Nouvelles

Governments may be open for business, but that doesn't mean doing business with a government is necessarily easy. Government procurement is complex - this is not by happenstance. The rules on public procurement stem from a number of sources including law (trade agreements, the common law and legislation) and policy. It can be a painful and costly learning curve for companies that want to sell goods and services to the country's largest buyers if they don't understand the rules. Government decision-makers are answerable to a very wide range of stakeholders, including the Canadian voters who put them in office and the Canadian taxpayers who fund their operations. In a public procurement, it's not just about getting the best deal – it is also about meeting the broader public interest and achieving long-term policy objectives. The Goal is to Promote Fairness Competition is the rule in public procurement because it offers a fair, open and transparent environment, and meets the public objective that all potential suppliers get a fair kick at the can to sell to government. This is important when you consider that, for example, the Department of National Defence is the largest Canadian purchaser of goods and services from the Canadian defence industry. Canada has implemented several trade agreements in the past few years, including the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) (which replaced the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)). Understanding how these agreements impact procurement is even more important for suppliers and their federal, provincial and territorial government customers, as well as for the municipal, academic, school and hospital (MASH) sector which may now be subject to trade agreements for the first time or subject to additional or new rules brought about by these new trade agreements. Prepare your RFP Response Team for a Long Haul Businesses must understand the processes that come into play in public procurements, such as the need to resource their RFP response team for a long period of time or the impact of failing to meet mandatory RFP requirements (disqualification from the procurement process). Learning to manage the length of time it takes to progress through a procurement cycle, and to navigate the processes, is a big challenge. In business, relationships matter, but developing a good working relationship with key decision makers in government departments or agencies can be difficult since government tends to have greater workforce mobility and people change in and out of roles frequently. Further, dealing with government means complying with lobbying law and conflict of interest rules. In many jurisdictions, discussions about procurement requirements outside of public solicitation processes is considered lobbying, as it is attempting to sell products or services to the government. Conflict of interest rules may also preclude certain people from doing business with government officials. Approaching public procurement with a "commercial-centric" view often leads to frustration. The federal government does understand "how business works," but there are still many aspects of a public procurement that are not (and cannot be) commercially focused, including those related to complying with applicable trade agreements, protecting the public interest, and serving policy objectives such as regional development and economic diversification. Companies participating in a public sector procurement process face unique compliance requirements that don't come into play with a typical private commercial transaction. Expect Heightened Security Requirements With the increasing attention being paid to cybersecurity and data protection, companies will find they are now subject to more stringent security requirements, including an increased requirement for product functionality and security control disclosure in advance of their products or services being accepted by government buyers. This level of disclosure can extend through to greater access to the underlying technology used so that the customer itself can test for, and understand, cyber-threat vulnerabilities. Whether this is your first foray into the world of government procurement – and you need to understand the rules of public procurement so that you can properly understand the RFP documents and the plethora of government policies – or you have a broader interest focused on influencing government policy and direction as it relates to your business or your industry, knowing how to best position your organization to take advantage of both possible routes is critical to a successful government procurement business. Waiting until you have lost a bid is too late to effect a change for your organization's benefit. Be Proactive with the Right Advice Regardless of your focus, knowing how the system works and how to best advocate for your interests is a crucial and part of any successful business plan. Working with a legal team that has knowledge and experience in all of these areas and can assist with strategic planning and approach from start to finish is critical to success. https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=4d2ced7d-7e1a-47f0-bf39-ced9b8a0b39d

By Dominik Kimla and Hamilton Cook Posted September 19, 2019 In White Papers One of the more dissonant aspects of NATO field exercises is, three decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the continued presence of Warsaw Pact weapons and equipment: Soviet-made T-series tanks, MiG fighters, Mi-17 helicopters, BM-21 rocket artillery, and more. Like their western counterparts on the continent, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) states have repeatedly delayed needed recapitalization as defense needs gave way to domestic imperatives. But times – and threat assessments – are changing. By our analysis, cumulative CEE defense spending will be nearly $200 billion over the next five years, growing by nearly five percent per year. More than a quarter of that total, some $53 billion, will be spent on defense hardware procurement. This represents a rare opportunity for Western defense firms – European and American – to seize a first-mover advantage. However, US companies must find new ways to credibly differentiate themselves from European competitors that may offer more financial and industrial incentives (and fewer regulatory hassles) in the long run. Currently, US companies are well positioned for success as more aggressive US government advocacy has led to recent CEE customer wins for Black Hawk helicopters (Latvia, Poland, Slovakia), F-16 fighters (Bulgaria, Slovakia), HIMARS (Poland, Romania), JLTV (Lithuania), and Patriot AMD systems (Poland, Romania). The US effort to steer CEE weapons-buying decisions picked up further momentum last year with the State Department-led European Recapitalization Incentive Program (ERIP), which provided $190 million in financing assistance to