercial and startup-derived products to Army applications and programs,” according to the GAO report. The Army Applications Lab will also manage the effort. Murray is in the process of hiring a lead for a small-business office within AFC. While the Army already has a servicewide small-business office, the GAO recommended AFC interface and use that office to improve relations with small businesses. The office will “make sure that we are at least knowledgeable focusing on capitalizing on anything that small businesses have to offer,” Murray said. AFC is also in the preliminary stage of arranging an event in Austin to establish relationships between small businesses and defense primes, Murray said. “One thing I worry about with small business is the ability to scale,” he said, “so there are a lot of ways they can scale, and one of the ways is working with a defense prime.” While defense primes have relationships with small business, Murray noted, the effort would foster new ones that might not exist. Academic pursuits AFC has also established the University Technology Development Division, which serves as the primary link between the command and its academic partners, Murray said. “That is taking root in several key places,” he explained, including Vanderbilt University, which is partnering with the 101st Airborne Division; Carnegie Mellon University, the home of the Army's Artificial Intelligence Task Force; and the University of Texas as well as Texas A&M, where the command is beginning work on several key programs. In addition to providing the building for AFC's headquarters and offering up roughly 10,000 square feet of office space and labs at its Cockrell School of Engineering, the University of Texas is building a robotics institute for the Army by converting an old building into a lab “at fairly significant cost,” Murray said. Murray has tasked engineers at the University of Texas to study the utility of robotics taking over the dirty and dangerous work while keeping soldiers out of harm's way, even bringing a leading engineering professor from the school on a recent trip to Yakima Air Force Base in Washington state to witness a robotic breach experiment that was part of the service's Joint Warfighting Assessment. The lab will also work on battery technologies, Murray added. The inventor of the lithium battery works at the University of Texas. Texas A&M is focused on hypersonics and directed-energy research, according to Murray. The university will eventually build a soldier-development facility at its RELLIS campus“where we will be able to marry up soldiers with graduate students and faculty to go into some agile development capability in solving problems for soldiers,” he said. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/07/22/can-futures-command-change-the-armys-relationship-with-academia-and-small-business/

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Hamilton Medical Inc., Reno, Nevada, has been awarded a maximum $75,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for patient monitoring and capital equipment systems and accessories. This was a competitive acquisition with 36 responses received. This is a five-year base contract with one five-year option period. Location of performance is Nevada, with a July 21, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D1-19-D-0021). Draeger Inc., Telford, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a maximum $60,000,000 modification (P00021) exercising the fifth one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE2D1-14-D-0004) with nine one-year option periods for patient monitoring systems, subsystems, accessories, consumables and training. This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract. Location of performance is Pennsylvania, with an Aug. 5, 2020, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. CenterPoint Energy Services Inc., Houston, Texas, has been awarded an estimated $12,337,969 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment requirements contract for pipeline quality direct supply natural gas. This was a competitive acquisition with five offers received. This is a two-year contract with a possible six-month carryover. Locations of performance are Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, with a Sept. 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Air Force and federal civilian agencies. No money is obligated at the time of award; however, customers are solely responsible for funding. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE604-19-D-7515). International Business Machines Corp., Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $7,695,744 modification (P00002) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SP4701-18-C-0048) with four one-year option periods for technical and functional services for the Defense Agency Initiative. This is a firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract. Locations of performance are Virginia and other areas in the continental U.S., with a July 31, 2020, performance completion date. Using customer is Defense Logistics Agency. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 operations and maintenance funds, and research, development, test and evaluation funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Contracting Services Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bell Helicopter, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $7,394,295 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-M21B) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPRPA1-16-G-001W) for H-1 aircraft gear box 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 five-year, two-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Texas, with an Aug. 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. CORRECTION: The contract announced on July 19, 2019, for Brit Systems LLC, Dallas, Texas (SPE2D1-19-D-0020), for $400,000,000 was announced with an incorrect award date. The correct award date is July 22, 2019. AIR FORCE Frontier Technology Inc., Beavercreek, Ohio, has been awarded a $47,246,679 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for supporting the enterprise ground system and defensive cyber operations. This contract award provides for cross-domain solutions, design, integration and rapid delivery team services. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Beverly, Massachusetts; and Los Angeles, California, and is expected to be completed by July 19, 2024. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $1,876,545 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract was the result of a sole-source acquisition. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8806-19-C-0004). NAVY Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded $33,755,229 for firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N00019-19-F-0272 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0026) in support of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. This order procures material kits and retrofit labor to incorporate the Integrated Functional Capability 4.0 configuration into retrofit aircraft and ground segments. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (41.2%); Palmdale, California (30.7%); Waco, Texas (9.9%); Salt Lake City, Utah (2.9%); Newtown, North Dakota (2.5%) Verona, Wisconsin (1.6%); Sterling, Virginia (1.5%); Irvine, California (1%); San Clemente, California (0.7%); and various locations inside and outside the continental U.S. (7.9% and 0.1%, respectively). Work is expected to be completed in January 2022. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $33,755,229 are being obligated at time of award, $1,719,061 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $15,707,204 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-16-C-5136) for AEGIS Weapons System design requirements in support of Guided Missile Frigate (FFG(X)). The Frigate Combat Management System (CMS) contract includes the design of the CMS. The planned contract action will modify CMS capabilities under development and integrate increased combat system element capability, resulting in an AEGIS Weapon System that aligns with FFG(X) class ships. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,901,637 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded $14,187,994 for modification P00037 to a previously awarded fixed-price, incentive-fee contract (N00019-15-C-0002) in support of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. This modification incorporates integrated functional capability 4.0 into low-rate initial production Lot 2 Aircraft B12. Work will be performed in Palmdale, California (41.6%); San Diego, California (34.2%); Waco, Texas (5.3%); Verona, Wisconsin (2.4%); Salt Lake City, Utah (1.7%); Irvine, California (1.5%); San Clemente, California (1%); Saint Peters, Missouri (0.7%); Menlo Park, California (0.7%); Ronkonkoma, New York (0.5%); and Grove, Oklahoma (0.5%); and various locations inside and outside the continental U.S. (9.8% and 0.1%, respectively). Work is expected to be completed in November 2021. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,187,994 are being obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ARMY Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, was awarded a $9,107,025 cost-no-fee contract for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency-based proposal titled "Diagnostic Epigenetics of Infectious agents and Chemical Toxicity." Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Tempe, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of July 21, 2021. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 Defense Advanced Research Project Agency funds in the amount of $5,222,714 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911NF-19-C-0039). *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1912513/source/GovDelivery/

22/7/2019 - Rheinmetall is taking on a key role in equipping the NATO spearhead Very High Joint Readiness Task Force 2023 (VJTF 2023), which will be furnished by the German Bundeswehr. Contracts have now been awarded to a consortium for the “System Panzergrenadier VJTF 2023” project, in which Rheinmetall's share comes to over €470 million, including value added tax. Work has already begun and is set to continue through to the end of the VJTF readiness phase in 2024. On 11 July 2019, the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-service Support awarded a corresponding contract to ARGE Puma, a consortium consisting of Puma manufacturer PSM Projekt System Management GmbH – a joint venture in which Rheinmetall holds a 50% stake – and Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH. Subcontracting within ARGE will take place shortly. “System Panzergrenadier” links the Puma infantry fighting vehicle – the mainstay of the German Army's mechanized infantry – with the modular Future Soldier – Expanded System (IdZ-ES) soldier system, in an advanced, network-enabled warfare environment. Included in the “System Panzergrenadier VJTF 2023” package is a comprehensive combat performance upgrade of forty-one Puma infantry fighting vehicles, coupled with additional measures for improving communication between the infantry fighting vehicles and dismounted infantrymen. For Rheinmetall, the total value of this order comes to €258.3 million, including value added tax. The systems will be delivered at the end of 2020/beginning of 2021. Among other things, the package also encompasses complete logistic support of the VJTF Pumas for a period of five years, i.e. spare parts, special tools and spare parts logistics. Also included is a new generation of digital radios for the infantry fighting vehicles as well as integration of the MELLS multirole light guided missile system, significantly expanding the capabilities spectrum of Puma. New daylight and thermal imaging cameras and a colour display feature in the upgrade too. Optimized day and night vision will increase the range of reconnaissance, while simultaneously widening the crew's field of view. Furthermore, new training resources will enable the unit to train in a highly