Nouvelles

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a maximum $835,737,596 modification (P00105) exercising the five-year option period of a five-year base contract (SPRPA1-14-D-002U) with one five-year option period for performance-based support of consumable items for various aviation platforms. This is a fixed-price-incentive firm contract. Location of performance is Missouri, with a Sept. 16, 2024, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sysco Hampton Roads, Suffolk, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $90,716,317 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for perishable and semi-perishable subsistence supplies. This was a sole-source acquisition in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a 363-day bridge contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Virginia, with a Dec. 11, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 and 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-20-D-3241). (Awarded Dec. 12, 2019) Pomp's Tire Service Inc., New Berlin, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $15,046,656 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for pneumatic tire and wheel assemblies. This was a competitive acquisition with one offer received. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Wisconsin, with a Dec. 16, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2022 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-20-D-0014). Puerto Rico Industries for the Blind Corp.,** Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $11,036,311 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for flame resistant jackets. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with a Dec. 15, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is 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 (SPE1C1-20-D-1219). UPDATE: Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., doing business as ADS Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia (SPE8EC-20-D-0052), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract issued against solicitation SPE8EC-17-R-0005 announced April 5, 2017. ARMY Johnson Controls Building Automation Systems LLC, Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $400,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for utility monitoring and control systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 19, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W912DY-20-D-0041). Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $64,736,518 modification (P00031) to contract W58RGZ-16-C-0008 for the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight Pilot Night Vision Sensor Performance Based Logistics program sustainment, support elements, system components, test equipment and the supply retrograde infrastructure. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2020 Army working capital funds in the amount of $64,736,518 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Attain LLC,* McLean, Virginia, was awarded a $30,492,418 modification (BA07 27) to contract W91QUZ-11-D-0016 to acquire and retain contractor employees with technical experience. Work will be performed in Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2020 cost-plus-fixed-fee funds in the amount of $ 8,174,474 other procurement, Army funds were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. MGS Construction Services Inc.,* Sallisaw, Oklahoma (W911SA-20-D-2000); Ryan Herring Construction Inc.,* Lawton, Oklahoma (W911SA-20-D-2001); and A&J Construction Management LLC,* Springdale, Arizona (W911SA-20-D-2002) will compete for each order of the $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for parts, labor, tools, equipment, materials, transportation and supervision necessary to perform design-build projects. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 15, 2024. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, is the contracting activity. NAVY General Dynamics Mission Systems, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is awarded a $299,886,600 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00030-20-C-0005) for fiscal 2020 through 2023 U.S. and United Kingdom Trident II (D-5) Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines Fire Control System, Guided Missile Submarines Attack Weapon Control System, and Support Equipment Rework Facility support. Work will be performed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts (90%); Kings Bay, Georgia (3.0%); Bangor, Washington (2.0%); Dahlgren, Virginia (2.0%); Cape Canaveral, Florida (1.0%); Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington (1.0%); and Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia (1.0%). Work is expected to be completed Dec. 30, 2024. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,061,163, fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,907,880, fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,006,230, and United Kingdom funds in the amount of $8,890,232 are being obligated on this award. Of this amount, $10,067,393 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is being awarded to the contractor on a sole source basis in accordance to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and (4) and was previously synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $27,681,322 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-19-C-6400 to exercise options for systems engineering and integration on Navy submarines. This option exercise is for engineering and technical services and includes all material travel, subsistence and incidental material in support of those services. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (68%); Groton, Connecticut (10%); Waterford, Connecticut (10%); Middletown, Rhode Island (7%); and Newport, Rhode Island (5%), and is expected to be completed by December 2020. Fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) and fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $7,198,430 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. Motorola Solutions Inc., Chicago, Illinois, is awarded a $23,803,734 firm-fixed-price contract for lifecycle sustainment of the enterprise land mobile radio system for Naval Facilities Engineering Command anti-terrorism/force protection ashore program systems at various Navy installations worldwide. The work to be performed provides for preventive maintenance of hardware and software; response and resolution of service calls for corrective maintenance to include equipment repair, overhaul, or replacement, asset and configuration management, password management and software upgrade installation. The contract also contains four unexercised options, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $93,614,301. Work will be performed worldwide, and is expected to be completed by December 2020. If all options are exercised, work will continue through June 2023. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $23,803,734 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was solicited on a sole-source basis. Statutory authority for the use of other than full and open competition is found at 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(iii), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity (N39430-20-C-2214). AIR FORCE ViaSat Inc., Carlsbad, California, has been awarded a $93,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide AN/PRC-161 Handheld Link 16 radios, ancillaries and associated training to special warfare operators. Work will be performed at Carlsbad, California, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2023. This contract is awarded on a non-competitive basis. Fiscal 2020 other procurement funds are being used and no funds are being obligated at the time of the award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8629-20-D-5000). Able Aerospace Services Inc., Mesa, Arizona, has been awarded a $9,405,053 requirements contract for the overhaul of the dynamic components on the TH-1H helicopter. This contract provides for the overhaul of the dynamic components associated with the TH-1H helicopter which is used to train and develop pilot skills. The dynamic components provide power-train and aerodynamic functionality to the flight characteristics of the aircraft. Work will be performed at Mesa, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by Dec 15, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. Fiscal 2020 defense working capital funds are being used and no funds are being obligated at the time of the award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8524-20-D-0004). Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a not-to-exceed $9,111,111 predominantly firm-fixed-price undefinitized contract to provide technical security team support services in support of the Pakistan F-16 program. Work will be performed in Pakistan and is expected to be complete by June 18, 2020. This contract involves 100% foreign military sales to Pakistan. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Foreign military sales funds of $4,464,444 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8630-20-C-5020). DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY Cape Fox Facilities Services LLC, Manassas, Virginia, was awarded a three-year contract (one-year base and two option periods) with an estimated value of $19,500,300. This contract supports the Defense Health Agency, Deputy Assistant Director for Information Operations, Solutions Delivery Division. The contractor shall perform all activities within the scope of this contract under the construct of the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), specifically the service operation and service transition domains. This initiative supports all operations and maintenance activities for the applications listed below under the ITIL construct. The seven applications are as follows: MHS Management Analysis and Reporting Tool, Patient Encounter Processing and Reporting, Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics, Protected Health Information Management Tool, Business Objects Common Services, Defense Medical Human Resources System - Internet and the Expense Assignment System. The contract was awarded on a sole source basis as authorized and in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S. Code 637(a)(1)). The location of performance is inside the U.S. The base year is funded with fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $8,065,200. The Defense Health Agency, Professional Services Contracting Division, Falls Church, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HT0011-20-C-0001). MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY The Boeing Co., Huntsville, Alabama, is being issued a $15,800,000 modification (P00024) to a previously awarded contract, HQ0277-18-C-0003. The value of this contract is increased from $62,361,210 to $78,161,210. Under this modification, the contractor will demonstrate a successful transition of fiber combined laser technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology–Lincoln Laboratory. The work will be performed in Huntington Beach, California. The period of performance is extended from March 31, 2020, until March 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. *Small Business **Small business in historically underutilized business zones https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2041268/source/GovDelivery/

