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Details of our current, future and past funding competitions. Published 8 December 2016 Last updated 30 October 2018 — see all updates From: Defence and Security Accelerator and Ministry of Defence Contents Events and market interest activities (Open) Themed competitions (open now for application) Themed competitions (opening for applications soon) Past events and market interest activities (closed) Past themed competitions (closed) You can submit a Defence and Security Accelerator proposal either to our Open Call for Innovation or in response to the technical challenges in a specific themed competition, as detailed below. You can submit your themed competition proposal online once the full detailed competition document is published. Summary competition documents may be published a few weeks in advance of full competition document releases. Events and market interest activities (Open) Maximising Human Performance - Market Exploration 18 October 2018 DASA dial in event: many drones make light work competition 18 October 2018 Themed competitions (open now for application) The competitions below are in order of closing date, earliest at the top. Competition: predictive cyber analytics 6 September 2018 Competition: Biosensing across wide areas 31 August 2018 Competition: stopping it in its tracks 28 September 2018 Competition: Don't Blow It! Safely eliminating chemical and biological munitions on the battlefield 9 October 2018 Competition: many drones make light work phase 3 18 October 2018 Competition: Behavioural Analytics for Defence and Security 11 October 2018 Themed competitions (opening for applications soon) Please note we publish these summary documents ahead of publishing the full detailed competition documents to give potential applicants early information on the competition. Full documents are typically published within a couple of weeks of the summary documents. The competitions below are in order of closing date, earliest at the top. Competition: Tackling Knife Crime in the UK 30 October 2018 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/defence-and-security-accelerator-funding-competitions

By: Andrew Chuter LONDON — Britain's Ministry of Defence has been given a £1 billion (U.S. $1.28 billion) spending boost in the Treasury budget announcement Oct. 29, with Chancellor Philip Hammond suggesting the money would be mainly spent on three strategic military programs. Hammond said the additional money would be available in the coming months. Cyber, anti-submarine warfare and the Dreadnought nuclear submarine build program all got named as destinations for the extra cash. “As a former defense secretary myself I understand the immediate pressure our armed forces are facing, so today I will provide £1 billion to cover the remainder of this year and next to boost our cyber, and anti-submarine warfare capacity and to maintain the pace of the Dreadnought program,” Hammond told Parliament. The increase caught many by surprise. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been battling with Hammond for months for extra cash, but a massive funding commitment to the National Health Service made new funds toward security seem unlikely. Jon Louth, the director for defence, industry and society at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank in London said the additional funding was good news, but fell well short of what is required. “It's welcome, but comes nowhere near addressing the potential funding gap if you add up all the programs in the equipment plan. It does appear to be a significant increase in percentage terms, although the devil will be in the detail,” he said. The RUSI analyst said the outcome was “better than we expected a few months ago. Politically people will be chalking that up as a win for Williamson in the context of the wider government budget. One billion pounds is a win,” he said. Louth cautioned against getting too hung up on the chancellor's announcement about where the extra cash will be spent. “I suspect when we come to see how the money is used next year it will potentially be a little different from the chancellor's headlines today,” he said. Defense consultant Alex Ashbourne Walmsley of Ashbourne Strategic Consulting said the new money was a “sticking plaster, but it will buy the MoD a bit more time to work out how to do more with less.” Earlier this year the MoD received a total of £800 million in funds to keep the program to build four Trident missile equipped Dreadnought nuclear submarines on track. Some £600 million of that cash came from a £10 billion contingency fund set aside by the government for the Dreadnought program. Ashbourne-Walmsley described the Dreadnought program as a “money pit.” The MoD is trying to bridge a funding gap in its £179 billion 10-year equipment plan. The black hole is put at anywhere between £4 billion and £20 billion by the National Audit Office, the government's financial watchdog. The final figure is dependent, in part, on how effective an ongoing efficiency drive is at the MoD. The MoD budget for this year is £36.6 billion with 15.6 percent of that spent on equipment procurement and 18.7 percent on support. The Conservative government is committed to increasing equipment spending in real terms by 0.5 percent a year until 2020. A long running review, known as the Defence Modernisation Program, has been looking at how British armed forces can adapt and transform to meet the changing and growing military threat, while at the same time balancing the books — an effort that could require capability cuts in several areas. Publication of that report has already been kicked down the road a couple of times. Although Williamson may announce something before the end of the year, analysts