16 mars 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 13, 2020

NAVY

BAE Systems, San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4419); Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4420); and General Dynamics, National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California (N00024-16-D-4421), are awarded a $171,876,527 firm-fixed-price modification to exercise Option Period Four to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contracts for complex, emergent and continuous maintenance and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) availabilities on amphibious ships (landing platform/dock, landing ship dock, landing helicopter assault and landing helicopter dock) homeported in San Diego, California. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, at contractor facilities or Naval Base San Diego and is expected to be completed by March 2021. The exercising of these options ensures continued facilities and human resources capable of completing complex, emergent and continuous maintenance, repair, modernization and CNO availabilities on amphibious ships assigned to or visiting the port. Awards under Option Period Four have an estimated cumulative value of $171,876,527. No funding is obligated at the time of award. The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.

Manson/Connolly Seal Beach JV, Seattle, Washington, is awarded $66,530,000 which provides for exercise of Options One, Two and Three under a firm-fixed-price contract for the construction and building operations of Ammunition Pier, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, the reconstruction of Anaheim Bay Road, and the construction of the Smoke Shack Building. Work will be performed in Seal Beach, California, and the performance period will be extended for an additional 600 calendar days. The work includes labor, supervision, management, tools, materials, equipment, facilities, transportation, incidental engineering and other items necessary to provide dredging, constructing and several building operations. After award of these options, the total cumulative contract value will be $154,677,000. Fiscal 2020 military construction funds in the amount of $66,530,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-19-C-2450).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, New York, is awarded a $49,143,009 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-17-C-6311) for engineering services to support the Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules Program. Work will be performed Bethpage, New York (32%); Mayport, Florida (18%); San Diego, California (18%); Port Hueneme, California (18%); Pittsfield, Massachusetts (8%); Panama City, Florida (1%); Washington, District of Columbia (1%); and various other locations less than one percent (4%). Engineering services will be provided to support the existing efforts of the Littoral Combat Ships Mission Modules Program. Incidental other direct cost items are also provided in support of said engineering services. Work is expected to be complete by March 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2018 and 2020 other procurement (Navy); fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and fiscal years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $21,857,006 will be obligated at time of award. Funding in the amount of $18,825,998 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

L-3 Harris, Northampton, Massachusetts, is awarded a $14,181,070 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously-awarded contract (N00024-16-C-5366) to exercise options for Mk 20 Mod (automatic grenade launcher) 1 Electro-Optical Sensor Systems, radar cross-section kits, shock ring kits and spares for both the Navy and Coast Guard (USCG). Work will be performed in Northampton, Massachusetts, and is expected to be complete by March 2022. This option exercise is for additional Mk 20 Mod 1 Electro-Optical Sensor Systems, radar cross-section kits, shock ring kits and spares to support the Mk 34 gun weapon systems in support of anti-air warfare and anti-surface warfare. The Mk 20 EOSS is a major component of the gun weapon systems employed by the Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG 51 class); Ticonderoga-class cruiser (CG 47 class); and the USCG's offshore patrol cutters. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy); fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and fiscal 2020 other procurement (USCG) funding in the amount of $14,181,070 will be obligated at time of the award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. - Marine Systems, Sunnyvale, California, is awarded a $11,244,675 cost-plus incentive-fee, contract modification (P00003) to a previously awarded contract (N00030-19-C-0015) for technical engineering services, design and development engineering, component and full scale test and evaluation engineering, and tactical underwater launcher hardware production to support the development and production of the Common Missile Compartment. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California (55%); Ridgecrest, California (20%); Cape Canaveral, Florida (10%); Bangor, Washington (5%); Kings Bay, Georgia (5%); Barrow-In-Furness, England (2%); New London, Connecticut (1%); Quonset Point, Rhode Island (1%); and Arlington, Virginia (1%), and is expected to be completed by March 2024. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion Navy funding in the amount of $9,097,994 will be obligated on this award. Fiscal 2020 United Kingdom Common funding in the amount of $2,146,681 will be obligated on this award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

Cabrillo Enterprises,* doing business as R.W. Little,* National City, California (N55236-16-D-0005); South Bay Sand Blasting and Tank Cleaning Inc.,* San Diego, California (N55236-16-D-0006); and Surface Technologies Corp.,* Atlantic Beach, Florida (N55236-16-D-0007), is awarded $10,000,000 for a combined overall ceiling increase due to modifications under previously-awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contracts to exercise Option Year Four in support of deck covering removal and non-skid installation services onboard Navy ships. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and may include Oceanside, California. Each contractor shall provide all management, administrative services, materials, tools, equipment, labor, rigging, scaffolding, utilities (i.e. air, water and electricity, etc.) and required services and support to accomplish deck covering removal and non-skid installation onboard Navy ships within a 50-mile radius of San Diego. Work is expected to be complete by April 2021. Actual funding will be identified per individual task order. No funding is obligated at the time of award. The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.