ARMY BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP, York, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $249,152,760 modification (P00042) to contract W56HZV-17-C-0001 for the Self-Propelled Howitzer and carrier, ammunition, tracked vehicles and their associated support under the production contract to build and deliver M109A7s and M992A3s. Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2023. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $249,152,760 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Palantir USG Inc., Palo Alto, California, was awarded an $110,814,893 other transaction agreement contract for numerous databases across the Army enterprise integrated on one platform. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 15, 2023. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $32,545,300 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-20-9-P001). Conco Inc.,* Louisville, Kentucky (W15QKN-20-D-0003); and Delfasco LLC,* Afton, Tennessee (W15QKN-20-D-0004), will compete for each order of the $46,200,000 firm-fixed-price contract for manufacture, inspect, test, and deliver metal containers and covers for the M231 and M232 series for the Modular Artillery Charge Systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 12, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Alabama Department of Rehabilitation, Montgomery, Alabama, was awarded a $32,150,000 firm-fixed-price contract for full food service operations of an Army dining facility, receiving, storing, preparing, requisitioning, and serving food. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 13, 2025. U.S. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9124J-20-D-0005). Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $15,547,894 modification (P00084) to contract W31P4Q-15-C-0102 for the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile production line for a rate ramp increase of 50 to 100 missiles per month. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of March 30, 2022. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 procurement of ammunition, Army funds in the amount of $15,547,894 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. AM General LLC, South Bend, Indiana, was awarded a $15,118,831 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Jordan) contract for hardware support to reset and upgrade a fleet of 200 M998 High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicles. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Work will be performed in Amman, Jordan, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 13, 2020. Fiscal 2020 Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $15,118,831 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-20-C-0037). Primus, Beltsville, Maryland, was awarded an $8,782,763 firm-fixed-price contract for cold and hot aviation refuel and defuel services, personnel, management, parts, supplies, transportation and vehicles/trucks. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Work will be performed in Daleville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of June 16, 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $5,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W9124G-20-C-0004). NAVY Noresco LLC, Westborough, Massachusetts, is awarded firm-fixed-price task order (N3943020F9905) at $169,331,394, under a multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for energy conservation measures at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut. The work to be performed provides for the construction, operations, and maintenance of energy conservations to improve energy efficiency and reliability, which include energy management control system upgrades, combined heat power and micro-grid expansion, lighting upgrades, and steam distribution improvements. Work will be performed at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in 21 years by December 2040. No funds will be obligated with this award, as private financing obtained by the contractor will be used for the 36-month construction (i.e. implementation) phase of the project. Five 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 & Renewable Energy, Golden, Colorado, is the contracting activity for the basic contract (DE-AM36-09GO29039). Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Marlborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $123,532,573 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-19-C-5112) to exercise options for fiscal 2020 production of AEGIS Weapon System Fire Control System (FCS) MK 99 equipment, AEGIS modernization production requirements, and associated engineering services. These services are in support of DDG 51 Class Flight III destroyers and the Spanish navy's F-110 program. This modification also covers the production of the AEGIS BMD Kill Assessment Ordnance Alteration (ORDALT) Kits and Solid State Switch Assembly (SSSA) Special Test Equipment (STE). The AMOD program fields combat system upgrades that will enhance the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) and Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capabilities of AEGIS equipped DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Work will be performed in Andover, Massachusetts (81%); Marlborough, Massachusetts (10%); Chesapeake, Virginia (3 %); Portsmouth, Rhode Island (3%); San Diego, California (2%); and Burlington, Massachusetts (1%), and is expected to be completed by April 2023. Foreign Military Sales; fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2020 defense wide procurement funding in the amount of $123,532,573 will be obligated at the 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. Anchor Innovation, Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N00167-20-D-0001); Auxiliary Systems Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N00167-20-D-0002); Colonna's Shipyard Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N00167-20-D-0003); Fairlead Boatworks Inc.,* Newport News, Virginia (N00167-20-D-0004); Gryphon Technologies LC, Washington, District of Columbia (N00167-20-D-0005); Q.E.D. Systems Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia (N00167-20-D-0006); and United States Marine Inc.,* Gulfport, Mississippi (N00167-20-D-0007), are awarded a combined maximum $43,109,222 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award contract for watercraft industrial services and supplies in support covering all phases of watercraft total life cycle to include construction, proof of design, model development