US Navy to buy two Ford-class aircraft carriers

Sur le même sujet

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  7 novembre 2018 | International, Terrestre

  The Army is looking to make a sports bra that also measures soldier performance

  By: Meghann Myers The Army has issued uniform items from top to bottom and inside out, except for one very important piece of clothing: a bra. Turns out, the service once took a stab at creating a tactical women's undergarment, but abandoned the idea because it didn't suit a variety of shapes and sizes. A designer at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center has taken up the cause again — however, this time adding an element of performance measurement. “So, I thought, let's kill two birds with one stone. Let's give them something that fits well and also create a platform where we can run the same tests and analysis that previously had been done on the male majority,” Ashley Cushon said in an Oct. 25 Army release. She dubbed the project BAMBI ― Biometric Algorithm Monitoring Brassiere Integration. And no, the acronym didn't come before the name. “Although BAMBI is still in its very early research stages, I wanted an innovative name that alluded to the end goal of the item ― which is to function as an integrated platform for physiological sensing specifically designed to the female soldier's biology,” Cushon told Army Times in a statement. “Most importantly, I wanted it to be an acronym that was functional and distinctive, yet relatively feminine and impactful.” While testing the prototype, soldiers will be hooked up to a Holter monitor to measure Heat Strain Index, heart rate and core temperature to predict heat stroke, exhaustion and fatigue, according to the release. NSRDEC has done these tests before, Cushon said, but could only do them on men because of the design of the vest that houses the sensors. “There are certain fit parameters that weren't accounted for when it came to the final test item and its ability to be unisex,” Cushon said. “Due to the lack of industry items that are properly suited to meet the sizing requirements of the female soldier population, we were unable to collect female data during those particular tests.” Her team will use measurements and 3-D scans taken from thousands of soldiers during 2012′s Army Anthropometry Survey to create a sports bra with proper sizing. It's not difficult to create a sensor-mounting garment, but it is a lot of work to make sure it can be worn by enough soldiers to collect significant data. “Developing a female undergarment is no simple task,” Cushon said in the release. “There's too large of a variety of body shapes and sizes to meet every need. Currently, there is no industry solution that accommodates the sizing needs of our female soldiers.” And so, few women have been able to participate in NSRDEC's push to get sensors on soldiers. “Currently, if soldiers are wearing physiological monitors in the field, they're either wearing wrist-mounted devices or some variation of a chest strap,” Cushon said. “Of the two, the chest strap is the most accurate but can cause chaffing or is otherwise not very compatible with the rest of their gear.” Using an algorithm, Natick researchers can take heart rate and core temperature data to calculate heat stress on the body, which can lead to casualties. “The long-term goal is for us to create an effective female-centric platform for introducing integrated sensing technology into the Army's effort of improving soldier and squad performance,” Cushon. Aside from health data, the Army is using sensors all over, from measuring parachute jumps to creating situational awareness for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. A woman-specific garment increases the likelihood that women can contribute to and benefit from research with wearable sensors. “Female soldiers are making invaluable contributions to our great nation, and they deserve clothing and equipment designed with them in mind,” Cushon said. https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/11/06/the-army-is-looking-to-make-a-sports-bra-that-also-measures-soldier-performance

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  26 mars 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 21, 2019

  DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Federal Resources Supply Co.,* Stevensville, Maryland (SPE8EH-19-D-0014); L.N. Curtis & Sons,* Oakland, California (SPE8EH-19-D-0015); Mallory Safety and Supply,* Longview, Washington (SPE8EH-19-D-0016); Noble Supply & Logistics,* Rockland, Massachusetts (SPE8EH-19-D-0017); Quantico Tactical Inc.,* Aberdeen, North Carolina (SPE8EH-19-D-0018); and W.S. Darley & Co.,* Itasca, Illinois (SPE8EH-19-D-0019), are sharing a maximum $985,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under solicitation SPE8EH-16-R-0001 for fire and emergency services equipment. This was a competitive acquisition with 13 offers received. These are two-year base contracts with three one-year option periods. Locations of performance are California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Washington, with a March 20, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Government Scientific Source,* Reston, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $475,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for laboratory supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with four responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Virginia, with a March 20, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-19-D-0004). SND Manufacturing,* Dallas, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $7,997,485 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Navy and Marine Corps running suit jackets. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year options. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. Location of performance is Texas, with a March 17, 2020, performance completion date. Using military services are Navy and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-5038). Viasat Inc., Carlsbad, California, has been awarded a maximum $7,133,760 firm-fixed-price contract for radio receivers for the P-8 aircraft. 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 nine-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a Dec. 19, 2019, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPRPA1-19-C-V037). NAVY General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.-Bremerton, Bremerton, Washington, is awarded a maximum value $465,150,000 cost-cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for aircraft carrier (CVN) shipyard availabilities. The primary purpose of this contract is to execute work required to support the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in accomplishing repair, maintenance, and modernization of closely scheduled maintenance availabilities, including non-nuclear boundary control efforts. This contract includes five ordering periods which, if executed, would make the maximum value of this contract $465,150,000. Work will be performed in Bremerton, Washington, and is expected to be completed by March 2024 when all five ordering periods have been executed. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $928,336 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-D-4310). BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California, is awarded a $41,895,897 firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of USS Anchorage (LPD 23) fiscal 2019 selected restricted availability. This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization, and repair of USS Anchorage. This is a “long-term” availability and was competed on a coast-wide (West Coast) basis without limiting the place of performance to the vessel's homeport. BAE will provide the facilities and human resources capable of completing, coordinating, and integrating multiple areas of ship maintenance, repair, and modernization. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $48,428,791. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by July 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) in the amount of $41,895,901 will be obligated at time of award, and contract funds in the amount of $34,002,448 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competition via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received in response to Solicitation No. N00024-18-R-4411. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-4407). United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Engines, Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded $18,434,122 for modification P00003 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-18-C-1021). This modification provides additional funding for F-135 long lead items in support of non-U.S. Department of Defense (U.S. DoD) participants. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (67 percent); Indianapolis, Indiana (26.5 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Non-U.S. DoD participant funds in the amount of $18,434,122 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. JJLL LLC, Austin, Texas, is awarded $18,353,983 under a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N62742-17-C-3580) to exercise the second option period to provide services for Philippines operations support for the Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and Pacific Command Augmentation Team, the Republic of Philippines. The work to be performed provides services for management and administration; commercial telephones, cable television and other services; security; airfield facilities; passenger terminal and cargo handling; ordnance; material management; supply services; morale, welfare and recreation support; galley; billeting; facility management; facility investment; facility services; utilities; base support vehicles and equipment; and environmental services. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $99,551,165. Work will be performed in the Republic of the Philippines, and this option period is from April 2019 to March 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $15,370,311 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE L3 Technologies Systems Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded a $131,780,189 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Cockpit-Selectable Height-of-Burst Sensor. This contract provides for the replacement of the current DSU-33D/B height-of-burst sensor and will address obsolescence issues, improve performance and add functionality. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is expected to be complete by April 2027. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $513,244 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8213-19-D-0006). General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, Calif., has been awarded a not-to-exceed $123,293,911 undefinitized contract action for MQ-9 Block 5 procurement. This contract provides for four MQ-9 unmanned air vehicles, four Mobile Ground Control Stations, spares, and support equipment. Work will be performed predominately in Poway, California, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the Netherlands. Foreign military sales funds in amount of $38,928,607 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-19-F-2310). MAG Aerospace, Newport News, Virginia, has been awarded an $11,386,672 predominantly firm-fixed-price contract for the UK MQ-9 Reaper Operations Center. This contract provides for ongoing sustainment, management, development and network administration of the United Kingdom MQ-9 Reaper Operations Centers. Work will be performed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada; and Royal Air Force Waddington, United Kingdom, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition and involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the government of the United Kingdom. Air Force Life Cycle Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-19-C-2002). Call Henry Inc., Titusville, Florida, has been awarded a $10,200,000 predominantly fixed-price incentive modification (P00051) to previously awarded contract FA4610-18-C-0005 for the exercise of Option Year Two. This modification provides management and support, maintenance and repair, operations, other services and minor alteration related to launch operations support. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $55,975,903. Work will be performed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award. The 30th Contracting Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, California, is the contracting activity. ARMY Whitesell-Green Inc., Pensacola, Florida, was awarded a $26,376,465 firm-fixed-price contract to design and build student dorms. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, with an estimated completion date of March 21, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $26,376,465 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-19-C-0012). SAP National Security Services Inc., Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $16,014,307 time and materials contract for consulting services. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Virginia; and Aberdeen, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of March 21, 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $4,011,556 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-19-C-0020). Valiant Global Defense Services Inc., San Diego, California, was awarded an $8,717,022 modification (P00086) to contract W91QVN-14-C-0033 for operations support services for the Korea Battlefield Simulation Center. Work will be performed in Seoul, South Korea, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,474,936 were obligated at the time of the award. 411th Combat Support Battalion, Korea, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1792112/

