News

ARMY Callan Marine Ltd., Galveston, Texas (W912EP-19-D-0023); Cashman Dredging and Marine Contracting Co. LLC, Quincy, Massachusetts (W912EP-19-D-0024); Cavache Inc.,* Pompano Beach, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0025 ); Continental Heavy Civil Corp., Miami, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0026 ); Cottrell Contracting Inc.,* Chesapeake, Virginia (W912EP-19-D-0027); Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, Oak Brook, Illinois (W912EP-19-D-0028); J.T. Cleary Inc., Spring Valley, New York (W912EP-19-D-0029); Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Washington (W912EP-19-D-0030); Marinex Construction Inc., Charleston, South Carolina (W912EP-19-D-0031); Norfolk Dredging Co., Chesapeake, Virginia (W912EP-19-D-0032); Orion Marine Construction Inc., Tampa, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0033); Southern Dredging Co. Inc.,* Charleston, South Carolina (W912EP-19-D-0034); The Dutra Group, San Rafael, California (W912EP-19-D-0035); Waterfront Property Service LLC, doing business as Gator Dredging,* Clearwater, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0036 ); Weeks Marine Inc., Covington, Louisiana (W912EP-19-D-0037); Cavache Inc.,* Pompano Beach, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0038); CJW Construction Inc.,* Santa Ana, California (W912EP-19-D-0039); Coastal Dredging Co. Inc.,* Hammond, Louisiana (W912EP-19-D-0040); Cottrell Contracting Inc.,* Chesapeake, Virginia (W912EP-19-D-0041); Florida Dredge and Dock LLC,* Tarpon Springs, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0042); Southern Dredging Co. Inc.,* Charleston, South Carolina (W912EP-19-D-0043); Southwind Construction Corp.,* Evansville, Indiana (W912EP-19-D-0044); and Waterfront Property Service LLC, doing business as Gator Dredging,* Clearwater, Florida (W912EP-19-D-0045), will compete for each order of the $495,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging and shore protection projects. Bids were solicited via the internet with 24 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity. HB&A LLC,* Colorado Springs, Colorado (W9128F-19-D-0004); Kenneth Hahn Architects Inc.,* Omaha, Nebraska (W9128F-19-D-0005); and Yeager Architecture Inc.,* Overland Park, Kansas (W9128F-19-D-0006), will compete for each order of the $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for preparation of studies, analysis and design services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 22 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity. PRIDE Industries, Roseville, California, was awarded a $20,122,695 modification (P00008) to contract W91247-18-C-0011 for repair and maintenance support. Work will be performed in Fort Polk, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2023. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $5,772,517 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Fort Polk, Louisiana, is the contracting activity. A. WBE-CCI JV One LLC,* Itasca, Illinois, was awarded a $7,828,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of a new Air National Guard Fire Crash Rescue Station. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Peoria, Illinois, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $7,828,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Property and Fiscal Office Illinois is the contracting activity (W91SMC-19-C-6001). S.D.S Lumber Co.,* Bingen, Washington, was awarded a $7,757,620 modification (P00007) to contract W912EF-18-C-0010 for towboat services. Work will be performed in Walla Walla, Washington, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $3,638,716 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla, Washington, is the contracting activity. STG Inc.,* Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $7,645,240 firm-fixed-price contract for operational and technical engineering. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,645,240 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91RUS-19-F-0142). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Beacon Point Associates LLC, Cape Coral, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $49,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical/surgical supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with 16 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no options. Location of performance is Florida, with a May 14, 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 (SPE2DE-19-D-0005). Allied Tube and Conduit Corp., Harvey, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $46,000,000 firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for barbed tape concertina wire. This is a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a two-year base contract with three one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Illinois and Ohio, with an April 30, 2022, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE8E6-19-D-0002). American Medical Depot (AMD), Miramar, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $45,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical/surgical supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with 11 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Florida, with a June 11, 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 (SPE2DE-19-D-0009). Kandor Manufacturing Inc., Kandor, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $13,896,462 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Navy working uniform, Blouses/Trousers Type II and III, and maternity blouses. This was a competitive acquisition with five responses received. This is an 18-month base contract with three one-year option periods. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with an Oct. 29, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-1163). (Awarded April 30, 2019) AIR FORCE Rockwell Collins Inc., Collins Aerospace – Mission Systems, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a $43,033,042 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for Next Generation Application Specific Integrated Circuit Preliminary Design Review (PDR). This contract provides for the design, develop, and test of modernized Global Positioning System receivers that are intended for future military applications to the PDR level. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be complete by April 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $9,000,000 are being obligated at time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8807-19-C-0003). International Business Machines Corp., Yorktown Heights, New York, has been awarded a $7,500,000 other transaction agreement for experimental purposes to provide an IBM Q access license. This agreement provides for remote access to the IBM Q System, a quantum computer with approximately 20 to 50 qubits. Work will be performed in Yorktown Heights, New York, and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2022. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $5,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-9-0334). NAVY Systems Application and Technologies Inc., Largo, Maryland, is awarded a $14,583,586 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to procure continued support services to the Air Vehicle Modification and Instrumentation (AVMI) Department and the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). Required services include support for the designing, developing, procuring, building, installing, testing and evaluating, calibrating, modifying, operating and maintaining instrumentation on aircraft and engines for the Navy and other government and commercial customers. Work will be performed at Patuxent River, Maryland (74 percent); China Lake, California (13.5 percent); and Point Mugu, California (12.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2020. Working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with four offers received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-C-0023). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1831787/source/GovDelivery/

Military.com | By Richard Sisk The Army is working on a powerful new 100-kilowatt laser system to defend against enemy missiles, artillery and drone swarms but will eventually have to make it smaller and lighter to deploy. "We're trying to get it small enough and efficient enough to put on a platform," Robert Snead, an engineer with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command based at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, said Thursday, referring to the High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator (HEL TVD), which the service described as being in the "pre-prototype" stage. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/05/01/army-works-slim-down-powerful-new-laser-defense-system.html

