Nouvelles

By Calvin Biesecker The Defense Department's agency charged with providing logistics support to warfighters is seeking information from vendors capable of providing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that can deliver food and water to people in remote areas following a disaster. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) in an information request lists key capabilities and requirements for its UAS needs as part of a forthcoming acquisition for the services in the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S. “This is in support of Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support's Subsistence Contingency Operations and Natural Disaster relief efforts,” the DLA says in a Jan. 10 Request for Information on the government's FedBizOpps site. In addition to supporting warfighters with their supply needs, DLA also provides support to the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which supports disaster response to U.S. states and territories. Support for FEMA is “becoming more routine,” a DLA spokesman told Defense Daily on Thursday. The DLA announcement doesn't specify a specific event or series of disasters that is driving the need for remote delivery of food and water by UAS but it does follow a series of dramatic storms and wildfires over the past 16 months. In particular, Hurricane Maria, which hit the U.S. Virgin Islands on Sept. 19, 2017, and Puerto Rico the day after. Maria impacted 100 percent of the populations of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are both U.S. territories located a 1,000 or more miles from Florida. The devastation in Puerto Rico made deliveries of relief supplies difficult. “Hurricane Maria severely damaged or destroyed a significant portion of both territories' already fragile critical infrastructure,” FEMA said in a July 12, 2018 after-action report on the 2017 hurricane season. “Maria left Puerto Rico's 3.7 million residents without electricity. The resulting emergency response represents the longest sustained air mission of food and water delivery in Federal Emergency Management Agency history.” Rather than acquire the systems outright, DLA wants a contactor that can provide the delivery services through a “turnkey deployment” based on a performance-based concept of operations developed as part of a research effort. Capabilities must be in place within one to two days of an event, the agency says. It also says the drones must be non-developmental and be able to operate beyond visual line of sight in austere conditions. Payloads on the UAS will weigh between 250 and 500 pounds and “typically” consist of cases of bottled water, Meals-Ready-to Eat, and other related operational items that will be released remotely without damage to the supplies. For the deployments, the drones must be able to operate from maritime vessels to land, land to sea vessel, and land to land. DLA says that sea-based operations “will be coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard.” In the late summer of 2017, before Maria hit, Texas was hit by Hurricane Harvey, which was followed by Hurricane Irma, which slammed into Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Harvey affected 30 percent of the population in Texas and Irma affected 85 percent of the combined populations of Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Around the same time the three storms hit the U.S. and its territories, another hurricane interfered with maritime operations in the Caribbean Sea and FEMA also supported California's response to “some of the most devastating wildfires to ever impact the state,” the after-action report said. The DLA wants responses to its Request for Information by Jan. 25. The agency said the timing of the release of the Request for Proposals is unknown as is the ultimate amount of the eventual procurement pending the completion of market research. https://www.rotorandwing.com/2019/01/18/defense-agency-wants-acquire-uas-services-use-disaster-relief/

(B2) Pour « mettre en œuvre le Traité d'Aix-la-Chapelle », Français et Allemands ont ciblé « 15 projets prioritaires, dont le suivi sera assuré par le Conseil des ministres franco-allemand ». En voici la liste : sympathique, mais pas vraiment très enthousiasmant... Coopération accrue au sein du Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies, à l'occasion du mandat de deux ans de l'Allemagne, notamment par le « jumelage » des deux présidences du Conseil de sécurité (la France en mars et l'Allemagne en avril 2019, en 2020 soit en mai/juin soit en juin/juillet). Création de quatre instituts culturels franco-allemands intégrés (Rio, Palerme, Erbil, Bichkek) et co-localisation de cinq instituts français et allemands (Cordoba, Atlanta, Glasgow, Minsk, Ramallah). Création d'une plateforme numérique franco-allemande de contenus audiovisuels et d'information. Élargissement des programmes de mobilité, par exemple