7 mars 2023 | International, C4ISR
Defense budget includes plans for space-based tracking, Kendall says
"We should be able to move forward with a resilient suite of airborne and space-based sensors," Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said.
30 juillet 2018 | International, C4ISR
Rebuilding it ... Better, stronger, faster.
By: Mike Gruss
The long-held thinking in Washington is that if the Department of Defense wants to stay ahead of its adversaries, it will need improved capabilities, many of which are being developed outside of the Beltway.
To that end, Pentagon leaders launched the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, commonly referred to in defense circles as DIUx, as a way to attract new companies into the fold and accelerate the pace of acquisition. In fall 2017, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis visited the organization's headquarters and said its influence would grow. A few months later, DIUx's director, Raj Shah, left the organization for the private sector. Capt. Sean Heritage has served as the acting managing partner since then.
Heritage spoke recently with C4ISRNET's Mike Gruss.
C4ISRNET: What's the status of the DIUx reboot?
CAPT. SEAN HERITAGE: The last two years have been largely focused on fielding capability across the department. We like to say we can solve problems faster, better, cheaper using commercial technologies with nontraditional companies that are out there.
We've learned that we have some amazing talents on our team and rather than just defaulting to fielding capability, we are creating tailored solutions using organic expertise. We've been able to do this primarily in a suborganization we refer to as the Rogue Squadron — it works in the UAF, counter-unmanned aerial system world.
We're sharing our lessons learned across the department. We're coaching people on how we do things so that they can emulate us. So, we'd like to think that if we are the only ones doing CSOs [commercial solutions openings] and OTAs [other transaction authorities], in our image a year or two from now, then we failed.
C4ISRNET: How do you know this is working?
HERITAGE: We know all our prototypes aren't going to transfer to production. Our target goal is between 40 to 60 percent success rate. The feeling is that if we are more successful than that, then we probably aren't being innovative or creative enough and assuming enough risk on behalf of the department. With regard to our creating line of effort, we're very proud of the [Air Operations Center] Pathfinder project. Kessel Run was a great example of fielding capability and then leveraging organic talent to create tailored solutions and transition to a program of record.
Then the coaching effort, we're defining success by creating somebody in other organizations in our image every six months.
C4ISRNET: On talent development, is part of that asking leaders to rethink how they're using their people or is it something else?
HERITAGE: The best example would go back to Kessel Run. That really started with the Defense Innovation Board. We were able to help the Air Force explore the art of the possible, which made a compelling case for the DIB's original recommendation: you guys need software developers as a core skill at the unit level to solve these problems in real time.
They like to use the example that Home Depot has 6,000 software developers to sell you hammers. You can say the same for any service. How many software developers do you have? Well, the answer is we don't know, because we don't have a specialty for software developers, but no doubt once you know people across your team, there are many very capable people who do software development on the side. How do you leverage that? How do you more deliberately recruit to that? And how do you develop them?
C4ISRNET: What's one area where you guys have been able to say, “Without us, we're not sure this would've happened as fast?”
HERITAGE: We are very proud of the work we are doing in the artificial intelligence world. So, we are doing some projects on predictive maintenance. Again, for the Air Force, focusing on the [E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system] out of the gate. But it's scaling across other platforms. We're already able to deliver value by solving that problem, reducing unplanned maintenance.
Another contract was let out that's scaling to the Army with their Bradley Fighting Vehicles. We are going to be doing predictive maintenance with them. Something that may be lost on many people is our involvement in the formulation of the JAIC, the Joint AI Center. That would not have happened without us, but, more specifically, that would not have happened if we weren't here in the Valley and had access to create relationships with some significant talent in the civilian world.
C4ISRNET: I wanted to reframe what you were saying. If DIUx wasn't in existence, do you think that there wouldn't be the same level of talent?
HERITAGE: The talent we are able to attract to our team, to work through any problems and inform strategic thinking, wouldn't have happened. What we have is very open-minded senior leaders who are yearning for diverse thinking. And, as a career military guy, it's not all that diverse. What we're able to do is reach into a talent pool that has lots of credibility and expertise that isn't resident in the department.
C4ISRNET: What's something DIUx is doing now, that it wouldn't have done three years ago?