By: Jen Judson WASHINGTON — The Army has decided to outfit all of its brigades equipped with Double V-Hull A1 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles with 30mm guns following an evaluation of the vehicle equipped with the cannons in Europe, according to an Army official. The service plans to open up a competition to integrate and field up-gunned DVHA1, the official told Defense News on background. The Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and the Army Requirements Oversight Council decided on March 20to equip future Stryker brigades with 30mm Medium Caliber Weapon System (MCWS) capability after reviewing lessons learned from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Europe, but also directed the Army to ensure that the new MCWS capability be applied to the more mobile, better protected DVH ICVVA1 that will be the basis for the future Stryker fleet, according to the official. Based on an urgent operational need out of Europe, the Army was provided emergency funding from Congress in 2015 — a little over $300 million — to rapidly develop and field a Stryker with a 30mm cannon specifically for the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, which is permanently stationed in Germany. The funding covered development, eight prototypes and upgrades to 83 production vehicles, as well as spares. The Army spent 18 months to put together its upgunned Stryker using off-the-shelf solutions, such as the remote turret, from Kongsberg in Norway, and the 30mm cannon from Orbital ATK and shipped those vehicles off to Europe for an evaluation that went on for the better part of a year. The plan going forward is to execute a competition in two phases to select a 30x173mm-equipped MCWS integrated onto a Stryker DVH ICVVA1, the official said, which will lead to equipping the first brigade with a new capability in fiscal year 2022. Army Contracting Command released a Request for Quote to begin the first phase of the Stryker MCWS program on April 9. The recent request called for integration designs. The Army will award up to seven design integration study contracts for potential vendors to study integrating a MCWS onto a Stryker ICVVA1 platform. The Army will supply both a Stryker platform and the XM813 30mm cannon to build production representative system samples, the official said. The service will then circulate a draft request for proposal this fall to begin the second phase of the program, which will establish a full-and-open competition to award a production contract for a MCWS integrated onto an ICVVA1, which will be based on vendors' production representative system samples and proposals. The MCWS will be part of a suite of lethality improvements for Stryker formations which include the Common Remote Operated Weapons Station-Javelin (CROWS-J) — that was also on the Stryker ICV Dragoon in Europe — and the Stryker Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle (ATGM) engineering change proposal program. The Army is also developing a host of other capabilities for the Stryker through the Army Futures Command Cross-Functional Team initiatives, according to the official. Col. Glenn Dean, the Stryker program manager, told Defense News last fall that between early user testing in 2018 and subsequent fieldings, there had been an overall “very positive response” to the lethality and effectiveness of the Stryker ICVD. “The cannon provides a tremendous standoff and additional maneuver space, and it is very effective against the threats they are concerned about in Europe,” he said. But some feedback suggested that the physical layout of the vehicle could use some improvements, particularly when it came to situational awareness. The turret for the cannon takes up a lot of roof and hatch space and also affects how equipment is stowed. But the Army was already making modifications to the Dragoon based on feedback from the field, according to Dean. It is unclear what the specific requirements might be for a more lethal Stryker, but one factor up for debate could be whether there is a need to reload and operate the turret under armor, which could change the physical nature of the vendors' designs. Another issue to work out is what is necessary for a field-of-view inside the vehicle and how that might be achieved and who might control the cameras providing a view of the battlefield. Soldiers in the Stryker ICVD noted a lot of dead zones where users couldn't see. The Army made improvements to the cameras used on the vehicles in Europe providing an overlapped field-of-view. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/05/01/army-to-outfit-all-double-v-hull-strykers-with-30mm-firepower/

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $950,668,589 and an $11,844,044 cost-plus-fixed-fee task order. The contract is to provide research, analyses, technical evaluation, and test and evaluation support to the Office of the Secretary of Defense Joint Staff, combatant commands, and defense agencies. IDA work will involve the comprehensive evaluation of national security issues, including systems and technologies at all stages of development, deployment, and use. Work performance will take place at the Mark Center, Alexandria, Virginia, and other Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. government facilities within the National Capital Region. Research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $8,527,332; operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,486,712; DoD working capital funds in the amount of $340,000; and energy and water appropriations for Army Corps of Engineers in the amount of $490,000 were awarded. The expected completion date is March 30, 2024. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HQ0034-19-D0001). (Awarded April 15, 2019) NAVY Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded $419,086,770 for modification P00003 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-18-C-1068). This modification exercises an option for Lot 19 AIM-9X Block II and II+ all up round tactical missiles, captive air training missiles, captive test missiles, special air training missiles, advanced optical target detectors, guidance units (live battery), captive air training missile guidance units (inert battery), Block I and II propulsion steering sections, Block II electronic units, tail caps, containers, and spares for the Navy, Air Force, and the governments of Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, this modification provides for materials in support of repairs, depot maintenance, and refurbishment. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (31 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (10 percent); Keyser, West Virginia (9 percent); Santa Clarita, California (8 percent); Hillsboro, Oregon (5 percent); Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (5 percent); Goleta, California (4 percent); Cheshire, Connecticut (4 percent); Heilbronn, Germany (3 percent); Simsbury, Connecticut (2 percent); San Jose, California (2 percent); Valencia, California (2 percent); Anaheim, California (2 percent); Cajon, California (2 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (1 percent); Anniston, Alabama (1 percent); San Diego, California (1 percent); Chatsworth, California (1 percent); Amesbury, Massachusetts (1 percent); Claremont, California (1 percent); Sumner, Washington (1 percent); and other locations within the continental U.S. (4 percent). Work is expected to be completed in October 2022. Fiscal 2017, 2018, and 2019 weapons procurement (Navy); fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy and Air Force); fiscal 2018 and 2019 missile procurement (Air Force); fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $419,086,770 of will be obligated at time of award, $7,031,336 of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract modification combines purchases for the Navy ($123,468,497; 29.46 percent); Air Force ($118,935,517; 28.38 percent); and the governments of Qatar ($38,599,559; 9.22 percent); Australia ($36,934,376; 8.81 percent), South Korea ($29,064,332; 6.94 percent); Norway ($24,637,082; 5.88 percent); Slovakia ($13,515,225; 3.22 percent); Japan ($10,653,101; 2.55 percent); Denmark ($9,417,847; 2.25 percent); Morocco ($7,428,180; 1.77 percent); Belgium ($1,317,129; 0.31 percent), the United Arab Emirates ($1,056,768; 0.25 percent); the Netherlands ($1,051,562; 0.25 percent); Singapore ($723,714; 0.17 percent); Oman ($591,932; 0.14 percent); Switzerland ($349,984; 0.08 percent); Saudi Arabia ($291,195; 0.07 percent); Poland ($171,927; 0.04 percent); Turkey ($171,841; 0.04 percent); Romania ($156,165; 0.04 percent), Taiwan ($147,705; 0.04 percent); Finland ($141,315; 0.03 percent), Indonesia ($85,415; 0.02 percent), Kuwait ($82,620; 0.02 percent), Israel ($59,114; 0.01 percent); and Malaysia ($34,668; 0.01 percent), under the FMS Program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois, is awarded an undefinitized contract action with a not-to-exceed-value of $132,283,800. This contract procures the necessary hardware and systems engineering technical support, analysis and studies to integrate the Department of Navy (DoN) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system onto aircraft for the Navy, Army, and the governments of the United Kingdom and Norway. Hardware for this procurement includes the following weapon replaceable assemblies: 283 advanced threat warning sensors; 79 control indicator unit replaceables; 52 -2103 signal processors; 120 infrared missile warning sensors; 91 Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies (GLTAs); 13 multi-role electro-optical end-to-end test sets; 190 GLTA shipping containers; 46 high capacity cards; 10 LAIRCM signal processor replacements smart connector assemblies; and 123 personal computer memory card, international association cards. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Illinois (34 percent); Goleta, California (30 percent); Longmont, Colorado (11 percent); Colombia, Maryland (3 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (22 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2021. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy and Army); fiscal 2019 working capital (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $42,387,745 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($104,986,224; 79 percent); Army ($19,606,871; 15 percent); the government of United Kingdom ($3,144,044; 2.5 percent); and the government of Norway ($4,546,661; 3.5 percent). This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0011). Gulf Island Shipyards LLC,* Houma, Louisiana, is awarded a $128,561,825 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-2207 to exercise options for construction of two towing, salvage and rescue ships. Work will be performed in Houma, Louisiana (92 percent); Hampton, Virginia (5 percent); Stord, Norway (2 percent); and New Orleans, Louisiana (1 percent), and is expected to be complete by November 2021. Fiscal 2018, 2019, and 2016 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amounts of $64,887,543, and $63,589,282, $85,000 respectively 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. Airborne Tactical Advantage Co., Newport News, Virginia (N0042119D0058); Coastal Defense, Inc.,* Mill Hall, Pennsylvania (N0042119D0059); Draken International, Inc.,* Lakeland, Florida (N0042119D0060); and Tactical Air Support Inc., Reno, Nevada (N0042119D0061), are each awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity task order contracts. These contracts are for contracted close air support for the Naval Air Systems Command's Specialized and Proven Aircraft Program Office. Services to be provided include contractor-owned and operated regionally-based, geographically-distributed aviation training capabilities to support adversary and offensive air support. The estimated aggregate ceiling for all contracts is $124,518,540 with companies having an opportunity to compete for individual task orders. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station, Fallon, Nevada (50 percent); the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina (25 percent); and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, California (25 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $40,000 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals; seven offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Walashek Industrial and Marine Inc., San Diego, California (N55236-19-D-0005); and Epsilon Systems Solutions, San Diego, California (N55236-19-D-0006), are each awarded a combined aggregate $39,521,000 multiple award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-pricing arrangements for landing craft air cushion (LCAC) repairs, maintenance, modernization, and retirement services. The work will encompass LCAC Fleet Modernization Program, LCAC Post Service Life Extension Program Extension, LCAC retirements, and LCAC planned/emergent repairs. These two companies will have an opportunity to compete for individual delivery orders. Work will be performed in Oceanside, California, and is expected to be complete by April 2020, and if all options are exercised, work will continue through April 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $20,000 ($10,000 for minimum guarantee per contract) will be obligated under each contract's initial delivery order and expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded $21,109,471 for cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price delivery order N6134018F0067 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-16-G-0001). This order provides for the procurement of inlet retrofit kits for the T-45 aircraft, including support equipment and special tooling and engineering and logistics support for installations. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in July 2020. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $21,109,471 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Boston Consulting Group, Bethesda, Maryland, is awarded $20,246,115 for modification P00003 to a previously issued firm-fixed-price order (N0042119F0106) against a General Services Administration, Federal Supply Schedule contract (GS-10-F-0253V). This modification exercises the option to continue the implementation of a new Naval Sustainment System (NSS) to include the development of governance, coordination, and accountability mechanisms across the Naval Aviation Enterprise. The Commander for the Fleet Readiness Center's contribution to the NSS will deploy commercial maintenance best practices, tailored to the Navy's operational requirements and starting position, in order to reduce component repair and heavy maintenance periodic maintenance inspection turnaround times and better enable aviation readiness recovery. Work will be performed in North Island, California (20 percent); Oceana, Virginia (15 percent); Whidbey Island, Washington (15 percent); Jacksonville, Florida (10 percent); Cherry Point, North Carolina (10 percent); Lemoore, California (10 percent); Dallas, Texas (5 percent); Bethesda, Maryland (5 percent); Miramar, California (4 percent); Patuxent River, Maryland (3 percent); Washington, District of Columbia (2 percent); and Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2019. Working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $20,246,115 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Saab Defense and Security USA LLC (Saab USA), East Syracuse, New York, is being awarded a $17,241,690 firm-fixed-price modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-17-C-5381 to exercise options for production of the Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) systems. Under this contract, Saab USA will manufacture, inspect, test and deliver MMR systems to be deployed on Navy expeditionary support base ships and Coast Guard offshore patrol cutters. Work will be performed in East Syracuse, New York (64 percent); and Gothenburg, Sweden (36 percent), and is expected to be completed by October 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2018 and 2016 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $17,241,690 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. Avian LLC,* Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded $13,500,084 for modification P00041 under a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-17-C-0049) to exercise an option to provide support for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Integrated System Evaluation Experimentation and Test Department. Services provided will include flight test engineering, programmatic, administrative, design, execution, analysis, evaluation, and reporting of tests and experiments of aircraft, unmanned air systems, weapons and weapons systems. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in April 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); fiscal 2018 and 2019 working capital (Navy); fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,855,914 will be obligated at time of award, $869,829 of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Rockwell Collins Simulation and Training Solutions, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded $11,229,125 for cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price modification P00011 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N61340-17-C-0014) to procure additional in-scope work for the E-2D Hawkeye Integrated Training System-III Aircraft Flight Management Computer (AFMC) Functional Equivalent Unit (FEU) Risk Reduction Analysis and Demonstration effort. This includes the development of four AFMC FEU prototypes for use in the E-2D Tactics Trainer Software Integration Lab (SIL), E-2D Flight SIL, and E2D Distributed Readiness Trainer SIL and associated technology demonstrations, technical data, and proposal preparation. Work will be performed in Sterling, Virginia (90 percent); and Orlando, Florida (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2021. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $5,760,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is awarded $10,077,839 for firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N6833519F2993 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0003). This order provides for eight CH-53K Helicopter Night Vision System AN/AAQ-44 Forward Looking Infrared kits, system development and demonstration ground and flight test support, parts obsolescence analysis, repair analysis, repair of repairables, system conversion, and logistical documentation. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed in May 2022. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy); and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,077,839 will be obligated at time of award, $1,876,667 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 Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $200,234,192 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of M982A1 Excalibur Ib containerized projectiles. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona; Healdsburg, California; Karlskoga, Sweden; East Camden, Arkansas; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Southway, Plymouth, United Kingdom; Glenrothes, Scotland, United Kingdom; Cincinnati, Ohio; Farmington, New Mexico; McAlester, Oklahoma; Joplin Missouri; Salt Lake City, Utah; Gilbert, Arizona; Lansdale, Pennsylvania; and Santa Ana, California, with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2024. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $200,234,192 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-19-C-0017). Honeywell International Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, was awarded a $70,486,623 modification (P00083) to contract W56HZV-12-C-0344 for total integrated engine revitalization hardware services. Work will be performed in Phoenix, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2021. Fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds in the amount of $70,486,623 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. AECOM Services, Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a $24,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for multi-discipline services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 21 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-19-D-0013). Dewberry Engineers Inc., Fairfax, Virginia, was awarded a $24,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for multi-discipline services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 21 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-19-D-0012). L-3 Fuzing and Ordnance Systems Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded a $20,083,383 modification (P00013) to Foreign Military Sales (Australia and Lebanon) contract W15QKN-17-C-0024 for M783 Point Detonating/Delay Fuze production. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2010, 2017, 2018 and 2019 other procurement, Army; and other funds in the combined amount of $20,083,383 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. COLSA Corp., Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $15,468,139 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for system engineering and technical assistance. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of April 28, 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $2,539,685 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W9113M-19-F-0041). Alliant Tech Systems Operations LLC, Plymouth, Minnesota, was awarded a $12,754,688 modification (P00025) to contract W15QKN-15-C-0066 for 120mm Advanced Multipurpose XM1147 High Explosive Multi-Purpose with Tracer cartridge. Work will be performed in Plymouth, Minnesota; Rocket Center, West Virginia; Middletown, Iowa; Clear Lake, South Dakota; Shafer, Minnesota; Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Coachella, California, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2023. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $12,754,688 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. EBL Engineers LLC, Baltimore, Maryland, was awarded a $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineer services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 41 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-19-D-0016). Summer Consultants Inc.,* McLean, Virginia, was awarded a $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineer services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 41 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 28, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-19-D-0015). R.J. Runge Co. Inc.,* Port Clinton, Ohio, was awarded an $8,290,000 firm-fixed-price contract to construct ACA Shelter at Toledo Air National Guard Base, Ohio. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work will be performed in Swanton, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of July 30, 2020. Fiscal 2018 military construction funds in the amount of $8,290,000 were obligated at the time of the award. United States Property and Fiscal Office Ohio is the contracting activity (W91364-19-C-8002). AIR FORCE Assured Information Security Inc., Rome, New York, has been awarded a $93,600,000 ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with cost-plus-fixed-fee completion and term orders. This contract provides for the performance of research, development, prototyping, integration, testing, demonstration, deployment, upgrades, enhancement, sustainment and training of innovative technologies and concepts in support of Virtualized Intelligence Platform Engineering and Research software baselines. Work will be performed in Rome, New York, and is expected to be complete by April 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $281,600; and fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,782,208 are being obligated on the first two task orders at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-D-0001). The Boeing Co., Defense, Space & Security, St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $22,540,550 firm-fixed-price modification (P00028) to previously awarded contract FA8621-16-C-6397 for mission training center services. This modification provides for contractor-furnished, high-fidelity simulation equipment with the simulation capability to train pilots and weapons system operators for F-15C and F-15E aircraft platforms. Work will be performed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Langley AFB, Virginia; Kadena Air Base, Japan; and Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $19,313,603 firm-fixed-price modification (P00012) to previously awarded contract FA8675-18-C-0003 for the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) production program. This modification provides for redesign of AMRAAM Rectifier Filter Assembly for reliability corrections as well as redesign of AMRAAM telemetry encoder due to obsolescence issues. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be complete by April 15, 2021. This contract involves foreign military sales to Australia, Japan, Norway, Romania, and Turkey. Fiscal year 2018 (Air Force) and fiscal year 2017 (Navy) procurement funds in the amount of $6,802,251; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $4,437,720, are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY McFall Consulting Inc.,* Winchester, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $31,950,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for hospital equipment and accessories. This was a competitive acquisition with 79 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Virginia, with an April 29, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-19-D-0012). Epic Aviation LLC, Salem, Oregon, has been awarded a maximum $7,086,629 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with 148 responses received. This is a 47-month contract with one six-month option period. Location of performance is Texas, with a March 31, 2023, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE607-19-D-0079). U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND Five companies have received modifications to their existing MultiModal – 2 (MM-2) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price (with economic price adjustments) contracts. These modifications provided a two-month extension with an estimated value of $30,400,000: Farrell Lines Inc., Norfolk, Virginia (HTC71115DR044U00016); Liberty Global Logistics LLC, Lake Success, New York (HTC71115DR045U00015); National Air Cargo Group Inc., Orlando, Florida (HTC71115DR046U00015); American President Lines LLC, Scottsdale, Arizona (HTC71115DR048U00015); and United Airlines Inc., Chicago, Illinois (HTC71115DR049U00017). This modification provides continued international commercial multimodal transportation service to the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. The contract is for international commercial multimodal transportation service between various continental U.S. and outside the continental U.S. points and ports. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual task order. The option period of performance is from May 1, 2019, to June 30, 2019. Fiscal 2019 Transportation Working Capital Funds were available at award. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $296,458,000 from $266,058,000. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1830734/

Nine teams hailing from four continents gathered in Idaho Springs, Colorado, the week of April 5-11, 2019, to test autonomous air and ground systems for navigating the dark, dangerous, dirty, and unpredictable underground domain. The SubT Integration Exercise, known as STIX, took place at the Colorado School of Mines' Edgar Experimental Mine. The event provided a shakeout opportunity for competitors in advance of the Tunnel Circuit in August, the first of three subdomains that teams will tackle in DARPA's Subterranean Challenge. The teams were divided into three groups. Each group had one day to experiment with their various systems during multiple runs in the mine, followed by a second day in which each team attempted a one-hour mock, scored run. Teams could earn points by accurately locating, identifying, and reporting artifacts placed within the tunnels. Artifacts included thermal manikins, backpacks, fire extinguishers, cell phones, and cordless drills – all inspired by objects an end user such as a warfighter or first responder might encounter. The mine environment presented teams with low light, high dust, metal rails, and irregular terrain. The DARPA team added to the complexity with a theatrical smoke machine, which mimicked real smoke a warfighter or first responder could contend with in an emergency response scenario, for example. “It was amazing to see the progression from day one into day two for each team as they explored the tunnels of the mine and began to understand just how complex and unknown these underground environments can be,” said Timothy Chung, program manager for the Subterranean Challenge in DARPA's Tactical Technology Office. “It's not just about testing whether there's enough light or if robots can drive a few meters. It's about how all that has to come together in a difficult environment and the teams are experiencing the challenge of integration in addition to technology development.” The competitors at STIX included a mix of DARPA-funded and self-funded teams: CERBERUS University of Nevada, Reno ETH Zurich, Switzerland Sierra Nevada Corporation University of California, Berkeley Flyability, Switzerland CoStar: Collaborative SubTerranean Autonomous Resilient Robots Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology KAIST, South Korea CRETISE: Collaborative Robot Exploration and Teaming In Subterranean Environments Endeavor Robotics Neya Systems CSIRO Data 61 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia Emesent, Australia Georgia Institute of Technology CTU-CRAS Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic Université Laval, Canada Explorer Carnegie Mellon University Oregon State University MARBLE: Multi-agent Autonomy with Radar-Based Localization for Exploration University of Colorado, Boulder University of Colorado, Denver Scientific Systems Company, Inc. PLUTO: Pennsylvania Laboratory for Underground Tunnel Operations University of Pennsylvania Exyn Technologies Ghost Robotics Robotika Robotika.cz, Czech Republic Czech University of Life Science, Czech Republic Following the Tunnel Circuit, teams will compete in the Urban Circuit, which will focus on underground urban environments such as mass transit and municipal infrastructure; and the Cave Circuit, which will focus on naturally occurring cave networks. Locations for the circuit events have not been announced. Qualification is ongoing for the circuit events. Requirements can be found in the SubT Qualification Guide available on the Resources Page. Teams interested in joining either the virtual or systems tracks can still register and are encouraged to join the SubT Community Forum to exchange ideas, explore teaming opportunities, and receive updates on the Challenge. For additional information on the DARPA Subterranean Challenge, please visit www.subtchallenge.com. Please email questions to SubTChallenge@darpa.mil. https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2019-04-29