dans le cadre de l'Office franco-allemand pour la Jeunesse, notamment pour les jeunes ayant des besoins spécifiques, les stagiaires et les apprentis, et fixation d'objectifs quantifiables. Mise en place d'un Fonds citoyen commun destiné à appuyer les projets conjoints d'acteurs de la société civile, notamment les initiatives citoyennes et les jumelages de communes. Mise en place d'un comité de coopération transfrontalière chargé de définir une stratégie commune pour le choix de projets prioritaires, d'assurer le suivi des difficultés rencontrées dans les territoires frontaliers et d'émettre des propositions en vue d'y remédier. Mise en œuvre conjointe d'un projet de territoire portant sur la reconversion de la zone de proximité de la centrale nucléaire de Fessenheim dans le contexte de sa fermeture, au travers d'un parc d'activités économiques et d'innovation franco-allemand, de projets dans le domaine de la mobilité transfrontalière, de la transition énergétique et de l'innovation. Amélioration des liaisons ferroviaires transfrontalières, par exemple : Colmar-Fribourg, en reconstruisant le pont traversant le Rhin en fonction des résultats de l'étude de faisabilité en cours, mais aussi liaison entre Strasbourg et l'aéroport de Francfort, liaison Strasbourg-Palatinat, liaison entre Sarrebruck et Paris. Renforcement de la coopération bilatérale de haut niveau en matière d'énergie et de climat, notamment concernant les plans nationaux pour l'énergie et le climat. Cela doit permettre de partager des hypothèses sur l'évolution du mix électrique, d'étudier la possibilité d'instaurer un plan commun franco-allemand dans les stratégies nationales, et de créer des incitations afin de faciliter la réalisation des objectifs nationaux en matière de transition énergétique. Création d'un réseau franco-allemand de recherche et d'innovation (« centre virtuel ») pour l'intelligence artificielle, reposant sur les structures existantes des deux pays. Coopération dans le secteur spatial en suivant trois axes prioritaires : promotion d'une stratégie commune pour une Europe plus innovante au sein de la nouvelle économie spatiale ; coopération permettant d'accroître la compétitivité de l'industrie spatiale, notamment dans un cadre industriel optimisé ; consolidation de l'accès autonome de l'Europe à l'espace gr'ce à des investissements en recherche et développement, la rationalisation industrielle et la préférence accordée aux lanceurs européens. Promotion de directives au niveau international sur l'éthique des nouvelles technologies et de valeurs communes dans la sphère du numérique et la société numérique. Création d'un groupe d'experts dans le domaine social, comprenant les partenaires sociaux, sur « l'avenir du travail ». Coopération au sein de l'Union européenne dans le domaine des services et des marchés financiers, afin de parvenir à un cadre de régulation de haute qualité, notamment sur la finance durable. https://www.bruxelles2.eu/2019/01/22/les-15-projets-prioritaires-du-couple-franco-allemand-la-liste/

(B2) Passées quelques généralités, il faut lire attentivement le traité d'Aix-la-Chapelle. Celui-ci recèle quelques beautés cachées qui méritent une attention, notamment en matière de défense et de diplomatie La salle du couronnement de l'Hôtel de ville d'Aix-la-Chapelle, qui accueille ce mardi (22 janvier) la Chancelière Angela Merkel et le président Emmanuel Macron sous le blason de Charlemagne, qui unit le lys français à l'aigle allemand, aurait sans doute mérité un peu plus d'enthousiasme et d'explications. Tel un vieux diesel poussif, qui recrache plus de scories que d'énergie, le traité d'Aix-la-Chapelle, qui vient s'ajouter au bon vieux traité de l'Elysée de 1963, manque d'un grand projet qui pourrait faire vibrer un peu nos nations endormies. Il reste souvent limité dans son ambition, marquée par toute une série de réserves, hésitant entre l'emphase et le réalisme précautionneux, et finalement moins concret que son aîné. Mais il ne faut pas s'arrêter à un premier survol, naturellement critique. Ce texte recèle aussi plusieurs vertus qu'il importe de bien détailler. De nombreux engagements, anodins en apparence, donneront bien du fil à retordre à leurs auteurs pour être mis en œuvre jusqu'au bout. Ne pas les mettre en valeur serait une erreur. Une vertu stratégique : le couple franco-allemand dans l'Europe La première vertu stratégique de ce texte est de resituer le franco-allemand dans le contexte actuel. Il permet d'affirmer, haut et fort, combien la nécessaire coopération entre Paris et Berlin est nécessaire et utile non seulement pour les Français et les Allemands, mais aussi pour les Européens. Avec le départ du Royaume-Uni, la France et l'Allemagne restent plus que jamais les deux principales puissances de l'Union européenne, rassemblant près d'un Européen sur trois. C'est dans ce cadre que Français et Allemands situent désormais leur action et non plus seulement dans