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U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND Core One Solutions LLC, Sterling, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0002); Crisis Response Co. LLC, Keller, Texas (H92400-20-D-0003); Consulting Services Group LLC, Herndon, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0004); D3 Air & Space Operations Inc., St. Augustine, Florida (H92400-20-D-0005); Defense Acquisition Inc., Huntsville, Alabama (H92400-20-D-0006); EnGenius, Huntsville, Alabama (H92400-20-D-0007); Firebird AST, Arlington, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0008); Federal Information Systems Inc., San Antonio, Texas (H92400-20-D-0009); FITT Scientific LCC, Colonial Heights, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0010); Gemini Industries Inc., Burlington, Massachusetts (H92400-20-D-0011); Global Dimensions LLC, Fredericksburg, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0012); Geo Owl LLC, Wilmington, North Carolina (H92400-20-D-0013); Iron EagleX, Tampa, Florida (H92400-20-D-0014); INTEROP-ISHPI JV LLC, Virginia Beach, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0015); ITELITRAC Inc., Ashburn, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0016); Infinity Technology LLC, McLean, Virginia (H9240-020-D-0017); K2 Solutions Inc., Southern Pines, North Carolina (H92400-20-D-0018); Legion Systems LLC, Tampa, Florida (H92400-20-D-0019); Lukos LCC, Tampa, Florida (H92400-20-D-0020); METIS Celestar JV LLC, Tampa, Florida (H92400-20-D-0021); MHM Innovations Inc., Fairfax, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0022); Nisga'a Tek LLC, Chantilly, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0023); OSCAR DEUCE LLC, Virginia Beach, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0024); Prescient Edge Corp., McLean, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0025); ProCleared LLC, Chantilly, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0026); Preting LLC, Springfield, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0027); Quiet Professionals, Tampa, Florida (H92400-20-D-0028); R3 Strategic Support Group Inc., Coronado, California (H92400-20-D-0029); The Red Gate Group Ltd., Chantilly, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0030); R&K Enterprise Solutions Inc., Newport News, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0031); RMGS Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0032); Special Applications Group, Tampa, Florida (H92400-20-D-0033); SOLUTE Inc., San Diego, California (H92400-20-D-0034); Systems Plus Inc., Rockville, Maryland (H92400-20-D-0035); Spathe Systems LLC, Tampa, Florida (H92400-20-D-0036); Strategic Solutions Unlimited Inc., Fayetteville, North Carolina (H92400-20-D-0037); Streamline Defense LLC, Tampa, Florida (H92400-20-D-0038); T3i Inc., Imperial Beach, California (H92400-20-D-0039); TriDcor JV LLC, Wesley Chapel, Florida (H92400-20-D-0040); Tyoneck Global Services LLC, Anchorage, Alaska (H92400-20-D-0041); Threat Tec LLC, Hampton, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0042); Universal Strategy Group Inc., Franklin, Tennessee (H92400-20-D-0043); Vistra Communications LLC, Lutz, Florida (H92400-20-D-0044); VxL Enterprise LLC, Alexandria, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0045); Walsingham Group Inc., Fayetteville, North Carolina (H92400-20-D-0046); and Webworld Technologies Inc., Fairfax, Virginia (H92400-20-D-0047), were awarded 46 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts worth $950,000,000 maximum for Special Operations Forces core support services in support of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) enterprise requirements in the U.S. and globally. Contracted subject matter expertise and knowledge-based services will support education, training, engineering, technical, professional, administrative, management support, program management and other requirements. Funding shall be provided on a delivery order basis. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds will be used to satisfy a $2,500 contract minimum guarantee. The contracts were awarded competitively using Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 15 procedures. USSOCOM, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE COLASKA Inc., North Pole, Alaska (FA5004-20-D-0001); HC Contractors Inc., North Pole, Alaska (FA5004-20-D-0002); Paving Products Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska (FA5004-20-D-0003); Great Northwest Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska (FA5004-20-D-0004); and Granite Construction Co., Watsonville, California (FA5004-20-D-0005), have been awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with a maximum estimated aggregate value of $350,000,000 under a multiple award task order contract for airfield/roadway paving and striping. These contracts provide for all plant, labor, supervision, equipment and materials necessary to repair, maintain and construct roads, parking lots, airfields and associated incidental work. Work will be performed on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska; Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Fort Greely, Alaska; Clear Air Force Station, Alaska; and 168th Air National Guard property, Alaska, and work is expected to be completed April 30, 2027, if all six options are exercised. These awards are the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $500 are being obligated to each contractor at the time of award. The 354th Contracting Squadron Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, is the contracting activity. Point Junction Car Rental, Doha, Qatar, has been awarded a $95,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for lease vehicle services at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. This is a non-personal services contract to provide vehicle lease service for the Expeditionary Logistic Readiness Support Squadron. Work will be completed Nov. 30, 2024, and is the result of a competitive acquisition with 21 offers received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $30,713 will be obligated at the time of award. The 379th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, is the contracting activity (F5702-20-D-0201). The Applied Research Laboratory at University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, has been awarded a $75,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to establish or maintain an essential engineering, research, or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center under the authority 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(3)(B). The purpose of the Vanguard Center's Unified University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) for Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC) Support (VaCUUMS) is to leverage the UARC's core competencies to accomplish research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E). The Air Force Research Laboratory UARC is necessary to maintain essential engineering, research and development capabilities at the MHPCC Vanguard Center by conducting scientific and technology investigations and by providing scientific expertise, capabilities and interdisciplinary facilities required for progression from basic theories of knowledge to practical and realistic fielded application in the areas of: sensor development; image processing; command and control integration; advanced data visualization and analytics; machine learning; and autonomy. Work will be performed in Maui, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed May 2024. This award is the result of the sole-source acquisition, and fiscal 2020 RDT&E funds in the amount of $358,422 are being obligated under Task Order 0001 (FA9451-20-F-0004) at time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, is the contracting activity (FA9451-20-D-0004). Akima Support Operations LLC, Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded a $14,499,202 firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursement contract to exercise Option Period Four for civil engineer services. The contractor will provide non‐personal services for continued operational support and civil engineer services to include engineering, environmental, operations, maintenance and emergency management. Work will be performed at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, for the period of May 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $14,499,202 is being obligated at the time of award. The 6th Contracting Squadron, MacDill AFB, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA4814‐17‐C‐0002). NAVY Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois, is awarded a $123,526,724 modification (P00001) to previously awarded, fixed-price, incentive-firm-target contract N00019-19-C-0011. This modification procures the necessary hardware, systems engineering, technical support, analysis and studies to integrate the Department of Navy Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures system onto aircraft for the Navy, Army, Air Force and the governments of Norway and New Zealand. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Illinois (34%); Goleta, California (30%); Longmont, Colorado (11%); Blacksburg, Virginia (6%); Lewisburg, Tennessee (3%); Boulder, Colorado (3%); Carlsbad, California (2%); Apopka, Florida (1%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (10%). Weapon replaceable assemblies hardware procurements are as follows: 418 Advanced Threat Warning (ATW) sensors, 272 High Capacity Cards (HCCs), 160 Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) cards, 64 Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies (GLTAs), 64 GLTA shipping containers, 53 -2103 signal, 48 Control Indicator Unit Replaceable (CIURs), 14 Smart Connector Assemblies (SCAs) and six Multi-Role Electro-Optical End-to-End Test Sets (MEONs) for the Navy; 156 HCCs, 138 ATW sensors, 23 CIURs and 23 -2103 signal for the Army; 64 PCMCIA cards and 45 ATW sensors for the Air Force; six GLTAs, six GLTA shipping containers, six SCAs and four HCCs for the government of Norway; and 30 Infrared Missile Warning Sensors, five GLTAs, five GLTA shipping containers, five SCAs, three HCCs, two CIURs and two MEONs for the government of New Zealand. Work is expected to be complete by July 2022. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $76,228,341; fiscal 2020 procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $2,926,699; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds (Navy) in the amount of $2,802,286; fiscal 2019 procurement (defense-wide) funds in the amount of $3,418,527; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $410,223; fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $25,262,278; fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement funds (Navy) in the amount of $3,184,415; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $9,293,955 will be obligated will be obligated at time of award, $3,184,415 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Navy ($82,625,265; 67%); Army ($25,262,278; 20%); Air Force (6,345,226; 5%); the government of New Zealand ($6,338,009; 5%); and the government of Norway ($2,955,946; 2%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Alion Science and Technology Corp., Burr Ridge, Illinois, is awarded a $49,999,999 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides non-recurring engineering and logistics support for the Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) family of training systems. Work will be performed in Mayport, Florida (20%); Jacksonville, Florida (20%); North Island, California (20%); Kaneohe, Hawaii (20%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (20%). The LVC Integrated Training System is a networked, personal computer (PC) based deployable trainer designed to support integrated and coordinated tactical training and simulation. Additionally, this contract procures the current training system configuration comprised of PCs with each PC system representing a mission training station in a particular aircraft (i.e. SH-60B, SH-60F, P-3C), shipboard system or combat systems which, when in a networked environment, allow for integrated mission training. Work is expected to be complete by April 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities; one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (N61340-20-D-0015). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Charlottesville, Virginia, is awarded a $27,430,321 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-4101 to exercise options to procure integrated bridge and navigation systems for the DDG-51 (guided missile destroyer) New Construction Ship Program and DDG-51 Midlife Modernization Program with physical throttles kits and engineering services. Work will be performed in Charlottesville, Virginia. The integrated bridge and navigation system is a hull, mechanical and electrical upgrade. It is part of the comprehensive plan to modernize the DDG-51 class to ensure the ships remain combat relevant and affordable throughout their life. Work is expected to be complete by August 2021. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy); and 2019 and 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $18,759,918 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, D.C., is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, was awarded a $19,467,608 cost-plus-incentive fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, undefinitized contract modification (N00024-20-C-5105) for the procurement of the Korean Gun Computing System development, software, and hardware and subassemblies for installation. This modification will finalize the Korean Gun Computing System interface design specifications for the integration with the Aegis combat system. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the government of South Korea. Work will be performed in Seoul, South Korea (51%); Moorestown, New Jersey (46%); and Clearwater, Florida (3%), and is expected to be complete by July 2026. FMS funding in the amount of $1,975,021 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract modification was not competitively procured in accordance with the authority from 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(4). The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 29, 2020) Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is awarded a $17,220,849 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price order under basic ordering agreement N00024-18-G-5501 for dual band radar systems engineering in support of CVN 78. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (30%); Andover, Massachusetts (30%); Tewksbury, Massachusetts (20%); and Marlborough, Massachusetts (20%), and is expected to be complete by February 2022. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $17,220,849 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order was not competitively procured, in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) with only one responsible source, and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-20-F-5506). Ocean Ships Inc., Houston, Texas, is awarded a $15,114,743 modification for the fixed-price portion of previously awarded contract N32205-19-C-3003 to fund the operation and maintenance of two expeditionary transfer dock (ESD) vessels: U.S. Naval Ship (USNS) Montford Point (T-ESD 1) and USNS John Glenn (T-ESD 2). Work will be performed at sea worldwide, and the vessels will continue to support Military Sealift Command's world-wide prepositioning requirements. Work is expected to be complete by November 2024, if all options are exercised. This modification exercises the first of four one-year option periods of this contract. Working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $15,114,743 are obligated for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021, and will not expire at the end of each year. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. DRS Laurel Technologies, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is awarded an $11,786,168 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-4109 to exercise options for procurement of AN/USQ-82(V) hardware in support of DDG-51 (guided missile destroyer) class new construction, DDG- 51 class modernization, and Aegis Ashore Japan. Work will be performed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The AN/USQ-82(V) Program is a control system network. Its purpose is to transfer mission critical data to and from users associated with combat, navigation, aviation, power, propulsion, steering, alarms indicating and damage control systems. Work is expected to be complete by August 2021. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (79%) and government of Japan (21%) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy); 2020 and 2013 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and FMS Japan funding in the amount of $11,786,168 will be obligated at the time of the award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Del Medical Inc., Bloomingdale, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $100,000,000 firm‐fixed‐price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite‐quantity contract for radiology systems, accessories and training. This is a five‐year base contract with one five‐year option period. This was a competitive acquisition with 50 responses received. Location of performance is Illinois, with an April 30, 2025, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D1‐20‐D‐0009). Vitol Inc., Houston, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $99,594,897 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with 14 responses received. This is a one-year contract with a 30-day carry-over period. Locations of performance are Texas and the United Kingdom, with a July 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using customer is Defense Logistics Agency Energy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE602-20-D-0482). First Nation Group LLC, doing business as Jordan Reses Supply, Niceville, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $47,500,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency electronic catalog. This was a competitive acquisition with 115 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Florida, with an April 30, 2025, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-20-D-0037). The Boeing Co., doing business as Boeing, St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a maximum $29,864,155 firm-fixed-price, fixed-quantity contract for B-52 hatches. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.301-1. This is a two-year, three-month contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Missouri and Kansas, with a July 15, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (SPRTA1-20-F-0014). Tennier Industries Inc.,* Delray Beach, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $8,771,992 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a variety of trousers and parkas. This is a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. Locations of performance are Florida and Tennessee, with an April 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are the Marine Corp, Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-20-D-1273). DEFENSE COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY AGENCY Next Tier Concepts, Vienna, Virginia, was awarded an estimated $24,919,863 firm-fixed-price contract modification (HS0021-19-D-0132-P00005) and task order modification (HS0021-19-F-0115-P00003) for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). These modifications extend performance for functions supporting the background investigation mission. Work will be performed in Boyers, Pennsylvania. This task order modification is funded with fiscal 2020 DCSA working capital funds with $15,045,937 obligated at time of award. The anticipated period of performance for the task order includes a three-month base period from May 1, 2020, to July 31, 2020, plus two one-month option periods of August 2020 and September 2020. This requirement was synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website as a sole-source requirement on April 15, 2020. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services meet agency requirements. The justification and approval will be posted within 14 days of award. DCSA Acquisition and Contracting, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity. ARMY Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Washington, was awarded a $16,695,000 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging of the Oakland, California, inner and outer harbor plus transportation of the dredged material. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Oakland, California, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2020 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $16,695,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco, California, is the contracting activity (W912P7-20-C-0005). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2173758/source/GovDelivery/