By: Jen Judson HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The U.S. Army's $2.3 billion unfunded requirements list — or wish list — sent to Capitol Hill includes money to speed up the service's plan to buy a future long-range assault helicopter and efforts to boost lethality, such as outfitting more Stryker combat vehicles with a 30mm gun. The unfunded requirements list is something the military services send to Congress each year shortly following the release of the defense budget request to inform lawmakers on where money would be spent if there was more of it. The lists are usually provided at the request of congressional defense committees. The service has pivoted toward six modernization priorities it deems necessary to modernize the force, and through a rigorous review of every program within the Army by leadership, billions of dollars were found within its $182 billion fiscal 2020 budget to devote to the ambitious efforts within that modernization portfolio. But the Army would spend another $243 million to advance certain modernization efforts if it could, according to the wish list. For instance, if the Army had additional funds, it would want to spend $40 million to buy the XM-913 weapon system — a 50mm gun, ammunition-handling system and fire control — to outfit two next-generation combat vehicle prototypes. The NGCV is the second-highest modernization priority. The service would also want to spend $75.6 million to speed up decision-making on the future long-range assault aircraft, or FLRAA — one of the two future vertical lift lines of effort to replace the current fleet. Gen. John “Mike” Murray, Army Futures Command commander who is in charge of the service's modernization, told Defense News in a March 26 interview at the Association of the U.S. Army's Global Force Symposium that the service would like additional funding to close the gap between what it is seeing now with the two technology demonstrators, which are both flying, and a decision on the way ahead to procure FLRAA. Bell's V-280 Valor tilt-rotor aircraft has been flying for nearly two years, and the Sikorsky-Boeing team's SB-1 Defiant flew last week. The demonstrator aircraft were originally funded to help shape the service's requirements for a future vertical lift family of aircraft. The Army also wants additional funding to extend the range of the Q-53 counter-fire target acquisition radar and funding to preserve a new program for a low-Earth orbit, space-based capability to extract data and tactical imagery in denied or contested environments, something that is critical to the Long-Range Precision Fires program, the Army's top modernization priority. Lastly, additional funding would also support rapid prototyping for the next-generation squad weapon—automatic rifle. The service would want an additional $1 billion to address readiness to include $161 million in more aviation training, $118 million in bridging assets and $128 million for mobilization needs. Also included in the readiness funding: money to further enhance interoperable communications with allies and partners, and funds to help restore airfields, railheads and runways in Europe that would enhance better movement. U.S. Army Europe commanders in recent years have stressed the need to build better infrastructure to move troops and supplies more freely in the region and have cited interoperability issues with allies as one of the toughest aspects to overcome in joint operations. Funding would also be used to enhance the Army's pre-positioned stock in Europe with petroleum and medical equipment. In the Pacific area of operations, the funding would also cover needed multidomain operations capabilities and force protection for radar sites and mobile ballistic bunkers. Focusing on lethality requirements, the Army wants an additional $249 million to upgrade more Strykers with 30mm cannons. The service is already up-gunning Strykers for brigades in Europe and recently wrapped up an assessment of the enhanced Strykers to inform a decision on whether to outfit more Strykers with a larger gun. The Army is expected to make a decision within days on whether it will up-gun more Stryker units and how many it plans to upgrade. Additionally, the Army wants $130 million to prototype hypersonic missile capabilities and another $24 million to integrate the Joint Air-to-Ground Munition's seeker and guidance kit into an Army Tactical Missile System. JAGM is the service's Hellfire replacement, and ATACMS will be replaced with the service's long-range precision fire missile — the precision strike missile — currently under development. The Army is also asking for $565 billion for infrastructure improvements both in the United States and in the Indo-Pacific area of operation. Congress reporter Joe Gould contributed to this report. https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/global-force-symposium/2019/03/27/armys-23b-wish-list-would-speed-up-future-helo-buy-boost-lethality-efforts/

AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, has been awarded a $5,700,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for KC-46 Pegasus Combat Capability (PC2). This contract provides for a broad range of post-production related non-recurring and recurring requirements centered on user-directed and Federal Aviation Administration-mandated KC-46 air vehicle needs. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington, and is expected to be complete by April 28, 2029. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $9,121,895 are being obligated on the first delivery order at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8609-19-D-0007). AAI Corp., doing business as Textron Systems, Hunt Valley, Maryland, has been awarded a $19,592,850 firm-fixed-price non-commercial requirements contract for the Joint Service Electronic Combat Systems Tester (JSECST). This contract provides for the production of the base JSECST, the laboratory JSECST and retrofit kits used on many aircraft, such as F-15, F-16, A-10, CV-22, C-130, UH-47, UH-60, F/A-18 and AV-8B. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Maryland, and is expected to be complete by April 28, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. No funds are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Automated Test Sets Contracting Division, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8533-19-D-0005). NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $1,148,847,334 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, cost share contract for sustainment services in support of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, non-U. S. Department of Defense (non-U.S. DoD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Services to be provided include ground maintenance activities, action request resolution, depot activation activities, Automatic Logistics Information System operation and maintenance; reliability, maintainability and health management implementation and support; supply chain management; and activities to provide and support pilot and maintainer initial training. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (60 percent); Orlando, Florida (24 percent); Greenville, South Carolina (7 percent); Samlesbury, Preston, United Kingdom (5 percent); and El Segundo, California (4 percent). Work is expected to be completed in December 2022. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Air Force, Navy/Marine Corps); non-U.S. DoD participant; and FMS funds in the amount of $1,135,420,262 will be obligated at time of award, $811,246,309 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. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($477,920,120; 41.60 percent); Navy ($346,753,261; 30.18 percent); non-U.S. DoD participants ($231,207,693; 20.13 percent); and FMS customers ($92,966,260; 8.09 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-1022). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Aerospace Systems, Melbourne, Florida, is awarded $38,775,625 for cost-plus-fixed-fee modification P00007 to a previously awarded contract (N00019-18-C-1037) to procure the product support and software support activity efforts for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye full-rate production Lot 7. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida (72 percent); Liverpool, New York (14 percent); St. Augustine, Florida (5 percent); Norfolk, Virginia (5 percent); Greenlawn, New York (2 percent); Woodland Hills; California (1 percent); and Indianapolis, Indiana (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2020. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $38,775,625 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. Mancon LLC, Virginia Beach, Virginia, is awarded $30,000,000 for an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, fixed-price contract that includes provisions for economic price adjustment to acquire supplies and provide related store operation services required by Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk for two commercial retail stores on the Naval Support Activity, Crane, Indiana, for materials needed by the Naval Facilities Command Public Works Department. The contract includes a five-year base ordering period with an option to extend services for a six-month ordering period pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-8 which if exercised, the total value of this contract will be $33,263,944. All work will be performed in Crane, Indiana. The ordering period is expected to be completed by April 2024; if the option is exercised, work will be completed by October 2024. Fiscal 2018 working capital funds (Defense) in the amount of $100,000 will be obligated to fund the contract's minimum amount, and funds will expire at the end of fiscal 2019. This contract was competitively procured with the solicitation posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website, with five offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00189-19-D-0008). Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded $29,772,039 for cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to order N61340-18-F-0001 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-17-G-0002). This order provides software and hardware upgrades for 13 flight training devices to modernize critical system components in the MV-22 simulator to increase training fidelity for aircrew and maximize training capability. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, North Carolina (42 percent); Miramar, California (24 percent); Quantico, Virginia (13 percent); Okinawa, Japan (13 percent); Chantilly, Virginia (5 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (2 percent); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2024. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $29,772,039 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded $19,530,007 for modification P00006 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-18-C-0088) for the engineering and manufacturing development and payload integration of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Navy. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (50 percent); and Goleta, California (50 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2019. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,765,002 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ARMY Raytheon Co., Dulles, Virginia, was awarded a $663,060,634 firm-fixed-price contract for Troposcatter Transmission System, spares, repairs, warranty, system engineering, field support, training and sustainment. 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 April 25, 2029. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W15P7T-19-D-0218). (Awarded April 26, 2019) The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $171,887,544 hybrid (cost, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and firm-fixed-price) contract for performance based logistics service in support of the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter fleet. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2020. Fiscal 2018 working capital funds in the amount of $63,779,957 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-19-C-0024). (Awarded April 26, 2019) Golden Valley Electric Association, Fairbanks, Alaska, was awarded a $40,964,160 firm-fixed-price contract for electric utility service. Work will be performed in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2029. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $653,355 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army 413th Contracting Support Battalion, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W912D0-19-F-8U95). (Awarded April 26, 2019) The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $39,478,219 modification (PZ0017) to Foreign Military Sales (Saudi Arabia) contract W58RGZ-17-C-0031 for post-production system support, which includes integrated product support, of the AH-64 aircraft in support of the Saudi Arabia National Guard. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona; Hazelwood, Missouri; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2020. Fiscal 2019 foreign military sales funds in the amount of $39,478,219 were obligated at the time of the award. Army is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $30,794,224 modification (P00080) to Foreign Military Sales (Saudi Arabia) contract W31P4Q-15-C-0043 for Hellfire guided missile launcher and electronic assembly. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2023. Fiscal 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement, Army; operations and maintenance, Army; research, development, test and evaluation; foreign military sales; and other funds in the combined amount of $30,794,224 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Maverick Constructors LLC,* Lutz, Florida (W911YN-19-D-0001); ABBA Construction Inc.,* Jacksonville, Florida (W911YN-19-D-0002); Warden Construction Corp.,* Jacksonville, Florida (W911YN-19-D-0003); D & M Construction Group Inc.,* Gainesville, Florida (W911YN-19-D-0004); J.A.M. Construction Services Inc.,* Merritt Island, Florida (W911YN-19-D-0005); Core Engineering & Construction Inc.,* Winter Park, Florida (W911YN-19-D-0006); Johnson-Laux Construction LLC,* Orlando, Florida (W911YN-19-D-0007); and E.L.C.I. Construction Group Inc., North Miami, Florida (W911YN-19-D-0008), will compete for each order of the $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction projects in support of the Florida National Guard. Bids were solicited via the internet with 28 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 25, 2024. U.S. Property and Fiscal Office of Florida is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 26, 2019) Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, Merrimack, New Hampshire, was awarded a $19,491,157 firm-fixed-price contract for protective fabric shelter kits. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Merrimack, New Hampshire, with an estimated completion date of April 28, 2024. Fiscal 2018 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $1,681,301 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-19-D-3013). JCB Inc., Pooler, Georgia, was awarded a $17,071,687 modification (P00001) to contract W56HZV-19-F-0046 for High Mobility Engineer Excavator vehicles. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan 31, 2021. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 26, 2019) System Studies & Simulation Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $12,364,338 modification (0004 19) to contract W31P4Q-09-A-0019 for technical support services. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2020. Fiscal 2020 and 2021 other procurement; and research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $12,364,338 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Travis Association for the Blind, Austin, Texas, was awarded an $11,287,227 modification (P00003) to contract W56HZV-18-C-0067 for the repair, cleaning, warehousing, and distribution of organizational clothing and individual equipment. Work will be performed in Austin, Texas, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $11,287,227 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. PAE Government Systems Inc., Arlington, Virginia, was awarded an $8,153,796 modification (P00011) to Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan) contract for the National Maintenance Strategy Ground Vehicle Support effort. Work will be performed in Kabul, Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 30, 2022. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $8,153,796 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 26, 2019) MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded $26,991,627 for a modification (P00155) to the previously awarded sole-source, cost-plus-incentive-fee Standard Missile-3 Block IIA contract (HQ0276-10-C-0005). This modification provides for additional Ballistic Missile Defense upgrades and flight test support. The work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, with an expected completion date of June 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $15,858,243 will be obligated at time of award. The modification increases the total cumulative face value of the contract by $26,991,627 (from $2,105,137,599 to $2,132,129,227). The Missile Defense Agency, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), Atlanta, Georgia, was awarded a sole source, non-commercial, cost-plus-fixed fee contract on April 28, 2019, in support of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) National Leadership Capability Command office. This contract will provide for development and deployment of the Secure Integration Cloud, the Joint Access Database Environment and the encompassing system architecture known as Secure Web Services. The face value of this action is $8,508,928 funded by fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds. The total cumulative face value is $48,248,311. Performance will be at the contractor's facility. Proposal was issued via request for proposal, and one proposal was received from GTRI. This was a sole-source requirement sent to Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp. The period of performance is for a base period of 12 months beginning April 28, 2019, and two 6-month option periods through April 27, 2021. The DISA/Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity (HC1028-19-C-0008). *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1829432/source/GovDelivery/