and industry executives expect little of substance ahead of a comprehensive spending review due to take place across all government departments next year. Hammond appeared to say as much today when he told Parliamentarians the modernisation review will “form the basis for a comprehensive consideration of defense spending next year.” “The Modernizing Defence Program is increasingly tied into the comprehensive spending review and the 10-year equipment plan in 2019. We might get a whitepaper in late winter or early spring to set up some of the themes but the details won't be out until beyond April,” said Louth. Some industry executives though are starting to wonder if the modernization program could be published even by April. One executive who asked not to be named, said he wondered whether the comprehensive spending plan might be the trigger for a full blown strategic defense review, particularly if Brexit goes badly and the economy takes a big hit. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/10/29/uk-mod-gets-budget-boost-of-more-than-1b-with-three-programs-in-mind

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., doing business as ADS,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (SPE8EH-19-D-0001); W.S. Darley & Co.,* Itasca, Illinois (SPE8EH-19-D-0002); Unifire Inc.,* Spokane, Washington (SPE8EH-19-D-0003); Mallory Safety and Supply,* Longview, Washington (SPE8EH-19-D-0004); Federal Resources Supply Co.,* Stevensville, Maryland (SPE8EH-19-D-0005); and L.N. Curtis & Sons,* Oakland, California (SPE8EH-19-D-0006), are sharing a maximum $78,000,000 bridge contract under solicitation SPM8EH-12-R-0009 for fire and emergency services equipment. These are firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, 120-day bridge contracts. These were sole-source acquisitions using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Locations of performance are California, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, with a Feb. 27, 2019, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Califon Systems LLC,** Dallas, Georgia, has been awarded a maximum $20,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for medical equipment, maintenance of medical equipment, and/or spare parts for medical equipment. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. This was a competitive acquisition with 59 responses received. Location of performance is Georgia, with an Oct. 28, 2023, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D1-19-D-0003). General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, has been awarded a $14,334,060 firm-fixed-price contract for distribution boxes. This is a one-year contract with one one-year option. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Locations of performance are Michigan and Florida, with a Jan. 31, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-C-0009). Honeywell International Inc., Torrance, California, has been awarded a maximum $10,028,200 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-LH07) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPRPA1-14-G-001Y) for heat exchangers. This is a two-year, six-month contract with no option periods. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Location of performance is California, with an April 29, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2022 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ARMY The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $46,051,155 modification (P00097) to contract W58RGZ-15-C-0017 to complete negotiations on, and take delivery of, undelivered items as well as continue investments in both supply chain management performance and reliability improvements. Work will be performed in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2019. Fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds in the amount of $46,051,155 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. NAVY JLL-Midnight Sun IFMS, LLC,* Kotzebue, Alaska, is awarded a $30,408,548 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operations support services at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and outlying areas. The work to be performed provides for base operations support services to include facility investment, other (training pools), utilities management, electrical, wastewater, steam, water, compressed air, base support vehicles and equipment, environmental, and other related services. The maximum dollar value including the base period and seven option years is $236,917,489. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida (99 percent); and outlying areas (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2019. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy and Marine Corps Reserve); fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds; fiscal 2019 Defense Health Program; and fiscal 2019 family housing operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $24,099,510 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the base period. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-19-D-1750). Reid Middleton Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded a maximum amount $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract for structural engineering services in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for preparation of fully designed plans and specifications for design-bid-build construction projects; preparation of request for proposal packages for design-build projects; structural and/or seismic investigations, studies, evaluations and recommendations for upgrades to existing facilities; anti-terrorism design related to analysis of blast effects and design to prevent progressive collapse; innovative structural system design; technical reviews of government-prepared designs and design-build packages; post construction award services; cost estimating; and coordination of various technical disciplines. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Southwest AOR including, but not limited to California (87 percent); Arizona (5 percent); Nevada (5 percent); Colorado (1 percent); New Mexico (1 percent); and Utah (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by October 2023. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Navy and Marine Corps). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with six proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-D-2414). DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY HRL Laboratories LLC, Malibu, California, was awarded a $9,155,987 cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) millimeter-wave GaN maturation project. Work will be performed in Malibu, California (97 percent); and Huntington Beach, California (3 percent), with an expected completion date of April 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,208,000 are being obligated at time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition off the Microsystems Technology Office office-wide broad agency announcement HR001116S0001, with 138 offers received. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR0011-19-C-0006). *Small Business **Veteran-owned small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1675408//

NICOLAS RAULINE Les principaux acteurs du secteur voient leur carnet de commandes grimper. Et les dépenses militaires américaines devraient continuer d'augmenter. Si les observateurs sont encore divisés sur l'existence d'un « Trump bump » pour l'économie américaine, le secteur de la Défense est, sans conteste, l'un des premiers bénéficiaires de la politique de la Maison-Blanche. La vague de résultats trimestriels de ces derniers jours en a encore apporté la preuve. Boeing , porté par ailleurs par ses activités dans le transport aérien, a ainsi relevé ses prévisions annuelles, après avoir publié des... Article complet: https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/air-defense/0600054719752-lindustrie-americaine-de-la-defense-profite-a-plein-de-leffet-trump-2217773.php

MONTREAL, Oct. 29, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - SNC-Lavalin (TSX: SNC) is pleased to announce that the Aurora Engineering Partnership – formed by Qinetiq; Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group; and BMT – has been appointed by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) as their Engineering Delivery Partner (EDP) for Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S). The partnership will help the MOD to cut the costs of their engineering services, while ensuring the UK's Armed Forces receive the best equipment and support. With the Aurora Partnership, the MOD will get access to extensive experience in the defence sector, as well as experience of delivering similar partnerships in other sectors. The Partnership will help DE&S manage these costs, driving effective change and savings through financial discipline and transparent, simplified pricing. "The vision for the EDP is to form a strong and professional engineering partnership with DE&S, enabling agile and efficient outcomes for front line equipment and support," said Dr. Gordon Barr, Managing Director, Aurora Engineering Partnership, QinetiQ. "The Engineering Delivery Partner is a huge opportunity, not only for us but for the UK's defense programs, ensuring it has the right support first time, safely and within budget," added Nick Roberts, President, Engineering, Design and Project Management, SNC-Lavalin. "Working with our partners, we'll focus first and foremost on the outcomes for those on the front line, working collaboratively to drive increased performance and productivity wherever we can." Another key element of the EDP will be driving innovation from across industry and academia. As part of this, Aurora will build a provider network including niche and specialist small to medium sized enterprises (SME) to tap into the best UK expertise. "We are establishing a sustainable provider network that encourages and develops SMEs as a vital part of providing more efficient and innovative services to DE&S," explained Roy Quilliam, Aurora Engineering Director, BMT. "We already have an unprecedented 280 companies registered, of which 70% are SMEs, to provide engineering services to the Aurora Engineering Partnership." For the second quarter 2018, SNC-Lavalin's engineering, design and project management business has delivered a book to bill ratio of 1.2. About SNC-Lavalin Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a global fully integrated professional services and project management company and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure. From offices around the world, SNC-Lavalin's employees are proud to build what matters. Our teams provide comprehensive end-to-end project solutions – including capital investment, consulting, design, engineering, construction, sustaining capital and operations and maintenance – to clients across oil and gas, mining and metallurgy, infrastructure, clean power, nuclear and EDPM (engineering design and project management). On July 3, 2017, SNC-Lavalin acquired Atkins, one of the world's most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies, which has been integrated into our sectors. www.snclavalin.com About QinetiQ Listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: QQ.L), QinetiQ is a leading science and engineering company operating primarily in the defence, security and aerospace markets. Our customers are predominantly government organisations including defence departments, as well as international customers in other targeted sectors. Visit our website