BY REBECCA KHEEL - 05/03/20 01:30 PM EDT Defense budget cuts are looming as the coronavirus pandemic places pressure on the federal budget across various agencies. The Pentagon had already been expecting relatively flat budgets for the next few years due to economic constraints caused by the widening deficits in the country. But with the pandemic, the deficit is projected to explode after Congress passed trillions of dollars in coronavirus relief packages, with more aid bills expected. Defense budget analysts are predicting that will mean cuts to defense spending down the line. Meanwhile, Democrats say the crisis should result in a rethinking of national security that gives less money to the Pentagon and more to areas like public health. The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said this past week it's hard to predict where the defense budget will head after the crisis abates, but suggested the entire federal budget will need to be re-examined. “The economics of this get much more complicated than they were before this, and it's logical to assume that we are going to have to reevaluate our entire budget, both revenue and expenditures,” Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said on a teleconference in response to a question from The Hill. “Beyond that, it would be pure speculation as to what's gonna happen.” Smith, a long time opponent of the nuclear budget, specifically highlighted nuclear modernization as an area for potential cuts, but said defense portfolios are “all on the table to figure out how to spend the money more wisely.” In the meantime, defense hawks, progressives and deficit hawks alike are honing their arguments as they brace for defense cuts. The defense budget battles are already starting to play out as Congress debates further coronavirus relief bills. The Pentagon has said it expects to request “billions” of dollars in the next bill to help contractors hit by the virus. That funding would follow the $10.5 billion the Pentagon got in the third coronavirus stimulus package for the Defense Production Act, defense health programs, and military deployments related to the crisis and other areas. Smith, though, said this past week he would not support more Pentagon funding in further coronavirus bills, saying the department can find unused funding in its existing $738 billion-plus budget. Smith's comments came about a week after dozens of progressive organizations led by Win Without War argued in a letter to Congress that “any arguments that the Pentagon cannot use existing resources to respond to the crisis should be met with considerable skepticism.” But the Pentagon maintained after Smith's comments it cannot dip into its existing budget for coronavirus relief. Ellen Lord, the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, said the department may be able to use some operations and maintenance funds for coronavirus needs, but added money still has to be available for “pretty significant needs” in readiness and modernization. “I am not sure that we have the fiscal flexibility to encompass all of the new demands we have and the inefficiencies that we are seeing and perhaps may see in the future,” Lord said at a briefing. “But I respect what Chairman Smith is saying, and we will obviously do our best.” Looking further ahead, Pentagon officials have indicated they are preparing to tighten their belts at the other end of the crisis. In a webinar with the Brookings Institution this past week, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy recalled “compressed budgets” in the wake of recovery bills for the 2008 financial crisis, culminating in the 2011 Budget Control Act that Pentagon officials now blame for readiness shortfalls. The law set budget caps that resulted in sequestration, continuing resolutions or government shutdowns in several years. “These are challenges we're thinking about now as we look at the [Future Years Defense Program] and whether or not this will pressurize Army budgets in the [fiscal year] 23, 24 timeframe, which are very critical to us and our modernization efforts and increasing our talent management within the force," he said. “We are watching that very closely, and we know that is a challenge that is out in front of us.” Late last month, the Congressional Budget Office projected that Congress' rescue and stimulus efforts will cause the federal deficit to quadruple to $3.7 trillion, the largest by far in U.S. history. Defense budget experts say the ballooning deficit likely spells defense cuts in the future, citing trends after previous rising deficits and economic downturns such after the 2008 financial crisis. “What has historically happened is, when Congress and fiscal conservatives come out and get serious about reducing the debt and reducing spending, defense is almost always part of what they come up with for a solution,” Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in a webinar. “So, we could be looking at a deficit-driven defense drawdown coming in the next two or three years. At least history would suggest that that is a real possibility.” In the same webinar, American Enterprise Institute resident fellow Mackenzie Eaglen predicted the “budget comes down sooner rather than later.” “There probably will be a total relook even at the [National Defense Strategy] fundamentals and what mission is going to have to go in response to this,” she added. But defense hawks are arguing the Pentagon should not be used to pay other bills,, saying the country still faces threats from Russia and China. Fred Bartels, a senior policy analyst for defense budgeting at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said the defense budget needs to match the National Defense Strategy, which has not changed despite the pandemic. The strategy calls for the military to be ready for so-called great power competition with China and Russia. “What you're going to have is likely empty promises, and that's the worst possible outcome for the military,” Bartels said of a budget cut without a strategy change. “If your national strategy tells the world that you're going to do that but you don't follow through, it's going to be harder and harder to operate.” But the pandemic has intensified calls from progressive lawmakers to rethink what constitutes national security. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told The Hill the crisis shows the definition of national security needs be expanded. “Lawmakers must view issues like climate change, biosecurity, cybersecurity and this pandemic as serious and real national security threats facing our nation,” Khanna said in a statement to The Hill. “For too long, we were myopically focused and spending trillions on traditional national security issues like terrorism and ‘great power' politics. These new threats impact our health, safety, and economy, requiring new funds to address them.” https://thehill.com/policy/defense/495762-defense-budget-brawl-looms-after-pandemic

Pat Host, Washington, DC - Jane's Defence Industry 02 May 2020 For the first time since the coronavirus (Covid-19) reached the United States, more defence contractors re-opened than closed over the past week, according to the Pentagon's top weapons buyer. Ellen Lord, under-secretary of defence for acquisition and sustainment (A&S), told reporters on 30 April that out of the 10,509 companies tracked by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), 93 are closed, which is 13 fewer than last week. Of these, 141 had re-opened, 73 more than last week's tally of 68. Additionally, out of the 11,413 companies tracked by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), 438 are closed while 237 that were closed have re-opened. https://www.janes.com/article/95908/covid-19-more-us-defence-contractors-re-open-than-close-for-first-time-since-virus-struck

By: Joe Gould WASHINGTON―As the Pentagon works to defray the coronavirus pandemic's impact on its network of suppliers, it's worked hand-in-glove with defense and aerospace trade associations to find and address problems in the supply chain. The National Defense Industrial Association, whose members stretch into the lower tiers of the defense industrial base, surveyed more than 700 small businesses to find that cash-flow disruptions remained a problem as the Pentagon and major defense firms increase payments to suppliers. Retired Air Force Col. Wesley Hallman is NDIA's senior vice president of policy, charged with monitoring Capitol Hill on matters of concern to defense, including annual budgets, acquisition and procurement reform. This week, he spoke with Defense News about NDIA's priorities as Congress mulls how to follow its third coronavirus response bill, worth $2.2 trillion and intended to speed relief across the American economy. With NDIA's finger on the pulse of the supply chain and recent survey, how do you interpret the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord's numbers, demonstrating more defense firms that have closed now reopening? What are you seeing among your members? As you know, A&S has been holding a call on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and we've been participating in all of those. The Defense Contract Management Agency has really been the clearinghouse for all these companies' challenges, and in fact we've been pushing our member companies that are seeing challenges to go to the website and fill in information about what their challenges are what they're seeing. And DoD has been responsive when something has closed down for whatever reason. Undersecretary Lord herself has picked up the phone to make calls to state governors to explain that we work very hard to ensure that the defense industrial base is considered essential. That was a question when people were starting to call for shelters in place. The very issues these companies have been seeing are things you're expecting: the result of closures, and sometimes those closures aren't state and local but on installations. Many contractors have to go to work on installations, and installation commanders are the mayors of their bases; they're tasked with the safety and security of their installations, and sometimes they've made the call to close facilities that have an effect on those performing contracts. There's also a growing concern on liability. There's uncertainty surrounding contractors' liability during the crisis for heeding calls to keep everything turned on. They also have to make sure that they're keeping their workforce safe and secure, and sometimes that's an issue as you look at reopening everything. Our last NDIA survey was really about what kind of things do you need to reopen to get to a new normal, where we're producing on contracts. Access to personal protective equipment is a concern, safety is a concern and more. DCMA has been following up with those companies to see what those issues are and what would allow them to reopen. We all know the supply chain ― and I'm sure you remember our report on the health of the defense industrial base at the beginning of the year ― but one of the things we highlighted is we have a relatively fragile supply chain already. This is a concern of the associations, the Pentagon and particular House Armed Services Committee members. Cash flow was also identified as