12 mars 2020 | International, Aérospatial

DoD Drafts New Acquisition Strategy For Commercial SATCOM

Space Force will ask for 2022 money for commercial satcom, but the funds will not be for buying services as industry would like -- rather for R&D.

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SATELLITE 2020: The Space Force is drafting a new Transformative Acquisition Strategy for buying commercial satellite communications capacity, Clare Grason, the chief of the service's Commercial Satellite Communications Office (CSCO), told a panel here today.

The new strategy is bouncing off of the new “Vision for Satellite Communications” signed Jan. 23 by Space Command head, and Space Force chief, Gen. Jay Raymond. It's designed to enable the creation of seamless web of communications capabilities to warfighters, even during conflict.

David Myers, president of Peraton's Communications sector, told me in an interview that CSCO will likely replace it's current program, known as the Future Commercial SATCOM Acquisition Program, “with something unique to Space Command that better suits this mission of interoperability between between commercial and government.”

Indeed, Peraton on March 3 announced they had been granted a $218.6 million contract to provide commercial satellite communications services for Africa Command (AFRICOM). According to the company's March 3 announcement, the “single award, blanket purchase agreement” is a first of its kind, whereby the company “will provide communications services leveraging satellites and emerging technologies from across multiple satellite fleet operators.”

At the same time, Grason told me afterwards, the office is in the process of putting together a funding request for 2022 for a newish, congressionally-mandated program of record to buy commercial satcom directly from operators — although she did not reveal the sum.

“We are POMing against the commercial satcom program of record,” she said. “We're going through that process right now.”

Congress created the independent program element for commercial satcom within the DoD budget in the 2019, putting $49.5 million into the pot. It added $5 million to the program in 2020, although DoD did not ask for funding. There is no money in the 2021 budget request, Grason explained, although she is working on an unfunded requirements request that might be able to fill that gap.

The program of record, however, will not be used — at least in the near term — to provide satellite communications services to military users in a manner similar to how terrestrial telecom providers like AT&T sell you a data plan for your phone, as a number of commercial satcom operators have been advocating.

Instead, those congressionally appropriated funds would be used “for research and development purposes, to assess capabilities that are emerging,” Grason told me. Once proven, new capabilities might be fed back into the operational program. “Or we could do isolated projects in cooperation with others,” she said. “There's a lot of flexibility and potential for the arrangement.”

CSCO is leery of crossing the working capital and congressionally appropriated funding streams, Grason explained. “It's key when it comes down to the program of record that those activities are outside of the scope of our core ... transactions,” she told me. “There are legalities there.”

Currently, the CSCO buys commercial satellite bandwidth using a DoD working capital fund — a kind of revolving fund that works a bit like a checking account. CSCO negotiates one-on-one contracts between a satcom provider and a military customer, Grayson said. At any one time, she told the Satellite 2020 audience, the office is negotiating about 30 different deals.

“Our office is responsible for connecting a customer to the marketplace,” she explained.

Under that system, DoD essentially leases commercial bandwidth for short periods of time — an acquisition model that has been widely disparaged by commercial satcom operators. Indeed, Congress in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) shifted Grason's office from its original home within the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to Air Force Space Command. That, of course, has now been subsumed by the new Space Force.

The goal of the new acquisition strategy, Grason said, is to streamline that process via a kind of bundling of current contracts with providers.

“We do have a Transformative Acquisition Strategy under development now, that will evolve how we acquire and deliver commercial satcom on an aggregated basis through a smaller number of contracts,” she said, that will “centralize procurement with industry.” CSCO will then turn around and sign so-called ‘service letter agreements' with military customers that, in effect, make them subscribers to commercial services.

“So in essence we'd become like a Direct TV with different cable plans,” she told me, and would managing the relationship between the user and the providers. “It's a challenging objective, but we believe the benefit lies in the fact that we're aggregating buying power, we won't have duplication, we'll have [broad] coverage, and the ability to shift resources without having to set up new contracts.”

A first draft of which is due at the end of the year, she said.

DoD currently contracts for satcom bandwidth with a number of providers, such as Peraton and Intelsat, which has been vocal in pushing the Pentagon to move to a ‘satellite-as-a-service' model.