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Sea Box,* Cinnaminson, New Jersey, (SPRD11-19-D-0100, $471,828,000); W&K Containers,* Mill Valley, California, (SPRDL1-19-D-0101, $19,513,750); and NexGen Composites,* Franklin, Ohio (SPRDL1-19-D-0097, $253,608,919) have each been awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for ISO & Quadcon Containers. They are five-year contracts with no option periods. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. Locations of performance are New Jersey, Texas, California, South Carolina and Ohio, with an Oct. 29, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan. Freeman Holdings of Arizona, LLC, doing business as Million Air Yuma,* Yuma, Arizona, has been awarded a minimum $21,991,384 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with 148 responses received. This is a 46-month contract with one six-month option period. Location of performance is Arizona, with a March 31, 2023, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE607-19-D-0076). Rantec Power Systems, Los Osos, California, has been awarded a maximum $8,429,618 firm-fixed-price contract for two different power supplies. This was a sole source acquisition using justification 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a one-year base contract with one one-year option period for each power supply. The majority of the option is being exercised at the time of award. Location of performance is California, with a March 31, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-C-0106). AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $127,632,494 modification (P00003) to previously awarded contract FA2103-18-C-0061 for the B61-12 Life Extension Program. This modification provides for the initiation of an undefinitized contract action for Lot 1 and Lot 2 Long Lead items. Work will be performed in Saint Charles, Missouri, and is expected to be complete by Aug. 31, 2020. His modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $131,932,494. Fiscal year 2018 and 2019 procurement funds, and fiscal year 2019 research and development funds, in the amount of $29,218,278 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, has been awarded a $94,272,118 fixed‐price‐incentive modification (P00004) to previously awarded contract FA8620-18-C-2001 for DAS‐4 production and upgrades. This modification provides for the purchase of an additional 54 production AN/DAS‐4 Multi‐Spectral Targeting System Model B High Definition/Target Location Accuracy (HD/TLA) turrets and one DAS‐1A to DAS‐4 turret unit upgrade. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2021. This contract involves foreign military sales to The Netherlands. Fiscal year 2017 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $1,480,393, fiscal year 2018 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $22,338,740, fiscal year 2019 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $60,142,814, and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $10,310,171 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright‐Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. University of Dayton Research Institute, Dayton, Ohio, has been awarded a $46,794,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Proactive Research Enabling Supportable Systems (PRESS). This contract provides for PRESS in order to improve materials and processes for maintainability and manufacturing. Work will be performed in Dayton, Ohio, and is expected to be complete by May 1, 2026. This contract was the result of a competitive acquisition and 3 offers were received. Fiscal year 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $508,000 are being obligated on the first task order at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-D-5630). NAVY Granite-Healy Tibbitts, JV, Watsonville, California, was awarded $27,186,257 for firm-fixed-price task order N6247319F4540 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-16-D-1803) for construction of maintenance dredging piers 1, 3, and Paleta Creek at Naval Base San Diego. The maintenance dredging will re-establish the design operational and/or berthing depth required for United States Navy vessels and other visiting vessels. The dredge material is expected to be disposed of at upland disposal sites. All dredge material for upland disposal will be screened for unexploded ordnance and radiological debris, dried or dewatered prior to transport for disposal at a commercial landfill. The proposed maintenance dredging work will remove dredge material to restore the pier slips and creek area for safe, unrestricted navigation. The task order also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase the cumulative task order value to $38,244,577. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by November 2021. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $27,186,257 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 25, 2019) Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $26,890,125 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the procurement of Navy engineering services. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $201,706,155. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (68 percent); Waterford, Connecticut (10 percent); Groton, Connecticut (10 percent); Middletown, Rhode Island (7 percent); and Newport, Rhode Island (5 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2025. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 other procurement (Navy) and fiscal 2019 research development test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $5,155,627 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-6400). Miller Electric Co. Inc. doing business as PEC Contracting and Engineering*, Reno, Nevada, was awarded a maximum amount $25,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for commercial and institutional building construction alterations, renovations, and repair projects at Naval Air Station Fallon. 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 administration buildings, maintenance/repair facilities, aircraft control towers, hangars, fire stations, office buildings, laboratories, dining facilities and related structures. Work will be performed in Fallon, Nevada. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of April 2024. Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 11 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-D-2617). (Awarded April 25, 2019) Centerra-SJC II, LLC. *, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $15,374,563 firm-fixed-price task order modification under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N69450-15-D-1621) for exercise of options two, three, four, and five for renovations to 84 housing units. The work to be performed provides for complete exterior and interior repairs for 84 housing units at Tierra Kay Housing complex. The renovation of the Tierra Kay housing areas is to provide quality housing for unaccompanied service members, and will improve quality of life during their deployment to Guantanamo Bay. This will optimize energy performance of the housing area. The total task order amount after exercise of these options will be $18,612,025. Work will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and is expected to be completed by April 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations & maintenance, (Army) contract funds in the amount of $15,374,563 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 25, 2019) Lockheed Martin, Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $13,908,052 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-5102 to exercise an option for AEGIS Speed to Capability Development. The contract provides for systems engineering, modeling and simulation, and design for AEGIS Speed to Capability cycles as well as the completion of the development and fielding of the AEGIS Baseline 9 AEGIS Weapon System and integrated AEGIS Combat System on AEGIS Technical Insertion (TI) 12 configured destroyers as well as TI 12 and TI 08 configured cruisers. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (97 percent) and Johnstown, Pennsylvania (3 percent) and is expected to be complete by May 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test & evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,938,130 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. Didlake, Inc., Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $12,076,573 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity modification for the exercise of option four for annual custodial services at Naval Air Station Oceana, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, and Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The work to be performed provides for annual custodial services, including, but not limited to, all management, supervision, tools, materials, supplies, labor, and transportation services necessary to perform custodial services for office space, restrooms, and other types of rooms. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $53,345,575. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work will be performed at various installations in Portsmouth, Virginia (43 percent); Virginia Beach, Virginia (44 percent); and Yorktown, Virginia (13 percent). This option period is from May 2019 to April 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Task orders will be primarily funded by Fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $11,705,043 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the option period. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-15-D-0063). Lockheed Martin, Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $9,142,030 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-15-C-5151 for AEGIS Ashore Support and Ship Integration and Engineering of the AEGIS Weapon System (AWS) for AWS Baselines through Advanced Capability Build (ACB) 16. The contract modification provides for AEGIS ashore on-site support in Romania and Poland, AEGIS Ashore Planning Yard support and Ship Integration Engineering support including technical data package and test package/procedure development; technical documentation; feasibility studies; configuration management support; lifecycle and system engineering; environmental qualification testing; topside analysis; Ballistic Missile Defense engineering; combat system alignment and integration of Advanced Naval Weapon Systems on DDG 51 Class ships. Work will be performed in Camden, New Jersey (29 percent), Deveselu, Romania (15 percent), Redzikowo, Poland (15 percent), Moorestown, New Jersey (13 percent), Norfolk, Virginia (9 percent), San Diego, California (9 percent), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (5 percent), and various places below one percent (5 percent) and is expected to be complete by September 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $3,268,951 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC, a not-for-profit University Affiliated Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, has been awarded a ceiling $100,000,000 modification (P00003) to previously awarded indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract HR0011-17-D-0001 for engineering, development and research capabilities. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $198,000,000 from $98,000,000. Work will primarily be performed in Laurel, Maryland, with an expected completion date of November 2021. IDIQ task orders can extend an additional six months until May 2022. No funds are being obligated at time of award. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1825952/source/GovDelivery/