and realization, fabrication, modernization, repair, overhaul quality assurance, and testing of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division Detachment Norfolk, Combatant Craft Division. The contractor shall perform in a wide variety of locations both within the continental U.S. and outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS). The expected work distribution by performance location includes Mid Atlantic U.S. (60%); Southwest U.S. (15%); U.S. Gulf Coast (2%); Northwest U.S. (2%); Northeast U.S. (1%); other/OCONUS (20%). OCONUS locations typically include, but are not limited to Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Italy, Horn of Africa, Guam, Japan, Hawaii and Alaska. Work is expected to be complete by December 2022. Fiscal 2020 service cost center (Navy) funding in the total amount of $12,000 will be obligated at time of award to meet the minimum guarantee under each contract and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with seven offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, Detachment Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. John C. Grimberg Co. Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $27,830,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction repair of a solid state electronic devices laboratory at Naval Research Laboratory. The work to be performed will repair Building 74, including conversion of existing high bay storage into laboratory spaces, and will repair Building 81. Repair work in Building 74 includes replacement and repair of structural and architectural systems including steel framing, second floor assembly, roof, windows, doors, exterior finishes, exterior egress stairs, elevator, partitions, interior finished, laboratory facilities and abatement of hazardous materials. The renovation also includes replacement of mechanical and electrical systems including controls, chilled water system, air handling system, fire protection, clean room and laboratory systems (water, gas, ventilation, pressurization, and filtration), lighting, power and electrical distribution. Repairs in Building 81 will replace deteriorated components while additional construction will alter the building height to accommodate specialized equipment. Work will be performed in Washington, District of Columbia, and is expected to be completed by January 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $27,830,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N40080-20-C-0004). Arete Associates Inc.,* Northridge, California, is awarded a $17,561,860 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously-awarded contract (N61331-18-D-0012) to exercise Option 2, to provide Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) Block I systems. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (35%); Destin, Florida (35%); and Santa Rosa, California (30%), and is expected to be completed by July 2022. No funding will be obligated at time of award. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, Panama City, Florida, is the contracting activity. Noresco LLC, Westborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $16,988,494 firm-fixed-price task order (N3943020F9903) under a multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, energy savings performance contract at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia. The work to be performed provides for the design, construction, and installation of energy conservation measures for boiler plant improvements, water and sewer conservation systems and water resiliency. The work also provides for performance period services consisting of measurement and verification, operations and maintenance, and repair and replacement services. Work will be performed at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed in 22 years by December 2041. No funds will be obligated with this award, as private financing obtained by the contractor will be used for the 24-month construction (i.e. implementation) phase of the project. Nine proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities 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-AM36-90GO29039). AIR FORCE Pinnacle Solutions Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, has been awarded a $21,395,866 modification (P00049) to previously awarded FA8621-16-C-6281 for support of the KC-10 training system. This contract modification provides for the exercise of Option Year Four. Work will be performed at Travis Air Force Base, California; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; and the Training System Support Center in Fairfield, California, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $105,964,368. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $14,965,279 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. Edaptive Computing Inc., Dayton, Ohio, has been awarded a $14,865,271 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development of the Joint Federated Assurance Center Trust Lab Enterprise effort. This effort seeks to enhance, deploy, transition, and support decision-aiding tools for the Air Force Research Laboratory Joint Federated Assurance Center trust laboratory research and development of analysis, design and verification tools to promote trusted systems engineering for integrated circuits electronics. Work will be performed at Dayton, Ohio, and the work is expected to be completed by March 13, 2024. This award is the result of a non-competitive acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research and development funds in the amount of $12,500,000 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Research Lab, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-20-F-1956). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Ultrax Aerospace Inc., Lees Summit, Montana, has been awarded a maximum $13,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for spares/repairs in support of the UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter Automated Flight Control line replaceable units. 