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

US Army chief: How COVID-19 will impact modernization is a wait-and-see situation

By: Jen Judson

WASHINGTON — It's realistic for the U.S. Army to wait and see how the new coronavirus might affect its ambitious plans to modernize the force, Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville told Defense News in a March 18 interview.

With major economic centers on both U.S. coasts restricting public gatherings, and with most of the country attempting social distancing to avoid the spread of the virus, industry as of this week appeared to still be sorting out how it would handle its own workforce and keep employees safe from infection.

Much of what the Army is doing to address its top modernization priorities depends on industry collaboration and efforts.

“We're watching what is happening,” McConville said. “We do have some high-priority tests that we think are continuing to go, and industry is doing the same thing that we're doing — they're putting measures in place with their people. They're weighing risks to the force and, really, risk to their missions as they do that.”

Some high-priority tests will continue, he said, while “other ones will slow down.”

While he did not list all high-priority tests that would likely go on, McConville noted that the Army is still moving forward with contract awards and making progress where it can. He pointed to the service's recent contract awards to Bell and Sikorsky to continue to develop and test aircraft for the Army's Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program.

That contract was awarded on the expected timeline.

The Army also tested its Extended Long-Range Cannon Artillery system at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, on March 6, but that was only as uncertainty was just beginning to build in the U.S. regarding the spread of COVID-19.

The service has an abundance of important milestones planned across its modernization priorities this year, to include a robust flight test program for the Precision Strike Missile at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, and a likely imminent flight test of a jointly developed hypersonic glide body.

The Army also plans to award contracts to build Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft prototypes this month.

But it's unclear how other programs will move forward.

The previously troubled Integrated Battle Command System for air and missile defense is finally slated to go into a limited-user test in May this year, which is critical to the program's success.

The Army planned to conduct a series of industry days to restart its effort to competitively procure a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle replacement, but according to sources, a virtual industry day to kick things off has been postponed and the Army plans to post informational slides to industry on Beta.Sam.Gov in the near term instead.

“The acquisition cycle continues to move on,” McConville said, “and we'll have a better idea over the next 30 to 60 days, as more measures are implemented in certain states, what and how that really plays out.”

https://www.defensenews.com/smr/army-modernization/2020/03/19/army-chief-how-covid-19-will-affect-army-modernization-is-a-wait-and-see-situation/

