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

  Coronavirus Hampering Defense Contractor Operations, Reader Survey Finds

  t's harder to win business amid a pandemic, said one-third of industry respondents in a Defense One reader survey. Federal contractors and private-sector workers say the coronavirus pandemic is hurting business and their ability to compete for government work, a new survey of Defense One readers has found. More than 75 percent said COVID-19 had a moderate, major, or extreme impact on their company's day-to-day operations. About 22 percent said the virus had a minimal impact; 2 percent, no impact. Nearly 60 percent of the respondents said coronavirus has forced them to slow or pause production. Nearly 40 percent said their business has seen disruptions to its cash flow. Defense One commissioned the survey, which was conducted by Government Business Council, a division of Defense One's parent company, Government Executive Media Group. The survey was conducted May 8-14 and received 677 responses, yielding a 5 percent margin of error. Of those, 313 self-identified as a government contractor or private sector employee. Related: 62% Disapprove of Trump's Coronavirus Response, Reader Survey Finds In March, the Pentagon began paying its contractors more money up front so these large firms could send more money to the smaller companies that make up their vast and diverse supply chains. Collectively, companies have sent or pledged to send billions of dollars to their suppliers in a quicker fashion. Still, Ellen Lord, defense undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, said last month that she was expecting a three-month slowdown in weapons deliveries as companies faced shutdowns and modified their processes and procedures to comply with social distancing and other guidelines. About 30 percent of contractors and private sector workers said their business has experienced supply-chain disruptions. While more than one-third of respondents said social distancing has hurt their company's ability to compete for government contracts, more than half said social distancing has made no difference in their company's ability to win contracts and 12 percent said restrictions have helped their company's competitive advantage. More than 17 percent said their business has had to lay off employees; 18 percent said their companies have furloughed workers. One-quarter of respondents said lack of access to senior officials and decision makers and the inability to attend networking events has affected their business. With conferences, trade shows and other in-person events on hold indefinitely, trade associations and event organizers have looked for virtual ways to replicate not only speaker presentations, but the sideline discussions and other types of networking that many consider essential to doing business in the defense sector. “Your ability to pull somebody off the stage coming off a panel, the ability to ask a question in the question-and-answer period in this environment, is a little bit challenging,” Hawk Carlisle, a retired Air Force general who is CEO of National Defense Industrial Association, said in an interview late last month. “It is having an effect and I do believe the longer this goes on it will continue to have an effect.” This week, NDIA, which represents 1,700 large and small companies and has 70,000 individual members, became the first to transform a large conference and trade show into a fully virtual conference. Typically, its SOFIC event is held in Tampa, near the U.S. Special Operations Command headquarters. This year, the speeches and panel discussions were broadcast online. What's more, the organization facilitated meetings between companies and government officials. NDIA, which usually hosts dozens of events around the country each year, is considering new ways to hold its gatherings, including hosting hybrid events, with some people in attendance and others attending virtually, Carlisle said. https://www.defenseone.com/business/2020/05/coronavirus-hampering-defense-contractor-operations-reader-survey-finds

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  20 juin 2018 | International, Naval