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 base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Montana, with a Dec. 12, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-20-D-0004). DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE Kearney and Company PC, Alexandria, Virginia, is being awarded a labor-hour contract option with a maximum value of $10,721,966 for audit services of the Defense Health Program (DHP). Work will be performed in various locations including the DHP headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia, as well as other federal locations in Texas, Ohio, Indianapolis, Maryland, Colorado, New York, and Maine, with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2020. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition in which two bids were received. This award brings the total cumulative value of the contract to $36,598,260. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, defense wide funds in the amount of $10,721,966 are being obligated at the time of this option award. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Contract Services Directorate, Columbus, Ohio, is the contracting activity (HQ0423-17-F-0096). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2040280/source/GovDelivery/

The Air Force Research Laboratory believes it's on to something when it comes to long-endurance drone flight. By THERESA HITCHENS WASHINGTON: While other commercial and military drones have flown longer, the two and a half day flight of the Air Force's latest unmanned aircraft prototype this week does represent a kind of breakthrough for the US military: proving that commercial technology can be adapted to build affordable long-endurance and highly capable surveillance drones. And the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Dayton, Ohio is convinced that the new, autonomous Ultra-Long Endurance Aircraft Platform (Ultra LEAP) will be able to stay in the sky for longer in future flight tests. “Developing a UAS with this level of endurance is an incredible achievement for future warfighting and battlefield success,” said Paul Litke, the AFRL project engineer for Ultra LEAP. In an Air Force announcement yesterday, Litke explains that since the system employs many commercial off-the-shelf components, Ultra LEAP will dramatically reduce the costs for high performance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones. The “2.5-day Ultra LEAP mission is a significant milestone in solving the tyranny of distance problem for ISR systems,” said Dr. Alok Das, director of AFRL's Center for Rapid Innovation (CRI). “It will provide immediate benefit to our warfighters while at the same time paving the path for future low-cost, multi-day endurance ISR systems.” Ultra LEAP is based on a commercially available “sport-class” commercial airframe — sport aircraft cost anywhere between $20,000 and $140,000. An AFRL spokesman told Breaking D today that the service could not release the name of the company providing the chassis “for security reasons.” The basic airframe was souped up by AFRL to carry a “customizable suite of ISR tools” that feature “secure, easy to use navigation employing anti-jam GPS and full global operational access via a satellite-based command and control and high-rate ISR data relay link.” The aircraft body was further “converted to a fully automated system with autonomous takeoff and landing capabilities,” the press release said. The high level of automation it provides will enable greatly reduced operator training requirements for the Air Force. Smaller support crews will also lead to lower operating costs, according to AFRL. “As the Air Force balances current readiness with long-term modernization, Ultra LEAP represents an affordable approach that supports both existing and future force needs,” said Maj. Gen. William Cooley, AFRL commander, adding that the “enhanced UAS capabilities along with the cost savings offers the military a winning solution.” The Ultra LEAP effort evolved from an earlier AFRL experiment, just called LEAP but with the A standing for aircraft, started in 2016. Then AFRL Commander Robert McMurry testified to Congress in September 2016 that the program, managed by CRI, was designed to provide “a revolutionary, low-cost, low acoustic signature, persistent aerial ISR capability to address Combatant Command and U.S. Special Forces ISR gaps by converting a proven, fuel-efficient Light Sport Aircraft into an UAS.” Four of the original LEAP aircraft were deployed in early 2016 in conjunction with Special Operations Command, he said. McMurry added that “LEAP significantly bends today's ISR cost-performance curve and enables needed counter- insurgency capability and ISR capacity at a fraction of the cost of comparably performing systems.” The original LEAP was capable of missions up to 40 hours and has completed more than 18,000 combat flight hours. Using the same commercial customization strategy as the original LEAP, CRI developed Ultra LEAP from concept to first flight in less than 10 months, the AFRL release explained, and the system could be ready for operational fielding as soon as 2020. The Air Force is interested in developing a range of long-endurance ISR drones, and in August 2018 issued its Next Generation Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Dominance Flight Plan. The plan sets out the service strategy for “a shift from a manpower-intensive permissive environment to a human-machine teaming approach in a peer threat environment.” For example, the Air Force issued a $48 million contract to Boeing's Aurora Flight Sciences subsidiary for its Orion drone in January 2018. Orion has an endurance of 80 hours. In May of this year, AFRL worked jointly with Lockheed Martin to enhance its Condor eXtended Endurance and Payload (XEP) — improving its endurance from two hours to four. The team also improved the small drone's fuselage to accommodate multiple payload types, according to a May 22 Lockheed Martin press release. The current record for the longest flight time by an unmanned aerial vehicle is held by the pseudo-satellite (an airframe that flies very, very high in the stratosphere) called Zephyr, developed by Airbus Defense and Space. It flew for more than 25 days in the fall of 2018. The US military's most famous drone, the armed MQ-1 Predator made by General Atomics, has an endurance of 40 hours. https://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/new-low-cost-air-force-isr-drone-prototype-flies-2-5-days