realistic manner. Closely linked to the hardware of the new optronic systems and monitors for the infantry fighting vehicles is the contract for development of the “Vision Enhancement, Chassis”, which is already underway. Including value added tax, it represents sales of €67.2 million, including value added tax. Furthermore, Rheinmetall is equipping the mechanized infantry companies of the VJTF 2023 with “TacNet”, its battle management system (BMS). In addition, an initial lot of ten platoon versions of the “Future Soldier – Expanded System” soldier system will be brought up to modern VJTF 2023 standard. Improved communication between the Puma crew and the dismounted infantry section will result in a continuously updated, uniform common operational picture. This way, Rheinmetall gives mechanized infantry a command-and-control capability that extends from the company commander to the individual rifleman on the ground. These modernization moves will mean incoming orders for Rheinmetall worth €146.5 million, including value added tax. “System Panzergrenadier VJTF 2023” substantially enhances the fighting strength of the VJTF 2023. At the same time, Rheinmetall views these measures as a template for further modernization and digitization of the Bundeswehr. Modernizing the command and control capabilities of complete mechanized infantry companies and bringing the IdZ-ES up to VJTF 2023 standard involves modifying the hardware and software. Dispensing with the “electronic backbone” is one key innovation. Others include advanced new radio systems for dismounted troops and infantry fighting vehicles, which result in improved command capabilities as well as enabling secure transmission of large amounts of data. During development of the new vision systems and their integration into the Puma, an initial lot of five sets of prototype assemblies will be fabricated and integrated into five standard vehicles. These tasks are to be complete by 2021. Verification will then take place at the Bundeswehr's technical centres by 2023. Furthermore, digitization of the vision technology will proceed in tandem with implementation of NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture (NGVA) in the Puma. It forms the foundation for the future sensor-to-shooter nexus. Already underway, the networking of sensors and effectors in individual vehicles will soon enable the networking of sensors and effectors in entire units and formations. As a result, the Puma will be one of the world's first digitized combat vehicles. View source version on Rheinmetall : https://www.rheinmetall.com/en/rheinmetall_ag/press/news/latest_news/index_17856.php https://www.epicos.com/article/449168/rheinmetall-modernizing-puma-infantry-fighting-vehicle-and-other-equipment-nato

Intevac, Inc. (Nasdaq: IVAC) announced today it has received a $40 million contract award for the multi-year production of digital night vision cameras in support of the U.S. Government. “With this new order and increased backlog, we now have multi-year visibility for our manufacturing operations, and continued validation of our digital night vision technology.” “This award represents the largest single booking to date for Intevac Photonics, and increases our Photonics backlog to the historic level of just over $83 million,” commented Timothy Justyn, executive vice president and general manager of Intevac Photonics. “This award closely follows awards for both the U.S. Army's IVAS ground soldier program, and the Apache Helicopter's Pilot Night Vision Sensor (PNVS) foreign military sales announced last December, demonstrating Intevac's commitment to delivering the latest digital night vision technology to our Warfighters.” “We are very proud to have received this substantial order for our digital night vision technology,” added Wendell Blonigan, president and chief executive officer of Intevac. “With this new order and increased backlog, we now have multi-year visibility for our manufacturing operations, and continued validation of our digital night vision technology.” Intevac's digital night-vision sensors, based on its patented Electron Bombarded Active Pixel Sensor (EBAPS®) technology, provide state-of-the-art capability to the most advanced avionic fighting platforms in the U.S. Department of Defense inventory. Intevac was founded in 1991 and has two businesses: Thin-film Equipment and Photonics. In our Thin-film Equipment business, we are a leader in the design and development of high-productivity, thin-film processing systems. Our production-proven platforms are designed for high-volume manufacturing of substrates with precise thin film properties, such as the hard drive media, display cover panel, and solar photovoltaic markets we serve currently. In our Photonics business, we are a recognized leading developer of advanced high-sensitivity digital sensors, cameras and systems that primarily serve the defense industry. We are the provider of integrated digital imaging systems for most U.S. military night vision programs. For more information call 408-986-9888, or visit the Company's website at www.intevac.com . This press release includes statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”). Intevac claims the protection of the safe-harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the terms “may,” “believes,” “projects,” “expects,” or “anticipates,” and do not reflect historical facts. Specific forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to; the multi-year visibility of camera deliveries. The forward-looking statements contained herein involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations. These risks include, but are not limited to: changes in planned shipment dates, which could have a material impact on our business, our financial results, and the company's stock price. These risks and other factors are detailed in the Company's periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Source: Intevac, Inc.http://www.asdnews.com/news/defense/2019/07/18/intevac-receives-record-40-m-digital-night-vision-contract-award