Nouvelles

Une experte médico-légale de premier plan obtient une chaire de recherche Canada 150 à l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Le 26 octobre 2018 — Trois-Rivières (Québec) Le Canada est une destination de premier choix pour certains des plus grands scientifiques et universitaires du monde entier. Pour faire du Canada un pays audacieux et innovateur, nous devons tirer profit des percées des scientifiques canadiens et de leurs homologues du monde entier. Aujourd'hui, le ministre de l'Infrastructure et des Collectivités, l'honorable François-Philippe Champagne, au nom de la ministre des Sciences et des Sports, l'honorable Kirsty Duncan, était à l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières pour souligner l'attribution d'une chaire de recherche Canada 150 en thanatologie forensique à Mme Shari Louise Forbes. Mme Forbes, qui travaillait auparavant à l'Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research, mènera des recherches sur les changements qui surviennent dans le corps après la mort pour étudier l'incidence de l'environnement unique du Canada sur les taux de décomposition. Ses travaux de recherche médico-légale amélioreront la collecte, l'identification et le rapatriement des restes humains lors des enquêtes sur des personnes disparues, des cas d'homicides et des victimes de catastrophes de grande ampleur et de crimes de guerre. Mme Forbes est l'une des 25 nouvelles recrues du Programme des chaires de recherche Canada 150 qui ont fait l'objet d'une annonce par la ministre Duncanplus tôt cette année. Des 25 titulaires, 60 % sont des femmes et 40 % sont des chercheurs canadiens qui ont choisi de revenir au Canada pour mener à bien leurs ambitieux programmes de recherche. Chaque titulaire de chaire pourra recruter des étudiants au Canada et ailleurs pour l'aider dans ses travaux dans des disciplines comme la chimie, la microbiologie, la génomique de l'évolution et la psychologie. Le gouvernement du Canada a fait de la science une priorité en investissant 4 milliards de dollars dans la recherche fondamentale dans le budget de 2018 pour renforcer notre capacité d'innover et d'être des chefs de file en matière d'emplois de l'avenir. Citations « Le Canada appuie la science et nos scientifiques qui travaillent vraiment fort pour faire du Canada un chef de file en matière de recherche et d'innovation. Les travaux de Mme Forbes rehausseront encore plus la réputation de premier plan qu'a le Québec à l'échelle internationale dans le domaine de la recherche médico-légale spécialisée et aideront les policiers à identifier les restes des personnes qui sont mortes à la suite de crimes ou lors de catastrophes de grande envergure. » — Le ministre de l'Infrastructure et des Collectivités, l'honorable François-Philippe Champagne « C'est un privilège de célébrer nos nouveaux titulaires de chaires de recherche Canada 150, dont les contributions à la recherche rendront l'économie plus florissante et la classe moyenne plus forte. Leur arrivée représente par ailleurs un apport de cerveaux pour notre pays, un pays dont la réputation n'est plus à faire pour ce qui est de l'ouverture, de la diversité et du bon accueil qu'il réserve aux scientifiques et aux chercheurs passionnés de partout dans le monde. » — La ministre des Sciences et des Sports, l'honorable Kirsty Duncan « Nous croyons que le Canada est vraiment l'un des meilleurs endroits au monde où mener des recherches d'avant-garde et innovatrices, où l'ingéniosité et la créativité humaines sont mises à contribution pour nous faire progresser dans l'atteinte de nos objectifs communs. Les titulaires de chaires de recherche Canada 150 sont la preuve que le Canada réussit à attirer les chercheurs les plus talentueux au monde. Nous sommes fiers qu'ils aient choisi de poursuivre leurs travaux novateurs dans notre pays, et d'encadrer et de former les étudiants universitaires et des chercheurs postdoctoraux qui formeront la prochaine génération de leaders dans tous les domaines de l'économie et de la société. » — Le président du Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada, Ted Hewitt « Nous sommes très fiers de l'obtention de cette prestigieuse chaire de recherche Canada 150. Seulement 25 chaires de ce type ont été attribuées au Canada, dont 4 au Québec, afin de souligner le 150e anniversaire du pays. Nous nous réjouissons également que la professeure Shari Forbes, de réputation internationale, ait choisi de poursuivre ses travaux à l'UQTR. Notre université continuera ainsi d'accroître sa renommée en criminalistique, tout en développant de nouvelles collaborations, ici et à l'étranger. En plus de former la relève en criminalistique, l'équipe de la Chaire contribuera certainement au succès des enquêtes policières. » — Le recteur de l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Daniel McMahon Faits en bref Dans le budget de 2017, le gouvernement du Canada a investi 117,6 millions de dollars pour lancer un concours visant à doter les chaires de recherche Canada 150. Il s'agit d'un programme de financement ponctuel destiné à favoriser l'afflux de cerveaux au Canada. Le financement des chaires de recherche Canada 150 provient des trois organismes subventionnaires : le Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada, le Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada, et les Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada. Les chaires sont attribuées pour une période de sept ans et reçoivent 350 000 $ par année ou 1 million de dollars par année, selon le type de recherche. La Fondation canadienne pour l'innovation