Nouvelles

U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND Seventeen companies have been awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts under the Worldwide Airlift Services Program, contracts with an estimated program value of $5,700,000,000: Air Center Helicopters, Burleson, Texas (HTC71120DR005); Berry Aviation Inc., San Marcos, Texas (HTC71120DR006); Bighorn Airways, Sheridan, Wyoming (HTC71120DR007); Careflight Ltd., Northmead, New South Wales, Australia (HTC71120DR009); CHI Aviation, Howell, Michigan (HTC71120DR010); Columbia Helicopters Inc., Aurora, Oregon (HTC71120DR011); Contour Aviation, Smyrna, Tennessee (HTC71120DR012); CSI Aviation Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico (HTC71120DR013); East Coast Flight Services Inc., Easton, Maryland (HTC71120DR014); Erickson Helicopters Inc., Portland, Oregon (HTC71120DR015); Flightworks Inc., Kennesaw, Georgia (HTC71120DR016); Hillsboro Aviation, Hillsboro, Oregon (HTC71120DR017); Jet Logistics Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina (HTC71120DR018); Mountain Aviation Inc., Broomfield, Colorado (HTC71120DR019); Omni Air Transport, Tulsa, Oklahoma (HTC71120DR020); Phoenix Air Group Inc., Cartersville, Georgia (HTC71120DR021); and Rampart Aviation, Colorado Springs, Colorado (HTC71120DR022). This contract provides worldwide Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 135 airlift services utilizing fixed and/or rotary wing aircraft to transport Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agency personnel and cargo for domestic and international shipments. Services shall be provided for DoD and other federal government agencies. Services required include aircrew, ground personnel, supplies, ancillary support services and equipment to perform dedicated and/or ad hoc FAR Part 135 or equivalent Civil Aviation Authority airlift operations (at both military and commercial airports/airfields/landing zones). Operations could include the movement of passengers and cargo (or combination thereof), air ambulance, medical evacuation, sling-load cargo operations, delivery of Class I-X supplies, and U.S. Mail and/or other like services. Work will be performed internationally and domestically, with an expected completion date of Nov. 11, 2024. Ordering may be centralized or decentralized and will be determined at the task order level. Funding is provided by multiple government agencies. The contracting activity is U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. (Awarded Nov. 7, 2019) NAVY General Dynamics Mission Systems, Scottsdale, Arizona, is awarded a $731,876,547 cost-plus-award-fee and firm-fixed-price indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity contract for Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) ground system sustainment. MUOS is a narrowband military satellite communications system that supports a worldwide, multiservice population of users, providing modern netcentric communications capabilities while supporting legacy terminals. Fiscal 2020-2029 weapons procurement (Navy); fiscal 2020-2029 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); and fiscal 2020-2029 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding will be applied to task orders after the contract award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Work will be performed in Scottsdale, Arizona (94%); Wahiawa, Hawaii (2%); San Diego, California (1%); Niscemi, Italy (1%); Chesapeake, Virginia (1%); and Geraldton, Australia (1%). Work is expected to be completed by November 2029. This contract was not competitively procured because it is a sole source acquisition pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1); only one responsible source (Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 6.302-1). The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N00039-20-D-0146). L3/Harris Technologies, Clifton, New Jersey, is awarded a $51,852,571 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N0001920F0394) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-16-G-0003). This order procures modifications to the AN/ALQ-214A(V)4 Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures System. This order provides non-recurring engineering to develop, integrate, test and deliver software and firmware as well as all technical data. In addition, this order provides engineering and technical support for test efforts including correction of deficiencies discovered during testing in support of a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer. Work will be performed in Clifton, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed in November 2022. FMS funds for $9,000,000 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. BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., Sterling Heights, Michigan, is awarded a $27,100,050 modification to exercise an option for a fixed-price-incentive (firm target) contract line item number (CLIN) 4002 portion of a previously awarded contract (M67854-16-C-0006). This modification is for the purchase of other production costs, which includes program management, vehicle tooling, acceptance testing, and transportation, related to the low rate initial production Lot 3A Amphibious Combat Vehicles. Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania (60%); Aiken, South Carolina (15 %); San Jose, California (15%); Sterling Heights, Michigan (5%); and Stafford, Virginia (5%), and is expected to be completed in January 2022. Fiscal 2020 procurement (Marine Corps) funds for $27,100,050 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was based on full and open competition with the solicitation publicized on the Federal Business Opportunities website with five offers received. The option CLIN was included within that contract and is being exercised in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-7 Option for Increased Quantity-Separately Priced Line Item. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-16-C-0006). Progeny Systems Corp,* Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $9,653,476 fixed-price-incentive-firm target contract modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-6201 to exercise options for Navy systems support. This effort will award the procurement of Navy equipment. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (50%); and Charleroi, Pennsylvania (50%), and is expected to be completed by August 2021. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding for $9,653,476 will be obligated at time of award and funding will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY UTS Systems LLC,* Fort Walton Beach, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $200,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for commercial shelters. This is a one-year base contract with three one-year option periods. Location of performance is Florida, with a Nov. 7, 2020, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-20-D-1210). DRS Network & Imaging Systems LLC, Melbourne, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $15,751,977 firm-fixed-price contract for 43 separate parts in support of the Direct Support Electrical System Test Set and Next Generation Automated Test System. This contract was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a two-year base contract with one one-year option period. Location of performance is Alabama, with a Nov. 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Land, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-20-C-0005). The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded an estimated $11,318,767 firm-fixed-priced delivery order (SPRPA1-20-F-QM0P) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPE4A1-19-G-0013) for aircraft movable canopies. 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 five-year, four-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Missouri, with a March 20, 2025 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. Knox County Association for Remarkable Citizens,** Vincennes, Indiana, has been awarded a maximum $9,351,147 modification (P00008) exercising the second one-year option of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-18-D-N024) with two one-year option periods for the GEN III, Layer II, Mid-Weight Undershirt. This is a firm-fixed-price contract. Location of performance is Indiana, with a Nov. 12, 2020, performance completion date. Using services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Meggitt Polymers and Composites, Rockmart, Georgia, has been awarded a maximum $8,623,152 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-20-F-LW00) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPE4A1-19-G-0013) for F/A-18 fuel tanks. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in the Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Location of performance is Georgia, with a Jan. 31, 2021, 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. ARMY General Dynamic Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $34,873,995 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract to procure Improved Fire Control Electronics Units. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Tallahassee, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2020 procurement of weapons and tracked combat vehicles, Army funds in the amount of $2,245,559 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-F-0060). JSR Inc.,* Schertz, Texas, was awarded a $9,260,232 firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of Buildings 820 and 829. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, with an estimated completion date of May 22, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $9,260,232 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-20-C-0004). AIR FORCE Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a $32,134,563 modification (P00015) to the previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee task order FA8204-16-F-0020 for the Strategic Automated Command and Control System Replacement (SACCS-R). This modification is to definitize a change order and award the added scope for the Time Division Multiplexing to Internet Protocol (TDM-IP). This modification provides for TDM-IP to be implemented and develop a hardware solution to meet the OMNI sunset date using serial-to-IP Adapters to convert messages for transport over the Defense Information System Network. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Minot AFB, North Dakota; and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2023. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $52,706,639. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,440,888 will be obligated at the time of the award. The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Ft. Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $15,746,610 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Universal Armament Interface. This contract provides for system engineering and program management for universal armament interface development. Work will be performed in Ft. Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 19, 2024. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $780,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (FA8628-20-C-2266). Anduril Industries Inc., Irvine, California, has been awarded a $12,000,000 firm-fixed-price Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract for Advanced Battle Management System Sensing Network. This contract provides for an Advanced Battle Management System prototype to process vast quantities of data from thousands of sources to be accessible anywhere. Work will be performed at Irvine, California, and is expected to be complete by July 31, 2021. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition, sequential SBIR Phase 2 contract. Fiscal 2019 research and development SBIR funding; and fiscal 2019 research and development Rapid Capability Office funding in the amount of $12,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Lab, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-20-C-9300). Quinn Construction, Rapid City, South Dakota (FA469020D0003); All American Contract Solutions, Rapid City, South Dakota (FA469020D0004); and Pedersen and Rangel, Spearfish, South Dakota (FA469020D0005), have each been awarded a $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a multiple award construction contract (MACC). This contract is a design-build, bid-build construction acquisition based on a general statement of work further defined with each individual task order. Work to be performed under the MACC will be the general construction category, to include maintenance, repair, alteration, mechanical, electrical, heating/air conditioning, demolition, painting, paving, and earthwork as well as industrial/office buildings on Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, including Military Family Housing. (NOTE: Extent of work to be accomplished under this contract concerning military family housing on Ellsworth AFB does not include normal maintenance, repair, painting heating, air conditioning, some mechanical, etc., which is covered under the Military Family Housing Maintenance contract). Work is to be completed as specified in each individual task order and the contract completion date is June 29, 2021. This award is the result of a competitive solicitation to small business HUB Zones, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, and concerns in the 8(a) program only and 11 offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $500 are being obligated to each contractor at the time of award. The 28th Contracting Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, is the contracting activity. *Small Business **Mandatory source https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2012852/source/GovDelivery/

By: Nathan Strout In September 2018, the Trump administration added space cybersecurity to the National Cyber Strategy. Of course, adding space cybersecurity to a strategy document doesn't automatically make those systems secure from cyberthreats. In the year since that document was adopted, the Space Cybersecurity Working Group has been trying to make the administration's desire that United States space assets are cybersecure a reality. “The National Security Council, in very close coordination with the National Space Council, as well as the Office of the vice president, decided to form an inner agency group called the Space Cybersecurity Working Group,” explained Jaisha Wray, cybersecurity director of the National Security Council. “The goals of our working group are to identify and coordinate and prioritize U.S. government efforts to manage cybersecurity risks to space systems.” As the cybersecurity director of the National Security Council, Wray is in charge of developing international cybersecurity partnerships. Previously she served as the acting deputy director of emerging security challenges at the Department of State, where she helped build space and cyber policies. At the CyberSat19 conference Nov. 7, Wray explained how her Space Cybersecurity Working Group was fostering communications between various organizations to enhance cybersecurity in space. Key to developing effective cybersecurity across the nation's space systems is communication, be it between space and cyber communities, the U.S. and international partners, or the government and industry, said Wray. “What we saw was that across departments and agencies in the U.S. government, the space and the cyber people are often located in different offices in different bureaus, and so one of the early successes of our working group is simply just bringing these folks together to try to reduce stovepipes, compare notes and provide updates,” she explained. Those meetings are ongoing and have been embraced by both communities, said Wray. The National Cyber Strategy also directed the National Security Council to enhance partnerships between the U.S. government and commercial and other space-faring nations. “This is particularly important since our efforts in space are becoming increasingly intertwined, both commercially and internationally, and we must ensure that all space systems — not just U.S. government satellites — are protected from cyberthreats,” said Wray. “However, a key challenge is convincing others to spend the extra money and resources necessary to make their satellites more secure when the extent of the threat is not always well known or available in the public domain. So this is why both internationally and with industry we plan to enhance our efforts to raise awareness and share information on cyberthreats and to develop and share best practices and principles to counter these threats.” On the industry front, the working group is backing the efforts of the newly established Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC). ISACs are member-driven groups that work with the government to spread information through industry. The formation of a separate Space ISAC was announced in April, and the group held its first board meeting Nov. 7. “We were very pleased to see and now support the efforts of the new Space ISAC, which will help gather, analyze and disseminate critical cyberthreat information related to space among the federal commercial and international community,” said Wray. While the technical side of enhancing space cybersecurity presents its own challenge, it's clear that a major gap in implementing cybersecurity in space is connecting the various stakeholders, be they commercial companies, various agencies or other countries. “I'm confident that through the Space Cybersecurity Working Group, we can continue to make progress and working cooperatively to address these threats,” said Wray. https://www.fifthdomain.com/dod/2019/11/08/how-the-space-cybersecurity-working-group-fosters-communication/

By: Jaleah Dortch WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin has used a laser weapon system to engage and shoot down multiple fixed-wing and rotary drones in a demonstration for the U.S. Air Force at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the company announced Thursday. The Advanced Test High Energy Asset, or ATHENA, operated in a netted environment with a government command-and-control system and radar sensor. Lockheed said airmen operated ATHENA during the demos, where the laser weapon system acquired and tracked drones, using its high-energy laser to destroy the targets. The company developed ATHENA to provide a cost-effective anti-drone capability that complements the systems already used by the military. “We've watched in recent news this type of laser weapon solution is essential for deterring unmanned vehicle type threats, so it's an exciting time for us to watch airmen compete Lockheed Martin's critical technology,” said Sarah Reeves, vice president of missile defense programs at Lockheed. https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2019/11/08/laser-weapon-tracks-and-destroys-drones-in-demo-with-airmen/