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30 avril 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - April 29, 2020
ARMY FN America LLC, Columbia, South Carolina (W56HZV-20-D-0024); and Colt's Manufacturing Co. LLC, West Hartford, Connecticut (W56HZV-20-D-0025), will compete for each order of the $383,311,941 firm-fixed-price contract to provide M16A4 rifles for Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan, Grenada, Iraq, Lebanon and Nepal). 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 April 28, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Travis Association for the Blind, Austin, Texas, was awarded a $12,483,935 modification (P00004) to contract W56HZV-18-C-0067 to support repairing, cleaning, warehousing and distribution of organizational clothing and individual equipment. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Austin, Texas, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $12,483,935 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California, was awarded a $9,933,000 firm-fixed-price contract (W911QY-20-P-0154) for up to 333,000 COVID-19 assays. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $9,933,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 27, 2020) Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Washington, was awarded a $7,675,998 modification (P00002) to contract W912P8-20-C-0010 to exercise option hours for the dredge Glenn Edwards. Work will be performed in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2020 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,675,998 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY American Water Military Services LLC, Camden, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $70,000,000 modification (P00001) to a 50-year contract (SP0600-19-C-8327) with no option periods for additional wastewater utility system construction, repair and replacement work at Target Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant, U.S. Army Garrison West Point, New York. This is a fixed-price contract. Locations of performance are New Jersey and New York, with a Sept. 30, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2016 through 2020 Army military construction funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Raytheon Co., Andover, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $13,688,190 firm-fixed-price, one-time purchase contract for radomes. 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 two-year base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with a March 31, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA2-20-C-0023). UPDATE: Werres Corp., Frederick, Maryland (SPE8EC-20-D-0058) has been added as an awardee to the multiple-award contract for commercial material handling equipment, issued against solicitation SPE8EC-17-R-0002 and awarded June 9, 2017. AIR FORCE Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $32,780,869 fixed-price-incentive-fee, undefinitized contract action for StormBreaker Lot 6 Contract Line Identification Number 6001 - All Up Round (AUR); Simmonds Precision Product and multicut. This contract provides for Simmonds Precision Product and multicut material and labor for parts used in a StormBreaker AUR. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 21, 2022. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 missile procurement funds in the amount of $6,612,745 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8672-20-C-0005). (Awarded April 28, 2020) NAVY Physical Optics Corp.,* Torrance, California, is awarded a $17,783,583 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N68335-20-F-0001) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N68335-19-G-0041. This order provides non-recurring engineering for the production, test, integration and delivery of the T-45 Head-Up Display (HUD) and its associated internal software. Work will be performed in Torrance, California, and also provides airworthiness substantiation and supports the joint software support activity lab and government flight test demonstration for the HUD. This is a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III for research and development performed under the SBIR Topic Numbers N091-003, N152-096 and 04-A-A1.01. Work is expected to be complete by April 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,166,435; fiscal 2019 fiscal aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,387,148; and fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $230,000 will be obligated at time of award, $230,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Vectrus J&J Facilities Support LLC, Colorado Springs, Colorado, is awarded a $17,090,690 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operating support (BOS) services at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Patuxent River, Maryland; Webster Field, St. Inigoes, Maryland; Solomons Annex, Solomons, Maryland; and Point Lookout, St. Mary's County, Maryland. The maximum dollar value including the base period and seven option periods is $190,007,916. All work will be performed in Calvert County (8%) and St. Mary's County (92%), Maryland. The BOS services to be performed include: general information, management and administration, airfield facilities, facilities support including facility management; facility investment; integrated solid waste management; other (swimming pools); special events; and utility management, wastewater, water and environmental services. Work is expected to be complete by June 2028. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $17,090,690 for recurring work will be obligated on an individual task order issued during the base period. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, and seven proposals were received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62470-20-D-0009). CFM International, West Chester, Ohio, is awarded a $13,582,486 modification (P00172) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-18-C-1071). This modification exercises an option to procure one CFM56-7B27AE commercial-off-the-shelf engine for the government of the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Villaroche, France (50%); and Durham, North Carolina (50%), and is expected to be complete by April 2021. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $13,582,486 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. DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc., Chicago, Illinois, is being awarded a $9,940,010 hybrid-fixed-price, time and materials schedule task order for whole facilities maintenance at various commissaries located in the U.S. and its territories. The task order is for a one-year base period beginning July 1, 2020. The task order includes four one-year option periods. If all options are exercised, the task order will be completed June 30, 2025. Quoters were solicited on the General Services Administration eBuy website, available to 03FAC contract holders, five quotes were received. The Defense Commissary Agency, Enterprise Acquisition Division, Construction Design Branch, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (HDEC03-20-F-0028). Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc., Chicago, Illinois, is awarded a $9,632,375 hybrid-fixed- price, time and materials schedule task order for whole facilities maintenance at various commissaries located in the U.S. and its territories. The task order is for a one-year base period beginning July 1, 2020. The task order includes four one-year option periods. If all four option periods are exercised, the task order will be completed June 30, 2025. Quoters were solicited on the General Services Administration eBuy website, available to 03FAC contract holders, five quotes were received. The Defense Commissary Agency, Enterprise Acquisition Division, Construction Design Branch, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (HDEC03-20-F-0027). Nelson Refrigeration Inc., La Vista, Nebraska, is awarded an $8,840,133 hybrid-fixed-price, time and materials schedule task order for whole facilities maintenance at various commissaries located in the U.S. and its territories. The task order is for a one-year base period beginning July 1, 2020. The task order includes four one-year option periods. If all four option periods are exercised, the task order will be completed June 30, 2025. Quoters were solicited on the General Services Administration eBuy website, available to 03FAC contract holders, five quotes were received. The Defense Commissary Agency, Enterprise Acquisition Division, Construction Design Branch, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (HDEC03-20-F-0033). J&J Worldwide Services, Austin Texas, is awarded a $7,822,654 hybrid-fixed price, time and materials schedule task order for whole facilities maintenance at various commissaries located in the U.S. and its territories. The task order is for a one-year base period beginning July 1, 2020. The task order includes four one-year option periods. If all four option periods are exercised, the task order will be completed June 30, 2025. Quoters were solicited on the General Services Administration eBuy website, available to 03FAC contract holders, five quotes were received. The Defense Commissary Agency, Enterprise Acquisition Division, Construction Design Branch, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (HDEC03-20-F-0030). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2170148/source/GovDelivery/
21 avril 2020 | International, Aérospatial

