Nouvelles

Gareth Jennings The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has contracted Lockheed Martin to conduct aircraft carrier trials of its F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) for potential international operators. The award, announced on 24 September, is part of a wider USD245.5 million developmental support contract for DoD and international operators of the F-35 that will run through to March 2022. “[Additional to the wider developmental support work], this modification provides unique sea trials on aircraft carriers for non-DoD participants,” the contract notification stated. Though no further details pertaining to the aircraft carrier trials were disclosed, they are likely to relate to the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B variant of the aircraft. To date, the US Marine Corps (USMC), United Kingdom Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Air Force (RAF), and Italian Navy (Marina Militare Italiana: MMI) have procured the F-35B to equip their respective amphibious assault ships and aircraft carriers, while current F-35A customers, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Spain, and South Korea, have all expressed interest in the STOVL jet's carrier capabilities over recent years, as had Turkey before it was disbarred from the wider JSF programme. Australia was reporting its interest in the F-35B for the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault ships as far back as 2014. The two 27,800-tonne LHDs – HMAS Canberra and HMAS https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/lockheed-martin-to-perform-unique-sea-trials-of-f-35-for-non-us-customers

This low-cost unmanned demonstrator could give larger drones, such as the MQ-9 Reaper, game-changing new capabilities. BY JOSEPH TREVITHICK General Atomics says that it has conducted captive carry tests of its Sparrowhawk, a new small drone that will be able to be launched and recovered in flight. The company says that Sparrowhawk is a demonstrator and was developed specifically to work with other larger unmanned aircraft that it builds, such as the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle, offering an important stepping stone to all-new capabilities on those existing designs, as well as future ones. The California-based drone's maker said the captive carry tests, in which the drone was carried aloft by an MQ-9, but was not launched, took place between Sept. 16 and 17, 2020. This kind of testing is done to gather data on how a system, as well as the launch platform in many cases, handles the stress of flight. A picture of Sparrowhawk that General Atomics released to The War Zone shows that the drone features a large main wing that is stowed parallel with the main fuselage before launch, after which is swings 90 degrees into a deployed position. The drone also has a v-tail and there appears to be at least one air intake for the propulsion system on the right side. It's unclear what type of powerplant powers the air-launched drone. Sparrowhawk concept art that General Atomics posted on Twitter earlier in September showed a similar configuration, but with two fans at the rear of the fuselage. The company has said that the small drone will offer a reduced acoustic signature, as well as a visual one, compared to its larger designs, such as the MQ-9. It's not clear yet how General Atomics is planning to recover Sparrowhawk in flight and whether unmanned platforms, such as the MQ-9, will be able to carry out this task. "Sparrowhawk iterates on the DARPA Gremlins Program," according to the company. Dynetics, now a subsidiary of Leidos, beat out General Atomics, among others, to build the experimental Gremlins drone, now also designed the X-61A, as well as the airborne recovery system, which is presently mounted on a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. You can read more about Gremlins and the recovery concept, which includes the drone catching the end of a cable in flight and then being reeled in, in these past War Zone pieces. It's hard overstate how significant Sparrowhawk, and any further developments it spurs, could be for both General Atomics existing product lines and future unmanned designs. The ability of a large drone to launch smaller ones, all potentially working together semi-autonomously or even as part of a fully-autonomous swarm, could open the door to all kinds of new capabilities, while reducing the risk to the launch platform. “Sparrowhawk extends and multiplies MQ-9-based sensors, reduces manpower and increases ISR [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] coverage,” David Alexander, President of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), said in a statement. Beyond providing far more flexible ISR over a larger geographical area, Sparrowhawks may also provide valuable stand-in electronic warfare jamming or even act as decoys to blind and confuse enemy integrated air defenses, which could drastically increase the survivability of the launch platform and even help clear a path for other manned and unmanned aircraft, as well as stand-off missile strikes. Sparrowhawks could potentially carry out their own kinetic strikes if they can be equipped with traditional explosive warheads, although there is no official information yet if arming these unmanned aircraft is a possibility. If it is indeed the case, these drones might able to act as loitering munitions, which would be able to conduct persistent surveillance of designated areas before then carrying out strikes on targets of opportunity or return for recovery and re-launch. General Atomics says that Sparrowhawk is intended to be an attritable platform, as well, despite being designed to be recovered and reused. Attritable designs are those that are low cost enough that commanders can employ them in higher-risk environments that would be off-limits to more expensive exquisite types. “With attritableONE technology that is survivable and precise, Sparrowhawk is a true game changer,” GS-ASI's President Alexander said. This program is part of the U.S. Air Force's expansive Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) program, which is seeking to develop a host of new highly-networked technologies that will expand the service's ability to gather information and then rapidly analyze and disseminate it, including targeting data that can then be passed to other U.S. military units in the air, on the ground, and at sea. As the name implies, attritableONE is focused on developing new attritable unmanned aircraft. In a recent major demonstration of various ABMS capabilities and associated technologies, an MQ-1C Gray Eagle launched an Area-I Air-Launched, Tube-Integrated, Unmanned System 600 (ALTIUS 600) small drone, acting as an attritableONE testbed. The ALTIUS 600 then positively identified a target that the MQ-1C's onboard sensors had first identified. The U.S. Army has also been experimenting with the ALTIUS 600 as part of its Air Launch Effects (ALE) effort, which also envisions fleets of small drones performing various ISR, deception, and other tasks, which you can read about in more detail in this past War Zone piece. During the recent ABMS demonstration, a General Atomics MQ-9 also carried a Rosetta Echo Advanced Payload (REAP) communications and datalink pod, which includes technology developed under gatewayONE and meshONE, which are also part of the broader ABMS effort. "The REAP pod has been developed under contract from the Air National Guard and demonstrated a communications relay capability for both Link-16 and the Silvus meshONE network providing seamless connectivity between air and ground participants in the demonstration area," according to General Atomics. All told, the Sparrowhawk looks to be an extremely exciting development. It also comes at a time when the U.S. Air Force, the largest operator of MQ-9s, is looking to stop buying those drones due to concerns that they are simply too vulnerable to be useful during a high-end conflict. The ability of Reapers to launch and recover smaller, attritable drones and, by extension, perform a wider array of tasks over a larger geographical area, even in contested environments, could breathe new life into that design. We at The War Zone are very eager to learn more about Sparrowhawk and what it can do. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36747/general-atomics-sparrowhawk-drone-launched-drone-breaks-cover