By: Aaron Mehta and Jen Judson WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department has cleared the United Arab Emirates to purchase 10 CH-47F Chinook cargo helicopters, with an estimated price tag of $830.3 million. The potential deal was announced Thursday on the website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, or DSCA. Such notifications are not guarantees of final sale; should the request be approved by Congress, quantities and dollar figures can change during negotiations. This request represents the 10th Foreign Military Sales request from the UAE since the start of fiscal 2017, for a total approximate worth of $10.5 billion. It is also the first Foreign Military Financing request cleared by the DSCA since the Trump administration declared a regional emergency in order to get several weapons packages pushed through Congress despite opposition on Capitol Hill, leading to bipartisan criticism of the move. The UAE bought its first lot of CH-47Fs — 16 aircraft for estimated total of $2 billion — in 2009. Boeing said earlier this year that it was relying on foreign military sales, including “30 helicopters or less” to the UAE, to shore up a delta between the production of its Block I version of the F-model and its Block II version. The company needs FMS deals like the one with the UAE even more now that the U.S. Army is planning not to buy the Block II version for the active force. The service still plans to produce Block II aircraft for Army special operators. Top Army officials have said they are working hard to mint FMS deals to help make up for the huge production gap left open following the service's decision to not buy Block II F-models for the active force. But Boeing told Defense News that it expected FMS deals would not lessen the blow and, so far, none of the anticipated sales are for Block II versions. The UAE's order, according to Boeing, was not for Block II, and the only other possible F-model sale to the United Kingdom is for extended range versions of the Block I version. It is unclear which countries might actually be interested in Block II aircraft, but the service won't be ready to offer those to foreign customers until after the variant's qualification testing is completed in 2021. The proposed sale “will expand the UAE's helicopter fleet,” per the DSCA announcement. “Further, it will enhance the UAE's operational and defensive capabilities to better defend U.S. and UAE national security interests in the region, and increase the UAE's contributions to any future joint or coalition efforts requiring helicopter support.” In addition to the helicopters themselves, the proposed package would include 26 T55-GA-714A engines; 24 embedded global positioning systems with inertial navigation system; 20 M134D-H mini-guns; and 20 M240H machine guns, as well as various transmitters and other equipment. Up to 10 U.S. government or contractor representatives will be needed in the UAE to help prepare the Chinooks for operations. Primary work will be done at Boeing's Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, facility, Honeywell Engine's Phoenix, Arizona, location, and Science and Engineering Services in Huntsville, Alabama. https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2019/11/08/uae-cleared-for-ch-47f-chinook-buy/

By: Sebastian Sprenger COLOGNE, Germany — German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has unveiled a proposal to increase spending on the armed forces and establish an organization styled after the U.S. National Security Council that would execute a more assertive defense policy. Her Thursday speech at the Bundeswehr University in Munich included a pledge to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense by 2031. That objective came embedded in a call for the country to be more willing to use the military as an instrument of national power by protecting maritime shipping lanes in China's environs, for example, or countering the spread of terrorism in the Sahel region alongside French troops. Kramp-Karrenbauer's speech, billed as a “foundational” address by the Defence Ministry, follows a series of recent skirmishes within the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel that critics say have exposed Germany's inability to shape the resolution of global crises to its advantage. Over the summer, Berlin punted on partaking in an international naval protection mission in the Strait of Hormuz when the demand was most pressing. More recently, a proposal by the defense minister for a United Nations-backed peacekeeping operation in northern Syria was so badly and publicly trashed inside the governing coalition by the Social Democrats that allied governments didn't appear to know what to make of it. The Munich audience of flag officers, academics and student service members needed little convincing of Kramp-Karrenbauer's vision, but getting the rest of the government excited about a Germany that is engaged in worldwide security could be a hard sell. The country has no muscle memory when it comes to employing hard power as a routine foreign policy instrument, or going through the decision-making required for it. A National Security Council-style organization would help bring a whole-of-government approach to urgent defense and security questions, argued Kramp-Karrenbauer. A similar organization exists already, called the Bundessicherheitsrat, though it's known to the public mostly for its secrecy and as the approval authority for arms exports. The defense minister stressed that the German parliament, the Bundestag, would remain in charge of determining when to send soldiers into harm's way. But she argued that accelerated parliamentary consideration should be available when the question is on the table of whether to participate in missions led by the United Nations, NATO or together with “European partners.” At the end of the day, Kramp-Karrenbauer argued, Germany should strive to establish an “ability to act" globally commensurate with the country's status as a powerhouse in Europe. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/11/07/more-money-more-missions-german-defense-minister-unveils-her-plan-for-the-bundeswehr/