five Balkan countries (along with Slovakia) to replace ex-Soviet and Yugoslav-made equipment. Even as ERIP expands, American companies will still have plenty of obstacles ahead. Historically, the limited new weapons procurement in most CEE countries included minimal offset or local industrialization requirements. Going forward, reporting suggests that CEE countries, even as small as Croatia or Slovenia, will demand some form of local industrial participation and technology cooperation to develop their indigenous capabilities. This puts American firms at a disadvantage given the US government's still-stringent technology transfer regime. Western European companies will differentiate themselves by proposing generous technology and work-sharing transfers, integrating local defense companies into their supply chains, and setting up a pan-European Defense Industrial Base. The European Defense Fund (EDF) will fuel this by providing up to €13 billion over the next eight years to cultivate and secure these local ties. By financing collaborative R&D projects, prototype development, and disruptive, higher-risk defense innovation, the EDF will entrench Western European companies in CEE defense establishments over the medium to long term. Yet, from the perspective of vulnerable members on NATO's eastern flank, only the US has the political power and defense capabilities to counter Russian meddling and aggression. Given the ambivalence of Western European powers about confronting Russia, and the appearance of oft-fluctuating US commitment to NATO, CEE nations may see buying American not only as a means to get best-in-class (but more costly) weapons, but also as a binding mechanism to enhance US political and military commitment. This dynamic was most vividly illustrated with Poland as it announced its intention to pursue the F-35, a platform historically out of Poland's “price range.” The purchase was also one of three major cornerstones for ensuring US investment in Polish security. The others were Poland's procurement of Patriot AMD systems and its agreement to – and its offer to fund – enduring US basing in-country. However, Poland will still expect significant local industrial benefit as part of any arms transaction, as defense acquisitions continue to be as much a political and (parochial) economic exercise as a military one. European firms have not stood idly by while the US competitors have targeted the region though, and they have gained their own CEE foothold. They have found success by targeting countries like Hungary, who recently purchased helicopters from Airbus along with tanks and howitzers from KMW. While this is smaller than recent US sales, Western European contractors have an advantage: time. Every programmatic delay buys more time for the EDF to mature, extend its tendrils into every Western European foothold in the region, and bring the promise of increased industrial participation. Thus, absent a dramatic softening of the US tech transfer regime, American contractors will need to push for more creative ways to provide credible differentiation from Western European competitors. First, they can take advantage of the upcoming eastern shift of US operations in the region and establish logistics and maintenance centers that are able to serve both a country's new equipment and US forces in region, in a model similar to the F-35's maintenance depots in Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom. This expands NATO's operational support footprint into the region and grants CEE countries access to a much larger sustainment enterprise. Second, American firms should push for more aggressive releases of Excess Defense Articles. While older, this equipment still represents a substantial increase in military capability that many CEE countries otherwise could not afford. This has been seen in Croatia, where 16 retired OH-58 Kiowa Warriors are providing the country with new capabilities it could not afford (and now cannot afford to replace) and a pair of UH-60Ms donated to the Croatia Special Forces have introduced the platform to the Croatian military ahead of an eventual Mi-8/17 replacement program. These introductions induct CEE customers to US-style CONOPS and equipping standards that increase switching-costs to European competitors. Finally, American contractors should extol the wider advantages of buying into the US defense enterprise. The opportunity to tap into the extensive US training enterprise during and after the acquisition process would be a boon to CEE nations overhauling their militaries. While this has most recently been highlighted by international F-35 customers conducting their initial training at Luke Air Force Base amid the expansive Western US training range infrastructure, it is an opportunity that can be granted to non-Air Force customers, particularly given the establishment of a new Combat Training Center in Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland. Meanwhile, the Foreign Military Sales process grants international contractors access to DoD buying power, not only for the acquisition itself, but also for the all-critical procurement of spare parts and weapons reloads decades down the line. As they pursue long-overdue military modernization CEE countries will have to balance competing economic, political, and security imperatives. While going with US defense prime contractors provides top-tier capability and stronger ties with the only NATO member that can credibly deter Russian military adventurism, Western European firms will offer the lure of technology sharing and a more lucrative package for local industry. How CEE nations strike that balance will shape the military-political alignment of Europe's eastern flank for the next generation. https://www.avascent.com/news-insights/white-papers/defense-firms-angle-for-eastern-europe/

Boeing and the U.S. Navy on September 19 completed the first test flight of the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueler. Designated as T1, the MQ-25 test asset completed an autonomous two-hour flight under the direction of Boeing test pilots operating from a ground control station at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Ill., where the test program is based. The aircraft completed an autonomous taxi and takeoff and then flew a pre-determined route to validate the aircraft's basic flight functions and operations with the ground control station. “Seeing MQ-25 in the sky is a testament to our Boeing and Navy team working the technology, systems and processes that are helping get MQ-25 to the carrier,” said Boeing MQ-25 program director Dave Bujold. “This aircraft and its flight test program ensures we're delivering the MQ-25 to the carrier fleet with the safety, reliability and capability the U.S. Navy needs to conduct its vital mission.” The Boeing-owned test asset is a predecessor to the engineering development model (EDM) aircraft and is being used for