  The Navy’s acquisition boss has a plan to get fleet maintenance back on track

  David B. Larter WASHINGTON — The Navy's acquisition boss, aiming to get his arms around the long-term maintenance and ownership costs of the world's most complex fleet, has directed Naval Sea Systems Command to undertake an ambitious long-term plan for all the ships in the fleet. James “Hondo” Geurts, the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, has asked NAVSEA to compile a 30-year ship repair and maintenance plan that he intends to roll out alongside the annual shipbuilding plan. “The idea is, we have this 30-year shipbuilding plan, that's only as good as our ability to repair and modernize those ships once we build them,” Geurts told a gaggle of reporters Tuesday. “So what we'd like to do is create the companion plan that takes the shipbuilding plan and what we have in inventory, then forecast and plan for all the repair and modernizations that we'll have to do.” The Navy wants to have an idea, as it looks down to road, if it has the needed industrial capacity and infrastructure in place to meet the fleet's needs, which will become especially important as the fleet builds up. In fact, the Navy struggles to adequately maintain the smaller fleet it has today. In testimony last week, NAVSEA head Vice Adm. Thomas Moore told House lawmakers that the net capacity private shipyards that handle surface ship maintenance was only 75 percent of what the Navy required. During the past decade, the increasing demands on a smaller fleet drove deployment lengths to nine months or longer, which racked up a readiness deficit that the Navy is still working through. Deployment lengths have come back down closer to seven months, but the unpredictable operations tempo made it difficult for the Navy to plan yards periods and impacted the business of the private shipyards. Geurts conceded that operations will undoubtedly impact a 30-year maintenance schedule but said having it on paper was the right place to start when managing complicated schedules. “It's a very complex issue with inputs and outputs,” Geurts said. “But the only thing I know is the best way to get after a complex issue is laying out at least what you know and having that at least as a baseline so then when you have to do changes – for operational reasons of whatever — you are changing from a known baseline and you can understand quickly what the second and third order effects are. Like we do on new construction, I'd like to introduce that kind of rigor.” Ultimately the hope is that industry can plan better with a long-term plan in place, Geurts said. “My hope is if we can do that, industry can start planning resources, they can start hiring resources when they see the signal,” he said. “Right now we are not as well positioned in the future as I'd like to be.” https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/06/19/the-navys-acquisition-boss-has-a-plan-to-get-fleet-maintenance-back-on-track/

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  10 septembre 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - September 09, 2019