Tony Osborne On Sept. 27, Switzerland went to to the polls for the second time in six years in a referendum to decide the future of the country's fighter fleet. In 2014, the Swiss populace voted down plans for Saab's JAS 39 Gripen to replace the Northrop Grumman F-5 Tiger. This time, the question was more binary, asking simply whether the country should procure new fighters—a single fleet that would replace both fleets of 30 C/D-model F/A-18 Hornets and 26 Northrop F-5 Tigers. The government-backed “Security Yes” campaign won by the finest of margins, securing 50.1% of the vote. Their winning message said that voting against the proposals could leave the country's airspace unprotected beginning in 2030, when both the Hornets and Tigers will reach the end of their useful lives. The “No to New Fighter Jets” campaign did not rule out the need for an air defense capability but argued that a smaller and lighter aircraft would have achieved the desired capability at a lower cost and in a more environmentally and noise-friendly way. There is now a CHF6 billion budget for a new fighter and a type selection is expected in 2021. This gallery presents the fighters proposed for the Swiss requirement and the aircraft they will go on to replace. https://aviationweek.com/special-topics/air-dominance/switzerland-decides

Une délégation de la Commission de la défense nationale et des forces armées de l'Assemblée nationale, conduite par Françoise Dumas, présidente de la Commission, s'est rendue au Centre Spatial de Toulouse (CST) pour y constater comment la stratégie spatiale de défense est concrètement déclinée sur le terrain. Sous l'impulsion de la ministre des Armées, Florence Parly, le CST accueille en effet le Commandement de l'Espace (CDE) « pour profiter de toutes les synergies possibles avec le CNES ». Une trentaine de militaires du CDE sont d'ores et déjà déployés au CST « dans le cadre d'une montée en puissance qui devrait atteindre un effectif d'environ 400 personnes à l'horizon 2025 ». Air & Cosmos du 25 septembre 2020

AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $2,239,707,532 fixed-price-incentive, firm-target contract for the Small Diameter Bomb Increment I weapon program. This contract provides for a guaranteed minimum Lot 15 award and a five-year ordering period for Small Diameter Bomb Increment I, focused lethality munition, containers and carriages for the Department of Defense and Foreign Military Sales partner nations. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be complete by September 2027. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales to Australia, Belgium, Israel, Japan, Korea, Netherlands and Norway. This award is result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2018, 2019, and 2020 missile procurement funds in the amount of $247,508,960 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-D-0001). LATA-CTI Environmental Services LLC, Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been awarded a ceiling $60,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) environmental construction optimization services to support the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Installations Directorate (AFCEC/CIB). This contract provides BRAC environmental remediation activities at BRAC installations. These performance-based remediation efforts support the AFCEC BRAC mission and enhance BRAC program capabilities within AFCEC/CIB. The requirements support a variety of environmental restoration services and construction necessary to maintain regulatory selected remedies, implement optimization to enhance remedial progress and advance sites to completion in a cost-effective manner. The efforts will be executed in accordance with technical and regulatory requirements to ensure protection of human health and the environment. Work will be performed at Midwest consolidated continental U.S. locations of former Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois; General Mitchell Air Reserve Station (ARS), Wisconsin; Gentile ARS, Ohio; Grissom Air Reserve Base (ARB), Indiana; K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan; Newark, O'Hare ARS, Illinois; Richards-Gebaur ARS, Missouri; Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio; and Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan. The work is expected to be completed Sept. 23, 2030. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and four offers were received. Fiscal 2020 BRAC funds in the amount of $2,446,546 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Installation Contracting Center Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA8903-20-D-0004). Mass Virtual Inc., Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $59,272,634 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for virtual training. This contract provides for aircraft familiarization and real-time task manual instruction, simulating real workspaces for occupational safety and health, educational and training purposes. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 24, 2026. This award is the result of a sole-source award to an Other Transaction for Prototype awarded in September 2020. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8501-20-D-0002). Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, has been awarded a $46,302,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the manufacturing of carbon-carbon (C-C) composites for hypersonic applications initiative to create a stronger, broader supply base for C-C composites positioned to meet current and future Department of Defense hypersonic systems' requirements. Technical efforts under the scope of this initiative will be structured to develop C-C composite manufacturing technologies that enable the production at higher rates and quality and at reduced cost and schedule. Work will be performed at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 25, 2027. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $6,318,388 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-20-D-5703). A-Tech Corp., Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been awarded a $37,229,276 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Space Logistics Assembly Disassembly Experiment with Swarms program. This contract provides for on-orbit spacecraft assembly, servicing and swarm operations capabilities. Work will be performed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 29, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $606,634 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, is the contracting activity (FA9453-20-C-0031). Vectrus Systems Corp., Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded a $13,323,336 firm-fixed-price modification (A00013) exercising Option Year Two on contract FA3002-18-C-0003 for a base maintenance service contract. The contractor shall provide all labor, supplies, materials, parts, supervision and other items or services necessary to perform the management and operation of services and civil engineering. Work will be performed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; Frederick Airfield, Oklahoma; and Sheppard Annex, Lake Texoma, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount will be obligated on Oct. 1, 2020, if funds are available. The 82nd Contracting Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., doing business as Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, San Diego, California, is being awarded an $11,040,000 modification (P00048) to previously awarded contract FA8726-18-C-0005. This modification provides for installation, operation and maintenance of a Battlefield Airborne Communications Node Remote Tactical Common Data Link ground site at two sites. Work will be performed at San Diego, California, and overseas locations, which are classified, and is expected to be complete by Jan, 23, 2021. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $587,283,244. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,520,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity. Connected Alliance LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, has been awarded a $10,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract in support of operationalizing the sustainment strategy framework to materially improve the sustainment of Air Force weapon systems. The outputs from this support would help refine policy and produce requirements documents and/or performance work statements and concepts of operations that would form the basis of requirements for organic development or procurement solicitations. Work will be predominantly performed in Atlanta, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 24, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $750,000 are being obligated for the first task order at the time of award. The Air Force District of Washington Contracting Directorate, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity (FA7014-20-D-0012). Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, has been awarded an $8,696,785 cost-reimbursement contract for Design.R – artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted cyber physical systems design software prototype. This contract provides for developing an AI co-designer composed of design space construction, design composition and design space exploration that will interoperate seamlessly to enable a tightly integrated design process. Work will be performed in Nashville, Tennessee; Edmonton Alberta, Canada; and Szeged, Hungary, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 24, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 25 offers were received. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $821,814 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-20-C-0537). Mass Virtual Inc., Orlando, Florida, has been awarded an estimated $7,790,787 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for the Air Force Education Training Command and 461st Air Force Maintenance Squadron Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar system. This contract provides for virtual training to include aircraft familiarization and real-time task manual instruction. The system simulates real workspaces for occupational safety and health, educational and training purposes. It will be used to provide aircraft maintainers with a virtual environment where they can develop and improve their skills on various aircraft platforms. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated on the first order at the time of award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8501-20-D-0002). Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $7,239,342 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Air Taxi (hybrid or electric) AeroNautical Simulation Hardware/Software Prototype. This contract provides for the development of challenge problems that serve as surrogate/proxy of Department of Defense relevant design problems, development of systems specifications, requirements and evaluation metrics of challenge problems. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 24, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 25 offers were received. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,135,049 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-20-C-0541). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Advantaged Solutions Inc.,** Washington, D.C., (SP3300-20-D-0021, $265,000,000); and United Defense International LLC,** Frederick, Maryland, (SP3300-20-D-0023, $265,000,000), have each been awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under solicitation SP3300-20-R-5002 for logistics modernization integration support. These were competitive acquisitions with two responses received. These are five-year contracts with no option periods. Locations of performance are inside and outside the continental U.S., with a Sept. 23, 2025, ordering period end date. Using customer is Defense Logistics Agency Distribution. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 non-automated data process capital equipment funds, sustainment, restoration and modernization capital facilities funds, automated data process capital funds and working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. Sirona Dental Inc., Long Island City, New York, has been awarded a maximum $48,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency electronic catalog. This was a competitive acquisition with 131 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New York, with a Sept. 23, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-20-D-0048). Arbor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, has been awarded a maximum $43,012,959 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for various pharmaceutical products. This was a competitive acquisition with 19 responses received. This is a one-year base contract with nine one-year option periods. Location of performance is Georgia, with a Sept. 23, 2021, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 Warstopper funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D0-20-D-0016). ZOLL Medical Corp., Chelmsford, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $39,603,940 modification (P00002) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE2D1-19-D-0034) with four one-year option periods for airworthy suction apparatuses and accessories. This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with a Sept. 24, 2021, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Department of Health Affairs. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 Warstopper funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. General Electric Co., Lynn, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $38,186,823 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-20-F-RD02) against five-year long-term contract SPE4AX-19-D-9400 for T-64 engine combustion chambers. 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 33-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with a June 30, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Anbex Inc., Williamsburg, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $35,007,213 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for various pharmaceutical products. This was a competitive acquisition with 16 responses received. This is a one-year base contract with nine one-year option periods. Location of performance is Virginia, with a Sept. 26, 2021, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 Warstopper funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D0-20-D-0020). Parker Hannifin Corp., Irvine, California, has been awarded a maximum $29,360,832 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for hydraulic manifolds. This was a limited source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 (a)(2). This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a Sept. 30, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA1-20-D-0076). General Electric Co., Lynn, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $15,188,888 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-20-F-RD01) against five-year long-term contract SPE4AX-19-D-9400 for T-64 engine exhaust frames. 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 33-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with a June 30, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Apiary Medical Inc., Lakewood, Colorado, has been awarded a maximum $15,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical and surgical supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with 41 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Colorado, with a Sept. 23, 2025, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-20-D-0024). Breeze-Eastern LLC, Whippany, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $10,329,045 firm-fixed-price, requirements contract for aircraft controllers. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New Jersey, with a Sept. 22, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. The type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA1-20-D-0086). General Electric Co., Lynn, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $10,080,191 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-20-F-RD00) against five-year long-term contract SPE4AX-19-D-9400 for T-64 engine nozzle turbines. 