HERITAGE: The biggest difference is the deliberate embracing of our role in creating solutions and scaling ... coaching. Those were things that DIUx didn't do in the past. We have much more support from across the department. We no longer need that direct cover of the Dep. Sec. Def as a direct report.
The percentage of our team that is military is higher than at the beginning. That's not necessarily by design. We are attempting to recruit more individuals, commercial executives, to help coach us. We don't want to be a military organization that happens to be in Silicon Valley, Boston and Austin. We want to truly be representatives of the culture.
C4ISRNET: You talked about that 40 to 60 percent goal. What are the other ways you measure success?
HERITAGE: The first one is the number of customers within the department that are coming our way to ask us to help them solve problems using our relationships, authorities and methodologies. That's one metric and that number continues to go up.
The other is the number of nontraditional companies who want to help solve problems. A commercial solutions opening is a honey-pot for all these creative companies to say, ‘Can I contribute?' The number of companies continues to go up. It was 40-plus on the last CSO. The record to date is over 70. Now we're in a position where we have to say no to projects. We're a little more selective.
C4ISRNET: What is DIUx's role with AI?
HERITAGE: A lot of folks claim to be able to contribute to the AI mission area. There are 593 initiatives across the department that claim to be AI. It's our ability and our connections with Project Maven that have afforded us the opportunity to influence the way ahead for the department and facilitate some conversions. Some of the work that we're able to do with these nontraditional companies is not only shaping understanding of the power of AI across the department, but it's focusing everybody as well. We're able to help make them a bigger part of the conversation or maybe inspire them to a bigger part of the conversation.
C4ISRNET: How do you convince a company that working with the Pentagon is the right path, and it's not a quagmire like it has been at Google?
HERITAGE: We don't spend time trying to convince companies to do or think anything. There are plenty of folks out here and elsewhere, who are passionate about contributing to the cause, and appreciate what they are learning just through having access to the data that we're able to provide them. But it's a challenging conversation to be a part of because we don't want to turn people off. We're here to provide people with opportunity.
C4ISRNET: Where can you help the most in IT?
HERITAGE: [Information technology] is an example of how a DoD organization can leverage technology and access to a network that is still secure, yet different than what the rest of the department is using. It's things that you probably take for granted. We have people come to our team for a short period of time, after a career within the department going, “Wow, look at how my productivity has changed since I've been here.” I have access to Slack and the G Suite and a whole host of other tools that are not allowed, and for good reason, on DoD networks.
C4ISRNET: One concern is whether new vendors can provide overmatch. Is that the case?
HERITAGE: We look at the companies to make sure they're going to be around long enough to provide this capability. When we talk about our responsibility to help navigate the “Valley of Death,” and make sure that these prototypes don't just die, these companies have to have legs underneath them and investors behind them to be viable down the road so that we don't spend our time developing a prototype that they won't be around to deliver.
https://www.c4isrnet.com/thought-leadership/2018/07/27/rebuilding-it-better-stronger-faster/
Sur le même sujet
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12 août 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité
Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 9, 2019
NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $176,339,634 firm-fixed-priced, performance-based logistics contract for the repair of 1,672 different head-of-family part numbers in support of the AEGIS SPY-1 Weapon System. The contract is a five-year contract with no option periods. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by August 2024. No funds are obligated at the time of award. Working capital funds (Navy) will be obligated as individual task orders are issued and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source, non-competitive requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00383-19-D-VM01). Raytheon Co., Goleta, California, is awarded $29,790,677 for modification PZ0001 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-18-C-1055). This modification provides for Lot 14 full-rate production of 82 F/A18 CD-108B/ALE-50(V) Control, Dispenser, Decoy, Countermeasures Integrated Multi-platform Launch Controllers. Work will be performed in Forrest, Mississippi (45%); Andover, Massachusetts (25%); Goleta, California (20%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (10%), and is expected to be completed in February 2022. Fiscal 2017 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $29,790,677 will be obligated at time of award, $26,850,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Swift River Versar JV,* Anchorage, Alaska, is awarded a maximum amount $18,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for mission sustainment and coastal resilience and related environmental planning services. The work to be performed provides for professional services that will support the study and implementation of mission sustainment and coastal readiness measures, including hardened structures and green infrastructure, which will ensure Navy and Marine Corps readiness of installations, ranges and operation areas. This contract will support environmental, asset management and expeditionary support services that will assist Department of Navy and Department of Defense commands in ensuring mission sustainability. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic area of responsibility including, but not limited to Virginia (28%); North Carolina (22%); South Carolina (22%); Connecticut (7%); Florida (7%); Maine (7%); and Maryland (7%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of August 2024. 