By SAMANTHA MASUNAGA The year was 1989. The Pentagon was under the command of President George H.W. Bush and Defense Secretary Dick Cheney. And aviation giant McDonnell Douglas Corp. was riding high as the top federal contractor, grabbing 4.6%, or $9.15 billion, of all federal contracting dollars. The next two largest contractors, General Dynamics Corp. and General Electric Co., raked in about 4% and 3.4%, respectively. Thirty years and many acquisitions later, Pentagon spending has grown far more top-heavy. Today, Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing — which bought McDonnell Douglas in 1997 — together reaped almost 15% of total U.S. government contracting dollars in fiscal year 2017, according to the most recent federal numbers. The two aerospace giants are the only makers of fast combat jets in the U.S. and are the dominant players for military transport aircraft. The concentrated power of big defense companies became an issue two years ago when longtime Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan was confirmed as deputy secretary of Defense. Then in December, President Trump named him to serve as acting Defense secretary. After a monthlong ethics investigation into allegations that Shanahan promoted Boeing while slamming rival Lockheed Martin, particularly in discussions about its F-35 fighter jet contract, the Pentagon's office of inspector general concluded Thursday that Shanahan “did not promote Boeing or disparage its competitors.” “We did not substantiate any of the allegations,” the report said. “We determined that Mr. Shanahan fully complied with his ethics agreements and his ethical obligations regarding Boeing and its competitors.” Shanahan is considered a leading candidate for permanent Defense secretary. The question of possible favoritism toward Boeing had also been raised by some when the U.S. Air Force, in its 2020 budget, made a surprise request to purchase F-15X fighter jets, an update of that company's fourth-generation jet. The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps have all made major commitments to the F-35, Lockheed Martin's more advanced and pricier fifth-generation fighter. The inspector general report said the Pentagon's mix of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft was a decision made by former Defense Secretary James N. Mattis before Shanahan's confirmation to the department. A Defense official told trade publication Defense News that the decision was bolstered by concerns about keeping “multiple providers in the tactical aircraft portfolio.” But there was no contract competition based on a set of defined requirements — the way business typically works in the industry, said Richard Aboulafia, aviation analyst at market analysis firm Teal Group. “It's a duopoly structure business with a lot at stake,” he said of fast combat jet manufacturing. “It's amazing that no one considered the optics here.” In some cases, the military has encouraged monopolies. In 2006, Lockheed Martin and Boeing got government approval to form United Launch Alliance, a joint venture set up specifically to launch national security satellites. The venture was proposed after the companies argued there were not enough launches to sustain two competitors. “The market is more concentrated,” said Mandy Smithberger, director of the Center for Defense Information at the Project on Government Oversight, an independent watchdog group. “You see the government making decisions thinking about how it will impact industry probably more than they should be.” Still, when President Reagan was in office, there were a number of major manufacturers of tactical military jets — Northrop Corp., Grumman Corp., Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and General Dynamics, to name a few, Aboulafia said. But as the Cold War ended in the 1990s, defense funding dried up, leading to major aerospace mergers, such as Lockheed and Martin Marietta, and Boeing's acquisition of Rockwell International's aerospace business and McDonnell Douglas. A push for commonality among the Pentagon's planes also led to the fewer numbers of tactical military jets. The idea was that using similar aircraft would lead to savings in development and production costs, Andrew Hunter, director of the defense-industrial initiatives group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said in an email. As a result, the share of federal defense contracts awarded to the top largest private companies increased to 31.3% in 2000 from 21.7% in 1990, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper on the effect of 1990s-era defense industry consolidation. In 2017, the share of the top five reached 35%, according to federal data analyzed for that paper by Stanford University researchers. The paper concluded that those mergers resulted in a less competitive procurement process. But it did not find evidence of a significant increase in acquisition costs for large weapon systems, said Mark Duggan, director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and co-author of the paper. As the industry gets more concentrated, it can lead to concern that “there's only one or two potential contractors for a certain product, and then you may not get the kind of competitive outcome you want,” he said. The consolidation process hasn't slowed, driven by the perceived need to compete for more and bigger contracts. Last year, Northrop Grumman Corp. acquired spacecraft and rocket motor manufacturer Orbital ATK Inc. Months later, military communications firms L3 Technologies Inc. and Harris Corp. announced their intent to merge. Although acquisitions and mergers can lead to greater efficiency, they can also have a detrimental effect on product innovation, said Aboulafia of Teal Group. For example, he said, as aircraft manufacturers consolidate, clean-sheet designs may be more of a rarity in the future as there are fewer design teams in the industry from different companies. For Boeing, “in terms of designing a clean-sheet fighter jet, it's been many, many, many years,” he said. In 2017, Lockheed Martin won more than $50 billion in total federal contracting dollars, making the Bethesda, Md., company No. 1 on a list of the top 100 federal contractors, according to federal procurement data. Boeing was a distant second with more than $23 billion. When narrowed to weapon acquisition contract dollars in fiscal year 2017, Lockheed Martin's individual piece of the pie totaled about 17%, with Boeing further behind at about 7.5%, according to federal data analyzed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. News of the Defense Department ethics investigation came after watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington sent a letter to the acting Defense Department inspector general, asking him to investigate allegations that Shanahan had boosted Boeing while working in the Pentagon. The letter includes a description from a Politico story published in January, in which Shanahan allegedly criticized Lockheed Martin's work on the F-35 joint strike fighter program, saying it “would be done much better” if Boeing had won the contract. In that article, an unnamed former Pentagon official told the news organization that Shanahan said during a high-level meeting that Lockheed “doesn't know how to run a program.” The inspector general's report said none of the witnesses interviewed said they heard Shanahan praise Boeing in meetings or discussions or make disparaging remarks about Lockheed Martin. Shanahan told the inspector general's team that he had never praised a Boeing military product and that he had said “program management on the F-35 is inadequate.” Shanahan's Boeing career spanned more than 30 years, during which he led its missile defense systems and military helicopter units. He also served as senior vice president of the company's commercial airplane division and is known for his work on Boeing's 787 Dreamliner program, which was behind schedule when he first took the helm. Boeing declined to comment this month on the initiation of the ethics investigation. The company referred to a statement it made in January, saying Boeing officials had not spoken to Shanahan about its programs during “his entire Pentagon tenure” and that the company “adheres to and respects Acting Secretary Shanahan's decision to recuse himself from company matters.” Shanahan isn't the first industry executive to lead the Defense Department. Under President Eisenhower, Defense Secretary Charles Wilson joined the Pentagon after serving as chief executive of General Motors, which made military vehicles at the time. Other defense industry brass have also joined the Pentagon over the years, though in lower roles. Analysts say the Pentagon could benefit from having a leader who understands how industry works, and who has been on the other side of the negotiating table and can avoid being tricked. And the Defense secretary typically works less with industry representatives than deputies do. “Secretaries aren't making a lot of decisions on individual contracts,” Smithberger said. “They're setting the priorities for the department.” But the potential conflicts may be “hard to escape,” said Loren Thompson, defense analyst at the Lexington Institute think tank, which receives funding from both Boeing and Lockheed Martin. “Boeing is so big that almost every discussion of strategy, budgets or programs bears upon its interests,” he said. https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-boeing-lockheed-shanahan-20190426-story.html