Engility Corp., Andover, Massachusetts, is awarded an $8,782,647 modification (P00012) to a previously awarded, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, firm-fixed-price delivery order (N68936-19-F-0307) against a General Services Administration One Acquisition Solution for integrated services multiple award contract. Work will be performed in Point Mugu, California (90%); Patuxent River, Maryland (1.79%); Whidbey Island, Washington (1.79%); Edwards Air Force base, California (1.79%); Huntsville, Alabama (1.79%); China Lake, California (1.07%); Dayton, Ohio (1.07%); El Segundo, California (0.70%); and is expected to be completed in March 2021. This modification exercises an option for engineering, technical and programmatic support services for the development of electronic attack and electronic warfare products within the Airborne Electronic Attack Integrated Program. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $75,000; and fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $156,000 will be obligated at the time of award, $156,000 of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Point Mugu, California, is the contracting activity.

Penn State University Applied Research Lab, University Park, Pennsylvania, is awarded an $8,404,271 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Advanced Broadband Navigation Sonar System Future Naval Capabilities Program. This contract provides for the development and demonstration of technologies associated with continuous subsea autonomous navigation by developing and demonstrating improvements to navigational sonar systems. Improved estimation of positon and velocity afforded by advanced sonar processing will provide naval platforms with increased navigational performance for undersea platforms. Work will be performed in University Park, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be complete by March 2023. The total cumulative value of this contract is $8,404,271. The base period is $8,404,271, and no options are to be exercised. The action will be incrementally funded with an initial obligation of $1,925,613 utilizing fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under the “Long Range Broad Agency Announcement for Navy and Marine Corps Science & Technology” (N00014-18-S-B001) via the Federal Business Opportunities website. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00014-20-C-1061).

ARMY

Brantley Construction Co. LLC,* Charleston, South Carolina (W912HN-20-D-4004); Howard W. Pence Inc.,* Elizabethtown, Kentucky (W912HN-20-D-4004); Military & Federal Construction Co. Inc.,* Jacksonville, North Carolina (W912HN-20-D-4004); and Windamir Development Inc.,* McDonough, Georgia (W912HN-20-D-4004), will compete for each order of the $75,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for new construction, design, renovation, upgrades, improvement and maintenance or repair of government facilities. Bids were solicited via the internet with 28 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 12, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity.

Sierra Four Industries,* Fort Collins, Colorado (W15QKN-20-D-0013); Culmen International,* Alexandria, Virginia (W15QKN-20-D-0014); Multinational Defense Services,* McLean, Virginia (W15QKN-20-D-0015); Ultra Defense Corp.,* Tampa, Florida (W15QKN-20-D-0016); Global Ordnance LLC,* Sarasota, Florida (W15QKN-20-D-0017); Blane International, Cumming, Georgia (W15QKN-20-D-0018); and Greystone LLC, Pace, Florida (W15QKN-20-D-0019), will compete for each order of the $350,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of weapons, parts, optics, accessories, tools and manuals for various commercial, foreign, non-standard and U.S. obsolete weapon systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with 11 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 12, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.

The Dutra Group, San Rafael, California, was awarded a $21,550,000 firm-fixed-price contract for West Coast Hopper Maintenance Dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Hammond, Oregon; and Samoa, California, with an estimated completion date of March 15, 2021. Fiscal 2020 civil operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $21,550,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland, Oregon, is the contracting activity (W9127N-20-C-0009).

Mission Essential LLC, New Albany, Ohio, was awarded a $12,406,907 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for linguist, translation, interpretation and transcription services in support of U.S. Army Africa Command. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in New Albany, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 14, 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $12,406,907 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W50NH9-20-C-0008).

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Virginia (HDTRA1-16-C-0012), is issued a contract modification (P00036) to exercise Option Period Four line items with a ceiling value of $37,892,180, with an effective date of May 27, 2020. This does not include the value of the unexercised options. This contract is for advisory and assistance services in support of the Program Integration Division of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. Performance of this contract will take place at Lorton, Virginia; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and at various locations throughout the world. The anticipated completion date of this option period is May 26, 2021. The contract was a competitive acquisition; the government received one offer. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc., Garland, Texas, has been awarded a $26,464,692 firm-fixed-price contract for warhead assemblies. This contract provides for the additional procurement of BLU 111 Engineering Change Proposal warhead assemblies. Work will be performed in Garland, Texas, and is expected to complete by June 2021. Fiscal 2018, 2019 and 2020 procurement funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8681-19-C-0015).

Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC, doing business as Northrop Grumman Defense Systems, Rocket Center, West Virginia, has been awarded a $24,695,129 firm-fixed-price contract for warhead assemblies. This contract provides for the additional procurement of BLU 111 Engineering Change Proposal warhead assemblies. Work will be performed in Rocket Center, West Virginia, and is expected to complete by June 2021. Fiscal 2018, 2019 and 2020 procurement funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8681-19-C-0016).

Major Tool and Machine Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, has been awarded a $22,796,400 firm-fixed-price contract for warhead assemblies. This contract provides for the additional procurement of BLU 111 Engineering Change Proposal warhead assemblies. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to complete by June 2021. Fiscal 2018, 2019 and 2020 procurement funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8681-19-C-0013).

U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND

UPDATE: A contract announced on Nov. 8, 2019, with an estimated program value of $5,700,000,000, has added Canadian Commercial Corp., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (HTC711120DR008), as one of 18 awardees to provide worldwide Federal Aviation Regulation Part 135 airlift services utilizing fixed and/or rotary wing aircraft to transport Department of Defense and other federal agency personnel and cargo. (Awarded March 12, 2020)

*Small Business

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2111974/source/GovDelivery/

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - November 18, 2020

    19 novembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - November 18, 2020

    ARMY Hydrogeologic Inc.,* Reston, Virginia (W9128F-21-D-0006); Cape Environmental Management Inc.,* Norcross, Georgia (W9128F-21-D-0007); Environmental Chemical Corp.,* Burlingame, California (W9128F-21-D-0008); Bhate Environmental Associates Inc.,* Birmingham, Alabama (W9128F-21-D-0009); Bay West-Ahtna JV LLC,* Saint Paul, Minnesota (W9128F-21-D-0010); Bristol Environmental Remediation Services LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska (W9128F-21-D-0011); Kemron Environmental Services Inc.,* Atlanta, Georgia (W9128F-21-D-0012); and North Wind-CDM JV LLC,* Idaho Falls, Idaho (W9128F-21-D-0013), will compete for each order of the $176,250,000 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for environmental remediation projects. Bids were solicited via the internet with 21 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 17, 2025. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a $93,293,554 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for research, development, test and evaluation of artificial intelligence for the smart sensor prototype unmanned aerial platform. Bids were solicited via the internet with 999 received. Work will be performed in Poway, California, with an estimated completion date of March 2, 2023. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Army) funds in the amount of $13,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QX-21-C-0001). B.L. Harbert International LLC, Birmingham, Alabama, was awarded a $46,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for repair and replacement of existing taxiway pavements, shoulders, drainage, signage, lighting systems, duct banks, paint and markings and temporary taxiways. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 11, 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $46,500,000 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-21-C-0002). DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY Logistics Health Inc., La Crosse, Wisconsin, was awarded a $162,000,000 modification to their current indefinite-delivery bridge contract (HT0011-19-D-0002). This award, titled “Reserve Health Readiness Program,” provides health readiness support services to the military service components to meet medical and dental standards essential in maintaining a deployable force. This extension to the current bridge contract will permit time to complete evaluations and award of a competitive follow-on to this requirement. Services include immunizations, physical examinations, periodic health assessments, post-deployment health reassessments, mental health assessments, dental examinations, dental treatment, laboratory services, and other services as required to satisfy military service component health readiness needs. Services are delivered at military service component designated sites during group events, through the contractor's call center, and within an integrated network. The work will be performed in every U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, and Germany with period of performance from Dec. 1, 2020, to Nov. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds will be obligated on task orders issued under this award. This contract was awarded on an other than full and open competition basis; pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1). The Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY The Bell Boeing Joint Program Office, California, Maryland, has been awarded a maximum $36,546,991 firm-fixed-price modification (P00009) to three-year delivery order SPE4AX-18-D-9433 against base contract SPRPA1-17-D-009U to extend the period of performance for delivery of V-22 spare consumable and depot-level repairable 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. Locations of performance are Maryland, Texas, and Pennsylvania, with a May 10, 2023, performance completion date. Using military services are Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NAVY Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded a $16,441,085 modification (P00001) to firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable order N00019-20-F-0024 against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0029. This modification provides for fiscal 2021 special progressive aircraft rework sustainment efforts in support of the VH-3D/VH-60N executive helicopter. Specifically, this modification provides security, project engineering, integrated logistics, material, sustainment engineering, training and program support. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut (88%); and Quantico, Virginia (12%), and is expected to be completed in November 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,441,085 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY GE Research, Niskayuna, New York, has been awarded a $14,313,300 cost contract, including options, for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Atmospheric Water Extraction (AWE) program. In Phase 1 of the program, GE Research proposes to develop and select promising water extraction materials. The key objective will be to fabricate an Air2Water prototype device for the production of potable water that will be powered by readily-available fuel and builds directly from pioneering sorbent materials for water harvesting from desert air. Work will be performed in Niskayuna, New York (77%); Berkeley, California (18%); Chicago, Illinois (3%); and Mobile, Alabama (2%), with an estimated completion date for Phase 1 of November 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $858,975 are being obligated at time of award. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR001121C0020). AIR FORCE Tunista Services LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, has been awarded a $7,606,147, firm-fixed-price modification (P00011) to contract FA4855-18-C-0001 for continuation of operations, maintenance and support services at Melrose Air Force Range, New Mexico. The contract modification provides for the exercise of Option Year Three procured under the basic contract. Work is expected to be completed Nov. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $29,954,509. The 27th Special Operations Contracting Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. CORRECTION: The multiple award contract announced on Sept. 10, 2020, for a not-to-exceed amount of $95,000,000 for maintenance, repair and minor construction work at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Creech AFB, Nevada; and Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada, also includes Valwest Construction, Gilbert, Arizona (FA4861-21-D-0003), as an awardee. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2420033/source/GovDelivery/