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 33-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with a June 30, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thomas Instrument Inc.,* doing business as Thomas Instrument, Brookshire, Texas, has been awarded an estimated $9,979,661 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, requirements contract for aircraft machine gun housing units. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Texas, with a Sept. 23, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Warner Robins, Georgia (SPRWA1-20-D-0015). General Electric Co., Lynn, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $8,896,720 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-20-F-RD03) against five-year long-term contract SPE4AX-19-D-9400 for T-64 engine compressor casings. 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 33-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Massachusetts, with a June 20, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $245,449,719 modification (P00006) to definitize previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee undefinitized contract N00019-20-C-0037. This modification extends services and adds hours in support of engineering, maintenance, logistics manpower and material support to continue to develop, sustain and produce software builds as well as carryout developmental flight tests for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft in support of the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants. Additionally, this modification provides unique sea trials on aircraft carriers for non-DoD participants. Work will be performed at Edwards Air Force Base, California (40%); Patuxent River, Maryland (39%); and Fort Worth, Texas (21%), and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,673,158; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $2,673,157; fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $373,471; fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $373,470; and non-DoD participant funds in the amount of $7,472,589 will be obligated at time of award, $746,941 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded a $197,035,852 modification (P00004) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract N61340-19-D-0004. This modification exercises an option to continue to provide intermediate and depot level maintenance, logistics and engineering support for the F405-RR-401 engine and the 096 MKII Gas Turbine Starter System. Work will be performed in Kingsville, Texas (45%); Meridian, Mississippi (43%); Pensacola, Florida (11%); and Patuxent River, Maryland (1%), and is expected to be completed in September 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated against individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity. KBR Wyle Services LLC, Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded a $92,584,262 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides in-service engineering activity and production services for various Navy identification and data link systems in support of Combat Integration and Identification Systems. Specifically, this contract provides logistics, engineering; technical management support; characterization and integration of system and sub-system components; development of training curriculum, training materials, and delivery of formal training programs; supply system management and material control; testing and repair of counter unmanned air systems; and laboratory maintenance and quality assurance. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (75%); and Lexington Park, Maryland (25%), and is expected to be completed in September 2025. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; three offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-20-D-0121). Physical Optics Corp.,* Torrance, California, is awarded an $84,917,868 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract procures Advanced Data Transfer System components for installations on the UH-1Y, AH-1Z, MH-60R, MH-60S, H-53K platforms for the Navy, Air Force and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Torrance, California, and is expected to be completed in September 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(5). The Naval Air Warfare Center Aviation Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-20-D-0032). Raytheon Co., Marlborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $69,906,977 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract containing cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursement and firm-fixed-price provisions. This contract provides for test, inspection, evaluation and restoration of submarine components, known as Lowest Repairable Units. Work will be performed in Largo, Florida (75%); and Marlborough, Massachusetts (25%), and is expected to be completed in September 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,035,711 will be obligated on the first delivery order and expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) - only one or limited number of sources and no other suppliers will satisfy the requirements. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, Rhode Island, is the contracting activity (N66604-20-D-Q000). DPR-RQ Construction LLC, Redwood City, California, is awarded a $69,395,704 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of a consolidated information center at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The work to be performed provides for the construction of a low-rise consolidated information center with concrete masonry unit walls, structural steel framing, reinforced concrete foundation and floors and a standing seam metal roof. The facility will include battalion level operations center spaces, administrative offices, academic instruction classrooms and management and support spaces. The contract is incrementally funded with the first increment of $50,658,864 being allocated at the time of award. The second increment will be funded in fiscal 2021 at $18,736,840. Work will be performed in Camp Pendleton, California, and is expected to be completed by January 2024. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $50,658,864 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Beta.SAM.gov website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-20-C-0055). W.G. Yates and Sons Construction Co., San Antonio, Texas, is awarded a $62,494,500 firm-fixed-price contract for facility construction at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. The contract also contains three unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase the cumulative contract value to $66,399,664. The work to be performed consists of two facilities, a new aircraft component repair shop to house rotary wing aircraft component rebuild activities and infrastructure and an administrative headquarters office building. The options, if exercised, provide for the furniture, fixtures, equipment and audio visual packages for the facilities. Work will be performed in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it is expected to be completed by March 2023. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Army) contract funds in the amount of $62,494,500 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-20-C-0062). Virginia Electric and Power Co., doing business as Dominion Energy of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, is awarded a $52,700,000 firm-fixed-price task order (N40080-20-F-9952) under General Services Administration area wide public utility contract 47PA04-18-D-0072 for the implementation of cost-effective energy conservation (ECM) measures at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The ECM work to be performed includes advanced meter upgrades, energy management control systems and retro commissioning and utility account management services. Work will be performed in Quantico, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by March 2045. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $10,319,692 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One proposal was received for this task order. This was a sole-source contract to Dominion Energy of Virginia pursuant to Section 2801 of Public Law 102-484 amended 10 U.S. Code Section 2865, subsequently amended, renumbered and codified as 10 U.S. Code Section 2913 (d) for energy management services. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity (N40080-20-F-9952). AECOM Technical Services Inc., Los Angeles, California, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $45,000,000 for professional architectural and engineering services in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast area of responsibility (AOR). An initial task order is awarded at $6,553,567 to prepare a construction contract package to build a nuclear regional maintenance facility at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. The work to be performed provides for preparation of professional architectural and engineering services for preparation of design-bid-build documents and design-build request for proposals for various project types within the NAVFAC Southeast AOR. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by April 2022. All work on this contract will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps installations in the NAVFAC Southeast AOR including, but not limited to Florida (20%); Georgia (17%); South Carolina (15%); Louisiana (10%); Mississippi (10%); Texas (10%); Andros Island, Bahamas (5%); Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (5%); Tennessee (3%); Alabama (1%); Arkansas (1%); Kansas (1%); Missouri (1%); and Oklahoma (1%), and is expected to be completed by August 2025. Fiscal 2020 military construction (MILCON) (Navy) design contract funds in the amount of $6,553,567 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by operations and maintenance (Navy); and MILCON (Navy). This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 13 proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-20-D-0052). AC Lopez Construction Inc.,* Oceanside, California, is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum amount of $30,000,000 for road paving work at various locations within Naval Base Coronado, California; Naval Base Point Loma, California; Naval Base San Diego, California; and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. The work to be performed provides for the minimal design, installation, supervision, equipment, material, labor for new work, additions, alterations, maintenance and repairs of road paving at various government installations located within Naval Base Coronado; Naval Base Point Loma; Naval Base San Diego; and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. No task orders are being issued at this time. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of September 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (O&M,N) contract funds in the amount of $2,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); O&M,N; and O&M (Marine Corps). This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website with 12 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-20-D-1121). Green Clover Services Inc.,* Yigo, Guam, is awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum amount of $19,540,320 for an equipment – corrosion, surveillance, abatement, and repair (E-CSAR) program. The work to be performed is to establish an E-CSAR program for all civil engineering support equipment, civil engineer end items, material handling equipment, weight handling equipment and support vehicles located at Naval Base Guam, Guam. The E-CSAR program includes tasks related to corrosion surveillance, corrosion abatement and corrosion repair of naval construction and support equipment assigned to Naval Expeditionary Forces in Guam. An initial task order is being awarded for corrosion surveillance services for equipment assigned to Naval Expeditionary Forces located at Naval Base Guam. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by September 2021. All work on this contract will be performed in Yigo, Guam; and Naval Base Guam. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of September 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (O&M,N) contract funds will be obligated on the initial task order and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be funded by fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2025 O&M,N contract funds. This contract was competitively procured via the System for Award Management website with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-D-2265). IAP Worldwide Services Inc., Cape Canaveral, Florida, is awarded a $17,908,406 modification (P00069) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable contract N00019-15-C-0120. This modification increases the contract value and provides additional funding for operational and depot spare parts and inventory replenishment in support of the E-6B Take Charge and Move Out and Airborne Command Post aircraft. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (70%); Patuxent River, Maryland (10%); Bellevue, Nebraska (10%); and Fairfield, California (10%), and is expected to be completed in November 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $17,610,513; and fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $297,893 will be obligated at time of award, $17,610,513 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded an $11,650,000 firm-fixed-price order N68335-20-F-0723 against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-16-G-0001 for procurement of weapon replaceable assemblies and shop replaceable assemblies test requirements documents, or equivalent, for the development of F/A-18 E/F Infrared Search and Track System operational test program sets on the electronic consolidated automated support system. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in April 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,650,000 will be obligated at time of award, none 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. MAC GC Electric Inc.,* San Diego, California, is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum amount of $9,000,000 for electrical work at various locations within Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) Bridgeport; Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) Twentynine Palms; Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Barstow; and Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, California. The work to be performed provides for the minimal design, installation, supervision, equipment, material, labor and all means necessary for new work, additions, alterations, maintenance and repairs of electrical systems at various government installations located within Marine Corps MWTC, Bridgeport; MCAGCC, Twentynine Palms; MCLB, Barstow; and NAWS, China Lake, California. No task orders are being issued at this time. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of September 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (O&M,N) contract funds in the amount of $2,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); O&M,N; and O&M (Marine Corps). This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website with eight proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-20-D-1131). Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded an $8,606,952 modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00019-17-C-0081. This modification is for the procurement of four production marine turbine engines for the Landing Craft, Air Cushion 100 Class craft. This procurement is in support of the Ship to Shore Connector program. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed by September 2022. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $8,606,952 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity working in conjunction with the Naval Air Systems Command. Amentum Services Inc., Germantown, Maryland, is awarded a $7,474,906 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N64267-20-C-0058 to increase the level of effort for operations, maintenance, engineering and management services in support of Combined Tactical Training Range systems and equipment. Work will be performed in Fallon, Nevada (30%); Havelock, North Carolina (15%); Virginia Beach, Virginia (14%); Yuma, Arizona (14%); Altoona, Florida (5%); Beaufort, South Carolina (4%); Key West, Florida (4%); Manns Harbor, North Carolina (3%); Jacksonville, Florida (3%); Whidbey Island, Washington (3%); El Centro, California (2%); Miramar, California (2%); and Lemoore, California (1%). Work is expected to be complete by October 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,512,109 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, Norco, California, is the contracting activity. ARMY BAE Systems Ordnance System, Kingsport, Tennessee, was awarded a $144,345,776 modification (P00728) to contract DAAA09-98-E-0006 to construct a new weak acetic acid recovery process facility and associated tank farm at Holston Army Ammunition Plant. Work will be performed in Kingsport, Tennessee, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2023. Fiscal 2020 procurement of ammunition, Army funds in the amount of $144,345,776 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC, Plymouth, Minnesota, was awarded a $37,669,772 firm-fixed-price contract to buy long lead items for the production of XM813 Cannons for the Stryker Medium Caliber Weapon System 30mm Lethality Upgrade program. 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 Sept. 24, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-D-0108). Watterson Construction Co., Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded a $36,255,000 firm-fixed-price contract for repair of Building 1001 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, with an estimated completion date of July 27, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $36,255,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-20-C-0022). MW Builders Inc., Pflugerville, Texas, was awarded a $23,377,000 firm-fixed-price contract for renovating barracks. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work will be performed at Fort Riley, Kansas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $23,377,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-20-C-4013). Blinderman Construction Co. Inc., Chicago, Illinois, was awarded a $21,442,125 firm-fixed-price contract for full restoration of an Army Reserve Center. Bids were solicited via the internet with 10 received. Work will be performed in Charlotte, North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of July 26, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance, Army Reserve funds in the amount of $21,442,125 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-20-C-0048). Patriot Construction LLC, Dunkirk, Maryland, was awarded a $20,438,870 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of an HC-130J general maintenance hangar at Patrick Air Force Base. Bids were solicited via the internet with 11 received. Work will be performed at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, with an estimated completion date of June 26, 2022. Fiscal 2016 and 2019 military construction, defense-wide funds in the amount of $v were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-20-C-0050). Westat Inc., Rockville, Maryland, was awarded a $14,139,573 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development of an investigational new drug sponsor for the performance of good-clinical-practice compliant clinical trials leading to a new indication for valproic acid for the treatment of patients with significant hemorrhage. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Rockville, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 24, 2023. Fiscal 2020 Defense Health Program funds in the amount of $3,550,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W81XWH-20-C-0122). Eastern Construction & Electric Inc.,* Wrightstown, New Jersey, was awarded a $12,851,000 firm-fixed-price contract for full facility restoration of Barracks Building 5509 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Bids were solicited via the internet with 13 received. Work will be performed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 24, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army Reserve funds in the amount of $12,851,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-20-C-0046). Garco Construction Inc., Spokane, Washington, was awarded a $12,230,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, Command/Control Mission Support facility at Fairchild Air Force Base. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Sunnyside, Washington, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 17, 2022. Fiscal 2020 military construction, defense-wide funds in the amount of $12,230,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle, Washington, is the contracting activity (W912DW-20-C-0015). Gate Industries,* Torrance, California, was awarded an $11,879,160 firm-fixed-price contract for spare parts for M1 Abrams Family of Vehicles. Bids were solicited via the internet with 10 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 25, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-D-0101). Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, Oak Brook, Illinois, was awarded a $10,598,625 firm-fixed-price contract for shore protection and beach renourishment in Brevard County, Florida. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Brevard, Florida, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,598,625 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (W912EP-20-C-0018). Mosaic Health LLC,* Miami, Florida, was awarded a $9,920,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the next-generation portable volume ventilator field system. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2025. U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W81XWH-20-D-0067). Tecmotiv Inc.,* Niagara Falls, New York, was awarded an $8,838,198 firm-fixed-price contract for the repair kit, diesel engine to support the M88A2 Hercules engine. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Niagara Falls, New York, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 22, 2021. Fiscal 2020 Army working capital funds in the amount of $8,838,198 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-C-0229). Cecos Group LLC,* Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded a $7,815,488 contract to build a new barge pier and small-craft berthing facility. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Concord, California, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 23, 2021. Fiscal 2020 military construction, Army funds in the amount of $7,815,488 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento, California, is the contracting activity (W91238-20-C-0029). AJ Commercial Services Inc., doing business as ASC Paving,* San Antonio, Texas, was awarded a $7,448,300 firm-fixed-price contract to construct new parking and widen existing road access in the vicinity of the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center on Lackland Air Force Base. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, with an estimated completion date of March 18, 2022. Fiscal 2016 military construction, defense-wide funds in the amount of $7,448,300 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-20-C-0049). MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Raytheon Missile and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $9,790,653, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to mature a non-kinetic defense capability, accelerate lethality analysis and procure long lead items for a potential Microwave Technology Testbed project that evolves the High Power Microwave concept development acquired under the Hypersonic Defense Weapon Systems broad agency announcement HQ0147-18-S-0001 and competitively awarded contracts HQ0147-18-C-6516 and HQ0147-19-C-6561. The effort will include refinement of baseline designs, advanced technology insertion evaluation and test planning and preparation to support potential future phases for integration of a Missile Defense Agency Microwave Testbed Technology project. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be complete by December 2021. This is a sole-source contract award. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $9,790,653 are being obligated at the time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the contracting activity (HQ0860-20-C-0010). *Small business **Small disadvantaged business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2360802/