DARPA awards nine new contracts to foster drone swarm technology
Nathan Strout The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has issued nine new contracts to companies developing drone swarm technologies, the agency announced April 13. Through the agency's Offensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics program, or OFFSET, it hopes to foster technology developments that will enable 250 small unmanned air or ground robots to work together in support of the war fighter. The program works in five main areas: swarm tactics, swarm autonomy, human-swarm teaming, virtual environment and physical test bed. The agency has hosted multiple swarm sprints to encourage rapid innovation in one or more of those areas. The nine awards mark the fifth such swarm sprint, with this one focused on swarm tactics and physical test beds in an urban environment. “The urban environment presents compelling challenges such as tall buildings, tight spaces, and limited sight lines,” Timothy Chung, the OFFSET program manager in DARPA's Tactical Technology Office, said in an agency news release. “Enhancing the Swarm Physical Testbeds that tackle those unique challenges is a desired goal of the OFFSET program.” Four of the participants will be tackling the swarm tactics portion of the sprint, where they will be asked to solve problems such as “disrupting the opposition's decision making, obfuscating swarm intent, updating maps of a dynamic environment, and maintaining the swarm's communications indoors.” The remaining five performers will work on the physical test bed thrust area, which includes reducing deployment times, utilizing new navigation sensors, incorporating fixed-wing aircraft into the swarm and enhancing mobility for robotic, wheeled vehicles in urban settings. Participants will incorporate their technologies into the OFFSET swarm systems architecture to demonstrate their respective solutions, with field tests taking place in December 2020. The recipients are as follows: Thrust area: Physical test bed Michigan Technological University/Michigan Tech Research Institute Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory HDT Expeditionary Systems, Inc. Sentien Robotics Texas A&M University Thrust area: Swarm tactics Michigan Technological University/Michigan Tech Research Institute Charles River Analytics, Inc. Soar Technology, Inc. Northwestern University https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2020/04/20/darpa-to-foster-urban-drone-swarm-tech-with-nine-new-contracts/
16 janvier 2020 | International, Naval

L3Harris to deliver Iver4 underwater drone to Navy
By: Chiara Vercellone WASHINGTON — The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit has selected L3Harris Technologies to provide the Navy with an underwater drone for use in expeditionary undersea missions, according to a Jan. 14 news release from the company. As part of the contract, L3Harris will deliver for testing an Iver4-900 PW unmanned undersea vehicle, as well as two field swappable modular payload sections, which, along with additional sensors, will allow the vehicle to detect, classify, localize and identify targets on the ocean floor, the release said. An earlier version of the drone was already sent to the Navy, but under this contract, the company will deliver a version modified to fit the Navy's requirements, a company spokeswoman told Defense News. She would not share the value of the contract. “The Iver4 is leading the next generation of small class UUVs,” said Daryl Slocum, vice president of unmanned maritime systems at L3Harris Technologies. “This platform has been custom-built to address the needs of the Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures and Explosive Ordnance Disposal communities.” The contract award comes as the Navy seeks to bolster its unmanned inventory. Congress recently approved the purchase of two large unmanned surface vessels for the service. In 2019, L3Harris received a contract from the University of Southern Mississippi for an older version of the underwater drone to be used by the university's school of ocean science and engineering. https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2020/01/15/l3harris-to-deliver-iver4-underwater-drone-to-us-navy

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