fournit un investissement additionnel de plus de 830 000 $ pour appuyer les chaires de recherche Canada 150. L'investissement dans le Programme des chaires de recherche Canada 150 s'inscrit dans le soutien global du gouvernement à la science, ce qui inclut plus de 4 milliards de dollars pour la science fondamentale. Liens connexes Programme des chaires de recherche Canada 150 Titulaires de chaire de recherche Canada 150 Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Personnes-ressources Suivez les titulaires des chaires de recherche Canada sur Twitter : @CRC_CRC Nyree St-Denis Conseillère en communications Cabinet de la ministre des Sciences et des Sports 343-291-4051 nyree.st-denis@canada.ca Relations avec les médias Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada 343-291-1777 ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca Ann-Clara Vaillancourt Attachée de presse Cabinet du ministre de l'Infrastructure et des Collectivités 613-697-3778 ann-clara.vaillancourt@canada.ca https://www.canada.ca/fr/innovation-sciences-developpement-economique/nouvelles/2018/10/apport-de-cerveaux-au-quebec.html

Paul Withers · CBC News North Atlantic Fisheries Organization meeting highlighted unreliability of Canada's research vessels For the first time in 48 years, Canadian fisheries scientists failed to complete an annual summer survey off Nova Scotia because of a mechanical breakdown on their coast guard research ship, adding to concerns over the reliability of Canada's research vessel fleet. "There have been instances in the past where we have been unable to do sections of a survey, but we've been usually able to cover most of the area in question," said Kent Smedbol, regional manager of population ecology at DFO Science Maritimes. "This is the first time that a substantial portion of the survey we were not able to complete." The 36-year-old coast guard ship Alfred Needler was scheduled to carry out the summer survey, which involves bottom trawling for multiple species and environment data collection, on the Scotian Shelf from Cape Breton to Georges Bank. The information would have been used to predict commercial fish stocks that support fisheries worth tens of millions of dollars. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been conducting the survey since 1970 from its base at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax. Salt water knocks out motor, generator But even before the survey started in July, salt water in rough seas got into — and burned out — the Needler's trawl motor and generator, rendering the vessel unusable, said deputy coast guard commissioner Mario Pelletier. "That's critical equipment in order to conduct the survey, so they needed to come back to repair it," Pelletier told CBC News. "And given what just happened we wanted to make sure to prevent it so it doesn't happen in the future. So we put some extra work to make sure it would be protected from future salt water exposure should the ship be in rough seas again." 'We do what we can with the resources' DFO tried, but was unable, to charter a commercial fishing trawler. Another coast guard research vessel, the Teleost, was pressed into service for an abbreviated mission. The southern Scotian Shelf from Yarmouth to Halifax was sampled but two-thirds was missed entirely. "It is difficult. This is what we are asked to do by the department. So we do what we can with the resources we have at hand," said Smedbol. Stock assessment for species north of Halifax will not be updated this year. The Teleost broke off the survey at the end of July to carry out a scheduled ecosystem survey in Quebec. "Given our survey was already delayed, we didn't want to impact the survey in another region by trying maintain the use of the Teleost. It was best to have a full survey uninterrupted in the other region," said Smedbol. Same ship missed another survey in 2018 This was the second time in 2018 the Needler was sidelined and unavailable for a scheduled science survey. It also missed the annual winter survey on Georges Bank because it was stuck in an extended refit. Wasted steel decking had been discovered. The Teleost was expected to fill in on the Georges Bank mission. However, it was also unavailable because its scheduled refit had to be extended. In that case, DFO was able to charter the Mersey Venture at cost of $300,000 for an abbreviated 11-day mission. International criticism of Canadian 'deficiencies' The unreliability of Canadian government research vessels, including the Needler, was highlighted at a science council meeting of the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization this past June. Canada provides scientific survey data in areas off its coast to the international fisheries management agency. The NAFO science council report said "substantive mechanical issues with the Canadian research vessels resulted in very poor coverage of [Division 3L]" off southern Newfoundland in 2017. "This marks the second time in three years that the spring survey coverage of Division 3L has been very poor." The council report said that in 2017, for the third time in four years, a deepwater survey off Labrador was not covered, and for the fifth time in six years, a deepwater survey was not covered in southern Newfoundland. The scientists said the data holes make it harder to evaluate trends in biomass and abundance for a number of species. "Deficiencies in survey coverage also add uncertainty to the results of research on environmental trends and ecosystem status, functioning and productivity," the science council said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/coast-guard-ship-breakdown-ends-48-year-survey-streak-1.4877209