“There's going to be a very significant change required in the mindset,” Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch, senior vice president for government strategy and policy at Inmarsat Government, told the panel.

But the bulk of DoD's satcom services and bandwidth comes via the Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMMS) program, for which Iridium Communications was awarded a $738.5 million, seven-year, fixed-price contract in December 2019.

The US military is heavily reliant on commercial satcom, given the fact that military comsat networks, such as the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites built by Lockheed Martin and the Wideband Global SATCOM satellites built by Boeing, have limited bandwidth to go around.

In fact, Grason told me, access to milsatcom bandwidth is granted via a “prioritization scheme that customers generally speaking are highly dissatisfied with.”

That said, she admitted that military users of CSCO's services are naturally a bit skeptical about a new approach.They want to know “how are you going to ensure that the capabilities that we're getting today are not degraded?” she said. “The linchpin is that the customer will pay for the capability in the form of a service level agreement with us.”

Myer said one model DoD might want to think about is “buying a pool of capacity that gives them portability to move capacity around.” This would it to leverage buying power, he said.

https://breakingdefense.com/2020/03/dod-drafts-new-acquisition-strategy-for-commercial-satcom

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - January 30, 2019

    31 janvier 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - January 30, 2019

    NAVY Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, is awarded $559,622,074 for cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification P00004 to a previously awarded contract (N00030-18-C-0100) for Trident II (D5) missile production and deployed system support. Work will be performed in Magna, Utah (29.47 percent); Sunnyvale, California (16.75 percent); Cape Canaveral, Florida (14.07 percent); Pittsfield, Massachusetts (6.00 percent); Denver, Colorado (5.56 percent); Camden, Arizona (3.96 percent); Titusville, Florida (3.87 percent); Kingsport, Tennessee (3.87 percent); Kings Bay, Georgia (3.15 percent); El Segundo, California (2.87 percent); Lancaster, Pennsylvania (2.00 percent); Clearwater, Florida (1.11 percent); Inglewood, California (1.08 percent); and other various locations less than one percent (6.24 percent total), and work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2023. Fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $412,117,013; fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,717,587; and United Kingdom funds in the amount of $137,787,474 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. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded $55,062,919 for modification P00011 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-16-C-0055). This modification provides for the procurement of five Fire Scout MQ-8C unmanned air systems and two lightweight fuel cells. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (33 percent); Ozark, Alabama (27 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (18 percent); Moss Point, Mississippi (16 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $55,062,919 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. DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $43,856,375 for modification P00017 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursement indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-15-D-0001). This modification exercises an option for organization, selected intermedia, limited depot level maintenance, and logistics services in support of the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center's (NAWDC) F/A-18A/B/D/D/E/F, EA-18G, MH-60S, F-16A/B, and E-2C aircraft. Work will be performed at NAWDC, Fallon, Nevada, and is expected to be completed in January 2020. No funds are being obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. B.L. Harbert International, Birmingham, Alabama, is awarded a $41,832,719 firm-fixed construction contract for a hangar located at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The project will construct an 80,000 square foot hangar and associated facility to support research, development, testing, and evaluation of unmanned carrier-launched aerial surveillance systems to be located at the air station. The contract also contains five unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $44,374,719. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed 607 days after award. Fiscal 2017 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $41,832,719 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with three proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N40080-19-C-2015). RQ Construction Inc., Carlsbad, California, is awarded a $41,429,522 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of a maintenance hangar in support of the EA-18 Growler aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. The facility will provide high-bay space for aircraft maintenance, maintenance shops, and open bay warehouse space for aircraft equipment and administrative spaces. Work will be performed in Oak Harbor, Washington, and is expected to be completed by July 2021. Fiscal 2017 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $41,429,522 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with nine proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity (N44255-19-C-0003). Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia, is awarded a $36,655,871 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract for Identity Dominance System (IDS) technology refresh for the Department of Defense. The IDS technology refresh effort is a refresh of the entire current configuration. The primary focus of this contract is the acquisition of a hand-held biometric hardware device for the IDS program to replace the current integrated base unit. Work will be performed in McLean, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by January 2024. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,522,548 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was solicited on a full and open competition basis via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-19-D-4000). Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded $32,958,080 for modification P00002 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-18-C-0088). This modification provides for engineering and manufacturing development of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy – Navy. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed in July 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,197,594 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. L3 Aviation Products Inc., Alpharetta, Georgia, is awarded a $16,138,920 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to procure a maximum quantity of 840 technically refreshed multi-function displays for retrofits and spares in support of the AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircraft. Work will be performed in Alpharetta, Georgia, and is expected to be completed in September 2022. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-D-0009). The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, was awarded $15,991,141 for modification P00001 to delivery order N0001918F1652 previously placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-16-G-0001. This modification exercises an option for the procurement of 79 Harpoon Block II Plus Tactical Missile upgrade kits for the Navy. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri (69.5 percent); Galena, Kansas (10.5 percent); Minneapolis, Minnesota (6.6 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (6.5 percent); Lititz, Pennsylvania (2.2 percent); O'Fallon, Missouri (1.1 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (.6 percent), and various locations within the continental U.S. (3 percent). Work is expected to be completed in March 2022. Fiscal 2019 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,991,141 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. Vertical Protective Apparel LLC,* Shrewsbury, New Jersey, is awarded $14,539,807 for firm-fixed-price delivery order M67854-19-F-1541 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-18-D-1309) for the production and integration of 56,710 Plate Carrier Generation III complete systems and 61,729 components and spares. Work will be performed in Guanica, Puerto Rico, and is expected to be complete by Jan. 29, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $14,539,807 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will expire the end of the current fiscal year. The base contract was competitively procured as a Total Small Business Set Aside via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with four offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Central Lake Armor Express Inc.,* Central Lake, Michigan, is awarded $10,432,525 for firm-fixed-price delivery order M67854-19-F-1542 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-19-D-1509) for the production of 1,322,654 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 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $10,432,525 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will expire the end of the current fiscal year. The base 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. Sealift Inc. of Delaware, Oyster Bay, New York, is awarded $9,106,750 under previously awarded contract N3220518C3352 to exercise an option for a vessel for transportation of dry cargo worldwide. The U.S. flagged vessel MV Black Eagle is employed in worldwide trade for the transportation and prepositioning of cargo (including, but not limited to, hazardous cargo, explosives, ammunition, vehicular, containerized, and general cargo), and for military readiness, in accordance with the terms of this charter. Work will be performed worldwide and is expected to be completed January 2020. Working capital funds in the amount of $9,106,750 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Nordam Group Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, is awarded a $7,902,620 firm-fixed-priced contract for first article testing in support of the Super Hornet F/A-18 E-G 11 flight control surfaces. This is a one-year contract with no option periods. Work will be performed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and work is expected to be completed by January 2020. Working capital (Navy) funds in the full amount of $7,902,620 will be obligated at time of award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(2), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. (N00383-19-C-C003) Barnhart-Reese Construction Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded $7,127,423 for firm-fixed-price task order N6247319F4263 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-17-D-4629), for the renovation of historic Building 158 and demolition of Building 58 at Naval Base Point Loma, California. The work to be performed provides for the renovation of Building 158 into a two-story space with a basement, suitable for administration and training. Project includes demolition to cut openings for completion of a seismic retrofit, and installation of an elevator and ramp to bring the building into American Disabilities Act compliance; constructing walls throughout all three floors to enclose offices, interview rooms, an evidence room, men and women locker rooms, storage areas, and classrooms. The project also installs a new generator, new heat ventilation air conditioning, and repairs the existing pavement around the facility. Building 58 located at the Harbor Drive Annex will be demolished. The task order also contains two unexercised options and two planned modifications, which if exercised would increase the cumulative contract value to $8,188,231. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by August 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,127,423 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current year. Four proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Sallyport Global Holdings, Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $375,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized contract action to provide base operations support, base life support, and security services in the support of the Iraq F-16 program. Work will be performed on Balad Air Base, Iraq, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 30, 2020. This contract was the result of a sole-source acquisition and involves foreign military sales to Iraq. Foreign military financing loan repayable funds in the amount of $183,750,000 are being obligated at the time of the award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8630-19-C-5004). JC Builders JV,* Alamogordo, New Mexico (FA4801-19-D-A003); Mirador Enterprises LLC,* El Paso, Texas (FA4801-19-D-A006); Native American Services Corp.,* Alamogordo, New Mexico (FA4801-19-D-A004); Mesa Verde Enterprises,* Alamogordo, New Mexico (FA4801-19-D-A007); LC Structural Inc.,* Las Cruces, New Mexico (FA4801-19-D-A001); Veliz Construction,* El Paso, Texas (FA4801-19-D-A005); E-Corp,* Layton, Utah (FA4801-19-D-A008); and R-CON Construction Inc.,* Las Cruces, New Mexico (FA4801-19-D-A009), have been awarded a five-year aggregate ceiling $90,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide a broad range of maintenance, repair