what the company describes as early learning and discovery to meet the goals of the U.S. Navy's accelerated acquisition program. Boeing will produce four EDM MQ-25 air vehicles for the U.S. Navy under an US$805 million ($1.1 billion) contract awarded in August 2018. Boeing receives $805M MQ-25 contract Boeing explains the MQ-25 will provide the Navy with a much-needed carrier-based unmanned aerial refueling capability, which will allow for better use of the combat strike fighters currently performing the tanking role. It will also extend the range of the carrier air wing. “Today's flight is an exciting and significant milestone for our program and the Navy,” said the Navy's Unmanned Carrier Aviation (PMA-268) Program Manager Capt. Chad Reed. “The flight of this test asset two years before our first MQ-25 arrives represents the first big step in a series of early learning opportunities that are helping us progress toward delivery of a game-changing capability for the carrier air wing and strike group commanders.” The Navy expects the first four MQ-25s to reach operational capability on carrier decks in 2024. After this contract is complete, covering the design and production of the four MQ-25 airframes for testing, the Navy plans to buy 72 more vehicles with a total program cost of about US$13 billion ($17 billion). Héroux-Devtek to supply landing gear for Boeing MQ-25 Stingray In April 2019, Héroux-Devtek Inc. of Longueuil, Québec, was awarded a contract by Boeing to supply the complete landing gear system for the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueling program. T1 received its experimental airworthiness certificate from the FAA in September, verifying that the air vehicle meets the agency's requirements for safe flight. https://www.wingsmagazine.com/first-test-flight-for-boeing-mq-25

DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The Canadian government is looking for buyers for the OTO Melara 76mm guns removed from the Royal Canadian Navy's Iroquois-class destroyers. All Iroquois-class ships have been decommissioned, and systems that were strictly associated with that class, have been declared surplus, according to the Department of National Defence. The five 76mm gun systems and associated spare parts from these ships were declared surplus in 2015 and 2016 and are moving through the disposal process, noted DND spokesman Andrew McKelvey. But the DND has decided not to provide the guns to museums. Instead they are being sold. Two of the guns were sold last year to the French Defence Ministry for undisclosed amount. The sale of the other guns is being coordinated by Public Services and Procurement Canada. The guns are up for sale to Canadian allies or approved buyers within the defence industry. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/guns-from-iroquois-class-destroyers-up-for-sale

Chantilly, Va. - September 23, 2019 - Perspecta Inc. (NYSE: PRSP), a leading U.S. government services provider, today announced that it was awarded a $657 million extension of its NGEN contract with the U.S. Department of the Navy for continued delivery IT services. The extension provides the continued delivery of IT services for an additional four months beyond the current NGEN extension, from June 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020, with three one-month options available. Under NGEN, Perspecta operates the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI), the world's largest intranet, with approximately 400,000 seats representing 700,000 Navy and Marine Corps uniformed and civilian users, largely within the continental United States. As originally awarded, the NGEN contract would have expired on June 26, 2018, with the current extension slated to expire on May 31, 2020. “Through NGEN, the Navy has long established itself as a technology leader among government agencies,” said Mac Curtis, president and chief executive officer, Perspecta. “We are proud of the innovative partnership we've built with them and look forward to putting bold new ideas to work in preparation for the next phase of the program.” About Perspecta Inc. At Perspecta (NYSE: PRSP), we question, we seek and we solve. Perspecta brings a diverse set of capabilities to our U.S. government customers in defense, intelligence, civilian, health care and state and local markets. Our 270+ issued, licensed and pending patents are more than just pieces of paper, they tell the story of our innovation. With offerings in mission services, digital transformation and enterprise operations, our team of 14,000 engineers, analysts, investigators and architects work tirelessly to not only execute the mission, but build and support the backbone that enables it. Perspecta was formed to take on big challenges. We are an engine for growth and success and we enable our customers to build a better nation. For more information about Perspecta, visit perspecta.com. # # # This press release may contain- forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Perspecta and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Perspecta undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Perspecta believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Contact: Lorraine M. Corcoran Vice President, Corporate Communications 571.313.6054 office 301.529.9429 mobile lorraine.corcoran@perspecta.com M. Stuart Davis Vice President, Investor Relations 703.547.0300 office 571.424.6262 mobile stuart.davis@perspecta.com https://perspecta.com/press-releases/us-department-of-the-navy-awards-perspecta-%24657-million-extension-to-continue-providing-it-services-on-its-ngen-contract

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Woburn, Massachusetts, is being awarded a modification on indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract HQ0147-18-D-0002. The value of this contract modification is $500,615,405, which increases the total ceiling value from $461,492,695 to $962,108,100. The contractor will continue to perform research and development support for the Army Navy Transportable Radar Surveillance Control Model-2 and Sea-Based X-Band radar. The modification also includes continued product improvement, warfighter support, engineering services, Ballistic Missile Defense System test subject matter experts (SME) support, modeling and simulation SME support, and cybersecurity. No task orders are being issued at this time. The work will continue to be performed in Woburn, Massachusetts. The period of performance remains the same, which is from Nov. 1, 2017, through Oct. 31, 2022, with a one year option. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, has been awarded a maximum $375,792,189 firm-fixed-price delivery order (SPRPA1-19-F-E31N) against a five year basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0026) for Multi Function Active Sensor Radar Systems for the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. 