leur dialogue intuitu personae. C'est l'élément fondamental qui distingue à 55 ans de distance l'écrit de l'Elysée de celui d'Aix-la-Chapelle. « L'amitié étroite entre la France et l'Allemagne demeure un élément indispensable d'une Union européenne unie, efficace, souveraine et forte » est-il indiqué. Le mot Europe est inscrit à tous les tournants, tellement conjugué régulièrement à toutes les politiques, qu'on l'oublierait presque. Ainsi Paris et Berlin s'engagent à « renforcer leur coopération » en matière de politique étrangère, de défense ou de sécurité intérieure « tout en renforçant la capacité de l'Europe à agir de manière indépendante ». En matière de défense, ils s'engagent à la fois « à renforcer la capacité d'action de l'Europe » comme à « investir conjointement pour combler ses lacunes capacitaires » dans des projets industriels, etc. Une approche commune entre les deux armées La seconde vertu de ce texte est de mettre le curseur sur quelques difficultés qui empêchent d'avancer. Il entend ainsi jeter les bases d'une approche commune plus serrée entre les armées française et allemande. La volonté « d'instaurer d'une culture commune » est affirmée, tout comme celle « d'opérer des déploiements conjoints ». C'était déjà l'esprit du traité de l'Elysée, au moins pour la partie doctrinale. Mais on ne peut pas dire que les réalisations suivantes, notamment la création de la brigade franco-allemande, aient produit l'effet escompté. Les « doctrines » d'intervention restent différentes. Même si Français et Allemands se retrouvent souvent sur les mêmes terrains (Afghanistan, Mali...), ce sont souvent des déploiements juxtaposés (au mieux!) que des déploiements conjoints. Y arriver va nécessiter beaucoup d'efforts de part et d'autre : pour les Français il faudra être un peu plus patients et inclusifs et pour les Allemands être un peu plus volontaires et ... efficaces. C'est une vraie gageure. « Ce n'est pas facile » comme le dit Définir une politique d'armements commune Troisième ‘beauté cachée' : la mise en place d'une « approche commune en matière d'exportation d'armements ». Ce n'est pas gagné non plus. Les règles allemandes sont plus strictes que les règles françaises. Et le contexte politique national outre-Rhin est plus sensible à certaines exportations qu'en France. Mais c'est une nécessité à la fois politique et économique. Certes cette approche n'est valable que pour les « projets communs », et chaque pays restera maitre chez lui pour des projets purement nationaux. Mais, du moins pour les investissements lourds, l'investissement en commun va devenir la règle. Entre l'avion de transport militaire, A400M, les hélicoptères d'attaque Tigre ou de transport NH90, le futur char lourd, l'avion du futur (l'après Rafale) et le drone de surveillance européen (Eurodrone MALE), ils ne manquent pas. Ne pas définir une règle commune d'exportation serait mettre en péril certains projets industriels communs. Une clause de solidarité alternative Quatrième engagement : la volonté commune de défendre les frontières de l'autre s'il venait à être agressé. Les pays entendent se garantir mutuellement « aide et assistance éventuelle en cas d'attaque armée de leurs territoires ». Ce « par tous les moyens dont ils disposent, y compris la force armée ». Rien de nouveau en apparence. C'est la répétition du cadre des clauses dites de défense mutuelle ou d'assistance mutuelle prise dans le cadre de l'OTAN ou de l'Union européenne, avec toutes les limites qui s'imposent. L'assistance mutuelle ne se déclenche ainsi qu'en cas d'évènement très grave : une attaque armée, venant de l'extérieur, sur le territoire ‘européen' d'un des deux pays. Cette clause est donc surtout « symbolique et politique » ainsi que me l'a confié un haut gradé. Y voir quelque chose de totalement inutile est cependant une erreur. C'est plutôt une ‘double' assurance, qui n'aurait à s'actionner que si, pour une raison ou une autre, l'OTAN serait paralysée. En matière militaire, le superflu est parfois nécessaire... Militer pour une réforme du Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU Dernière vertu du texte, défendre la revendication allemande d'avoir un siège permanent au Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies. Ce n'est pas illogique au regard du poids économique et politique de l'Allemagne. Cette avancée est cependant liée à une réforme plus globale du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies que les deux pays s'engagent à pousser. C'est en fait un cadeau fait à la coalition au pouvoir à Berlin qui a fait de cette présence un des points clés de sa politique étrangère. Paris n'entend pas céder donc son siège permanent au Conseil de sécurité et son droit de veto. C'est un des ressorts de la puissance diplomatique hexagonale. On est là face à des contradictions de la relation franco-allemande qu'il faudra bien résoudre demain. (Nicolas Gros-Verheyde) article paru chez Euractiv https://www.bruxelles2.eu/2019/01/22/les-cinq-beautes-cachees-du-traite-daix-la-chapelle/