and construction work at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Task orders will use a variety of trades such as road repair, roofing, excavation, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, sheet metal, painting, demolition, concrete, masonry and welding. Work is scheduled to commence March 1, 2019, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2023. No funds will be obligated at time of award but will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals as a 100 percent Small Business Set-Aside, with 20 offers received. The 49th Contracting Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a $39,957,226 contract modification (P00013) to contract FA8525‐16‐D‐0003 for C‐5 contractor logistics support services. The contract involves supply chain management, repair and technical support services. Work will be performed in Marietta, Georgia; and Greenville, South Carolina, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2021. This award is a result of a sole-source acquisition and only one off was received. Fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2021 Material Support Division, and operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $14,993,394 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. Goodrich Corp., Brea, California, has been awarded an estimated $27,095,145 requirements contract for the repair/overhaul of the internal rescue hoist on UH-1N and aircraft mounted winch on HH-60 helicopters. This contract provides for the contractor to repair and perform program depot-level maintenance and unscheduled program depot-level maintenance in support of the UH-1N and HH-60 helicopters. Work will be performed in Brea, California, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 29, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Sustainment Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8524-19-D-0001). BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Wayne, New Jersey, has been awarded a $12,157,767 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for dynamic networking adaptation for Mission Optimization Extensible Network Architecture software/hardware. This effort develops and implements candidate system designs to interconnect applications and information across multiple legacy and future networks throughout dynamic missions. Work will be performed in Wayne, New Jersey, is expected to be completed by July 30, 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) funds in the amount of $2,435,845; and fiscal 2019 RDT&E funds in the amount of $7,394,039 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-C-0012). ARMY Dell Marketing LP, Round Rock, Texas, was awarded a $78,141,800 firm-fixed-price contract for VMware software license maintenance. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Round Rock, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 27, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $63,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-19-F-0199). DRS Network and Imaging Systems LLC, Melbourne, Florida, was awarded a $67,300,000 fixed-price-redetermination contract to procure horizontal technology integration second generation forward looking infrared BKit components and engineering services. Two bids were solicited with two bids received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 29, 2026. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W909MY-19-D-0004). Med-Eng LLC, Ogdensburg, New York, was awarded a $47,203,546 firmed-fixed-price contract for Generation II advanced bomb suit systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-19-D-0007). Kforce Government Solutions Inc., Fairfax, Virginia, was awarded a $28,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to procure traumatic amputation task trainers. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-19-D-0005). Donald L. Mooney Enterprises LLC, San Antonio, Texas, was awarded an $11,954,435 firm-fixed-price contract for licensed vocational nurses and certified nurse assistants services. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2019. U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity, San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (W81K04-19-D-0010). Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, Tucker, Georgia, was awarded an $8,325,934 firm-fixed-price contract for food services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Tucker, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $8,325,934 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Gordon, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W911S0-19-C-0003). Emergent LLC, Virginia Beach, Virginia, was awarded a $7,616,333 firm-fixed-price contract for Oracle PeopleSoft software license renewals. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Crystal City, Virginia; and San Diego, California, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Navy; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,616,333 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-19-F-0274). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY American Water Operations and Maintenance LLC, Voorhees, New Jersey, has been awarded a $26,589,346 modification (P00143) to a 50-year contract (SP0600-08-C-8257), with no option periods for the ownership, operation and maintenance of the water and wastewater utility systems at Fort Polk, Louisiana. This is a fixed-price with prospective-price-redetermination contract. Locations of performance are Louisiana and New Jersey, with a Jan. 31, 2059, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2017 through 2059 Army operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Polk, Louisiana. DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY ARTEL LLC, Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a contract modification (P00013) to exercise Option Period Three on task order GS-35F-5151H / HC101316F0022, for commercial satellite communications service. The face value of this action is $23,328,000 funded by fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds. The total cumulative face value of the task order is $93,159,500. Performance directly supports the Air Force's Central Command area of responsibility for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. Quotations were solicited via the General Services Administration's Federal Supply Schedule, Information Technology Schedule 70, and one quotation was received from 29 offerors solicited. The period of performance for Option Period Three is Feb. 10, 2019, through Feb. 9, 2020, and there is one remaining unexercised option period for this task order. The Defense Information Technology Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. * Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1744377/source/GovDelivery/