an issue in NDIA's survey, and it's been a feature of DoD's press conferences. Ellen Lord said she was relying on the trade associations to help DoD understand how its accelerated progress payments are trickling down the supply chain to smaller firms, from the primes. How detailed is the information the associations are providing, and are the primes doing what's expected of them? What I have is anecdotal. It's proprietary data, and our members don't necessarily share that with us. I did get calls from all of the majors asking about accelerating payments through the supply chain, and one company was very explicit that “we have access to capital to get through this, but our supply chain doesn't.” Lockheed Martin has been very public with their commitment, and I know they're worried, and they're incentivized to keep their supply chain healthy because they've got to produce. The companies know their supply chains better than anyone else, so they're incentivized to push those dollars. It's not the amount of money but the velocity, and they understand that. This is me talking, but what the Pentagon wants to show ― and you've seen multiple groups saying, “not a dime for defense” ― is that the money that's being accelerated to these companies is not going to line anybody's pocket. This is to allow folks to survive. And beyond the national security aspect of this, which we could talk about forever, these are real companies with real people, doing real jobs that are key to our economy. They're as valid as any of the other small businesses that apply for the Paycheck Protection Program. So, ‘not a dime for defense' is I think a very shortsighted bumper sticker, because these are real people developing real capabilities for the defense of our nation. There have been some progressive lawmakers, as well as the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee who have already pushed back on the Pentagon's upcoming request for funding. But more broadly, what would NDIA like to see legislatively in the next stimulus package, including policy―or are your priorities being addressed directly through the Pentagon? So there's only so much the Pentagon can do without appropriations. What we're looking at ― and we are a 501(c)3, non-lobbying organization, though we engage when asked what we think ― is we think, first off, there needs to be a plus-up in appropriations for FY20. We all know that there's a lot of challenges to performing on contracts right now that are going to extend the length of those contracts. There's been a slowdown in the ability to perform on contracts because of this, and in some cases it has made made delivery on contracts more expensive. We believe that should be reflected in appropriations, and that shouldn't steal from the future. You know, we have a National Defense Strategy, we have a future-years defense program, there's already president's budget in. We don't think that the FY21 should be paying the increased cost for FY20. So it would be a defense supplemental to cover the extra expense to produce on contract because of COVID-19. That's first and foremost. The other thing is ― and you may know the Defense Logistics Agency and others, they pay out of a working capital fund. Back in November, DLA stopped following the accelerated payment policy passed by Congress because their working capital fund didn't have the liquidity to make that happen. They backed off to a 30-day instead of a 15-day payout. Well, that was hard enough in November, December, January, February. But you start getting to March with COVID-19, and these folks that have already performed on contract and are waiting to get their money are waiting an extra 15 days because of the lack of liquidity in the working capital funds. That's not acceptable. So another thing we'd like to see is a bump up in the working capital fund so those accelerated payments can start happening the way that Congress intended. You referenced liability issues. There's been a movement afoot to shield companies from lawsuits as they seek to reopen that's been met with partisan pushback. Are liability protections something NDIA favors? You have to be very careful because you don't want companies to do something that is not smart or not safe, but you do have to look at it because there's a potential that this is a ripe avenue for liability suits. We would rather see that stemmed up front so we can focus on producing for the war fighter. On a positive note, are you seeing companies employing any novel solutions to problems stemming from the pandemic? The Defense Department has a Joint Acquisition Task Force where companies can go and say what they can produce. We have worked with a lot of companies who can do harnesses for parachutes or where they can shift production to make you masks or other PPE. So it's been kind of heartening to see. A lot of small businesses are saying, ‘Hey, we can do this.' And we direct them over to the Joint Acquisition Task Force, which can look at their capabilities and explore those. https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2020/05/02/interview-ndias-wesley-hallman-on-a-liability-shield-and-other-defense-priorities-for-the-next-stimulus

By: Joe Gould WASHINGTON ― Because fewer than 20 firms sought to apply for $17 billion in federal loans for Defense Department suppliers hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration is weighing how to broaden the eligibility requirements, a top Pentagon official said Thursday. “The challenge is that this $17 billion worth of loans comes with some fairly invasive kind of riders, and I think companies have to think very carefully about whether that makes good business sense for them,” Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord said at a Pentagon news conference. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, whose agency is implementing the loans, is requiring public companies seeking a share of $17 billion in coronavirus-related relief offer an equity stake to the government. “It may not be as interesting as for private companies, so that's one of the differentiators I see,” Lord said. The loans were intended for companies operating top secret facilities and with DX-rated contracts, which means the Pentagon deems them of highest national priority. “I am not sure that companies with DX-rated contracts are the ones that have the most critical needs. They have had a little less than 20 companies reach out to date,” Lord said. The Treasury Department has been in consultation with the Pentagon, and it's been open to ways the loan program could be expanded ― potentially to firms the Pentagon designates, Lord said. “So I'm hoping that early next week, between the Treasury Department and the Department of Defense, we can come back with a little bit more fidelity to the defense industrial base to better identify who might most benefit from this particular money,” Lord said. The agency had set a May 1 deadline for applications. The $17 billion tranche in the CARES Act for COVID-19 relief was widely assumed to be targeted at Boeing, which is a prime defense contractor and had indicated that it might seek assistance. However, U.S. lawmakers have said the loans are intended to span the defense supply chain, said Andrew Hunter, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies's Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group. “I would just say the requirements under that program are pretty strict that," he said. "You have to be really in desperate need for financing and have no access to other forms of financing, you have to accept a lot of limits on how the business operates: [on] share buybacks, dividends, executive compensation. And so it's really been designed and set up as a lender of last resort to firms that really need that assistance.” https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2020/04/30/only-20-defense-firms-sought-17-billion-in-covid-loans-now-the-trump-administration-is-weighing-a-fix/

By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — The Pentagon's top acquisition official sees positive signs for the defense-industrial base, but remains concerned that enough cash may not be flowing to the smallest, most vulnerable companies in order to keep them open in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Out of 10,509 defense-related companies tracked by the Defense Contract Management Agency, 93 are currently closed — a number that has improved by 13 since April 20, according to Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. Notably, the number of companies that have closed and reopened jumped by 73 since April 20 — “the first time we have seen reopening numbers larger than the number of closures” since the crisis began, Lord told reporters Thursday. Of the 11,413 companies tracked by the Defense Logistics Agency, 437 are closed, with 237 having closed and reopened. That's an improvement of almost 100 companies from the April 20 numbers. Lord credited a mix of factors for the improved numbers, including some states appearing to have reached their estimated peak in coronavirus cases and thus opening themselves up again; “really good proactive actions” by companies to create a hygienic space for work; and shared experiences from other companies who have found ways to keep working despite the pandemic However, Lord still expects the pandemic to impact major defense programs. On April 20, she warned that top programs could face an approximate three-month impact. She reiterated that timetable Thursday but stressed she is largely looking at a “slowdown” rather than a “delay” in major programs. “What we are seeing as a result of illness or inability to travel: We see efficiency issues. So we are not physically able to get contractors sometimes overseas to conduct inspections,” Lord explained. “So we have somewhat of a slowdown in our ability to accomplish tasks. We are finding workarounds for that, versus just saying we're delaying doing something. We do not look at delaying things; we are looking at working through the issues, which sometimes cannot be executed with the same efficiency we previously had.” “We think we're learning how to work in this new environment and get back up to rate, if you will, in areas where we didn't, but right now that is our best estimate and we are working, obviously, to minimize impacts,” she added. The Pentagon has pushed out $3 billion in increased cash flow under its coronavirus-related progress payment plan, which increased upfront payment to contractors from 80 percent of cost to 90 percent for large businesses, and from 90 percent to 95 percent for small businesses. The goal for department officials: getting cash into the hands of prime contractors, who can then quickly provide funds to their subcontractors and other small businesses, who Lord has consistently identified as the most vulnerable parts of the defense-industrial base. In both her April 20 press appearance and Thursday's event, Lord praised Lockheed Martin for publicly committing to give early payments to subcontractors in order to keep them open. On March 27, the company announced it would push $50 million down toward small companies most at risk; that has since increased to $450 million. But, Lord acknowledged, other companies have not been as open with where those Pentagon relief funds are going. That's something she'd like to see change. “I believe that the major primes are flowing down, they've committed. But I always like to trust, yet verify,” Lord said. “So I encourage all of those companies to be as transparent and forthcoming as they can be because we have a responsibility to the taxpayer, as well as the mid-tiers and the small companies, to make sure actions we take at the prime level do go down all the way through the chain.” When asked if she believes the primes are being transparent with her office about where their cash is going, Lord said, “I believe they are,” but added: “I need to rely on CEOs of major primes to come forth with that data.” https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2020/04/30/defense-industry-shutdowns-trend-upward-but-lord-watching-cash-flow/