NAVY Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $439,563,841 for modification P00008 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive contract (N00019-17-C-0030). This modification exercises an option for the production and delivery of 25 Lot 16 AH-1Z aircraft and 25 stores control units. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (60 percent); and Amarillo, Texas (40 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $439,563,841 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. Global PCCI, Irvine, California, a joint venture, is awarded a maximum value $250,000,000 cost-plus-award-fee, fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Emergency Ship Salvage Material (ESSM) system. The primary purpose of this contract is to manage the facilities with emergency response equipment stockpiles pre-positioned to support and augment the Navy fleet capability in the areas of salvage, diving, pollution response, and underwater ship husbandry maintained by the Supervisor of Salvage, SEA 00C. This contract includes five ordering periods, which if executed, would make the maximum value of this contract $250,000,000. Work will be performed worldwide, and is expected to be completed by January 2024 when all five ordering periods have been executed. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $5,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-D-4323). Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is awarded a $38,140,569 cost-plus-fixed fee, cost only contract for Dual Band Radar (DBR) Design Agent Technical Engineering support efforts. The work to be performed is for engineering services for DBR system upgrades or redesigns, engineering change proposals, product support, test equipment procurement, installation integration support, combat system integration testing, program management support, studies and analysis. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $98,839,761. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, Massachusetts (70 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (20 percent); Moorestown, New Jersey (5 percent); and Arvonia, Virginia (5 percent). Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) in the amount of $1,737,000; and fiscal 2019 research, development, test, and evaluation funding in the amount of $800,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was procured using other than full and open competition under the statutory authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-5509). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, California, Maryland, has been awarded an estimated $143,863,184 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for performance based logistics and engineering support for the V-22 platform. 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 an 11-month base contract with four one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Texas and Pennsylvania, with a Nov. 30, 2019, performance completion date. Using military services are Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 various Air Force, SOCOM and Navy appropriated funding. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE4AX-19-D-9410). ARMY AECOM Energy & Construction, Greenwood Village, Colorado, was awarded a $63,007,995 modification (P00003) to contract W912EK-19-C-0002 for Illinois River Basin, LaGrange Lock and Dam, major rehabilitation, demolition; temporary facilities, surveying, dewatering, protecting lock chamber, blasting, removing and replacing horizontal concrete. Work will be performed in Versailles, Illinois, with an estimated completion date of July 27, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $24,700,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Odyssey International Inc.,* Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $14,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a company operations facility. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work will be performed in Fort Gordon, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of May 22, 2020. Fiscal 2015 and 2017 military construction funds in the amount of $14,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-19-C-3000). Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded an $8,048,749 modification (P00150) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0095 for test and field service support for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2019. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $8,048,749 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1736461/source/GovDelivery/