  • Army Helo Market Pegged at $10 Billion

    30 juin 2020 | International, Aérospatial

    Army Helo Market Pegged at $10 Billion

    By Jon Harper Market opportunities for the Army's helicopter fleet will average about $10 billion per year over the next decade as the service modernizes its rotary-wing assets, according to analysts. The current inventory includes UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters, AH-46 Apache attack helicopters, CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopters. All but the Lakota are still in production today. Meanwhile, future vertical lift is one of the Army's top three modernization priorities, and it is pursuing two new aircraft: an armed scout platform known as the future attack reconnaissance aircraft, or FARA, and the future long-range assault aircraft, or FLRAA. “The Army's effort to develop and field the next generation of vertical lift aircraft ... will have significant implications for the industrial base,” defense analysts Andrew Hunter and Rhys McCormick wrote in a recent report for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Projections show that although there will be a drop-off in the procurement of legacy aircraft in the mid-2020s as FARA and FLRAA full-rate production starts to ramp up, there is still a roughly $8 billion to $10 billion annual addressable Army vertical lift market over the next decade,” they said in the report titled, “Assessing the Industrial Base Implications of the Army's Future Vertical Lift Plans.” FLRAA has an estimated program value of $40 billion, while FARA could be worth about $20 billion. In March, the Army announced it had selected Bell and a Sikorsky-Boeing team for the FLRAA competitive demonstration and risk reduction effort. The winner of that phase is expected to be selected in fiscal year 2022. The service also picked Bell and Sikorsky to continue on in the competition for the future attack reconnaissance aircraft. A “flyoff” for the FARA competition is scheduled for fiscal year 2023, with a production decision expected in fiscal year 2024. Both the FARA and FLRAA platforms are slated to enter production later this decade. Meanwhile, operation and sustainment costs will remain the largest source of Army vertical lift spending over the next 10 years, according to the CSIS report. “There's going to be opportunity [for industry] in kind of the aftermarket side because even as you start to produce the new aircraft, there will still be the enduring platforms that are out” operating as next-generation helicopters come online, said Patrick Mason, head of Army program executive office aviation. “We will still need spares and certain things done within the aftermarket side as this transition would occur,” he added during a recent press briefing. “That drives so much of the supply chain.” Some observers have questioned whether the Army will have enough money to buy high-ticket FARA and FLRAA platforms at the same time given future budget projections. There is also the risk that the programs might go off the rails. “FVL isn't the only game in town, but it is by far the biggest,” Loren Thompson, a defense industry consultant and chief operating officer of the Lexington Institute think tank, wrote in a recent op-ed for Forbes. “If production of legacy rotorcraft ceases to make room for new ones and then FVL fails to deliver, industry might not have enough cash flow to sustain essential skills and suppliers.” Hunter said problems with the future vertical lift initiatives would upend the CSIS market projections. “If you were to take one of those programs out of the equation, that changes the addressable market in two significant ways,” he said. “One is, it shrinks it obviously by pulling out ... multiple billion dollars of investment throughout the 10-year window that we looked at. The other effect that it has is it reduces the competitive opportunity for industry. Right now, you know you've got multiple companies gunning for two aircraft. And even if you went down to one [program] and you were still competing, that's much less opportunity for industry to win in that scenario.” https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2020/6/29/army-helo-market-pegged-at-$10-billion

  • US Army’s Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon fielding delayed to year’s end

    18 septembre 2023 | International, Terrestre

    US Army’s Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon fielding delayed to year’s end

    “We’re finding problems,” Assistant Secretary of the Army Doug Bush said. “It’s actually good we’re finding these.”

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