La lettre de mandat du ministre canadien de la Défense, Harjit Sajjan, met de l'avant la mission délicate de « moderniser » le Commandement de la défense aérospatiale de l'Amérique du Nord (NORAD) avec les États-Unis. Revoir les engagements du Canada dans la défense des côtes et de l'espace aérien nord-américain avec les États-Unis sera particulièrement délicat dans le contexte d'un gouvernement minoritaire. Selon la lettre de mandat reçue par le ministre, il est nécessaire de développer une meilleure surveillance, une meilleure défense et une meilleure réponse dans le Nord et dans les voies aériennes et maritimes menant au Canada, de renforcer notre défense continentale, de protéger les droits et la souveraineté du Canada et de démontrer un leadership international pour le respect dans la navigation au sein des eaux arctiques. En 2017, alors que Donald Trump venait d'être élu président des États-Unis, la modernisation du NORAD s'était retrouvé au menu de sa première rencontre avec le premier ministre canadien, Justin Trudeau. undefined Commentaires Radio-Canada Publié le 13 décembre 2019 La lettre de mandat du ministre canadien de la Défense, Harjit Sajjan, met de l'avant la mission délicate de « moderniser » le Commandement de la défense aérospatiale de l'Amérique du Nord (NORAD) avec les États-Unis. Revoir les engagements du Canada dans la défense des côtes et de l'espace aérien nord-américain avec les États-Unis sera particulièrement délicat dans le contexte d'un gouvernement minoritaire. Selon la lettre de mandat reçue par le ministre, il est nécessaire de développer une meilleure surveillance, une meilleure défense et une meilleure réponse dans le Nord et dans les voies aériennes et maritimes menant au Canada, de renforcer notre défense continentale, de protéger les droits et la souveraineté du Canada et de démontrer un leadership international pour le respect dans la navigation au sein des eaux arctiques. En 2017, alors que Donald Trump venait d'être élu président des États-Unis, la modernisation du NORAD s'était retrouvé au menu de sa première rencontre avec le premier ministre canadien, Justin Trudeau. Pour le moment, les responsables de la Défense tant américains que canadiens analysent encore les différentes options à proposer à leur gouvernement respectif. Avant le déclenchement de la dernière campagne électorale canadienne, le ministre Sajjan avait déclaré qu'aucune entente n'avait encore été conclue entre le Canada et les États-Unis à ce sujet, laissant sous-entendre que le sujet était politiquement sensible entre les deux pays. Des experts estiment que la modernisation du réseau de stations radar entre les deux pays pourrait coûter 11 milliards de dollars, une facture que devra être assumée à 40 % par le Canada. Le renouveau du NORAD remettra de l'avant la participation du Canada au bouclier antimissile américain. Le Canada avait refusé de s'y joindre en 2005, quand Paul Martin dirigeait le pays. Avec les informations de Murray Brewster de CBC News https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1432723/defense-canada-etats-unis-lettre-mandat-sajjan-norad

Two senior officers from the New York Air National Guard of the United States Air Force visited Winnipeg, Man., on Nov. 19 and 20, 2019, as part of the first official 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region (1 CAD/CANR) Arctic Airpower Seminar. Col Michele Kilgore and Col Clifford Souza, commanders of the 109th Airlift Wing and 109th Operations Group respectively, engaged in discussions with a diverse group of operators, specialists and advisors to talk about training and operational opportunities that would benefit the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and its United States Air Force (USAF) allied partners. BGen Ed “Hertz” Vaughan, deputy commander of CANR and deputy Combined/Joint Forces Air Component commander for 1 CAD/CANR, hosted the two-day seminar. A partnership last September between the RCAF and the 109th Airlift Wing executing Operation Boxtop, the mission to bring supplies to Canadian Forces Station Alert in Nunavut, prompted him to invite members of the 109th Airlift Wing to the seminar to exchange information on processes and objectives. “The Arctic is critically important to the security and defence of North America, and our ability to survive and operate in the Arctic domain are essential parts of our daily mission at 1 CAD/CANR,” said Vaughan. “We established this series of seminars to help build relationships and deep dive into the specific of polar logistics and sustainment. Forging partnerships across Arctic communities, mission stakeholders, and allied forces are requirements for success.” The RCAF is no stranger to bi-national operations. Every day, military personnel and defence team members from Canada and the United States work together to protect and defend North American airspace through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) mission. Comprising more than 40 per cent of Canada's land mass (and 75 per cent of Canada's coastline) with about 120,000 inhabitants, the Arctic is undergoing significant change. Retreating ice cover is opening the way for increased shipping, tourism, and resource exploration, increasing interest in the region. Following the presentations and discussion sessions, seminar attendees visited with members of 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, a unit that routinely deploys north in support of Canada's NORAD and search and rescue commitments, to learn more about the role they play in the daily delivery of air power in the North. “The Arctic can be a complex, harsh and unforgiving location to operate in if one isn't prepared to face its challenges,” said Vaughan. “These seminars permit us to learn from our partners and allies as we continue developing the skills, technology, and relationships to work effectively in a polar environment. I look forward to our next seminar in Yellowknife, focused on energy security at remote locations, and many more seminars to come. “ https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/canadian-norad-region-hosts-first-arctic-airpower-seminar