Jen Judson WASHINGTON ― Boeing has assembled a team with General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems and Aerojet Rocketdyne to bid to build the Missile Defense Agency's Next Generation Interceptor (NGI). The agency decided last year to scrap its plans to redesign the kill vehicle of its current Ground-Based Interceptors (GBI) that is part of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system designed to defend the homeland against possible intercontinental ballistic missiles from North Korea and Iran. The MDA is holding a competition instead to design a brand new interceptor for the GMD system. The company has an extensive history with the GMD system in place at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, having held the development and sustainment contract for years. That contract is set to expire in 2023 and MDA is weighing options to break up that contract to foster competition that promotes increased capability. “The Boeing-led team will deliver critical technology to enhance our homeland missile defense,” Norm Tew, Boeing Missile and Weapon Systems vice president, said in a Sept. 24 statement. “Combined, we bring decades of expertise in proven missile and weapon systems.” An NGI “requires a new way of thinking supported by a proven ability to deliver pioneering solutions,” Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS, said in a separate company statement issued Sept. 24. “We are excited to partner with Boeing to deliver the disruptive technologies needed to help MDA rapidly deploy an interceptor system that bolsters the nation's missile defense network and ensures that the U.S., our allies, and partner nations maintain military overmatch against ever evolving threats from adversaries.” Aerojet Rocketdyne will supply the propulsion system. “As the country's premier hit-to-kill propulsion provider, we're able to deliver low-cost, high-performance systems by leveraging our skilled workforce and strategic investments in innovative technology and materials,” Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO, said in the Boeing statement. Boeing reports the team submitted its NGI offering to MDA on Aug. 12. Also according to the statement, Northrop Grumman will serve as a “component supplier” on the Boeing team. Northrop is also teaming up separately with Raytheon to compete against the Boeing team and Lockheed Martin. Raytheon was the developer of the now-canceled RKV. MDA aims to downselect to two companies later this year, who will then compete for the right to build the interceptor. Proposals were due July 31, but MDA noted in its request for proposals that there may be some give in that schedule due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The agency requested $664.1 million in fiscal year 2021 for the NGI program, as part of a $4.9 billion five-year budget plan. https://www.defensenews.com/2020/09/24/boeing-assembles-team-to-bid-for-next-gen-missile-defense-interceptor/

Trey Obering and Rebeccah Heinrichs In his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination, President Donald Trump said that in a second term, “We will win the race to 5G, and build the world's best cyber and missile defense.” On the last issue — missile defense — there are actions President Trump can and should take now, with only a few weeks left until election day, to make necessary improvements. First, reverse the Pentagon's decision to give more authority over the Missile Defense Agency to the office of cost assessment and program evaluation (CAPE) while creating more bureaucratic oversight. These moves will create more obstacles to thwart the President's agenda and will drastically slow MDA's ability to develop and field missile defense capabilities to meet rapidly emerging threats. We understand fully the intent to reduce risk in acquisitions, but the purpose of the MDA is to conduct research and development and deliver new and ever-evolving effective defensive systems for the protection of the American people. We must prioritize speed over risk-aversion. Secondly, the President can announce that the United States is moving forward with site preparation for at least one additional homeland interceptor site. The Trump Administration's 2019 Missile Defense Review stated that such a site would protect against future Iranian threats; since the Pentagon released this policy document Iran has only improved its missile program. Especially concerning was the successful satellite launch conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in April of this year. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Hyten said the launch vehicle had traveled, “a very long way, which means it has the ability once again to threaten their neighbors, their allies, and we want to make sure they can never threaten the United States.” These developments put more pressure on the United States to make moves in the near term to bolster full coverage of the U.S. homeland. Environmental Impact Studies have already been concluded and military installations in New York, Ohio, and Michigan have been chosen as potential hosts for a third homeland missile defense site. Any of those sites would offer a “shoot-look-shoot” capability when considering the geometry of a potential missile attack from Iran. It might also make sense to pick two sites, perhaps putting a few interceptors in Ohio and in Michigan. If President Trump does decide to move forward with site preparation for an additional homeland interceptor site or sites, he would not need to decide immediately about the kind of interceptor to emplace, whether Next Generation Interceptors (NGIs) or Ground-Based Interceptors. Site preparation can take several years to complete and should not take away investments from development of the NGI, which promises to add significant capability to homeland defense. Either interceptor could be emplaced at the new site. If NGI matures and is ready for deployment by the Pentagon's stated goal of 2027, then the additional location could be home to a few of the interceptors. The threat from Iranian missiles are not the only ones putting pressure on the homeland defense systems. The Trump administration has used a combination of economic pressure, military threats, and talks to pressure North Korea into ending its missile program, but North Korea has not made the decision to forgo its nuclear missile program. Although Kim Jong-un has responded by holding off on further long-range missile tests, he has resumed shorter-range tests, and there is reason to believe Kim has not slowed down his efforts to improve his longer-range missile program. Moreover, North Korea remains a serious missile and illicit arms proliferator and a senior U.S. official recently expressed concern about cooperation between North Korea and Iran on long-range missile development. It would be a mistake to slow down homeland missile defense because the North Korean leader has promised to disarm while showing no real signs of doing so. The Pentagon is wrapping up its budget submission for the next fiscal year, and whoever wins in November will determine the budget's final form. Regardless, the United States must carefully ensure that even as we push ahead to evolve the system, we cannot neglect the defense of the American people against the threats that are here today. If the United States is going to have an effective, cutting edge missile defense architecture to balance near and evolving threats and to adapt as the threats dictate, the MDA must remain agile, and it must have the funding to improve and sustain current programs while investing in advanced technologies to stay ahead of the evolving threat. https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/09/24/two-steps-president-trump-could-take-now-to-secure-missile-defense-improvements/