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 six-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a Dec. 31, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2025 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. American Water Operations and Maintenance Inc., Voorhees, New Jersey, has been awarded a $15,934,838 modification (P00116) to a 50-year utilities privatization contract (SP0600-07-C-8254) with no option periods incorporating an increase to the operations, maintenance, renewal and replacement charges for water and wastewater utility service systems. This is a fixed-price prospective redetermination contract. Location of performance is Virginia, with a Dec. 20, 2057, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Crane Electronics Inc., Fort Walton Beach, Florida, has been awarded an estimated $9,283,185 fixed-price, requirements contract for AN/ALR-56C radar warning receiver low voltage power supplies in support of the F-15 aircraft. This was a sole source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Florida, with a Sept. 18, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is the Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Warner Robins, Georgia (SPRWA1-19-D-0010). Twigg Corp., Martinsville, Indiana, has been awarded a maximum $9,270,251 firm-fixed-price contract for T404 support turbine assemblies. This was a competitive acquisition with two offers received. This is an 11-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Indiana, with a June 19, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPRPA1-19-C-Z059). NAVY Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $352,672,006 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-19-D-0015). This modification increases the ceiling and scope of the contract to include the procurement of Lot 12-14 Generation 3 helmet mounted displays in support of the F-35 Lightning II program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2020. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded $227,000,000 for ceiling-priced delivery order N00383-19-F-A34Y under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-17-G-A301 for the procurement of main and nose landing gear assemblies in support of the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircrafts. The period of performance for this delivery order begins October 2019 and will be completed by March 2023 with no option periods. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri. Annual working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $111,230,000 will be will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole sourced requirement under authority 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. General Electric Co., Lynn, Massachusetts, is being awarded a $219,407,194 modification (PZ0002) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-18-C-1061) to procure 48 F414-GE-400 install engines and engine devices for Lot 23 F/A-18E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in Lynn, Massachusetts (59%); Hooksett, New Hampshire (18%); Rutland, Vermont (12%); and Madisonville, Kentucky (11%), and is expected to be completed in August 2021. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount $219,407,194 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. Raytheon Co., Largo, Florida, is being awarded a $52,857,202 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-5200 to exercise options for design agent and engineering services to support the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) program. This option exercise is for design agent and engineering services to perform advanced studies and integration efforts as well as software sustainment and support. The CEC program provides a sensor network with integrated fire control capability that significantly improves strike force air and missile defense capabilities by coordinating measurement data from strike force air search sensors on CEC-equipped units into a single, integrated real-time, composite track air picture. CEC improves battle force effectiveness by improving overall situational awareness and by enabling longer range, cooperative, multiple, or layered engagement strategies. Work will be performed in Largo, Florida, and is expected to be completed by September 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy); fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); fiscal 2019 operation and maintenance (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales funding in the amount of $7,130,069 will be obligated at time of award, and funds in the amount of $984,939 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Robertson Fuel Systems LLC, Tempe, Arizona, is being awarded a $31,101,308 firm-fixed-price contract to manufacture and deliver eight V-22 mission auxiliary tank systems for extended range of flight requirements in support of V-22 aircraft for the Navy (3); Marine Corps (2); Air Force (1); and the government of Japan (2). Work will be performed in Tempe, Arizona, and is expected to be completed in November 2021. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 aircraft procurement (Air Force and Navy); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $31,101,308 will be obligated at time of award, $14,729,731 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Marine Corps and Navy ($20,702,984; 66%); Air Force ($1,213,255; 4 %); and the government of Japan ($9,185,069; 30%) under the FMS program. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S.Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0042). Proaim Americas LLC, Grover, Missouri, is being awarded a $19,979,089 firm-fixed-price contract for Enterprise Ocular Picture Archiving and Communication System (OPACS) on behalf of multiple Department of Defense medical treatment facilities, within and outside the contiguous U.S. This is a five-year single award contract and work is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2024. Fiscal 2019 Defense Health Program other procurement funds in the amount of $3,737,387 will be obligated on an initial task order at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a non-competitive sole source procurement in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(c) issued via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one proposal received. The Naval Medical Logistics Command, Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N62645-19-D-5012). Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Liverpool, New York, is being awarded a $17,202,359 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract in support of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program to provide depot level repair capability for the AN/APY-9 radar line replaceable modules (LRMs). This contract provides technical services in support of development of electronic Consolidated Automated Support System (eCASS) compatibility reports and the associated technical data for AN/APY-9 radar avionics LRM. In addition, this contract provides for technical services for development system specifications that define the functional performance requirements for the operational test program sets to test the LRMs on the eCASS. Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York (45%); El Segundo, California (25%); Melbourne, Florida (24%); and Baltimore, Maryland (6%); and is expected to be completed in August 2021. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $17,202,359 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-19-C-0248). Sealift Inc., Oyster Bay, New York, is being awarded a $14,608,000 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N3220519C3512) to fund the fifth one-year option period. The option will continue to provide one U.S. flagged vessel (M/V Capt. David I. Lyon) for the transportation and prepositioning of cargo including, but not limited to; hazardous cargoes, explosives, ammunition, vehicular, containerized, and general cargoes, and for military readiness for the Department of the Air Force. The vessel is capable of deployment to worldwide locations. The current contract is approximately 111-day firm period with four one-year option periods, and a 212-day option period. Work will be performed worldwide, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2020 working capital funds in the amount of $14,608,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. Military Sealift Command, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220519C3512). BAE Systems, Rockville, Maryland, is being awarded $10,144,531 for firm-fixed-price contract modification P00004 under a previously awarded contract (N00604-18-C-4001) to exercise Option Period Two for munitions handling and management services which includes receiving, storing, segregating, issuing, inspecting, and transporting various types of ammunition, explosives, expendable and technical ordnance material and weapons for Joint Service commands. This contract includes a nine month base period, and four 12-month option periods. The exercise of this option will bring the estimated value of the contract to $25,127,912, and if all options are exercised, it will bring the total value to $45,516,525. Work will be performed in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and work is expected to be completed by September 2020; if all options on the contract are exercised, work will be completed by September 2022. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance funds (Navy) in the full amount of $10,144,531will be obligated once the modification to exercise option year one is awarded, and funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with the solicitation posted to the Federal Business Opportunities and Navy Electronic Commerce Online websites, with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. Sealift Inc., Oyster Bay, New York, is being awarded an $8,688,118 modification under a previously awarded, firm-fixed-price contract (N3220515C3201) to fund the fifth one-year option period. The option will continue to provide one U.S. flagged vessel (M/V LTC John D. Page) for the transportation and prepositioning of cargo including, but not limited to, hazardous cargoes, explosives, ammunition, vehicular, containerized, and general cargoes; and for military readiness for the Department of the Army. The vessel is capable of deployment to worldwide locations. The current contract includes a two month firm period of the performance, four one-year option periods, and one nine-month option period. Work will be performed worldwide, and is expected to be completed by July 5, 2020. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 working capital funds in the amount of $8,688,118 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. Military Sealift Command, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220515C3201). Gilbane Federal, Concord, California, is being awarded an $8,644,506 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the maximum dollar value of task order N6247318F5305 under an environmental multiple award contract for radiological confirmation sampling and surveying at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. The work to be performed is to provide radiological confirmation investigation, survey, and reporting activities within Parcel C, at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, engineering, materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies and transportation to perform all work described in the request for proposal. After award of this modification, the total cumulative task order value will be $21,002,538. Work will be performed in San Francisco, California, and is expected to be completed by December 2023. Fiscal 2019 base realignment and closure, environmental, (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $8,644,506 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-17-D-0005). Bell-Boeing Joint Program Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $7,985,270 modification (P00095) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-12-C-2001). This modification provides for the modification of government furnished tooling as well as the acquisition of new tooling in support of V-22 aircraft production. A total of 47 tooling parts will be procured under this modification. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in September 2021. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $7,985,270 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ARMY Science and Engineering Services LLC,* Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $54,931,995 modification (P00003) to Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan) W58RGZ-18-F-0063 for maintenance on UH-60 helicopters. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Work will be performed in Kandahar, Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 Afghanistan Security Forces funds in the amount of $54,931,995 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Meggitt Defense Systems Inc., Irvine, California, was awarded a $48,563,836 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for development, production, field operations support, installation support, training, cyber security support, systems and spares production and repairs of the Aerial Weapons Scoring System. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 8, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-19-D-0010). Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors,* Houma, Louisiana, was awarded a $24,491,400 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement and delivery of a steel barge. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Houma, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of July 19, 2023. Fiscal 2019 Mississippi River and Tributaries funds in the amount of $24,491,400 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (W912BU-19-C-0042). S & E Services Inc.,* Edison, New Jersey, was awarded a $16,526,000 firm-fixed-price contract to construct a new Security Forces and Communications training facility. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Westhampton Beach, New York, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 11, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction, Army National Guard funds in the amount of $16,526,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Property and Fiscal Office, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W912PQ-19-C-9001). Lead Builders Inc.,* Thousand Oaks, California, was awarded a $10,655,000 firm-fixed-price contract for building renovation. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,655,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles, California, is the contracting activity (W912PL-19-C-0027). Simmonds Precision Products Inc., Vergennes, Vermont, was awarded a $10,155,178 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance and overhaul. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 22, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-19-D-0128). CEMS-RS & H JV,* Summerville, South Carolina, was awarded a $9,900,000 firm-fixed-price contract for investigation, construction, renovation, planning and design services. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-19-D-0007). Colby Co. LLC,* Portland, Maine, was awarded a $9,900,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineering services. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-19-D-0012). Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., Kansas City, Missouri, was awarded a $9,900,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineering services. 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 Aug. 23, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity (W912DS-19-D-0011). Lockheed Martin Corp. Rotary and Mission Systems, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $9,725,000 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Iraq) contract for procurement of Mobile M1A1 Situational Awareness Platoon Mobile Advanced Gunnery training system, mobile pre-brief, after action review capability, spare parts package, installation, on-site testing, training, design, development, test, management, documentation, hardware, software, and spares. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 22, 2021. Fiscal 2010 counter-ISIS train and equip funds in the amount of $9,725,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-19-C-0057). Oracle America Inc., Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $7,577,868 firm-fixed-price contract for the Army Corps of Engineers Financial Management System. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Reston, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 22, 2024. Fiscal 2019 revolving; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $7,577,868 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alexandria, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W912HQ-19-F-0136). AIR FORCE Herrick Technology Laboratories Inc.,* Manchester, New Hampshire, has been awarded a $40,712,166 cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract for Spectrum-Agile, Location Aware, Enhanced Electromagnetic Kit (SLEEK) hardware and software. This contract provides for research, develop, integrate, prototype, demonstrate, validate and verify new software capabilities for a software-defined and reprogrammable transceiver that has broad applicability to military-relevant missions. Work will be performed at Germantown, Maryland; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Rome, New York, and is expected to be completed by October 2022. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,500,000 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-C-0530). Cornerstone Construction Services LLC, Woburn, Massachusetts (FA2835-19-D-0007); Maron Construction Co. Inc., Providence, Rhode Island (FA2835-19-D-0008); and Tantara Corp., Worcester, Massachusetts (FA2835-19-D-0009), have been awarded an aggregate, total maximum program/contract ceiling of a $20,000,000 multiple award construction indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. This contract will provide for complex construction projects involving multiple trades that may require detailed engineering design to be performed by registered/licensed engineers and architects. The contractors shall provide all management, labor, material, equipment, transportation, supervision, and architectural engineering services to accomplish simultaneous maintenance, sustainment, repair, and minor construction projects. Work will be performed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts; Hanscom Air Force Base Family Campground, Bedford, Massachusetts; Patriot Golf Course, Bedford, Massachusetts; Sagamore Hill Solar Observatory, Hamilton, Massachusetts; Fourth Cliff Recreation Annex, Humarock, Massachusetts; Cape Cod Air Force Station, Massachusetts; and New Boston Air Force Station, New Hampshire. These awards were the result of a competitive 100% Small Business Set Aside acquisition and 16 offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance in the amount of $5,000 funds to each awardees are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $16,289,702 agreement for one prototype Phaser high power microwave system. This agreement provides for outside continental U.S. (OCONUS) field assessment for purposes of experimentation. Experimentation includes, but is not limited to 12 months of in-field operation by Air Force personnel against unmanned aerial systems threats. In addition, experimentation includes but is not limited to operator training, in theater maintenance of systems while collecting availability (full mission capable, partial mission capable, non-mission capable), reliability, maintainability and supportability data, and system operation against real-world or simulated hostile vignettes without disrupting other necessary installation operations. The location of performance is OCONUS and is expected to be completed by Dec. 20, 2020. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $16,289,702 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-9-9325). Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, has been awarded a $10,942,488 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Technologies for the Mixed-mode Ultra Scaled Integrated Circuits (T-MUSIC) effort. This effort will develop advanced mixed-mode RF components and sub-systems leveraging the T-MUSIC platform. T-MUSIC technology combines advanced silicon-germanium with advanced CMOS to enable ultra-wide bandwidth, high spurious free dynamic range and fine data converter resolution with high effective number of bits beyond current state-of-the-art. Work will be performed at El Segundo, California; Andover, Maryland; and Thousand Oaks, California, and is expected to be completed Dec. 20, 2023. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 18 compliant offers were received. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,318,325 is being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-C-7934). BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Nashua, New Hampshire, has been awarded an $8,076,227 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Technologies for Mixed-mode Ultra Scaled Integrated Circuits (T-MUSIC) and the Disruptive SiGe Circuits fabricated Onshore (DiSCO) effort. This effort will develop advanced mixed-mode RF components and sub-systems leveraging the T-MUSIC platform. T-MUSIC technology combines advanced silicon-germanium with advanced CMOS to enable ultra-wide bandwidth, high spurious free dynamic range and fine data converter resolution with high effective number of bits beyond current state-of-the-art. Toward that end, DiSCO will develop critical Department of Defense components and sub-systems to assess advancements derived from T-MUSIC technology. These circuits include Phase-locked Loop, ultra-high speed Divider (200GHz final goal), and high speed, high resolution Analog-to-Digital Converter. In addition, the option phase will develop high speed Direct Digital Synthesis for next generation transmitter technology. Work will be performed at Nashua, New Hampshire and is expected to be completed by Dec. 19, 2023. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 18 offers were received. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $364,723 is being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-19-C-7935). Communications & Power Industries LLC, Palo Alto, California, has been awarded an $8,058,269 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for Twystron Electron Tube Repair program. This contract provides for teardown, test, evaluation and repair of Twystron electron tubes in support of Unmanned Threat Emitter weapons system. Work will be performed at Palo Alto, California, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2025. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 working capital funds in the amount of $1,623,488 are obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8250-19-D-0001). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1968631/source/GovDelivery/

La Russie a lancé lundi 16 septembre de grandes manœuvres militaires annuelles, mobilisant jusqu'à samedi 128.000 hommes dans le centre du pays, dont des militaires et des avions chinois, avec pour scénario de repousser une attaque islamiste. Organisées essentiellement dans la région d'Orenbourg, frontalière du Kazakhstan, les manœuvres Tsentr-2019 impliqueront «plus de 20.000 engins militaires, environ 600 appareils volants et jusqu'à 15 navires», selon un communiqué du ministère russe de la Défense. En plus des soldats russes, des troupes venues de Chine, d'Inde, du Pakistan et de plusieurs pays d'Asie centrale doivent participer à ces manœuvres. Une vingtaine d'avions et d'hélicoptères chinois prendront notamment part aux exercices. Ceux-ci se se basent sur un scénario dans lequel un pays indéterminé, converti à l'islamisme radical, entre en conflit avec la Russie. «Un Etat imaginaire émerge au sud-ouest de la Russie. Ses leaders partagent les idées extrémistes des organisations terroristes internationales. Ce pays imaginaire, possédant une armée développée, tente d'exercer une pression sur la Russie, y compris militaire», e expliqué la semaine dernière le vice-ministre russe de la Défense, Alexandre Fomine. «L'escalade des tensions évolue finalement vers un conflit armé», a-t-il poursuivi, cité par l'agence officielle TASS, au cours d'un briefing. La première phase des manœuvres sera consacrée à coordonner le commandement, repousser des attaques aériennes et mener des opérations de reconnaissance. Dans la seconde phase, la coalition internationale formée par la Russie dans ces exercices mènera des frappes massives contre l'ennemi, précise le ministère de la Défense. La Russie organise chaque année, au mois de septembre, de grandes manœuvres militaires. Les précédentes, organisées en Sibérie orientale et dans l'Extrême-Orient russe, avaient mobilisé 300.000 hommes et tout l'arsenal moderne de l'armée russe, dont les missiles Iskander, capables de transporter des ogives nucléaires. L'année précédente, les exercices nommées Zapad-2017 («Ouest-2017») s'étaient déroulés près de la frontière avec la Lituanie et la Pologne, provoquant la fureur de l'Otan et de plusieurs pays européens qui avaient dénoncé une provocation. http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/russie-grandes-manoeuvres-de-l-armee-avec-des-militaires-chinois-20190916

QUANTICO, Va--The Marine Corps on Monday detailed its program to find a new Attack Utility Replacement Aircraft (AURA) that will likely replace its AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters, with plans to award contracts through 2023 to advance concept designs. https://www.defensedaily.com/marines-release-rfi-future-attack-utility-aircraft-bell-interested-v-280/navy-usmc/

By: Adam Stone Military leaders say they are determined to find faster ways to buy cutting-edge technologies. “We can't afford to spend seven years thinking about a requirement,” Army Undersecretary Ryan D. McCarthy said during a 2018 visit to Fort Belvoir, Virginia. “If it is going to take that long, you are probably not going to get it. So, we need to get these capabilities sooner.” To that end, the Department of Defense has increased the number of engagements with industry, launched alternative contracting vehicles, and taken other steps to streamline innovation more effectively. Industry officials are often clamoring for that interaction, but some say the Pentagon's efforts are beginning to bear fruit. ‘Big change' One area where those changes are most visible has been in the Army's modernization of its battlefield network. David Huisenga, president and chief executive at Klas Telecom Government, said he has noticed a marked difference in the quality and quantity of engagements between industry and the Department of Defense. After more than two decades in the business, “I have seen a really big change in the past two years with how the Army is adopting technology,” he said. “They are really focused on rapid-insert capabilities. I had heard that talked about a lot in the past, but it's only recently that we have really seen that put into action.” The Army's establishment of cross-functional teams has helped to focus energy around priority areas within the C4ISR realm. Those areas include the Synthetic Training Environment Team (STE); the Network, Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence Team (NET); and the Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing Team (APNT). “They have really clarified their priorities within that here are the top five or 10 things they want to do and they have released actual timelines for implementation of those