www.QinetiQ.com Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @QinetiQ Visit our blog www.QinetiQ-blogs.com About BMT BMT is an international design, engineering and risk management consultancy, working principally in the defence, energy and environment, marine risk and insurance, maritime transport and ports and logistics sectors. BMT invests significantly in research. Its customers are served through a network of international subsidiary companies. The group's assets are held in beneficial ownership for its staff. Website: www.bmt.org Companies wishing to express an interest in joining Aurora's network of providers can do so at www.auroraengineeringpartnership.co.uk. SOURCE SNC-Lavalin For further information: Media: Daniela Pizzuto, Director, External Communications, 514-393-8000, ext. 54772, media@snclavalin.com; Investors: Denis Jasmin, Vice President, Investor Relations, 514-393-8000, ext. 57553, denis.jasmin@snclavalin.com https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/aurora-partnership-to-help-transform-uk-defence-engineering-services-698877631.html

NAVY American International Contractors Inc., Arlington, Virginia (N62470-19-D-5000); Bryan 77 Construction JV,* Colorado Springs, Colorado (N62470-19-D-5001); ECC-MEZ LLC, Virginia Beach, Virginia (N62470-19-D-5002); P. & C. Development S.A/Ergotem S.A. JV, Athens, Greece (N62470-19-D-5003); SKE-ICM JV, Viale Venezia, 79/B33074 Fontanafredda (PN) (N62470-19-D-5004); and Zafer Taahhut, Insaat Ve Ticaret A.S., Ankara, Turkey (N62470-19-D-5005), are each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award design-build, design-bid-build construction contract for construction and renovation projects located primarily at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), but also worldwide. The maximum dollar value including the base period and four option years for all six contracts combined is $240,000,000. The work to be performed provides for tasks for general building type projects (new construction, renovations, alterations, demolition, repair work, and any necessary design) including: industrial, airfield, aircraft hangar, aircraft traffic control, infrastructure, administrative, training, retail, food service, dormitory, community support facilities and both vertical and horizontal construction for Department of Defense activities. ECC-MEZ LLC is being awarded the initial task order at $9,990,000 for the construction of an Aircraft Apron Expansion at CLDJ, Djibouti, Africa. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by November 2020. All work on this contract will be performed in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa, whose area of responsibility includes facilities located in Kenya, Africa, areas managed by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia, but also worldwide. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of October 2023. Fiscal 2018 military construction (Navy); and fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $10,040,000 are obligated on this award; of which $50,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); and operations and maintenance (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 18 proposals received. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Central Lake Armor Express Inc.,* Central Lake, Michigan, was awarded a $59,369,617 ceiling, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production of up to a maximum 65,469 Plate Carrier Generation III – Soft Armor Inserts and data reports. Work will be performed in Central Lake, Michigan, and is expected to be complete by Oct. 24, 2023. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $2,220,578 will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award and funds will before the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a total small business set-aside via the Federal Business Opportunities website with 13 offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-19-D-1509). (Awarded Oct. 25, 2018) Praescient Analytics LLC,* Alexandria, Virginia, is awarded a $45,279,089 single award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, supply and services contract (N65236-19-D-1002) utilizing firm-fixed-price and firm-fixed-price, level-of-effort delivery/task orders. This contract is for the delivery of an advanced analytics technical solution (AATS) software product. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Virginia (95 percent); and Charleston, South Carolina (5 percent), and is expected to be completed by October 2023. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $15,701,990 will be placed on the first delivery order and obligated at the time of award. Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The single award contract was competitively procured by full and open competition via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command - Electronic Commerce Central website and the Federal Business Opportunities website, with five offers received. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, South Carolina, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Industries San Diego Shipyard Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded a $44,779,160 firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of USS O'Kane (DDG 77) fiscal 2019 Extended Selected Restricted Availability. This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization, and repair of USS O'Kane. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $51,505,314. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by January 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy); and working capital fund funding in the amount of $44,779,160 will be obligated at time of award, and funding in the amount of $35,141,499 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competition via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-4406). BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded $9,532,186 for modification P00021 to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00030-17-C-0001) to provide systems engineering and integration services in support of Trident II (D5) strategic weapons system, the SSGN attack weapon system, and strategic weapon surety. Work will be performed in Rockville, Maryland (70.6 percent); Washington, District of Columbia (14.7 percent); Kings Bay, Georgia (5.1 percent); Silverdale, Washington (2.7 percent); Norfolk, Virginia (1.5 percent); San Diego, California (1.1 percent); Barrow, United Kingdom (1.1 Percent); Alexandria, Virginia (1.0 percent); Buffalo, New York (0.3 percent); Downingtown, Pennsylvania (0.3 percent); Ocala, Florida (0.2 percent); Pittsfield, Massachusetts (0.2 percent); Montgomery Village, Maryland (0.2 percent); New Lebanon, New York (0.2 percent); New Paris, Ohio (0.2 percent); Wexford, Pennsylvania (0.2 percent); Alton, Virginia (0.2 percent); Springfield, Virginia (0.2 percent); Vienna, Virginia (0.2 percent); and St. Mary's, Georgia (0.2 percent), with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2019. United Kingdom funds in the amount of $8,488,977; and fiscal 2019 research and development test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,043,209 will be obligated on this modification. No contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a $54,626,116 labor hour and cost contract for the Unified Platform Systems Coordinator. This contract provides for continued development, integration, fielding and sustainment for the Unified Platform Program. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2021. This award is a result of a competitive acquisition and six offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds; and operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Joint Base San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA8307-19-F-0002). AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland, has been awarded a $23,696,816 firm-fixed-price contract for non-developmental contractor-owned and contractor-operated unmanned aerial systems, intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance. This contract provides support force protection efforts at airfields located within U.S. Air Forces Central Command. Work will be performed at Bagram Airfield and Kandahar AF, Afghanistan, with an optional site at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan, and is expected to be completed by March 27, 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $17,556 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of this contract is $114,064,396. The Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA4890-19-C-0002). * Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1674381/

DND Ombudsman, Management & Program Consultants, L3 Technologies, Ultra Electronics, CAF/NATO. https://defence.frontline.online/article/2018/5/10562-Who%27s-Where%3F

Paul Withers · CBC News North Atlantic Fisheries Organization meeting highlighted unreliability of Canada's research vessels For the first time in 48 years, Canadian fisheries scientists failed to complete an annual summer survey off Nova Scotia because of a mechanical breakdown on their coast guard research ship, adding to concerns over the reliability of Canada's research vessel fleet. "There have been instances in the past where we have been unable to do sections of a survey, but we've been usually able to cover most of the area in question," said Kent Smedbol, regional manager of population ecology at DFO Science Maritimes. "This is the first time that a substantial portion of the survey we were not able to complete." The 36-year-old coast guard ship Alfred Needler was scheduled to carry out the summer survey, which involves bottom trawling for multiple species and environment data collection, on the Scotian Shelf from Cape Breton to Georges Bank. The information would have been used to predict commercial fish stocks that support fisheries worth tens of millions of dollars. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been conducting the survey since 1970 from its base at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax. Salt water knocks out motor, generator But even before the survey started in July, salt water in rough seas got into — and burned out — the Needler's trawl motor and generator, rendering the vessel unusable, said deputy coast guard commissioner Mario Pelletier. "That's critical equipment in order to conduct the survey, so they needed to come back to repair it," Pelletier told CBC News. "And given what just happened we wanted to make sure to prevent it so it doesn't happen in the future. So we put some extra work to make sure it would be protected from future salt water exposure should the ship be in rough seas again." 'We do what we can with the resources' DFO tried, but was unable, to charter a commercial fishing trawler. Another coast guard research vessel, the Teleost, was pressed into service for an abbreviated mission. The southern Scotian Shelf from Yarmouth to Halifax was sampled but two-thirds was missed entirely. "It is difficult. This is what we are asked to do by the department. So we do what we can with the resources we have at hand," said Smedbol. Stock assessment for species north of Halifax will not be updated this year. The Teleost broke off the survey at the end of July to carry out a scheduled ecosystem survey in Quebec. "Given our survey was already delayed, we didn't want to impact the survey in another region by trying maintain the use of the Teleost. It was best to have a full survey uninterrupted in the other region," said Smedbol. Same ship missed another