ARMY Talbert Manufacturing Inc.,* Rensselaer, Indiana, was awarded a $360,249,853 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of M872A4 semitrailers and associated items. 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 Jan. 16, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-D-0036). Stantec Consulting Services Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, was awarded a $20,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineer general design services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 36 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 16, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-19-D-2000). NAVY Fortis Nova A JV LLC,* Phoenix, Arizona (N62473-19-D-2426); Galindo Electric Inc.,* Vista, California (N62473-19-D-2427); Power Pro Plus Inc.,* Rancho Cucamonga, California (N62473-19-D-2428); Souza Construction Inc.,* Farmersville, California (N62473-19-D-2429); Synergy Electric Co. Inc.,* Santee, California (N62473-19-D-2430); and Tri-Technic Inc.,* Sonora, California (N62473-19-D-2431), are each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract for new construction, renovation, and repair of dry utilities construction projects at various government installations located in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. The maximum dollar value including the base period and one option period for all six contracts combined is $249,000,000. Types of projects may include, but are not limited to: electrical distribution systems, exterior lighting systems, controls, airfield lighting systems, communications and security systems, grounding systems, and alternative energy structures. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contracts. No task orders are being issued at this time. All work on these contracts will be performed at various government installations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of responsibility including, but not limited to, California (90 percent); Arizona (6 percent); Nevada (1 percent); Utah (1 percent); Colorado (1 percent), and New Mexico (1 percent). The terms of the contracts are not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of January 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $35,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy and Marine Corps); and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set-aside procurement via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 14 proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering CommandSouthwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, was awarded a $77,758,481 cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive, cost-only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-13-C-5225 for production of the Navy's AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Surface Ship Undersea Warfare System (UWS). The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 is the Surface Ship Undersea Warfare combat system with the capabilities to search, detect, classify, localize and track undersea contacts, and to engage and evade submarines, mine-like small objects and torpedo threats. The contract is for development, integration and production of future advanced capability build and technical insertion baselines of the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 USW systems. Work will be performed in Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania (54 percent); Clearwater, Florida (22 percent); Syracuse, New York (7 percent); Manassas, Virginia (6 percent); Hauppauge, New York (5 percent); Owego, New York (5 percent); Tewksbury, Massachusetts (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by May 2021. Fiscal 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy); fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation; and Foreign Military Sales funding in the amount $77,187,872 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. (Awarded Jan. 16, 2019) DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $37,659,687 modification (P00026) to a three-year base contract (SPE7LX-17-D-0077) with two one-year option periods adding eleven spare parts within the scope of the original contract. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $63,767,640. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Wisconsin, with an Aug. 15, 2022, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio. Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC, West Hartford, Connecticut, has been awarded a maximum $7,953,750 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for bolt breech's. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Connecticut, with a Jan. 17, 2024, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-19-D-0001). AIR FORCE General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $37,100,316 firm-fixed-price modification (P00001) to contract FA8620-18-F-2303 for fiscal 2017 aircraft production. The contract modification provides for the cut-in of force and vortex capabilities onto the existing FY17 aircraft production configuration. Work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal year 2017 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $37,100,316 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Jan. 16, 2019) Siemens Government Technologies, Arlington, Virginia, has been awarded a $24,586,803 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the reactivation and maintenance of Teamcenter software. This contract provides for the reactivation and maintenance of the Teamcenter software, as well as original equipment manufacturer support for the Air Force. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 17, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Funding will be obligated on the initial order of the IDIQ contract. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8770-19-D-0517). *Small Business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1734769/source/GovDelivery/

Le 16 janvier 2019 – Ottawa (Ontario) – Défense nationale/Forces armées canadiennes Le gouvernement du Canada reconnaît l'importance d'investir dans l'innovation pour la défense et l'avenir de nos Forces armées canadiennes. À l'appui de la politique de défense du Canada, Protection, Sécurité, Engagement, le ministre de la Défense Harjt S. Sajjan a souligné aujourd'hui les contrats octroyés à la suite du premier appel de propositions de projets compétitifs dans le cadre du programme Innovation pour la défense, l'excellence et la sécurité (IDEeS). Le programme IDEeS offre aux innovateurs la chance de soutenir la défense et la sécurité. À peine neuf mois après sa mise en œuvre, IDEeS a illustré un accès amélioré à l'innovation en matière de défense et de sécurité par l'investissement de 26,8 millions de dollars dans 160 contrats qui s'inscrivent dans le premier appel de propositions, lequel a été lancé en avril 2018. Plus de 600 propositions visant à résoudre des défis parmi les plus complexes auxquels le Canada est confronté dans le domaine de la défense et de la sécurité ont été présentées par des innovateurs d'un bout à l'autre du pays, y compris des universitaires, des petites et moyennes entreprises, des grandes industries, des organismes non gouvernementaux et des individus. Parmi les domaines d'intérêt, mentionnons la surveillance, la cybernétique, l'espace, l'intelligence artificielle, les systèmes téléguidés, l'analytique des données et le rendement humain. Gr'ce à ces efforts, nos Forces armées canadiennes auront les outils et les connaissances nécessaires pour contrer les nouvelles menaces, maintenir une avance sur les adversaires possibles et satisfaire aux besoins changeants en matière de défense et de sécurité. Citations « Gr'ce à notre politique de défense Protection, Sécurité, Engagement, nous fournissons aux femmes et aux hommes de nos Forces armées canadiennes les outils et l'équipement dont ils ont besoin pour s'acquitter de leurs fonctions. Le succès du premier appel de propositions dans le cadre du programme IDEeS illustre l'importance d'investir dans l'innovation canadienne afin de façonner l'avenir de nos Forces armées canadiennes. Ces nouvelles collaborations faciliteront l'acheminement d'idées et de concepts novateurs en vue de la fourniture des capacités nécessaires à la constitution de forces militaires fortes et agiles. Félicitations à tous les titulaires de contrats. » – Ministre de la Défense Harjit S. Sajjan « Notre gouvernement est déterminé à fournir aux hommes et aux femmes des Forces armées canadiennes la technologie nécessaire pour effectuer leur travail important au nom de la population canadienne. En plus d'appuyer nos braves militaires, ces contrats mobilisent les esprits les plus brillants et les plus novateurs du pays afin de relever les principaux défis en matière de défense et de sécurité auxquels nous sommes confrontés. » – Ministre des Services publics et de l'Approvisionnement Canada, Carla Qualtrough Faits en bref Le programme IDEeS permet au ministère de la Défense nationale et aux Forces armées canadiennes de tirer parti de l'innovation et de l'ingéniosité des Canadiens et des Canadiennes dans le but d'enrichir les capacités de défense et d'influer sur les décisions futures en matière de défense et de sécurité. L'appel de propositions de projets compétitifs du programme IDEeS a été administré par Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada, au nom du ministère de la Défense nationale. Le premier appel de propositions, qui visait seize défis, a été lancé le 9 avril 2018 et a pris fin le 7 juin 2018. Le ministère de la Défense nationale a annoncé les premiers contrats en août 2018. Le deuxième appel de propositions, qui visait neuf défis, a été lancé le 18 octobre 2018 et a pris fin le 27 novembre 2018. Les premiers contrats issus de cet appel de propositions seront octroyés en février 2019. Gr'ce au programme IDEeS, le ministère de la Défense nationale : crée des réseaux d'innovateurs (universitaires, représentants de l'industrie, individus et autres partenaires) dans le but de réaliser des activités de recherche et développement de