By: Stephen Losey With Congress flailing in its attempt to pass a budget and the prospect of a lengthy continuing resolution growing, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein on Wednesday outlined how bad that would be. A year-long CR, funding the Air Force at fiscal 2019 levels, would cost the service the $11.8 billion increase called for in President Trump's proposed fiscal 2020 budget, Goldfein said at a breakfast hosted by the Air Force Association in Washington. “It's truly damaging for all the services, and certainly the United States Air Force,” Goldfein said. Even if a CR only lasts for six months, the effects would be significant, he said. The Air Force would lose $1.1 billion that would go to Boeing's development and production of new F-15EX fighters, postponing their acquisition and driving up prices, according to a fact sheet Goldfein distributed. It would also force the Air Force to keep flying F-15Cs for longer than it expected, resulting in further cost increases due to the extensive maintenance needed to keep the aging fighters, plagued by structural health issues, in the air. A six-month CR would also hit the Air Force's effort to re-arm. It would reduce munitions procurement by 1,000 tailkits to convert unguided bombs into guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions, as well as cut 99 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and 665 Small Diameter Bomb II munitions. And that CR would cost the Air Force $188 million intended for improvements to almost one-third of its F-35 fleet. But a year-long CR would be even worse, Goldfein said, hitting airmen directly and limiting the planned 3.1 percent pay raise for troops. It would also scuttle the Air Force's plans to grow its total force end strength by 4,400, he said, which would hurt its efforts to grow vital — and undermanned — career fields such as operations, maintenance, space, cyber, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Efforts to fix the pilot shortfall would take a hit, cutting $123 million from undergraduate flight training, Goldfein said. This would mean contractor instructor pilots would be reduced, a new maintenance training center's opening would be delayed, and trainer fleet maintenance would be delayed. A CR for all of fiscal 2020 would also delay the procurement of the GPS IIIF space vehicle to replace a satellite that has now been orbiting for twice as long as it was designed, which would place the Air Force in a contract breach. It would withhold $466 million in facility sustainment, restoration and modernization funds, as well as Defense Department emergency funding, slowing the efforts to recover from natural disasters at Tyndall and Offutt Air Force bases. In all, a six-month CR would delay the start of 26 new programs, 7 production increases, and eight military construction projects. A year-long resolution would prevent 88 new starts, 14 production increases and 41 military construction projects. F-22 sensor upgrades would also be delayed if a budget is not passed, the Air Force said. But as rocky as the 2020 budget process may be, Goldfein sees even darker days to come. “If you look at the projections of funding in the years ahead, many believe that [2021] may very well be the last really good year of funding," Goldfein said. “It may not be true. But it may go flat after that, or it may start coming down. And so, how do you achieve irreversible momentum if you have one good year left of reasonable resources before a potential downturn?” https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/11/06/fewer-airmen-fewer-bombs-and-delayed-f-15s-goldfein-outlines-effects-of-continuing-resolution/

By: Nathan Strout Dozens of space companies descended on San Francisco, California Nov. 5 for a unique opportunity: the chance to walk away with a same day contract with the Air Force. Opportunities like that don't happen every day for smaller businesses and start-ups, but at the first Air Force Space Pitch Days, 30 companies presented ideas to Air Force acquisition leaders who were authorized to hand out contracts on the spot. At the end of the first day, the Air Force had issued $9 million in contracts to 12 companies, with more companies slated to pitch their ideas on day two. While the “Shark Tank”-inspired event may seem like a gimmick, it's part of an effort by the Air Force to engage with businesses that don't have the resources or know-how to compete with large, established defense contractors for military projects, but may have innovative solutions that the military needs. “This is part of a broader vision we have to return Air Force to its innovation roots,” said Will Roper, the Air Force's assistant secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics during a Nov. 6 media availability. “We want to be where innovation is happening. We want to partner with commercial companies that have aspirations to make the world a better place with their technologies, but make it clear that there is a way to work with the Air Force to achieve that objective ... Innovation is going to be its own competitive domain, almost a battlefield. And we've got to win the innovation battle." Not every company that presents at pitch days will succeed, but through events like this Roper hopes to give smaller businesses a chance and hopefully discover what he calls defense unicorns, non-traditional companies that have innovative solutions but lack the resources to bring them to market and connect to military customers. “How do we do that, where we can start making defense unicorns?” said Roper. “That must happen if we're going to compete against countries like China long term. If the unicorns in defense are only