Mark Pomerleau The Marine Corps wants to provide information on demand. However, sensing, harnessing and acting upon the vast amounts of data produced daily is an enormous challenge and now the Corps is turning to its 2019 blueprint for the information environment. “If you were building a house, you would never just hire plumbers, framers, roofers and say build me a house,” Jennifer Edgin, Assistant Deputy Commandant for Information, said Sept. 22 during a virtual panel as part of Modern Day Marine. Rather, she noted, most would start with the design of the house and how things connect. “That's how we began with our journey in the Marine Corps Information Environment Enterprise, by publishing a blueprint. That outlined our future state vision, our case for change and the major muscle movements that we were tackling with that,” she said. Published in March 2019 and classified as “controlled unclassified information,” the blueprint is a unified technical, physical and business model that documents the design of the Marine Corps Information Environment, Edgin told C4ISRNET in written responses to questions. It connects users with data to support a mission and codifies the policies, standards, services, infrastructure, technical design and architectural elements required to deliver capabilities to Marines. Extremely technical in nature, the blueprint is meant to guide the development and employment of capabilities needed and provides acquisition officers guidance and constraints while also conveying a common language. The first iteration covers five key areas to include digital transformation, governance, transitioning to the cloud, standardization and information dominance. “The future state of warfare requires the Marine Corps to think differently, encourage innovation, and embrace new business models for change that focus on enhancing the access, capabilities, and user experience throughout the Information Environment,” Edgin said. “This blueprint unites and aligns efforts to digitally equip Marines for the future ... The benefit of the blueprint is that it articulates information that cannot easily be visualized. For example, it is very easy to see physical assets like trucks or planes however, it is difficult to articulate information technology assets and visualize how they are employed.” Edgin noted yesterday that the Marine Corps Enterprise Network modernization plan followed the blueprint, taking the blueprint and breaking it down into action plans. Taken together, both documents are meant to guide a transformation the office of the Deputy Commandant for Information is seeking to realize, one that provides secure information on demand leveraging technologies such as cloud computing, resilient mesh networks and emerging technology such as machine learning. “Information doesn't have a geographic boundary,” she said, “you're seeing more of that cross functional team, cross functional approaches where we can really harness all of the best and brightest of authorities and ideas so that we can provide that information on demand.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/it-networks/2020/09/24/how-the-marines-want-to-provide-information-on-demand/

AUDE CHARDENON Thales a lancé début septembre une place de marché baptisée Iven. Destinée à mettre en relation vendeurs et acheteurs de l'environnement Défense et Civil, elle implique un nouveau métier pour le géant français. Les détails de Pascal Geoffroy, directeur enhanced customer operations services. Thales devient un commerçant. Le géant industriel français a lancé début septembre une plateforme B2B qui met en relation les clients et les principaux fournisseurs d'articles dédiés à l'environnement Défense et Civil quel que soit le milieu : aérospatial, terrestre ou naval. Fonctionnant selon un modèle de marketplace, Iven – pour Intermediation vendor entreprise – a nécessité deux ans de travail. Lancée le 1er septembre, Iven est un service en ligne dédié aux Industriels souhaitant optimiser leurs approvisionnements. La plateforme compte à date 150 000 références. On y trouve notamment des consommables industriels (pièces détachées), et actualité oblige, des produits liés à la situation sanitaire. DIGITALISER LA SUPPLY CHAIN DE BOUT EN BOUT Iven n'est pas née par hasard. En 2018, l'entreprise se retrouve face à un constat. "Nous avons gagné un gros contrat de supply chain, et nous nous sommes rendus compte que nous devions être plus fluides et plus rapides. Très rapidement, la marketplace nous a paru être la solution pour mettre en relation acheteurs et vendeurs pour de futurs contrats de même nature", explique en préambule Pascal Geoffroy, Directeur Enhanced Customer Operations Services chez Thales. Vient alors l'idée de transformer la supply chain de bout en bout et de "digitaliser les achats pour être compétitif", avec la mise en ligne des catalogues des marchands et par conséquent l'abandon des canaux offline (devis, contrats, téléphone/mail...), la fin de la logique transactionnelle impliquant une négociation pour chaque commande, et la digitalisation du workflow, permettant un gain de temps pour le traitement administratif. THALES, TIERS DE CONFIANCE Iven fonctionne comme une plateforme e-commerce classique. Les marchands y mettent en visibilité leurs produits et leurs offres (prix, disponibilité, conditions de vente...). L'acheteur consulte et compare les différentes offres répondant à son besoin, puis il passe sa commande. Le règlement est effectué par virement à Iven, l'encaissement se déroulant via un intermédiaire financier indépendant. Iven supervise la transaction. La commande est ensuite expédiée et livrée directement par le marchand sur le site client. L'ensemble du parcours est digitalisé, du sourcing jusqu'à la livraison. La solution s'appuie sur l'expertise de différents sous-traitants, dont Mirakl. L'enjeu pour Thales est de se positionner "en tiers de confiance" pour les grands comptes ainsi que pour des organismes d'Etat. Dans un écosystème où intervient parfois le secret-défense, Iven ne peut être, et ne sera pas, une place de marché comme les autres. "Thales se positionne comme un tiers de confiance notamment en matière de cybersécurité, où la fiabilisation des échanges est essentielle", rappelle Pascal Geoffroy. Pour ce faire, l'équipe va "sélectionner les vendeurs et les acheteurs. Il en va de la crédibilité de cette marketplace", insiste-t-il. DES MARKETPLACES PRIVÉES POUR LES GRANDS FOURNISSEURS Fournisseurs qualifiés par Thales, articles certifiés, crédibilité financière... Le paiement est conditionné à la réception, et des technologies de cybersécurité sont garanties pour assurer l'intégrité et la confidentialité des données. Iven jouera d'ailleurs un rôle d'intermédiation en cas de litige. Outre le cas d'usage classique évoqué plus haut, Iven propose aux fournisseurs de construire leur propre marketplace via un système d'onboarding du catalogue privé et des marchands spécifiques. Le lancement d'Iven n'était pas forcément acquis pour une société comme Thales. "C'est un nouveau métier pour Thales, et un nouveau métier de la supply chain", reconnaît Pascal Geoffroy. Pourtant, le rôle fédérateur du groupe, à la croisée du monde militaire et civil, en fait l'interlocuteur privilégié de nombreux acteurs, y compris des PME-ETI. "Le tissu industriel est très fragmenté, il est composé de beaucoup de petites structures, analyse Pascal Geoffroy. Et je suis très attaché à développer cet écosystème dont font partie les PME, qui n'ont pas toujours la puissance de se développer en ligne, y compris à l'international". Iven va en effet être déployée dans cinq pays européens limitrophes à la France, avec des ambitions ultérieures bien plus vastes. Iven s'enrichira d'outils de monitoring de la performance fournisseur ainsi que de fonctionnalités algorithmiques dédiées à l'optimisation des achats. La plateforme pourra se connecter d'ici quelques mois aux ERP des grands comptes. A moyen terme, Iven vise 100 marchands. "Le secteur de la défense est un monde fermé, en retard en matière de transformation digitale par rapport au civil. Cela va secouer certains acteurs", prévient Pascal Geoffroy.