  • Swiss, French procurement chiefs meet amid high-stakes ‘Air 2030’ race

    21 octobre 2018 | International, Aérospatial

    Swiss, French procurement chiefs meet amid high-stakes ‘Air 2030’ race

    By: Sebastian Sprenger COLOGNE, Germany — French procurement chief Joël Barre met with his Swiss counterpart Martin Sonderegger this week for bilateral talks on a multibillion-dollar Swiss air-defense program and other defense topics. The Oct. 15 gathering in Switzerland was the first high-level meeting between the two procurement organizations since Barre took office in August 2017. It follows France's recent acquisition of an initial batch of PC-21 trainer aircraft, made by Swiss manufacturer Pilatus Flugzeugwerke. The visit comes as French companies Dassault and MBDA each await the fate of their offerings in the upcoming Swiss “Air 2030” program, valued at more than $8 billion. The effort amounts to a complete revamping of the neutral country's air-defense and air-policing capabilities, with roughly $6 billion envisioned for a new fleet of fighter aircraft and $2 billion for ground-based defenses. The Swiss government over the summer invited bids from Dassault for its Rafale jets, and from MBDA and its parent joint venture Eurosam for the SAMP/T air-defense weapon. Also in the running for the aircraft portion are Airbus and its Eurofigher Typhoon, Saab and its Gripen E, Boeing with its F/A-18 Super Hornet, and Lockheed Martin with its F-35A. Vendors were asked to submit pricing options for a fleet of 30 or 40 aircraft. In the ground segment, MBDA's competitors include Raytheon's Patriot system and Rafael's David's Sling. A spokesman for Armasuisse, Switzerland's defense procurement arm, told Defense News that similar bilateral meetings would be held with other governments whose companies have a stake in the Air 2030 program. “We talk to all governments,” said the spokesman. Meanwhile, the “competitive dialogue” phase of the program is in progress, which means the Swiss government engages in the complicated game of answering contractors' questions about programmatic details – some individually, some directed at the whole group. Companies are expected to deliver their offers by February. Asked what types of questions the procurement chiefs discussed this week, the Armasuisse spokesman said, “Of course there were questions, but we don't make those types of conversations public.” Swiss government officials are in the midst of sifting through feedback from political parties, trade unions, and regional governments on the best path toward making Air 2030 a reality. The key question for proponents is how to convince the population, under the rules of Switzerland's famous direct democracy, that the bulk sum of more than $8 billion is worth spending while leaving the decisions on hardware types to the government. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/10/17/swiss-french-procurement-chiefs-meet-amid-high-stakes-air-2030-race