started by billionaires, then we'll ultimately lose. We need companies that have ambitions without that huge billionaire backing up front to find a way to stardom through us.” With pitch days, the Air Force is using Small Business Innovative Research awards to reach these companies early in the design process and then foster them through to production in three phases. “By the time we get to Space Pitch Day next year, we should have the three-fold approach continually in cycle. Phase 1, get you in the door, very small contract, help you understand your Air Force customer, get you mentored to come to a pitch event like this. Phase 2 you're pitching to the customer and the war fighter, show your product actually has a match to our mission, get you on a bigger contract where you can prototype, develop and test. Then Phase 3, you're productizing. Your getting your product ready to sell to us, ready to use by us, and hopefully that's on a path to selling to the world,” said Roper. “What I expect will happen in an ad hoc way is that a lot of our investment in these companies will be matched by private investors,” he added. The Air Force first introduced the pitch day concept at an event in March, where they doled out $8.75 million between 51 companies. Since then the Air Force has held several other events, with individual days devoted to fields such as hypersonic weapons or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. “Whether it's data analytics or some sort of software sensing methodology; whether its hardware, advanced rocket designs or better rocket fuel; whether its small sats or new ground sensors–those kind of innovations are the things that we are entertaining this week and will continue to entertain,” said Lt. Gen. John ‘JT' Thompson, commander of the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center. “Maybe not all of them, but many of them could become game changers in our efforts to maintain the United States Air Force's superiority in space.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2019/11/07/how-the-air-force-plans-to-find-defense-unicorns/

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Cardinal Health 200 LLC, Waukegan, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $2,250,000,000 modification (P00023) exercising the first 30-month option period of a 30-month base contract (SPE2DV-17-D-0001) with three 30-month option periods for worldwide ordering and distribution of consumable, commercial, brand name and generic medical surgical supplies. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington, with a June 6, 2022, performance completion date. Using customers are Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Owens and Minor Distribution Inc., Mechanicsville, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $1,125,000,000 modification (P00018) exercising the first 30-month option period of a 30-month base contract (SPE2DV-17-D-0002) with three 30-month option periods for worldwide ordering and distribution of consumable, commercial, brand name and generic medical surgical supplies. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington, with a June 6, 2022, performance completion date. Using customers are Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, has been awarded a maximum $24,942,879, firm-fixed-price contract for receiver transmitters. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a three-year, two-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Rhode Island, with a Jan. 31, 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 (SPRPA1-20-F-LY00). Mayfield Dairy Farms LLC, Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a maximum $19,057,500 firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for milk and dairy products. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a 36-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Georgia, with a Nov. 19, 2022, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-20-D V350). Peck and Hale LLC, W. Sayville, New York, has been awarded a maximum $13,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production of spare parts in support of the MK-2551 A/U grounding kit. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is New York, with a Nov. 6, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2024 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-20-D-0009). NAVY Ameresco Select Inc., Framingham, Massachusetts, is awarded firm-fixed-price task order (N3943020F9904) at $170,993,668, under a multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, energy savings performance contract at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The work to be performed provides for the construction, operations, and maintenance of energy conservations to improve energy efficiency and reliability, which includes compressed air upgrades, motor and pump replacements, micro-grid for energy security, power plant improvements and steam traps. Work will be performed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, and is expected to be completed in 23 years and four months by January 2044. No funds will be obligated with this award, as private financing obtained by the contractor will be used for the 28-month construction/implementation phase of the project. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity for the task order. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden, Colorado, is the contracting activity for the basic contract (DE-AM36-09GO29029). J.F. Taylor Inc.,* Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded a $109,433,818 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for development of simulation systems and software to support training activities as well as acquisition development and lifecycle support for the Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test Department, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division 5.4.3, Simulation Division. Work will be performed in Lexington Park, Maryland (75%); and Patuxent River, Maryland (25%), and is expected to be completed in November 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured, as a small business set-aside, via an electronic request for proposal; one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-20-D-0008). Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded a $68,189,550 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price order (N0001920F0315) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-17-G-0002). This order provides non-recurring and recurring engineering associated with the development, qualification test, integration, airworthiness substantiation, flight test demonstration and validation/verification of the government of Japan unique configuration into MV-22B Block C aircraft and the MV-22 Containerized Flight Training Device. This effort also includes logistics and training efforts, to include post-delivery reach-back support, aircraft preservation and de-preservation, storage, aircraft transit support as well as the remaining unique kits and installs in support of the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (50.8%); Fort Worth, Texas (27.2%); Hyogo, Japan (6.9%); Chantilly, Virginia (6.7%); Huntsville, Alabama (2.2%); Olathe, Kansas (0.8%); Red Oak, Texas (0.7%); Bangalore, Indiana (0.6%); various locations within the continental U.S. (3%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (1.1%), and is expected to be completed in August 2024. Foreign Military Sales funds for $68,189,550 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. KBR Diego Garcia LLC, Houston, Texas, is awarded a $60,635,283 modification for the exercise of the option two under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operations support services at U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $178,629,215. The work to be performed provides for general management and administration services; command and staff (information technology services, information technology support and management, telephone services, telecommunication services, antenna maintenance); public safety (fire protection and emergency services); air operations (ground electronics, airfield facilities, and passenger terminal and cargo handling); port operations; supply (supply services and petroleum, oil and lubricant management and operations, and ship's store service activities); morale, welfare and recreation support; galley; bachelor quarters; facilities support (facility management, facility investment sustainment, restoration and modernization, custodial, pest control, integrated solid waste management, grounds maintenance, and pavement clearance); utilities (electrical, compressed gases, wastewater, steam, hot water and demineralized water, and potable water); base support vehicles and equipment; and environmental to provide integrated base operating services. Work will be performed in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, and is expected to be completed by November 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance (Navy and Air Force); and fiscal 2020 non-appropriated funds in the amount of $42,168,950 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the option period, of which $42,168,950 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Far East, Yokosuka, Japan, is the contracting activity (N62742-17-D-3600). Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Syracuse, New York, is awarded a $13,968,568 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-18-C-5300 to exercise options for AN/SLQ-32(V)6 design agent engineering services and travel. This option exercise is for engineering services and travel for the AN/SLQ-32(V)6 design agent contract under the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP). SEWIP is an evolutionary acquisition and incremental development program. AN/SLQ-32(V)6 upgrades the existing AN/SLQ-32(V) electronic warfare system by incorporating SEWIP Block 1B3 and SEWIP Block 2 systems. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York, and is expected to be completed by September 2020. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funding for $3,017,000 will be obligated at time of award, and $617,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Vigor Marine LLC, Portland, Oregon, is awarded a $7,706,240 firm, fixed-price contract (N3220520C4004) for a 50-calendar day shipyard availability for the mid-term availability of the USNS Yukon (T-AO 202). The $7,706,240 consists of the amounts listed in the following areas: Category “A” work item cost, additional government requirement, other direct costs, and the general and administrative costs. Work will include furnish general services, shipboard access and security, clean and gas free tanks, voids, cofferdams and spaces, tank deck overhead preservation, window regasketing and repair, aft mooring station overhead preservation, deck preservation, tie down replacement, pump room bilge preservation, miscellaneous steel replacement, tank preservation, house preservation, bridge, 06 level, radio air handler overhaul, accommodation vent system cleaning, highling cargo winch and motor, and winch refurbishment. The contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $8,825,852. Funds will be obligated Nov. 7, 2019. Contract completion will be Feb. 24, 2020. Work will be performed in Portland, Oregon, and is expected to begin Jan. 6, 2020. Contract funds for $7,706,240 excluding options, are obligated for fiscal 20 using (Navy) working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured, with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website and two offers were received. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220520C4004). Raytheon Co., Marlborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $7,590,539 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract N00024-14-C-5315 to procure provisioned item spares for the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) program and radar suite controller low-rate initial production. This modification will provide provisioned item spares for combat systems engineering development site power equipment and development back-end processing equipment group to support AMDR and radar suite controller low-rate initial production. Work will be performed in Cerritos, California (91%); and Marlborough, Massachusetts (9%), and is expected to be completed by June 2020. Fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding for $7,590,539 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, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. ARMY Weeks Marine Inc., Covington, Louisiana, was awarded a $151,305,750 firm-fixed-price contract for Savannah Harbor expansion project, maintenance and dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Savannah, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 1, 2022. Fiscal 2020 civil construction, operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $151,305,750 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-20-C-5001). CDO Technologies Inc.,* Dayton, Ohio (W52P1J-20-D-0001); and Lowry Holding Company Inc.,* (W52P1J-20-D-0002) will compete for each order of the $48,100,712 firm-fixed-price contract for Automatic Identification Technology data communications, hardware, software, documentation, incidental services, technical engineering services, training and warranty. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 10, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC, Oak Brook, Illinois, was awarded a $13,800,336 firm-fixed-price contract for Tybee Island shore protection project. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Savannah, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 16, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2020 river and harbor contributed; and civil construction funds in the amount of $13,800,336 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-20-C-5002). AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $22,482,383 contract for Laser Small Diameter Bomb all up rounds and warhead shipping containers. This contract provides 522 all up rounds and 131 warhead shipping containers for use by U.S. Special Operations Detachment 1. Work will be performed at St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be complete by Feb. 8, 2021. This award is the result of a sole source delivery order. Fiscal 2020 procurement funds in the amount of $21,533,816; and fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $948,567 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8656-19-F-1005). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2011830/source/GovDelivery/

Par Michel Cabirol Le drone tactique Patroller, qui doit être livré très prochainement à l'armée de Terre, devrait être armé d'une roquette guidée laser de 68 mm. Safran a reçu de la DGA une étude de levée de risques pour armer le Patroller. Tic-tac, tic-tac, tic-tac... La livraison du drone tactique Patroller est désormais une question de semaines. Prévue initialement le 22 novembre, elle a été très légèrement reportée à début décembre en raison de l'encombrement du trafic aérien à Istres, où le premier système (5 avions et deux stations sol) doit être remis à l'armée de Terre à l'issue d'une série de vols. Une fois le système testé à Istres, il sera rapatrié dare-dare à Chaumont où les créneaux de vol sont beaucoup plus simples à gérer pour l'armée de Terre, qui va devoir s'approprier ce nouveau système d'arme. Le Patroller est attendu sur les thé'tres d'opération mi-2021, et notamment sur la bande sahélo-saharienne (BSS). Le Patroller sera la "rolls" de l'armée de Terre. Équipé d'une boule optronique gyrostabilisée dernier cri, ce drone tactique vise à répondre aux missions de renseignement au profit des unités tactiques de l'armée de Terre en leur offrant une capacité de surveillance, d'acquisition, de reconnaissance et de renseignement (SA2R). Ce système d'observation est capable de détecter, d'identifier et de localiser, de jour comme de nuit, dans un champ atteignant presque 360°, tous les éléments observés sur une portée de 150 km (14 heures d'autonomie). "Il permet ainsi, presque immédiatement, de décrire une éventuelle unité ennemie, avait confirmé en juin dernier le général Jean-Pierre Bosser, qui était encore chef d'état-major de l'armée de Terre. Voilà un progrès essentiel apporté par la troisième dimension à l'armée de terre". Le Patroller armé d'une roquette guidée laser Une bonne nouvelle peut en cacher une autre. Safran a récemment obtenu la notification d'un contrat d'une durée de 18 mois pour une étude de levée de risques pour l'armement du Patroller, selon des sources concordantes. L'armée de Terre avait fortement plaidé pour armer le Patroller. "Pour les militaires l'armement des drones était depuis longtemps considéré comme une nécessité. (...) Nous avons clairement affirmé le besoin d'armer le Patroller", avait indiqué en mai 2018 lors d'une audition à l'Assemblée nationale le général Charles Beaudouin, sous-chef d'état-major chargé des plans et des programmes de l'état-major de l'armée de Terre. Le choix s'est porté sur la roquette guidée laser de 68mm de Thales, qui équipe déjà l'hélicoptère Tigre. Elle a été préférée à la version sol-air du missile MMP, le MHT de MBDA. Pourquoi ? La roquette guidée laser est dimensionnée aux besoins de l'armée de Terre en étant parfaitement adaptée à des objectifs rencontrés par le Patroller lors de ses missions de surveillance pour réaliser des tirs sur des cibles d'opportunité (pick-up, sniper...). La roquette est également beaucoup moins chère et plus légère que le MMP et son poste de tir. Ce dernier point permet d'optimiser l'autonomie du Patroller, qui un outil de gestion de crise. Enfin, la solution MMP, qui traite des cibles plus importantes (char, bunker...), aurait été plus compliquée techniquement à mettre au point en raison de son guidage (fibre optique). Bloqué par la direction générale de l'armement (DGA) en rétorsion aux retards du Patroller, cette étude de levée de risque était attendue depuis deux ans environ. C'était il y a deux ans déjà en septembre 2017 que la ministre des Armées Florence Parly avait annoncé dans un discours devenu fameux sa décision d'armer les drones Reaper français. "Deux ans de perdu", soupire une source interrogée par La Tribune. Aujourd'hui le Patroller armé est attendu au sein de l'armée de Terre en 2023 https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/le-drone-tactique-patroller-tres-proche-de-sa-premiere-livraison-832585.html