priorities,” Huisenga said. Klas has taken advantage of the technical exchange meetings, supported by the cross-functional teams and Program Executive Office Command Control Tactical, where both industry and military leaders together work through all of the practical details of emerging requirements. “Now you have the CFT with the charter to identify and rapidly field the technology, and you have the program executive office that procures and sustains that equipment, working together with industry, all at the same time,” Huisenga said. For Klas, those engagements helped lead to a recent contract supporting Army's Security Force Assistance Brigade with an initial trial deployment of advanced networking equipment components. Those are slated for service officials to quickly test and refine those components before a final acquisition. Army leaders have said they plan to upgrade the network with new capabilities approximately every two years. “The PEO made these purchases rapidly, probably the fastest acquisition I have ever seen, and now we will be getting real feed-back on that product,” Huisenga said. “We, as industry, know that they will refresh every two years, so we can really focus our engineering on those requirements.” ‘One-stop' model Rosemary Johnston, senior vice president of operations at Savi, a maker of geospatial-enabled logistics solutions, likewise gives the military high marks for its efforts to accelerate tech buys. “The services are doing a phenomenal job of trying to hasten the acquisition process,” she said. She pointed to the Air Force's emerging “one-stop” model as an example. “They encourage vendors to come to a pitch day and if they like what they are hearing they can go ahead and execute a contract right away.” Another helpful tool for Savi is the Pentagon's blanket contract for logistics solutions, under which vendors can be pre-vetted for price and suitability, thus allowing end users in the military to effectively buy direct and bypass the usual prolonged procurement process. Savi recently took advantage of its place on that list to help secure a contract with the Defense Logistics Agency, under which the company will supply 23,000 sophisticated tracking devices to help DLA manage vast inventories of vehicles and equipment stored at multiple distribution sites. That opportunity arose in 2018, with just two months to go before the close of the fiscal year, when there was pressure on the agency to get a deal done before the clock ran out on the 2018 money. Thanks to the rapid acquisition process, “they were able to place the order with us, obligate those 2018 funds, and take delivery before the end of calendar year 2018,” Johnston said. Tools and tactics Officials from both PEO C3T and the network cross-functional team told C4ISRNET these are exactly the type of outcomes that the military is looking for. While it is difficult to gauge the specific outcomes of these early efforts, and many acquisitions departmentwide still drag, officials point to early metrics that suggest industry is responding well. Take, for instance, those technology exchange meetings. “We are averaging 400 people per meeting representing more than 120 companies, from large defense contractors to small businesses and startups,” said Maj. Brian Wong, chief of market research for the network cross-functional team at Army Futures Command. “I don't think we could have seen something like this in the past.” Another tool that officials say has proven useful is the Middle Tier Acquisition authority: Granted by Congress in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, it gives the military the ability to make small purchases for rapid prototyping. “If we see innovation coming out of industry, whether it's server infrastructure or radio waveforms, we can use rapid prototyping and see how that fits in our network design in order to make better decisions,” said Paul Mehney, who helps manage the office's industry affairs. Rapid Innovation Funds offer another means to keep the department ahead of the technology curve. With projects worth as much as $3 million per project, Mehney said, these dollars have been used to explore ways that soldiers can communicate when their first line of communications fail. The funds have also supported advances in dismounted blue force tracking. Rather than require soldiers to access vehicle-mounted equipment for identifying their status in the field, the Army is testing prototypes of handheld variants that could make soldiers jobs easier. On the contracting side, the increasingly popular OTA — or Other Transaction Authority — has freed military planners to buy small quantities of emerging tech solutions for prototyping and testing. The military also is deepening its market research “We are taking a wider look — beyond the traditional defense contracting space — to include startups and smaller companies,” Wong said. “We have discussions with incubators and with the venture capital community to see what may be in their portfolios that could be of interest to government.” The close ties between the CFTs and PEOs help ensure that streamlined buys are targeted to actual military need. PEO C3T leaders point to the fact that they've held four technology exchange meetings with the network team and other program offices. For the vendor community, the fast-track environment presents new opportunities but also new challenges. Klas, for instance, outsources production of its core product. In order to meet new demand for accelerated deployments, Huisenga said, the company must keep up through more frequent and more specific communications with its manufacturer. Johnston said her firm's biggest challenge lies in ensuring that military procurement professionals understand the emerging rules of the road. “We still get requests from contracting officers who aren't familiar with these contracts,” she said. “They'll ask for a quote, they'll send a statement of the work, and we have to let them know that a lot of this has already been negotiated. We need to explain to them the process we have already gone through to get to this point.” Military officials, meanwhile, say their challenge lies in ensuring industry is up to speed on the emerging requirements. Especially in the rapidly evolving C4ISR environment, the military can only meet its accelerated objectives if industry is already up to speed on emerging needs. “It's up to us to make sure industry is informed about what our network design looks like currently, what we anticipate our network design goals to shape up like for future capability sets, and to ensure that industry knows what our architecture looks like so they know how to plug into it,” Mehney said. “We aren't totally there yet. We still owe industry a better lay-down on those three critical components.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/industry/2019/09/19/are-meetings-with-industry-actually-accelerating-military-acquisitions