By: Jessie Bur The Pentagon and General Services Administration released a request for information Oct. 25 for a new unified collaborative cloud solution that will unite the entire defense apparatus under one enterprise contract. The Defense Enterprise Office Solution is the first capability set of three that the Department of Defense plans to use to capture its enterprise collaboration and productivity needs. The DEOS capability set needs include a productivity suite, messaging capabilities, content management systems and collaboration tools. “We operate pretty much in a disparate environment right now, and predominantly on-[premises] for these capabilities. So DEOS will give us an opportunity to tear down some of those barriers, posture us for increased interoperability while taking advantage of what the commercial community has to offer,” said Essye Miller, principal deputy to the DoD chief information officer, at a press roundtable. “From a benefit perspective, for us: real-time upgrades, real-time refresh, real-time access to innovation as our industry partners make them available to us.” The contract will be offered through GSA's IT Schedule 70, which Miller said has matured to the level that was needed to support Non-Classified Internet Protocol Router, Secret Internet Protocol Router and tactical environment needs. “In fact, IT Schedule 70 is the vehicle GSA itself used to procure its own cloud-based email, collaboration and productivity solution,” said GSA Administrator Emily Murphy, adding that GSA is committed to working with vendors who would want to propose through the expedited Schedule 70 FASt Lane program. “Using IT Schedule 70 to help DoD procure an enterprisewide solution for email, productivity and collaboration tools could establish a baseline for GSA to scale up this type of solution across the federal government in the future.” In fact, according to Federal CIO Suzette Kent, the DoD solution moves the federal government forward on initiatives to use and procure scalable cloud solutions across agencies. “When we look at where we were with the report to the president across the federal government, and the intent to leverage as many common solutions for purposes of interoperability, cybersecurity ... and the overall efficiency of how we go after those solutions and the ability to keep those current, this is a really positive collaboration, and something that we're incredibly supportive of,” said Kent. Industry has just over two weeks to respond to the RFI, which closes Nov. 9, and the subsequent request for quotes will likely be released in early 2019, according to officials. The DoD and General Services Administration also plan to hold industry days in early December 2018 to facilitate communication between government and industry on the best way to approach the contract. The award for the eventual contract is planned for sometime in the third quarter of 2019, and would likely be set for approximately 10 years and $8 billion, according to Murphy, though that number could change depending on industry input. The appropriate solution would likely have to be certified at FedRAMP Moderate, said Miller. According to Murphy, GSA and DoD have yet to determine whether a single-award or multi-award contract will best suit the DoD's needs — a debate that proved highly contentious for the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud contract that opened for proposals July 26 — and the RFI asks respondents to provide pros and cons for each option. But DoD CIO Dana Deasy said that the DEOS program is part of a Pentagon initiative to bring defense operations into a multi-cloud and multi-vendor environment. “Our intentions are to have a cloud that can serve general purpose computing needs, as well as what I have coined a term as ‘fit-for-purpose' clouds, which could consist of internal clouds or commercial clouds that have a unique fit for purpose,” said Deasy, adding that DEOS would be one such cloud. Because DEOS is one of three collaboration capability sets the agency is looking to fulfill, DoD could end up offering a total of three contracts in that space, according to Miller. https://www.federaltimes.com/acquisition/2018/10/25/dod-seeks-industry-input-on-multibillion-dollar-cloud-collaboration-solution

By: Burak Ege Bekdil ANKARA, Turkey — A privately owned Turkish drone specialist has installed the wings on its unmanned fighter jet currently in development. Selçuk Bayraktar, the chief technology officer at Baykar Makina, announced the progress on the Uçan Balık/Akıncı program (Flying Fish/Raider in Turkish). Bayraktar shared photos of the Akıncı on social media after the assembly of the aircraft's wings. “It [the program] is progressing as scheduled,” Bayraktar said. Turkey's vice president, Fuat Oktay, visited the Baykar Makina production unit to inspect the Akıncı. Bayraktar believes the platform's development foreshadows a more advanced version of itself down the road. “We are hoping to have our first unmanned fighter aircraft by 2023. We are also hoping to fly our first unmanned aerial vehicle that can carry up to 1.5 tons of payload for strategic missions in 2019,” Bayraktar said. Baykar is Turkey's leading privately owned drone specialist. It has supplied 58 unarmed and armed drones to the Turkish military that are mainly deployed in areas (southeastern Turkey, northern Syria and northern Iraq) where the country is fighting Kurdish militants. Fifteen Baykar drones are simultaneously on duty for counterterror