by Ken Pole The long-overdue replacement of the Royal Canadian Air Force's fleet of Boeing CF-188 Hornets was highlighted Dec. 13 in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mandate letters to his new cabinet. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, who had the fighter program in his sights throughout his first four years in the portfolio, and Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand, a newcomer to Parliament, have been directed to co-operate on finally getting a contract. There are three remaining contenders: Lockheed Martin's F-35A Lightning II, Boeing's F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, and the Saab Gripen E/F. Trudeau's letter to Sajjan makes it clear that new fighters would be part of a renewed commitment not only to national defence, but also to the continental umbrella afforded by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) as well as meeting international commitments through the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). While cabinet veteran Navdeep Bains, minister of Innovation, Science & Industry, is not mentioned in Sajjan's letter, he is referred to in Anand's letter, mainly due to his ministry's oversight of industrial spinoffs from the fighter contract. https://www.skiesmag.com/news/trudeau-directs-ministers-to-cement-fighter-deal

Selon la SonntagsZeitung, le président américain Donald Trump veut acheter des anciens avions de combat Tiger de l'armée suisse. Un accord serait sur le point d'être conclu. Quelque 40 millions de dollars sont prévus pour ce rachat dans le budget 2020 de Donald Trump, explique le journal alémanique. La livraison des Tiger F5, des jets vieux de 35 ans, serait prévue dès janvier 2021. Selon Armasuisse, des discussions ont eu lieu cet été, mais il faut encore le feu vert du Congrès et du Sénat au budget de la Défense pour conclure l'accord. Même s'ils ne sont plus en service, les avions coûtent encore un demi-million de francs par an pour l'entretien et le stationnement. Des jets suisses pour les entraînements La Marine américaine a déjà acheté 44 F5 à la Suisse entre 2002 et 2009 à des fins de formation. Le prix par engin était alors d'un demi-million de dollars, contre 1,8 million pour les avions prévus dans l'accord en préparation, détaille encore la SonntagsZeitung. >> Lire aussi: Les anciens Tiger F5 suisses font le bonheur de l'armée américaine Le concept de défense aérienne Air2030 prévoit le renouvellement de la flotte suisse et du système de défense sol-air de longue portée entre 2025 et 2030. Les Tiger F5 encore en service ne sont opérationnels que de jour et par bonne visibilité, alors que les F/A-18 arrivent au terme de leur durée d'utilisation dans dix ans au plus tard. Pour les remplacer, quatre constructeurs sont en lice: le français Dassault (Rafale), l'européen Airbus (Eurofighter) et les américains Boeing (F/A-18 Super Hornet) et Lockheed-Martin (F-35A). https://www.rts.ch/info/economie/10945692-l-us-navy-souhaiterait-racheter-22-avions-de-chasse-a-la-confederation-.html

OTTAWA — Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has come out in support of Canada's top military general, saying the country is "very fortunate" to have someone like Gen. Jonathan Vance leading the Canadian Armed Forces. The comments come amid questions over whether the newly re-elected Liberal government plans to replace Vance, who was first appointed chief of the defence staff by Stephen Harper and is now in his fifth year in the position. "When it comes to the chief of defence staff, this is a decision for the prime minister and so we'll reflect on that and make a decision accordingly," Sajjan told The Canadian Press during a wide-ranging interview last week. However, he added, "Canada has been very fortunate to have somebody like Gen. Vance in this role at a very important time." Vance is already one of the longest-serving defence chiefs in Canadian history, and his lengthy tenure has coincided with a number of significant decisions and developments for the Armed Forces - both positive and negative. Those include significant new investments in the military through a new defence policy, the deployment of troops to Iraq, Mali and Latvia as well as efforts to crackdown on sexual misconduct and recruit more women. Yet he has also faced his share of criticism over the years, including over his decision to suspend Mark Norman in 2017, more than a year before the now-retired vice-admiral was charged with breach of trust. The case was eventually dropped. Vance also found himself under fire for the way he handled replacing Norman as the military's second-in-command last year, which saw significant upheaval and instability in the Armed Forces' senior ranks. The defence chief has also been accused of being too supportive of controversial decisions by the Liberal government such as its plan to buy interim fighter jets while some in the Forces have grumbled about a domineering style. While he wouldn't say whether the government planned to replace Vance any time soon, Sajjan said the general has brought important qualities and attributes to the high-profile and difficult position over the past four-plus years. Those include Vance's experience having served in Afghanistan and elsewhere and the work that he put into helping