survey in 2018 This was the second time in 2018 the Needler was sidelined and unavailable for a scheduled science survey. It also missed the annual winter survey on Georges Bank because it was stuck in an extended refit. Wasted steel decking had been discovered. The Teleost was expected to fill in on the Georges Bank mission. However, it was also unavailable because its scheduled refit had to be extended. In that case, DFO was able to charter the Mersey Venture at cost of $300,000 for an abbreviated 11-day mission. International criticism of Canadian 'deficiencies' The unreliability of Canadian government research vessels, including the Needler, was highlighted at a science council meeting of the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization this past June. Canada provides scientific survey data in areas off its coast to the international fisheries management agency. The NAFO science council report said "substantive mechanical issues with the Canadian research vessels resulted in very poor coverage of [Division 3L]" off southern Newfoundland in 2017. "This marks the second time in three years that the spring survey coverage of Division 3L has been very poor." The council report said that in 2017, for the third time in four years, a deepwater survey off Labrador was not covered, and for the fifth time in six years, a deepwater survey was not covered in southern Newfoundland. The scientists said the data holes make it harder to evaluate trends in biomass and abundance for a number of species. "Deficiencies in survey coverage also add uncertainty to the results of research on environmental trends and ecosystem status, functioning and productivity," the science council said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/coast-guard-ship-breakdown-ends-48-year-survey-streak-1.4877209

NAVY The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded not-to-exceed $131,555,000 for order N0001919F2410 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-16-G-0001). This undefinitized contract action is for the procurement and upgrade of weapon replaceable assemblies to optimize the Block I low-rate initial production F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track systems, including technical risk reduction in support of engineering change proposal development and F/A-18 integration and tactics development. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (73 percent); and St. Louis, Missouri (27 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $42,969,654 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. The MIL Corp., Bowie, Maryland, is being awarded an $84,551,798 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for systems engineering, integration/production support, system-based test and evaluation services and in-service life cycle-based engineering support for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission-based products and systems. Work will be performed in St. Inigoes, Maryland (80 percent); and Patuxent River, Maryland (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 2024. No funds are being obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals; one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-D-0002). L3 Technologies Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, is awarded a $35,757,711 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide for the demonstration and test of existing technologies and associated technical data that may potentially provide a solution for an airborne wideband low radio frequency band jamming application in support of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (Increment 2) program. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah (57 percent); Boulder, Colorado (16 percent); Carlsbad, California (9 percent); Stuart, Florida (5 percent); Waco, Texas (1 percent); Reston, Virginia (1 percent); Guthrie, Oklahoma (1 percent); Stow, Massachusetts (1 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (1 percent); and in Europe (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,704,000 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via a broad agency announcement; four offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0014). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, New York, is awarded a $35,180,752 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide for the demonstration and test of existing technologies and associated technical data that may potentially provide a solution for an airborne wideband low radio frequency band jamming application in support of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (Increment 2) program. Work will be performed in Linthicum, Maryland (42 percent); Bethpage, New York (38 percent); North Amityville, New York (8 percent); Melville, New York (8 percent); Rolling Meadows, Illinois (1 percent); Hollywood, Maryland (1 percent); Melbourne, Florida (1 percent); and Redondo Beach, California (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,704,000 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via a broad agency announcement; four offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0015). BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded $19,470815 for modification P00035 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable contract (N00421-15-C-0008) to exercise an option for support for Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Ship and Air Integrated Warfare Division (Code 4.11.3). Support to be provided includes integrating communications and information systems radio communications into Navy ships. Work will be performed in St. Inigoes, Maryland (75 percent); and California, Maryland (25 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2023. Fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $5,850,000 are being obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Barkens Hard Chrome, Compton, California (FA8224-19-D-0001); Chromal Plating Co. Inc., Los Angeles, California (FA8224-19-D-0002); Kryler Corp., Fullerton, California (FA8224-19-D-0003); Quality Plating Co. Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah (FA8224-19-D-0004); and Sunvair, Inc., Valencia, California (FA8224-19-D-0005), have been awarded a ceiling $98,000,000 multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for metal plating to remanufacture existing and future assets in support of 309 Missile Maintenance Group and 309 Commodities Maintenance Group programs. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Vandenberg AFB, California; and other geographically separated units. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2018 Consolidated Sustainment Activity Group -- Maintenance funds in the amount of $10,000 ($2,000 per awardee) are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity. Williams International Co. LLC, Pontiac, Michigan, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $50,000,000 indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for the Advanced Turbine Technologies for Affordable Mission-Capability (ATTAM) Phase I program. The mission of the ATTAM Phase I program is to develop, demonstrate, and transition advanced turbine propulsion, power and thermal technologies that provides improvement in affordable mission capability. Work will be performed in Pontiac, Michigan, and is expected to be completed by October 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition via a broad agency announcement; 54 offers were received. The first task order will be incrementally funded with fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $10,000 at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (IDIQ contract FA8650-19-D-2064 and initial task order FA8650-19-F-2115). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Maryland, has been awarded a $16,512,048 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Precision Real-Time Engagement Combat Identification Sensor Exploitation program. This program will develop technologies that continue to advance combat identification for warfighters. This contract provides for the technical assessments, prototype hardware and software modifications and development, systems engineering, performance simulations, system integration and demonstrations. Work will be performed in Baltimore, Maryland, and is expected to be completed Jan. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $400,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-C-1672). Maintenance Engineers Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, has been awarded an $8,700,000 ceiling, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for grounds maintenance services. This contract provides grounds maintenance services for approximately 4,000 acres of improved and semi-improved grounds. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base and Little Mountain, Utah, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 24, 2023. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and six offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds will be obligated at the task order level. Air Force Sustainment Center, Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8201-19-D-0001). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Geo-Med LLC,* Lake Mary, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $35,000,000 firm-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 20 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and other federal civilian agencies. Location of performance is Florida, with an Oct. 24, 2023, performance completion date. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D1-19-D-0001). General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, has been awarded a $25,658,223 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRDL1-19-F-0038) against a five-year contract (SPE7MX-16-D-0100) for various electronic components for the M1 Abrams tank. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Locations of performance are Michigan and Florida, with a Sept. 27, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan. General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, has been awarded a $10,229,034 modification (P00002) exercising the one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPRDL1-18-C-0295) for hull mission processor units with containers. 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 firm-fixed-price contract. Locations of performance are Michigan and Florida, with a Nov. 19, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan. ARMY B & K Construction Co. LLC,** Mandeville, Louisiana, was awarded a $31,260,319 firm-fixed-price contract for West Bank Mississippi River Levee. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in New Orleans, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 22, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $31,260,319 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity (W912P8-19-C-0004). CORRECTION: An additional contractor has been added to the multiple-award contract announced on Sept. 28, 2018, for providing resources in support of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense to include its headquarters, directorates and five joint project managers. Goldbelt, Chesapeake, Virginia (W911QY-19-D0014), will also compete for each order of the $249,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract. All other information in the contract announcement is correct. *Service-disabled, veteran-owned small business **Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1672761/source/GovDelivery/