missions. The company wants to raise that number to 50. Baykar's TB-2, a drone that comes in both armed and unarmed versions, is mainly deployed in Turkey's southeast to combat Kurdish militants. The armed version uses the MAM-L and MAM-C, two miniature smart munitions developed and produced by state-controlled missile-maker Roketsan. Industry sources say Turkey's industry also is developing BSI-101, a signals intelligence system, for the TB-2 to end the country's dependence on American-made SIGINT systems for drones. The TB-2 can fly at a maximum altitude of 24,000 feet for up to 30 hours. Its communications range is 150 kilometers. The aircraft can carry up to 55 kilograms of payload. “We (the world) are decades away from fully unmanned fighter aircraft. But for countries like Turkey that fight asymmetrical warfare, the gear built between full unmanned fighters and today's armed drones will be crucial,” a senior defense procurement official said. Increasing asymmetrical threats on both sides of Turkey's Syrian and Iraqi borders have urged the country's military and procurement and industry officials to boost existing drone programs and launch new ones. The Akıncı is the latest version of a family of drones Turkey thinks could best fight insurgency at home and abroad. In June, Turkish officials said a contract had been signed for the development and production of the 4.5-ton Akıncı. The first deliveries are scheduled for 2020. The Akıncı features an altitude of 40,000 feet and a payload capacity of 1,350 kilograms, which it can carry for up to 24 hours. The aircraft is powered by two turboprop engines, each generating 550 horsepower. The engine is under development by Tusas Engine Industries, or TEI, a state-controlled engine maker of the PD170. TEI has been working on the PD170 since December 2012 when it signed a development contract with SSM (now SSB), the country's procurement agency,. The 2.1-liter, turbo-diesel PD170 can produce 170 horsepower at 20,000 feet, and 130 horsepower at 30,000 feet. It can generate power at a maximum altitude of 40,000 feet. The PD170 was designed for the Anka, Turkey's first indigenous medium-altitude, long-endurance drone. The Akıncı has a 20 meter wingspan, and is 12.5 meters long and 4.1 meters high. It can be equipped with indigenously developed satellite communications technology; a common aperture targeting system FLIR; a wide area surveillance system; electronic and signals intelligence systems; an electronic support measure pod; a collision avoidance system; a multirole active electronically scanned array air radar; and a synthetic aperture/ground moving target indicator radar. The Akıncı can be armed with a wide range of air-to-ground munitions including MAM-L, MAM-C, CIRIT, Mk81 and Mk82 general-purpose bombs, smart munitions (such as HGK, KGK and LGK) with various guidance kits, and SOM air-launched cruise missiles. https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2018/10/25/wing-installation-at-turkish-drone-maker-signals-progress-on-indigenous-unmanned-tech

By: Valerie Insinna WASHINGTON — Belgium has officially selected the F-35 as its next-generation fighter, becoming the 13th country to join the program, the Belgian government announced Thursday. With that decision, Lockheed Martin has defeated a bid by the governments of Spain, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom for the Eurofighter Typhoon, as well as an informal offer by France for the Dassault Rafale and an option for Belgium to upgrade its existing F-16s. Belgium plans to buy 34 F-35As to replace F-16 inventory, which numbers about 54 jets. The U.S. State Department has already approved the deal, which has an estimated value of $6.5 billion. According to Reuters, Belgian Defence Minister Steven Vandeput told reporters on Oct. 25 that the F-35 beat the other contenders in all seven selection criteria. “We are investing heavily in defense,” Vandeput tweeted, citing Belgium's decision to buy F-35s and new land vehicles. Meanwhile, U.S. stakeholders immediately began celebrating the outcome of the competition. “Lockheed Martin is honored by the Belgian government's selection of the F-35A Lightning II for their future national security needs,” the company said in a statement. “We look forward to supporting the U.S. government in delivering the F-35 program to meet the requirements of the Belgian government.” Vice Adm. Mat Winter, head of the the F-35 joint program executive office, said the decision to join the program will strengthen the U.S.-Belgian relationship. “We look forward to working closely with our Belgian teammates as they mature plans for purchasing their F-35s,” he said in a statement. The U.S. Embassy in Brussels tweeted a response to Vandeput, stressing how Belgium's F-35 selection would add to NATO interoperability. “Belgium will fly @thef35 alongside some of its closest @NATO allies & longtime partners in air defense. US is extremely proud of our enduring air partnership w/ Belgium,” it said. U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee's Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, said Belgium's F-35 buy “reaffirms Belgium's military and strategic partnership with the United States, as well as builds Belgium's defense capabilities as a strong NATO ally.” Turner had interfaced with Belgian officials over the past year, providing assurances that the U.S. Congress would support an F-35 sale to Brussels, he said in a statement. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/10/25/f-35-officially-wins-belgian-fighter-contest