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  30 octobre 2020 | International, Naval

  Marine Hovercraft From Textron Flawed by Propeller Cracks

  By Anthony Capaccio The U.S. Navy accepted delivery this year from Textron Inc. of the first two in a new generation of hovercraft for the Marines despite “extensive propeller blade cracking” that will require a redesign, according to service officials and documents. The previously undisclosed problem was discovered during mid-2019 tests of the $5.7 billion program to build new air-cushion hovercraft to move Marines from ship to shore. Even with the cracks unresolved, the Navy awarded Textron a $386 million contract for 15 more hovercraft that Congress had approved for fiscal years 2017-2020. But ordering those vessels was held up pending resolution of other technical problems, including issues with the main gearbox, drive-train integration and lubrication system, navigation electronics and bearings. The first two deliveries, in February and August, were each three years late. Hovercraft “have always been important for supporting the Marine Corps' ability to land forces ashore, and in coming years they are to form part of the toolkit for implementing the Corps' new wartime island-hopping strategy for countering Chinese military forces in the Western Pacific,” Ronald O'Rourke, an analyst with the Congressional Research Service, said. Taking delivery of the first two hovercraft allowed the Navy to begin initial operator training and “to move into the post-delivery test and trials period as we identify long-term” solutions for vessels in production, Navy spokeswoman Colleen O'Rourke said in an email. She described the flaws as “micro-cracks” in the composite structure of the blades that don't pose a safety hazard or “an immediate impediment” to operations. “The program is the first major naval acquisition program in more than 15 years to be designed ‘in-house' by the Navy rather than by private industry,” according to a Navy fact sheet. Reinforced Blades O'Rourke said the Navy, Providence, Rhode Island-based Textron and subcontractor Dowty Propellers, a division of General Electric Co., conducted a study “to understand the underlying cause and mechanisms to improve propeller blade performance.” That led to a near-term plan to provide “reinforced blade sets that will deliver later this year” while production and post-delivery testing continue and “blade redesign efforts are underway,” she said. She added that the eventual solution for the 73 hovercraft, known as Ship to Shore Connectors, “is not anticipated to result in any significant program cost increases.” Scott Donnelly, Textron's chief executive officer, told analysts Thursday on an earnings call that the program is “steadily improving” and “we're starting to feel good about that.” He said the contractor has “started to get more craft deliveries, the production lines are starting to run better, we're starting to get supply parts coming in at the right time” so “that's a program that obviously is going to start to be a contributor to the profit in the rest of the businesses.” Textron rose 6.6% to $34.21 at 10:24 a.m, the most since July 30, after third-quarter earnings per share from continuing operations beat the average analyst estimate. Currently, 12 additional hovercraft are under construction in Slidell, Louisiana. The vessels will replace the aging Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicle that became operational in 1986. The Ship-to-Shore Connector is a “franchise program” for Textron's Marine & Land Systems division, “which could more than double in revenue over the coming years as production accelerates,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Douglas Rothacker said in an email. Textron reports third-quarter earnings Thursday. Procurement funding is projected to soar from $20 million the Navy requested for this fiscal year to almost $380 million by 2025, according to program documents. The Navy's fiscal 2021 Selected Acquisition Report, obtained by Bloomberg News, said initial “Builders Trial” testing in mid-2019 uncovered “technical concerns with the propeller blades.” This resulted in a decision to divide the subsequent formal acceptance test into two events -- “unloaded” and “loaded,” which simulated carrying a 74-ton M1 tank. “After the loaded builders test, craft inspection revealed extensive propeller blade cracking,” it said. “To avoid additional blade loss,” the first vessel's acceptance tests “were conducted unloaded.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-29/marines-combat-hovercraft-from-textron-have-cracked-propellers