the government develop its defence policy, which was released in June 2017. "I'm very happy with the service that Gen. Vance has given," Sajjan said. "There's only one four-star general in our Canadian Armed Forces. You don't get there easily and every single one brings a unique experience. And Gen. Vance has brought very important experience during a very important time." Speculation about Vance's future has been mounting if for no other reason than the amount of time he has spent as Canada's top military general, said defence analyst David Perry of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Exactly who would replace him is an open question, however. Norman's suspension and subsequent retirement contributed to a wider series of changes within the top ranks that have left many senior commanders relatively new in their positions. The reality is that Vance and Sajjan, who has served as defence minister since the Liberals were first elected to power in fall 2015, have emerged as the "constants" at the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, said Perry. Given that and indications the Liberals do not have big plans to dramatically switch directions or roll out new initiatives for the military, "I think there's going to be a lot of continuity," he added. Which on the surface would suggest no immediate changes at the top. "Certainly the signals the government has sent to this point of time look a lot more like continuity and continuing to implement the policy and the framework that they set in place during the last Parliament." This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Dec. 15, 2019. https://www.nsnews.com/defence-minister-says-canada-very-fortunate-to-have-vance-as-defence-chief-1.24035658

Lee Berthiaume OTTAWA -- The federal government is predicting Canadian defence spending will inch closer to its NATO promises in the coming years than originally expected -- though not because Ottawa is planning to send new money the military's way. All NATO members, including Canada, agreed in 2014 to work toward spending the equivalent of two per cent of their gross domestic products on defence within the next decade as the military alliance sought to share the burden of defending from new threats like Russia and China. Two years ago, when they unveiled their defence policy, the Liberals said the government would hit 1.4 per cent by 2024-25. But Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan this week said, without providing details, that defence spending would instead reach 1.48 per cent of GDP. An increase of that size could represent close to $2 billion more per year for the military. However, the Department of National Defence told The Canadian Press that there are no new investments on the horizon for the Canadian Armed Forces beyond what's already in the Liberals' policy. Instead, Defence Department spokesman Daniel Le Bouthiller attributed the change to slower-than-expected economic growth over the next few years and more spending on non-military specific activities like veterans' benefits and the Canadian Coast Guard. The government has included such activities in its calculations since 2017 to try to address complaints from the U.S. and other NATO allies that Canada was not investing enough in its military. NATO approved the change. "Approximately two-thirds of the increase from 1.40 to 1.48 per cent is due to increased (other government department) forecasts and one-third due to fluctuating GDP forecasts," Le Bouthillier said in an email. Canada currently spends about 1.31 per cent of GDP -- a common measurement of a country's economic output -- on defence and has no plan to reach NATO's two per cent benchmark, a fact that has made it a target for U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump labelled Canada "slightly delinquent" on defence spending during a meeting in London last week in which he publicly grilled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about Canada's number before subsequently stepping up his calls for the government to meet the NATO target. "He's not paying two per cent and he should be paying two per cent," Trump said during a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Dec. 4. "It's Canada. They have money and they should be paying two per cent." The Liberal government has in fact refused to say whether it believes in the two-per-cent target and has instead repeatedly pointed to Canada's contributions of forces and equipment to NATO missions in Latvia, Iraq and other places as a better measurement of its contributions to the military alliance. The spending target is an imperfect way of measuring how much individual countries are contributing, said Stefanie von Hlatky, an expert on NATO and the military at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. But all allies are facing pressure to show Trump that they are stepping up on defence spending, she said, which is doubly true for Trudeau after his meeting with the U.S. president in London. "I think there's a little bit of pressure now to maybe update those numbers and probably some rejoicing that it looks better on paper," von Hlatky said. "If we're looking to impress Trump with these minor adjustments, maybe it's all for naught. But there is definitely added pressure with every NATO meeting and NATO summit. And we know it's going to come up as long as Trump is president." Conservative defence critic James Bezan accused the Liberal government of playing a numbers game to make Canada look better rather than investing in the Armed Forces. "It's a sad state of affairs for our military heroes when Justin Trudeau can only improve defence spending figures by engineering a made-in-Canada recession and playing a shell game with other departments' budgets to inflate the numbers," he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Dec. 13, 2019. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/slower-than-expected-economic-growth-to-help-canada-s-defence-spending-numbers-1.4728602