By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — Textron Systems has announced its intention to purchase Maine-based Howe & Howe Technologies, a developer of robotic land vehicles, in a move Textron says will position the company to be a “global leader” in autonomous systems. The purchase, which does not have an announced price tag, is expected to close in mid-December. It comes as industry around the world eyes the potential military unmanned ground vehicles market as an area for future growth. Howe produces a number of systems in use by the U.S. government, including the small Ripsaw Super Tank and the RS2-H1 SMET, which was down-selected to compete to be the U.S. Army's platoon load-carrying robot. The company also produces a pair of firefighting unmanned systems, the Thermite and Bulldog. While having some experience in the ground-based unmanned sector, Textron Systems has largely focused on UAVs. Hence, adding Howe's ground systems expertise to its portfolio makes economic sense, said Textron Systems head Lisa Atherton in a company statement. She called Howe the “original disruptors in the advanced robotic vehicle space.” “Textron Systems is now positioned to be a global provider of unmanned capabilities across all three domains. We are clear on the U.S. military's vision and their future technology needs for autonomy, robotics and unmanned systems,” she added. “Bringing together Textron Systems' and Howe & Howe's talent, capabilities and proven products will join two of the best, and we are excited at the idea of advancing the industry even further as one team.” Michael Howe, president of Howe & Howe Technologies, added that “the deep experience and forward thinking of Textron Systems, coupled with the innovation and sheer competitiveness of Howe & Howe, will make for a formidable combination. We expect that the whole will be immeasurably greater than the sum of our parts and will be positioned to forge the 21st century world leader in ground robotics and mobility.” The Pentagon set aside $429 million for unmanned ground systems in fiscal 2019, doubling in just two years from $212 million in FY17 and $310 million in FY18. And while explosive ordnance disposal systems still represent the biggest spending from the Army in this arena, it will likely be overtaken by programs such as the Army Common Robotic Systems and Robotic Ground System Advanced Technology Development. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2018/10/25/textron-buys-ground-robot-manufacturer-howe-howe

Graham Warwick | Aviation Week & Space Technology From armed scout to heavy lift, modernizing rotorcraft fleets has become a priority for the U.S. Defense Department. But whether the U.S. Army and other services will have the budgets to fulfill its ambitious renewal plans remains to be seen. http://aviationweek.com/defense/guide-us-military-helicopter-modernization

NAVY The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded not-to-exceed $131,555,000 for order N0001919F2410 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-16-G-0001). This undefinitized contract action is for the procurement and upgrade of weapon replaceable assemblies to optimize the Block I low-rate initial production F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track systems, including technical risk reduction in support of engineering change proposal development and F/A-18 integration and tactics development. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (73 percent); and St. Louis, Missouri (27 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $42,969,654 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. The MIL Corp., Bowie, Maryland, is being awarded an $84,551,798 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for systems engineering, integration/production support, system-based test and evaluation services and in-service life cycle-based engineering support for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission-based products and systems. Work will be performed in St. Inigoes, Maryland (80 percent); and Patuxent River, Maryland (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 2024. No funds are being obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals; one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-D-0002). L3 Technologies Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, is awarded a $35,757,711 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide for the demonstration and test of existing technologies and associated technical data that may potentially provide a solution for an airborne wideband low radio frequency band jamming application in support of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (Increment 2) program. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah (57 percent); Boulder, Colorado (16 percent); Carlsbad, California (9 percent); Stuart, Florida (5 percent); Waco, Texas (1 percent); Reston, Virginia (1 percent); Guthrie, Oklahoma (1 percent); Stow, Massachusetts (1 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (1 percent); and in Europe (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,704,000 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via a broad agency announcement; four offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0014). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, New York, is awarded a $35,180,752 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide for the demonstration and test of existing technologies and associated technical data that may potentially provide a solution for an airborne wideband low radio frequency band jamming application in support of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (Increment 2) program. Work will be performed in Linthicum, Maryland (42 percent); Bethpage, New York (38 percent); North Amityville, New York (8 percent); Melville, New York (8 percent); Rolling Meadows, Illinois (1 percent); Hollywood, Maryland (1 percent); Melbourne, Florida (1 percent); and Redondo Beach, California (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,704,000 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via a broad agency announcement; four offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0015). BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded $19,470815 for modification P00035 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable contract (N00421-15-C-0008) to exercise an option for support for Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Ship and Air Integrated Warfare Division (Code 4.11.3). Support to be provided includes integrating communications and information systems radio communications into Navy ships. Work will be performed in St. Inigoes, Maryland (75 percent); and California, Maryland (25 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2023. Fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $5,850,000 are being obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Barkens Hard Chrome, Compton, California (FA8224-19-D-0001); Chromal Plating Co. Inc., Los Angeles, California (FA8224-19-D-0002); Kryler Corp., Fullerton, California (FA8224-19-D-0003); Quality Plating Co. Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah (FA8224-19-D-0004); and Sunvair, Inc., Valencia, California (FA8224-19-D-0005), have been awarded a ceiling $98,000,000 multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for metal plating to remanufacture existing and future assets in support of 309 Missile Maintenance Group and 309 Commodities Maintenance Group programs. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Vandenberg AFB, California; and other geographically separated units. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2018 Consolidated Sustainment Activity Group -- Maintenance funds in the amount of $10,000 ($2,000 per awardee) are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity. Williams International Co. LLC, Pontiac, Michigan, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $50,000,000 indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for the Advanced Turbine Technologies for Affordable Mission-Capability (ATTAM) Phase I program. The mission of the ATTAM Phase I program is to develop, demonstrate, and transition advanced turbine propulsion, power and thermal technologies that provides improvement in affordable mission capability. Work will be performed in Pontiac, Michigan, and is expected to be completed by October 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition via a broad agency announcement; 54 offers were received. The first task order will be incrementally funded with fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $10,000 at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (IDIQ contract FA8650-19-D-2064 and initial task order FA8650-19-F-2115). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Maryland, has been awarded a $16,512,048 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Precision Real-Time Engagement Combat Identification Sensor Exploitation program. This program will develop technologies that continue to advance combat identification for warfighters. This contract provides for the technical assessments, prototype hardware and software modifications and development, systems engineering, performance simulations, system integration and demonstrations. Work will be performed in Baltimore, Maryland, and is expected to be completed Jan. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $400,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-C-1672). Maintenance Engineers Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, has been awarded an $8,700,000 ceiling, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for grounds maintenance services. This contract provides grounds maintenance services for approximately 4,000 acres of improved and semi-improved grounds. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base and Little Mountain, Utah, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 24, 2023. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and six offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds will be obligated at the task order level. Air Force Sustainment Center, Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8201-19-D-0001). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Geo-Med LLC,* Lake Mary, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $35,000,000 firm-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 20 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and other federal civilian agencies. Location of performance is Florida, with an Oct. 24, 2023, performance completion date. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D1-19-D-0001). General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, has been awarded a $25,658,223 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRDL1-19-F-0038) against a five-year contract (SPE7MX-16-D-0100) for various electronic components for the M1 Abrams tank. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Locations of performance are Michigan and Florida, with a Sept. 27, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan. General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, has been awarded a $10,229,034 modification (P00002) exercising the one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPRDL1-18-C-0295) for hull mission processor units with containers. 