  AIR FORCE Solid State Scientific Corp., Hollis, New Hampshire, has been awarded a $59,000,000 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee hybrid contract for Air Force Weather Enterprise (AFW) Product-as-a-Service/Infrastructure-as-a-Service. This contract provides the migration to the cloud for the Air Force Weather Branch and is to design and build an Air Force Weather Virtual Private Cloud. It is required to expand to support the cloud migration and operations for all AFW applications. Work will be performed at and is expected to be completed by May 9, 2020, with two one-year options. This sole source award is a result of a Small Business Innovative Research Phase III follow-on. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $777,351 are being obligated at the time of award. The Aerospace Management Systems Division, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-19-C-0041). BlackHorse Solutions Inc.,* Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a $48,843,831 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for CDI2E software/hardware prototypes. This contract will advance global vigilance, global reach, and global power in the information environment through the application, research, development, and transition of emerging technologies and next-gen solutions. This includes rapid tool development, development of electronic warfare/cyber network attack software and hardware systems, analytical processing, cyber threat avoidance and cyber threat defense, test and evaluation, and to manage the development to ensure projects move forward at a rapid pace, that technical and process innovations incorporated into successive rounds of development. Work will be performed at Herndon, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 9, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $300,000 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity. (FA8750-19-C-1528). ECSC LLC, Columbus, Mississippi, has been awarded a $45,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Columbus Air Force Base paving and civil works. This contract provides for repair and construction of asphalt and concrete pavements including sub-base and base course, installation of associated utilities, drainage structures, sidewalks, curb and gutters, rubber removal and painting of runways, taxiways, and aprons, and turf. Work will be performed at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi and Auxiliary Field, Shuqualak, Mississippi, and is expected to be complete by Aug. 31, 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $621,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The 14th Contracting Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, is the contracting activity (FA302219-D-A002). ajc architects, Salt Lake City, Utah (FA8201-19-D-A003); Architectural Nexus, Salt Lake City, Utah (FA8201-19-D-A005); CRSA, Salt Lake City, Utah (FA8201-19-D-A008); Design West Architects, Salt Lake City, Utah (FA8201-19-D-A010); GSBS, Salt Lake City, Utah (FA8201-19-D-A012); HDR, Salt Lake City, Utah (FA8201-19-D-A011); Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., Taylorsville, Utah (FA8201-19-D-A009); Michael Baker International Inc., Midvale, Utah (FA8201-19-D-A007); Stanley Consultants Inc., Murray, Utah (FA8201-19-D-A006); and Stantec Consulting Services Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah (FA8201-19-D-A004) have been awarded a not-to-exceed $36,000,000 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for architectural and engineering services to support the 75th Civil Engineering Group mission. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, or other geographically separated areas under their jurisdiction to include Little Mountain Test Annex, Utah Test and Training Range, and Boulder Seismic Station, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 8, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive, multiple award acquisition and 15 offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $500 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity. General Electric Aviation, Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded a $19,429,512 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for F138 sustaining engineering, program management, and field service representative support. This contract provides the Air Force with the expertise required to support trending, diagnosis, analysis, and warranty administration for the F138 engine. Work will be performed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware; Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Robins Air Force Base, Georgia; Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma; Travis Air Force Base, California; Scott Air Force Base, Illinois; and Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 5, 2024. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,831,638 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity. (FA8124-19-D-0005). Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $14,958,516 task order against contract FA8533-18-D-0002 for the execution of a baseline change request/engineering change proposal which upgrades 99 common organizational level testers and accessory kits to the new baseline removing obsolescence issues. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 8, 2022. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $14,958,516 will be obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8533-19-F-0091). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY TEK Precision Co. Ltd.,* Deer Park, New York, has been awarded a maximum $17,638,194 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for aviation servo coupling assemblies. This was a competitive acquisition with one offer received. This is a five year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New York, with a June 24, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA1-19-D-0124). York Precision Machining and Hydraulics LLC,* York, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a maximum $13,681,333 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for sliding and fixed cones for the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile system. This was a sole source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c) (1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Pennsylvania, with a Sept. 5, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Hill Air Force Base, Utah (SPRHA2-19-D-0001). ARMY Alberici Constructors Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, was awarded a $14,610,600 firm-fixed-price contract for Miter Gate installation at Marseilles and Starved Rock Locks on the Illinois River Basin. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Ottawa, Illinois, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 civil construction funds in the amount of $14,610,600 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W912EK-19-C-0035). Winkler-NNAC JV,* Newman Lake, Washington, was awarded an $8,555,103 firm-fixed-price contract to repair drainage failures. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Fort Hood, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 7, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $8,555,103 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Hood, Texas, is the contracting activity (W91151-19-C-0035). NAVY DONJON Marine Co. Inc., Hillside, New Jersey, is being awarded a $12,499,201 modification to previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00024-18-D-4307 deliver order N00024-19-F4D02 for continuation of emergency floodwater pumping operations in Puerto Rico under Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) mission assignment. Work will be performed in Puerto Rico and is expected to be complete by June 2020. Non-expiring ACOE funding in the amount of $11,440,916 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Virginia, was awarded an $11,945,242 firm-fixed-price modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-18-C-4403 for additional growth requirements, including actions taken during Hurricane Florence, identified during the execution of the USS Tortuga (LSD 46) Fiscal 2018 Modernization Period (MODPRD) Chief of Naval Operations availability. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2019. Upward obligation of expired fiscal 2018 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $11,945,242 was used to fund this action in accordance with fiscal law. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 5, 2019) The University of California, Berkeley, California, is being awarded a $9,477,951 cooperative research agreement to study learning mechanisms to create computational models and enhance artificial intelligence approaches to learning, such as deep learning and reinforcement learning. All work will be performed at the University of California, Berkeley, California. This four-year agreement has no option periods. The period of performance is from Sept. 9, 2019, through Sept. 8, 2023. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) in the amount of $1,477,559 will be obligated at the time of award. This research agreement was competitively procured via broad agency announcement (HR001119S0005) and publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website. Forty-two offers were received and nine were selected for award. The Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-2-4034). DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY CORRECTION: The Sept. 6, 2019, announcement of a contract award to Trace Systems Inc., Vienna, Virginia (HC1047-19-D-4002), in support of providing the full range of Mission Partner Environment (MPE)-compatible support services and associated equipment to design, implement and operate the MPE enterprise, included the incorrect ceiling value. The award's actual ceiling value is $998,000,000. All other information in the announcement is correct. CORRECTION: The contract announced on Sept. 6, 2019, to The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, LLC (JHU/APL), Laurel, Maryland (HC1047-19-D-0001), for essential engineering, research, and/or development capabilities, in line with the core competencies established by the assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering, has not yet been awarded. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1955489/source/GovDelivery/