  • Maintainers Maintain Mission Readiness

    15 août 2019 | International, Aérospatial

    Maintainers Maintain Mission Readiness

    By Airman 1st Class Adriana Barrientos Fighter jets and heavies can rule the skies, but they need to get there first. It takes strict attention to detail from aircraft maintainers to service aircraft in order to launch them to the battlefield. Airmen from the 703rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron identified and fixed a misplaced spoiler control rod on the E-3 Sentry during a Home Station Check at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, June 3, 2019. Aircraft maintainers play a huge role when it comes to mission readiness. After all, they are responsible for the upkeep of aircraft that fly through the skies. It's imperative for these Airmen to be meticulous, confident and disciplined in order to carry out their mission— inspect aircraft and troubleshoot problems. The 703rd AMXS supports JBER's worldwide contingency and maintenance operations for the 3rd Wing, 11th Air Force, and the North American Aerospace Defense Command. They are responsible for the C-17 Globemaster III, E-3 Sentry, and C-130 Hercules. Crew chiefs assigned to the 703rd AMXS are assigned to either the 962nd or the 517th Aircraft Maintenance Units. One type of aircraft maintained by the 962nd AMU is the E-3 Sentry. As an airborne warning and control system or AWACS aircraft, it performs an essential mission, distinguishing between friendly and enemy activity. It also provides airborne command and control in addition to conducting all-altitude, all-weather surveillance. “I come to work and figure out what the flying and maintenance schedule is for the day,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John Hays, 962nd AMU crew chief lead for two E-3B/C aircraft. “On a typical day, we launch one of the jets for a four to six-hour sortie and recover the jet towards the end of the shift. Once the jet lands, the other crew chiefs and I will perform a post-flight inspection and fix anything we find.” As a crew chief, Hays performs visual inspections of the entire structure of the aircraft. These include calendar inspections, which serve to provide constant observation of all components of the aircraft to ensure reliability. It was June 3rd when an issue with the jet's spoiler rod was identified during an in-depth calendar inspection, known as a Home Station Checks. “Calendar inspections vary, but a really important one is the Home Station Check that is completed every 180 days,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brandon Solomons, 962nd AMU crew chief. “One of the biggest things we look for during these inspections is irregular rubbing of moving components. During our mid-shift, Senior Airman Eric Goodholm noticed one of the rods was pushed up against another component in the wing called the flap track gearbox.” In this case, it was the spoiler control rod, which was not damaged but could have potentially caused a major problem during the flight. “A spoiler control rod basically helps lift the spoiler— a vital flight control surface that allows the jet to turn in flight, as well as a brake or slow down the jet during approach and landing,” said Solomon. “The pushrod is not supposed to rub on the gearbox, so myself and our production superintendent performed further investigations,” said Hays. “I identified that the two outboard spoilers follow up pushrods were connected incorrectly to the idler arm, therefore causing the pushrod to rub on the gearbox.” The total time to fix the issue was a combined eight hours, to include an operation check. “I led the fix of the malfunction along with Staff Sgt. Solomons,” said Hays. “We disconnected and reconnected the pushrods to the idler arm correctly, which provided the proper clearance from the gearbox.” These kinds of calendar inspections allow maintainers to identify defects before malfunctions cause serious danger or harm to the aircraft or personnel. In any case, a setback with the aircraft is a setback to the mission. “After ensuring the rod wasn't damaged, we got in touch with Tinker Air Force Base, and they found the same problem on three of their jets,” said Solomons. “This discovery drove a Time Change Technical Order, implemented to prevent flight binding across the fleet.” Time Change Technical Orders, or periodic updates to aircraft that authorize the modification of a system, were pushed to keep the operational tempo on track. As an air defense system, E-3s can detect, identify and track airborne enemy forces far from the boundaries of the United States or NATO countries. It can direct fighter-interceptor aircraft to these enemy targets. Thus being a vital component to the mission in day to day operations. “Something like this could have been easily overlooked, but Senior Airman Goodholm is very thorough and paid great attention to detail,” said Solomons. After the team made modifications and the pushrods were properly connected, a rig check was performed to verify if the spoilers were in the proper configuration. “I can say Senior Airman Goodholm, Staff Sgt. Hays and I contributed by identifying and planning a course of action to fix this issue, but it was an effort as an AMU that fixed the discrepancy,” said Solomons. “With the unit's team effort and strong leadership the problem was identified, fixed and the jet was able to go and perform the mission again.” General maintenance actions and inspections by not only the 703rd AMXS, but all maintainers require attention to detail day in and day out. The lives of the crew and mission success depend on it. https://www.jber.jb.mil/News/News-Articles/Article/1933112/maintainers-maintain-mission-readiness/source/GovD/

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