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 firm-fixed-price contract. Locations of performance are Michigan and Florida, with a Nov. 19, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan. ARMY B & K Construction Co. LLC,** Mandeville, Louisiana, was awarded a $31,260,319 firm-fixed-price contract for West Bank Mississippi River Levee. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in New Orleans, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 22, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $31,260,319 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity (W912P8-19-C-0004). CORRECTION: An additional contractor has been added to the multiple-award contract announced on Sept. 28, 2018, for providing resources in support of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense to include its headquarters, directorates and five joint project managers. Goldbelt, Chesapeake, Virginia (W911QY-19-D0014), will also compete for each order of the $249,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract. All other information in the contract announcement is correct. *Service-disabled, veteran-owned small business **Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1672761/source/GovDelivery/

by Samantha Ehlinger The Defense Digital Service and Army Cyber Command's growing partnership is getting its own workspace in downtown Augusta, Georgia, DDS announced Thursday. Dubbed Tatooine, the new workspace located at the state-owned Georgia Cyber Center is the expansion of the Jyn Erso pilot project launched last year to join DDS staff and Cyber Command soldiers to solve hard problems. The new space officially opened Thursday with a day-long hackathon “for cyber soldiers and the local tech community,” according to a press release. “Tatooine will be a beacon for technical talent across the military — a place to write code and solve problems of impact,” DDS Director Chris Lynch said in an announcement. “Through this partnership, we are setting our best technical warfighters against our toughest problems with support and training from our DDS software engineers and experts. Together, men and women in uniform and tech nerds are finding new ways to rapidly solve high-impact challenges.” The Army is gradually relocating its Cyber Command headquarters to nearby Fort Gordon. The state's CIO Calvin Rhodes said this week that the center will play host to the unclassified training sessions for personnel who are waiting for their security clearances to be completed, a process that can often take at least six months, sister publication StateScoop reported. The National Security Agency, which has an outpost at Fort Gordon, will also have a presence at the Georgia Cyber Center. Officials said the $100 million development is the single-largest investment by a state in a cybersecurity facility. Tatooine will join Army officers and soldiers with DDS technologists to tackle hard problems in unclassified “startup-like spaces” using private sector tools and methodologies, according to the Pentagon. “For instance, project teams are using concepts of continuous software iteration and user-centered design, which are common in the tech sector, but not in the military,” the department said. Tatooine is a way for DDS and Army Cyber Command to create more pilot teams without having to relocate Cyber Command personnel to Washington D.C. Other planned uses for Tatooine include supporting initiatives like the Hack the Army bug bounty program. Army's Cyber Command and Cyber Center of Excellence are providing the technical soldiers to staff teams and Professional Military Education credit for time spent in the program, according to the announcement. Senior Army officers from the center and the Army Cyber Institute will oversee day-to-day operations in the workspace and report to DDS. “To help the Army resolve its toughest talent management and technical challenges, DDS and U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) have partnered to bring technically-gifted soldiers together with private sector civilian talent to rapidly develop immediate-need cyber capabilities,” Lt. Gen. Stephen Fogarty, head of the command, said in a statement. “This innovative partnership will solve tough problems and serve as a powerful retention and recruitment tool.” Through the Jyn Erso program, project teams have already tackled a few projects, such as a program to develop, produce and deploy a capability to combat commercial drones. “The team developed a low-cost software system that is flexible enough to adapt to newly identified targets and easy for operators to use and transport in austere conditions,” the announcement said. DDS and the Cyber Center of Excellence also launched a training pilot earlier this year as part of Jyn Erso to streamline cyber training courses. In its first iteration, DDS cut down the training time for a subset of Army soldiers from six months to just 12 weeks. We know what you're wondering, and yes, the names of the workspace and the pilot are Star Wars references. DDS, since its inception, has referred to itself as the Rebel Alliance ( a shoutout to the good guys in Star Wars), even naming the Pentagon's landmark $10 billion commercial cloud contract the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI. https://www.fedscoop.com/defense-digital-service-army-cyber-command-expand-partnership-workspace-tatooine/