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. No task orders are being issued at this time. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy). This contract was procured on a sole source basis pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 19.805-1(b)(2). Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-19-D-4004). General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded $15,200,000 for delivery order N62789-19-F-0019 under previously awarded, multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00024-16-D-4300 for the planning, material procurement, and repair work for USS Washington (SSN 787). Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut, and is expected to be complete by December 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $7,600,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. A Fair Opportunity Notice was issued to both multiple award contract indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity holders on July 18, 2019, in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Groton, Connecticut, is the contracting activity. MN&DPI JV LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, is awarded a $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N62742-18-D-0001) for architect-engineering services for various structural and waterfront projects and other projects under the cognizance of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific. The work to be performed provides for design and engineering services for the execution and delivery of engineering studies; plans, specifications, and cost estimates/parametric cost estimates, including preparation of design-build contract documents or design-bid-build contract documents; and post construction award services. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $55,000,000. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Pacific Area of Responsibility, including Guam (69%); and Hawaii (13%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of December 2022. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders and task order modifications as they are issued. Task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (planning and design). Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. ARMY Federal Contracting Inc., doing business as Bryan Construction Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado, was awarded a $69,146,753 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a tactical equipment maintenance facility and ancillary buildings. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Fort Carson, Colorado, with an estimated completion date of April 24, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $69,146,753 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity (W9128F-19-C-0029). TekSynap Corp.,* Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $31,657,006 firm-fixed-price contract for general program management, technical, research, analytical, and administrative support. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 8, 2024. U.S. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9124J-19-D-0015). Digital Management LLC, Bethesda, Maryland, was awarded an $19,141,206 modification (P00007) to contract W52P1J-17-F-4020 for interactive Personnel Electronic Record Management System. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 9, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Dumey Contracting Inc.,* Benton, Missouri, was awarded a $14,714,782 firm-fixed-price contract for construction, and degrading an existing levee and levee with berms and ditches. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work will be performed in Hornersville, Missouri, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 1, 2021. Fiscal 2019 civil works funds in the amount of $14,714,782 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis, Tennessee, is the contracting activity (W912EQ-19-C-0008). Manson Construction, Seattle, Washington, was awarded a $13,655,300 firm-fixed-price contract for unrestricted procurement for Houston Ship Channel hopper dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Galveston, Texas, with an estimated completion date of March 27, 2020. Fiscal 2019 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $13,655,300 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-19-C-0008). RLB Contracting Inc.,* Port Lavaca, Texas, was awarded a $13,584,500 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Port Arthur, Texas, with an estimated completion date of March 10, 2020. Fiscal 2019 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $13,584,500 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-19-C-0011). Cottrell Contracting Corp.,* Chesapeake, Virginia, was awarded a $10,437,490 firm-fixed-price contract for Norfolk Harbor Channel maintenance dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 11, 2020. Fiscal 2019 civil construction funds in the amount of $10,437,490 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W91236-19-C-0019). Yaeger Architecture Inc.,* Lenexa, Kansas, was awarded a $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineering services. 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 Feb. 8, 2025. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-19-D-4011). Morrish-Wallace Construction Inc.,* Cheboygan, Michigan, was awarded an $8,243,527 firm-fixed-price contract for repairs and stone revetment along Lake Erie. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Hamburg, New York, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2021. Fiscal 2010 civil construction funds in the amount of $8,243,527 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo, New York, is the contracting activity (W912P4-19-C-0019). AIR FORCE Radiant Geospatial Solutions LLC,* Ypsilanti, Michigan, has been awarded a $14,226,474 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Red Wing Next Generation Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Cloud. The objective of this effort is to deliver an automated and efficient workflow for National System of GEOINT analysis by reducing latency for product generation, exploitation and intelligence gathering. This effort will expand the use of Amazon managed services through careful assessment of emerging offerings with the goal of improving resiliency, reducing cost and reducing exposure to cyber threats. Work will be performed at Ypsilanti, Michigan; and Herndon, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 7, 2021. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation in the amount of $3,713,188 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-C-1502). Kearney & Co. P.C., Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded a $13,031,667 firm-fixed-price contract for advisory and assistance services support for the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability missions. This contract will provide for future and concepts analysis, design blueprints, capability development strategic integration, capability development implementation analysis, assessment of opportunities for new capability, workflow management, strategic communication, special access program integration, simulation studies, war gaming support, decision analytics and strategy, planning, programming, budgeting and execution analysis. Work will be performed at Washington, District of Columbia, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 8, 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,994,101 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force District of Washington Contracting Directorate, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity (FA7014-19-F-A162). Kearney & Co. P.C., Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded a $9,620,685 firm fixed price contract modification (P00005) to previously awarded contract FA7014-18-F-1022 for the exercise of Option Period One for advisory and assistance services to support Total Force analysis. This contract modification includes capability and capacity analysis of Air Force mission areas; linking results to the strategy, planning, and programming process; performing planning, programming, and budgeting study excursions; analytically supporting Total Force initiatives, strategy review and assessment and planning support. Work will be performed at Arlington, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $9,237,252 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force District of Washington Contracting Directorate, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Midwest Air Traffic Control Service Inc., Overland Park, Kansas, has been awarded an $8,410,622 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00013) to previously awarded contract N65236-14-D-4984 for aviation command and control operations and maintenance services. The contract modification adds five months and 20 days to the current task order. Work will be performed in the Air Force Central Command's area of responsibility and expected to be completed by Feb. 29, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds are being obligated in the amount of $8,410,622 at the time of the award. The Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, is the contracting activity. *Small Business
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4 février 2020 | International, Aérospatial
Raytheon chooses Tucson for headquarters of combined missiles/defense unit
Tucson will become the new headquarters for a combined business unit made up of Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems and a Massachusetts-based Raytheon business when parent Raytheon Co. and United Technologies Corp. finalize their merger. A Raytheon Missile Systems spokesman confirmed Friday that Tucson will become headquarters for the new Raytheon Missiles & Defense business, which will combine Missile Systems and Raytheon Integrated Defense, now headquartered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. “We shared with our employees that upon merger close, our consolidated businesses will be named Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Raytheon Intelligence & Space," Raytheon spokesman John Patterson said. "They'll be headquartered in Tucson, Arizona and Arlington, Virginia respectively. We look forward to sharing more information once the merger closes — anticipated early in the second quarter of this year.” Raytheon — Southern Arizona's largest employer — announced in late October that Wes Kremer, president of Raytheon Missile Systems since last March, will become president of the combined missile and integrated defense unit as part of the merged parent company, which will be called Raytheon Technologies Corp. Raytheon Intelligence & Space will be formed from Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems and Intelligence, Information and Services units, and UTC Mission Systems and Raytheon's Forcepoint cybersecurity unit. Together with two of UTC's current businesses — engine maker Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace — they will form the four main business units of the merged company. But the company said it would not announce the headquarters location of the new business units until the merger was finalized. The so-called "merger of equals" will create an aerospace and defense behemoth with annual revenues of $74 billion, second only to Boeing in the industry. Raytheon and United Technologies shareholders have approved the merger of the two companies, which is also contingent on United Technologies' successful spinoff of its Carrier heating, ventilation and air-conditioning business and its Otis Elevator subsidiary. The deal is also subject to federal anti-trust approval, which is expected after the Defense Department said it had few concerns about the merger. Raytheon is the Tucson region's largest employer with about 13,000 local workers. The company has been working to expand its campus at Tucson International Airport amid a plan to add more than 2,000 jobs. Raytheon also has significant operations at the University of Arizona Tech Park. The company makes many of the nation's front-line defense systems, including the Tomahawk cruise missile and the Standard Missile series of ship-defense and ballistic missile interceptors, and more recently has been working on hypersonic missiles and laser weapons to defeat drones and other threats. https://tucson.com/news/local/raytheon-chooses-tucson-for-headquarters-of-combined-missiles-defense-unit/article_ee884dfe-4489-11ea-8617-6b5185c6107b.html