U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND American Roll On Roll Off Carrier Group Inc., Parsippany, New Jersey, has been awarded a fixed-price with economic price adjustments, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (HTC711-20-D-R044) in the amount of $7,211,331,984 in the procurement of the Global Household Goods Contract. The contract provides relocation services which includes door-to-door moving services during service members' permanent change of station moves. The contractor will integrate a network of household goods service providers from across the existing sphere of the commercial moving industry to support Department of Defense (DOD) families, and will ensure a minimum of 40% of the total acquisition value of the domestic work performed flows down to subcontracted small businesses. Four principal subcontractors are Unigroup, Suddath Companies, Atlas World Group and The Pasha Group. The contract fundamentally restructures DOD's relationship with the household goods industry in order to improve access to—and management of—quality capacity to meet peak demand and enable the department to affix the accountability and responsibility lacking in today's program. Work is to be performed domestically and internationally as specified on each individual task order. The contract transition period and base period of performance is from May 1, 2020, to Jan. 31, 2024; the first task order for moving services is planned for issue Feb. 1, 2021. Fiscal 2020 transportation working capital funds were obligated at award. This contract was a competitive acquisition and seven offers were received. After evaluating each competing proposal in accordance with the request for proposal criteria, U.S. Transportation Command selected American Roll On Roll Off Carrier Group Inc. because their proposal provided the best service for the best value for service members, DOD civilians and their families. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. ARMY Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $6,068,344,959 firm-fixed-price contract for incidental services, hardware, facilities, equipment and all technical, planning, management, manufacturing and testing efforts to produce Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target Advanced Capability-3 missiles, missile segment enhancement configuration and associated ground support equipment and spares. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama; Camden, Arkansas; Ocala, Florida; Chelmsford, Massachusetts; Grand Prairie and Lufkin, Texas; and Archbald, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2027. Fiscal 2020 missile procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $6,068,344,959 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-20-C-0023). AeroVironment Inc,* Simi Valley, California, was awarded a $75,930,901 hybrid (cost-no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price) contract to procure the Switchblade Weapon System. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Simi Valley, California, with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2023. Fiscal 2019 missile procurement (Army) funds; and 2020 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $75,930,901 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-20-C-0024). MVL USA Inc., Lansing, Michigan, was awarded a $75,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for sustainment, restoration and modernization projects at various installations in Kuwait. 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 April 29, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Winchester, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W912ER-20-D-0002). L-3 Fuzing and Ordnance Systems Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded a $64,971,714 modification (P00015) to contract W15QKN-17-C-0024 to purchase 169,738 Option V M734A1 multi-option fuzes for mortars; 164,201 Option V M783 point detonating/delay fuzes; and for non-recurring engineering costs. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2022. Fiscal 2010, 2018, 2019 and 2020 other procurement (Army) funds; 2010 Afghanistan security forces (Army) funds; and 2010 counter-ISIS train and equip (Army) funds totaling $64,971,714 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Sustainable Design Consortium Inc.,* Baltimore, Maryland (W911SA-20-D-2008); AC Lopez Construction Inc.,* Oceanside, California (W911SA-20-D-2009); MIK Construction Inc.,* Whittier, California (W911SA-20-D-2010); Souza Construction Inc.,* Farmersville, California (W911SA-20-D-2011); and Site Work Solutions,* Denver, Colorado (W911SA-20-D-2012), will compete for each order of the $25,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to provide all parts, labor, tools, equipment, materials, transportation and supervision necessary to perform design-build projects for the 63rd Readiness Division, Mountain View, California. 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 April 30, 2025. The 419th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, is the contracting activity. Midwest Construction Co.,* Nebraska City, Nebraska, was awarded a $20,219,550 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of hardpoints and placement of riprap upper-bank paving at various locations on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis, Tennessee, is the contracting activity (W912EQ-20-D-0005). IBM, Reston, Virginia, was awarded an $18,825,414 modification (2T0128) to contract W91QUZ-06-D-0010 for information technology services and support on behalf of the Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems. Work will be performed in Radford, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of April 13, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Army) funds; other procurement (Army) funds; and research, development, test and evaluation (Army) funds in the amount of $18,825,414 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. L3 Technologies Inc., Londonderry, New Hampshire, was awarded a $17,135,000 firm-fixed-price contract for illuminator infrared parts. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Londonderry, New Hampshire, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2020. Fiscal 2010 Army working capital funds in the amount of $17,135,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-F-0308). West Coast JV LLC, Coos Bay, Oregon, was awarded a $12,000,000 modification (P00004) to contract W911SA-17-D-2004 for sustainment, modernization and improvement projects for the 88th Army Reserve Centers throughout the Motor City Region. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2021. The 419th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, is the contracting activity. NAVY Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, Wisconsin, is awarded a $795,116,483 fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract for detail design and construction (DD&C) of the FFG(X) class of guided-missile frigates, with additional firm-fixed-price and cost reimbursement line items. The contract with options will provide for the delivery of up to 10 FFG(X) ships, post-delivery availability support, engineering and class services, crew familiarization, training equipment and provisioned item orders. If all options are exercised, the cumulative value of this contract will be $5,576,105,441. Work will be performed at multiple locations, including Marinette, Wisconsin (52%); Boston, Massachusetts (10%); Crozet, Virginia (8%); New Orleans, Louisiana (7%); New York, New York (6%); Washington, D.C. (6%), Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (3%), Prussia, Pennsylvania (3%), Minneapolis, Minnesota (2%); Cincinnati, Ohio (1%); Atlanta, Georgia (1%); and Chicago, Illinois (1%). The base contract includes the DD&C of the first FFG(X) ship and separately priced options for nine additional ships. The FFG(X) will have multi-mission capability to conduct air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, and electronic warfare and information operations. FFG(X) represents the evolution of the Navy's small surface combatant, with increased lethality, survivability and improved capability to support the National Defense Strategy across the full range of military operations in the current security environment. Work is expected to be complete by May 2035, if all options are exercised. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $795,116,483 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website and four offers were received. The Navy conducted this competition using a tradeoff process to determine the proposal representing the best value, based on the evaluation of non-price factors in conjunction with price. The Navy made the best value determination by considering the relative importance of evaluation factors as set forth in the solicitation, where the non-price factors of design and design maturity and objective performance (to achieve warfighting capability) were approximately equal and each more important than remaining factors. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-20-C-2300). Huntington Ingalls Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi, is awarded an $187,469,732 not-to-exceed undefinitized contract action for long lead time material and associated engineering and design activities in support of one Amphibious Assault Ship Replacement (LHA(R)) Flight 1 Ship and LHA 9. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi (33%); Beloit, Wisconsin (23%); Brunswick, Georgia (21%); King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (11%); York, Pennsylvania (10%); Brampton, Ontario, Canada (1%); and Hurahan, Louisiana (1%). Work to be performed is the procurement of long lead time material for LHA 9, the fourth LHA (R) America Class and the second LHA(R) Flight 1 ship. Work is expected to be complete by February 2024. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion, (Navy) funding in the amount of $187,469,732 will be obligated at award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-20-C-2437). Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $129,189,887 modification to a firm-fixed-price delivery order N00019-19-F-2512 against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification procures the kits required for modification and retrofit activities of delivered Air Force and government of Norway F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire (85%); Fort Worth, Texas (14%); and Baltimore, Maryland (1%). Work is expected to be complete by April 2025. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $107,814,159; and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participant funds in the amount of $21,375,728 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Air Force ($107,814,159; 83%); and non-DOD participants ($21,375,728; 17%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded an $112,000,000 modification (P00001) to previously awarded, fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract N00019-19-C-0019. This modification exercises options to procure 16 infrared search and track Block II low rate initial production IV units; four for the Navy and 12 for the government of Australia. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (73%); and St. Louis, Missouri (27%), and is expected to be complete by June 2023. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $28,000,000; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $84,000,000 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. Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded an $89,521,608 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N00019-20-F-0571) against basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0008. This order provides program management, nonrecurring engineering, recurring engineering, site support and touch labor in support of modification and retrofit activities for delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft air systems for the for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be complete by December 2020. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $33,909,821; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $23,817,018; non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $18,707,572; and FMS funds in the amount of $13,087,196 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Air Force ($33,909,821; 37.9%); Marine Corps (16,993,891; 18.9%); the Navy ($6,823,127; 7.7%); non-DOD participants ($18,707,572; 20.9%); and FMS customers ($13,087,196; 14.6%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland is the contracting activity. Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia, is awarded $84,046,650 for a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide technical and program support for the Naval Information Forces Command, Command Information Office directorate in Suffolk, Virginia. Work will be performed in Suffolk, Virginia, and includes strategic planning and program management support; information environment readiness support; information warfare enterprise support; information technology service management support; cybersecurity and information assurance support; and information technology portfolio management support for the Naval Networking Environment strategy. Work is expected to be complete by August 2025. If the option is exercised, the ordering period will be complete by February 2026. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $75,000 will be obligated to fund the contract's minimum amount and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract will include a five-year base ordering period with an additional six-month ordering period option pursuant of Federal Acquisition Regulations 52.217-8 - option to extend services, which if exercised, will bring the total ceiling value to $92,900,000. This contract was competitively procured with the solicitation posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website, with four offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center, Norfolk, Contracting Department, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00189-20-D-0012). Air New Zealand Gas Turbines (ANZGT), Auckland, New Zealand (N64498-20-D-4007); and MTU Maintenance Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (MTU), Ludwigsfelde, Germany (N64498-20-D-4008), are awarded a $70,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract with firm-fixed-price task order provisions for LM2500 single shank turbine gas generators. The contracts awarded to ANZGT and MTU are not to exceed a combined total of $70,000,000. Work will be performed in Auckland, New Zealand; and Ludwigsfelde, Germany. This requirement is for commercial depot level overhaul of Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command and Foreign Military Navy LM2500 single shank turbine gas generators, national stock number 2S 2835-01-237-1153 for the 2SCog/Gas Turbines Life Cycle Support Branch, Code 423. The contractors shall possess a current, valid copy of the GE Level IV license or, in the alternative, provide detailed information addressing the requirements in the solicitation. Work is expected to be complete by April 2026. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the total amount of $1,000 ($500 minimum guarantee per contract) will be obligated at time of award via individual task orders and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively procured using full and open competition via the Beta.SAM.gov website and two offers were received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Didlake Inc., Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $67,703,608 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for annual custodial services at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Yorktown, and Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY). All work will be performed in Portsmouth, Virginia (50%); Virginia Beach, Virginia (37%); and Yorktown, Virginia (13%). The work to be performed provides for annual custodial services such as the management, supervision, tools, materials, supplies, labor and transportation services necessary to perform custodial services for office space, restrooms and other types of rooms at the NAS Oceana, NWS Yorktown, NNSY and their outlying clinics in the Hampton Roads area. Work is expected to be complete by April 2025. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $13,109,319 for recurring and non-recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the base period. This contract was procured as a sole-source AbilityOne requirement. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-20-D-0046). Duke Energy Progress, Raleigh, North Carolina, is awarded $44,267,839 for firm-fixed-price task order N40085-20-F-9952 under a General Services Administration area-wide contract for the implementation of eight energy conservation measures at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and provides for the implementation of cost-effective energy conservation measures to include: lighting system improvements; water and sewer conservation systems; heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements, controls and energy management control system upgrades; electrical systems upgrades; modernization of the water/wastewater supervisory control and data acquisition system; water and wastewater efficiencies; conversion of lift stations to gravity flow; and LED light conversions. The primary goal of the project is to reduce energy consumption and provide more resilient and sustainable facility infrastructure. Work is expected to be complete by October 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $44,267,839 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 authorizes agencies to use appropriations, private financing, or a combination to comply with its requirements for utility energy service contracts for evaluations/project implementation. The contract was procured under the authority of Title 10 U.S. Code Section 2304(c)(5), which expressly authorizes or requires that the acquisition be made through another agency or from a specific source, as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-5. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (GS-00P-14-BSD-1055). Duke Energy Progress, Raleigh, North Carolina, is awarded a $34,337,517 modification under firm-fixed-price task order N40085-19-F-9960 for the implementation of eight energy conservation measures at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Work will be performed in Camp Lejeune, and provides for the implementation of energy conservation measures to include: street lighting light-emitting diode (LED) and controls retrofit; facility LED retrofits; high voltage supervisory controls and data acquisition system; overhead to underground power line conversion at Paradise Point; heating, ventilation, air conditioning renovation and dedicated outdoor air system; airfield weather beacon lightning indicator lighting system; support facility integration to energy management control system; cybersecurity support for metering and lighting controls; and substation repairs. The primary goal of the project is to reduce energy consumption and provide more resilient and sustainable facility infrastructure. Work is expected to be complete by December 2021. The total task order value will be $38,633,517. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $34,337,517 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (GS-00P-14-BSD-1055). AECOM Management Services Inc., Germantown, Maryland, is awarded a $27,488,581 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract action for operations, maintenance, engineering and management services in support of combined tactical training range systems and equipment. This contract includes an option, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $36,698,171. Work will be performed in Fallon, Nevada (30%); Havelock, North Carolina (15%); Virginia Beach, Virginia (14%); Yuma, Arizona (14%); Altoona, Florida (5%); Beaufort, South Carolina (4%); Key West, Florida (4%); Manns Harbor, North Carolina (3%); Jacksonville, Florida (3%); Whidbey Island, Washington (3%); El Centro, California (2%); Miramar, California (2%); and Lemoore, California (1%). Work is expected to be complete by August 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $13,627,486 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), and only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, Norco, California, is the contracting activity (N64267-20-C-0058). AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland, is awarded a $16,258,620 firm-fixed-price contract for the acquisition of 159 components consisting of nine line items in support of the Navy electronic consolidated automated support system. All work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Maryland, and is expected to be complete by May 2022. Working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,258,620 will be obligated at time of award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this non-competitive, sole-source requirement in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, and one offer was received. The Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00393-20-C-P023). Kratos Technology & Training Solutions Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded $16,107,305 for a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract supporting all levels of In-Kingdom Royal Saudi Naval Forces training, logistical and advisory services in support of the Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity. Work will be performed in various locations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (97%); and San Diego, California (3%). The base period of performance is expected to be complete by November 2020; if options are exercised, work will be complete by February 2021. The contract will include a six-month base period with an additional three-month period option and a 15-day period for demobilization which, if exercised, will bring the total value to $25,629,235. Saudi Arabian funds in the amount of $16,107,305 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Saudi Arabian (100%) funds will be used under the Foreign Military Sales program. One company was solicited for this sole-sourced requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(2), with one offer received. The Naval Supply Systems Command, Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Philadelphia Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00189-20-C-Z023). General Dynamics, National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California, is awarded a $14,639,657 cost-plus-award-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-18-C-2404 to exercise an option for the accomplishment of post-shakedown availability-related efforts in support of the LHA 7 amphibious assault ship. Work will be performed in San Diego, California. This modification covers engineering, planning, management, labor and material in support of the post-shakedown availability (PSA) of LHA 7, the second Amphibious Assault Ship Replacement (LHA(R)) Flight 0 ship. The base contract was competitively procured on the basis of full and open competition, and three offers were received. Work is expected to be complete by March 2021. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) post-delivery funding of $1,000,000 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, D.C., is the contracting activity. L3 Technologies Inc. (doing business as L3 Henschel), Ayers, Massachusetts, is awarded a $13,479,434 requirements contract for a broad range of parts and services to maintain shipboard L3 electrical and electronic control monitoring systems and equipment on Military Sealift Command vessels. Work will be performed at locations worldwide. The ordering period is scheduled to commence May 2020, and is expected to be complete by April 2025. No funding is required to execute this requirements contract. This contract was sole-sourced, with a proposal solicited to the sole-sourced firm via the Federal Business Opportunities website, and one offer was received from the sole source. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N32205-20-D-6714). Tetra Tech Inc., Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded $8,189,176 to increase the maximum dollar value of an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-award fee task order modification WE13 for the Site 1 Regional Groundwater-Drilling and Sampling Program at the former Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant (NWIRP) Bethpage, New York. After award of this modification, the total cumulative task order value will be $20,724,268. Work will be performed in Bethpage. The work provides for complete specific environmental restoration activities related to the ongoing investigation of contaminated groundwater originating from the former NWIRP and Northrop Grumman facilities located in Bethpage. It also provides additional groundwater sampling and monitoring to assess plume movement and concentration changes to ensure compliance with environmental agency requirements. Work is expected to be complete by April 2022, and the term of the task order is not to exceed 24 months. Fiscal 2020 environmental restoration (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $8,189,176 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-16-D-6008). Unified Business Technologies Inc.,* Troy, Michigan, is awarded a $7,453,778 modification to firm-fixed-price task order N40085-19-F-3500 to exercise Option One under a SeaPort Next Generation contract for engineering and program management for capital improvement requirements with various design and construction periods at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. All work will be performed in Jacksonville, North Carolina (67%); and Havelock, North Carolina (33%). The work to be performed provides for various construction engineering disciplines and administrative support services to assist in completing various capital improvement projects. Work is expected to be complete by August 2021. After award of this option, the total cumulative task order value will be $14,833,655. This option period is from Sept. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $7,453,778 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-19-D-8762). MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, is being awarded a non-competitive, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum ceiling value of $618,000,000. Under this follow-on contract, the contractor will provide terminal high altitude area defense product support, which includes: logistics performance requirements; maintenance; supply; training and training support; packaging, handling, storage and transportation; forward stationing for theater support; logistics information capabilities; product assurance; safety; missile support; security; and engineering services. The first task order in the amount of $10,363,415 for battery support will be issued at time of award. The work will be performed in Dallas, Texas; Sunnyvale, California; Huntsville, Alabama; and Troy, Alabama. The ordering period is from April 30, 2020, through April 29, 2025. One offer was solicited and one offer was received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,333,198 will be obligated under the first task order. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0853-20-D-0001). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY General Dynamics Mission Systems, Taunton, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $400,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, prospective-price-redetermination contract for production of spare parts in support of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment system. 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 base contract with one five-year option period. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with an April 29, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-20-D-0043). Atlantic Diving Supply Inc.,* doing business as ADS Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $200,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for commercial shelters. This is a one-year base contract with three one-year option periods. Other contracts are expected to be awarded under this solicitation (SPE1C1-18-R-0003), and awardees will compete for a portion of the maximum dollar value. Location of performance is Virginia, with an April 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-20-D-1259). Synergy Logistics Services II LLC, North Kansas City, Missouri, has been awarded a maximum $57,999,169 hybrid fixed-price-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursement-no-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for warehousing services. This was a competitive acquisition with nine responses received. This is a five-year contract, inclusive of a 90-day phase-in period, with no option periods. Locations of performance are Missouri and North Carolina, with an April 30, 2025, performance completion date. Using customer is Defense Logistics Agency. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania (SP3300-20-D-5001). L3 Technologies Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, has been awarded a maximum $49,999,995 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for production of spare parts in support of the AN/TSC-156D Tactical Super High Frequency Satellite Terminal (Phoenix). 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 base contract with one five-year option period. Location of performance is Utah, with an April 29, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-20-D-0027). Flyers Enterprises Inc., Alpine, California, has been awarded a minimum $45,562,941 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for aviation turbine fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with 39 responses received. This is a 54-month contract with one six-month option period. Location of performance is California, with a Sept. 30, 2024, performance completion date. Using customer is National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE605-20-D-4520). Eaton Aeroquip LLC, Jackson, Michigan, has been awarded a maximum $39,073,093 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for hoses, hose assemblies, couplings and valve spare parts. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Michigan, with an April 29, 2025, performance completion date. Using military services are Navy and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7MX-20-D-0071). Honeywell International Inc., North Clearwater, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $11,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase and repair of one spare part supporting the AN/TPQ-50 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar System. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year base contract with one five-year option period. Location of performance is Florida, with an April 29, 2025, performance completion date. Using customer is Department of Defense. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Army working capital funds and other procurement funds as necessary. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland (SPRBL1-20-D-0033). AIR FORCE MCR Federal LLC, McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a $24,997,206 firm-fixed-price contract to deliver a software development and information technology operations environment to support Space Command and Control Division under the Cross Mission and Ground Communications Enterprise Corps. This contract award provides support for the creation and implementation of the development operations goal of increasing the velocity of software delivery. Work will be performed in in El Segundo, California, and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $24,997,206. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $750,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8806-20-F-0002). Tecolote Research Inc., Goleta, California, has been awarded a $24,980,243 firm-fixed-price contract to deliver a software development and information technology operations environment to support Space Command and Control Division under the Cross Mission and Ground Communications Enterprise Corps. This contract award provides support for the creation and implementation of the development operations goal of increasing the velocity of software delivery. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California, and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $24,980,243. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,234,956 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8806-20-F-0001). Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $15,598,152 firm-fixed price contract modification (P00023) to contract FA8675-18-C-0003 for the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile program obsolescence. This modification provides for a life of type procurement of known obsolete components in support of production and sustainment through the program of record. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2025. This contract involves unclassified Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Poland, Qatar, Romania and Spain. Fiscal 2019 missile procurement funds (Air Force) in the amount of $4,574,526; fiscal 2019 weapons procurement funds (Navy) in the amount of $4,978,960; and FMS funds in the amount of $6,044,666 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Technologies, Sterling, Virginia, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $7,369,100 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00087) to contract FA8730-18-F-0136 for Air Operations Center (AOC) weapon system (WS) long-term modification and sustainment. The contractor shall provide the program management, integration, test, systems engineering, training and other related modification activities to ensure the AOC WS remains interoperable and supportable through the development and integration of new capabilities and upgrades. Work will be performed in Boston, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $4,800,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative value of the contract is $653,986,234. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Bright Ceramic Technologies Inc., Palo Alto, California, was awarded a $9,979,634 firm-fixed-price contract for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency research project. Work will be performed in Palo Alto, California, with an expected completion date of June 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $8,421,282; and fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $1,558,352 are being obligated at time of award. The contract was a sole-source acquisition. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR0011-20-C-0102). Stealth Software Technologies Inc., Los Angeles, California, was awarded an $8,539,791 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a research project under the Securing Information for Encrypted Verification and Evaluation (SIEVE) program. The SIEVE program will use zero knowledge proofs to enable the verification of capabilities relevant to the Department of Defense without revealing the sensitive details associated with those capabilities. Work will be performed in Los Angeles, California (71%); Evanston, Illinois (5%); College Station, Texas (5%); Ann Arbor, Michigan (5%); Burlington, Vermont (5%); and Rochester, New York (9%), with an expected completion date of May 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $1,267,480 is being obligated at time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition under an open broad agency announcement and nine offers were received. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR001120C0087). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2171906/source/GovDelivery/

By Connie Lee The COVID-19 pandemic is putting particular stress on the Army's second- and third-tier suppliers, said the service's secretary April 30. The Army is racing to ensure its manufacturing supply chain is able to stay afloat amid economic challenges posed by the virus, said Ryan McCarthy. “Some of these are small companies [that have] 15,000 people, and you get a couple people sick, you shut the whole company down,” he said during a virtual event hosted by Brookings Institution. The supply chain will "be a challenge for us months and months ahead.” The pandemic is also hurting overseas manufacturing in areas such as Mexico, Europe and East Asia, where the Army has little influence, he noted. The service is working with the State Department to figure out how to keep overseas workers employed and keep the supply chain running, he said. “We are limited in our ability to affect them and get them back to work,” McCarthy said. “It presents challenges that are far beyond our reach and ... influence, so we're going to have some real heart-to-hearts with manufacturers going forward.” Despite these issues, the Army is continuing to prioritize modernization, he said. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said the service is moving forward with weapons assessments, noting that it was recently able to conduct a successful hypersonic weapons test. As part of its plan to keep up with great power competition, the service is pursuing 31 new signature systems. “Over half of our procurement budget is going towards these new weapon systems,” McCarthy said. “We've got to put them into formation. Much of our iron is 50 years old. That probably is the prime area where we put the most energy.” Meanwhile, the Army is collaborating with other organizations in search of a vaccine. There are 10 to 15 top potential vaccine candidates worldwide that are in various stages of maturity, McCarthy said during a Pentagon briefing the same day. To speed up the timeline, the service plans on investing in the ones that seem to be moving the fastest, he noted. “We can double down and invest in the fastest horse, if you will, in this 15 candidate race, and then that compresses the timeframe that will ultimately get you to the answer and bring a vaccine to life,” he said. “You'll hear ranges on how fast it can go.” Some of these vaccines are currently in human trials, with the bulk of the work slated for summer and early fall, he noted. “It's moving faster than probably any point in history because of the extraordinary collaboration that's going on today,” he said. However, this may involve accepting some risks in the process, McConville noted at the briefing. “You can save time by taking risks,” he said. “You may get ready to produce something, and that horse may not get to the final race and that may not be the most efficient use of money, but by taking risks, you can really move things very, very quickly.” https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2020/4/30/covid-hurting-army-small-businesses

Jen DiMascio The Pentagon is employing new ways to track and funnel dollars to small- and medium-sized aviation suppliers hit hard by a drop-off in their commercial business since the novel coronavirus took hold. One way has been to accelerate up-front progress payments to prime contractors. Ellen Lord, the Pentagon's acquisition chief, announced April 30 that in this week alone, the Defense Department processed more than $1.2 billion out of $3 billion to defense contractors in accelerated payments. The acceleration was enabled by a March 20 memo which lifted the amount that large contractors could receive before delivering a contracted item from 80%-90% and for small contractors from 90%-95%. Lord singled out Lockheed Martin for praise for committing to speed $450 million to its supply chain. As those payments are being released, the U.S. Air Force is studying the needs of small suppliers and charting the flow of those progress payments through the industrial base, service officials said during an April 29 Aviation Week MRO webinar. After the first COVID-19 stimulus package was released, Col. Kevin Nalette, vice director, 448th Supply Chain Management Wing, Air Force Sustainment Center, said his office was asked to find out how much money small companies would need to maintain a constant flow of work to continue to support the defense sector. They had two days to ask contractors–the third- and fourth-tier “mom-and-pop shops” whose work becomes an end item purchased somewhere up the stream. The majority of defense vendors do more work–55% or more–for commercial aviation businesses. “As soon as the commercial sector shut down, we had an amazing ability. We now had their full attention,” Nalette said. “When you come to their attention with basically free cash, it's amazing what you can get done.” Tony Baumann, director of contracting for the Air Force Support Center, is capturing data about where the money and progress payments are going. And he is tracking some 2,700 contracts to find out the COVID-related constraints they are operating under. “My guys talked to all of them,” Baumann said, and they stay in contact so that the Air Force knows when a supplier needs to shut down to clean a business. Then Nalette's group is looking at whether that closure might impact deliveries of critical supplies or inventory. That has caused the Air Force to rewrite service contracts using new authorities granted by the CARES Act COVID-relief bill passed by Congress to keep multiple teams of service personnel on contract so that one group can work and another can be ready to backfill so that no group would experience a 14-day interruption, Baumann said. All of those changes are being tracked and coded based on COVID-19, he added. https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/how-pentagon-reaching-small-suppliers