pointe dans des domaines essentiels qui lui permettront de satisfaire aux besoins futurs en matière de défense et de sécurité; tient des concours et invite les innovateurs à présenter des solutions viables à des défis précis en matière de défense et de sécurité; adopte de nouveaux mécanismes d'approvisionnement gr'ce auxquels il peut concevoir et mettre à l'essai des concepts, ainsi que donner suite aux idées les plus prometteuses. Liens connexes Communiqué – Premiers contrats d'innovation octroyés dans le cadre du programme Innovation pour la défense, l'excellence et la sécurité (IDEeS) Document d'information –Innovation pour la défense, l'excellence et la sécurité (IDEeS) Document d'information – Le gouvernement du Canada lance un appel aux innovateurs pour résoudre des défis en matière de défense et de sécurité Récipiendaires de contrats – site Web du programme IDEeS Protection, Sécurité, Engagement https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-defense-nationale/nouvelles/2019/01/investissements-de-la-defense-dans-la-communaute-de-linnovation-du-canada-et-ses-solutions-en-matiere-de-defense-et-de-securite.html

By Charlie Pinkerton The Department of National Defence hasn't yet measured how much more it will be paying for fuel under the federal carbon tax. The military spends around $200 million on fuel per year. In response to an order-paper question in mid-December, National Defence parliamentary secretary Serge Cormier said the department “is in the process of determining the broad implications of the price on carbon pollution.” A spokesperson from the department confirmed today it hasn't yet decided how it will assess these costs. The Canadian Armed Forces uses different types of fuel to run its vehicles, aircraft and naval vessels, and for heating, cooking and generating power. While costs follow the ebb and flow of fuel prices in Canada, the military has spent over $183 million in each of the last five years. The highest total was in 2014, when it spent $246 million. Last year, the total came to $195 million. Since it buys fuel in Canada and abroad, it won't have to pay a tax on all purchases. The exact costs will vary by province or territory, but the federal government's fuel charge will be $20 per tonne of carbon emissions in 2019, increasing by $10 per tonne each year until it reaches $50 per tonne in 2022. For a tank of gas, the tax is expected to add 4.4 cents per litre in 2019 and 11 cents per litre in 2022. The federal government says 90 per cent of what it collects will be returned directly to Canadians, which will amount to about $300 per Ontario household, what the government estimates more than 70 per cent of Canadian households will pay. National Defence will eventually have to determine the impact of the carbon tax on its operations and maintenance budget. In its response to Conservative MP Karen Vecchio's order-paper question, the military declined to say how much it expects the price on carbon will cost the department in each of the next five years. It says costs “are not tracked or forecast,” and it couldn't formulate a response in the time allowed. This is typical for order-paper questions, since the government is required to respond in 45 days. According to the Liberals' new defence policy, they plan to invest $225 million in infrastructure projects by 2020. Cormier's response echoes another commitment of Canada's “Strong, Secure, Engaged” defence policy, in that the Armed Forces will transition 20 per cent of their non-military fleet to hybrid or electric vehicles by next year. https://ipolitics.ca/2019/01/16/national-defence-doesnt-know-impact-of-carbon-tax-on-fuel-costs/

Program seeks to create new software and hardware architectures that provide physically provable assurances around data security and privacy Whether a piece of information is private, proprietary, or sensitive to national security, systems owners and users have little guarantees about where their information resides or of its movements between systems. When a user enters information on a phone, for example, it is difficult to provably track that the data remains on the phone or whether it is uploaded to a server beyond the device. The national defense and security communities are similarly left with few options when it comes to ensuring that sensitive information is appropriately isolated, particularly when it's loaded to an internet-connected system. “As cloud systems proliferate, most people still have some information that they want to physically track – not just entrust to the ether,” said Walter Weiss, DARPA program manager. “Users should be able to trust their devices to keep their information private and isolated.” Keeping a system completely disconnected from all means of information transfer is an unrealistic security tactic. Modern computing systems must be able to communicate with other systems, including those with different security requirements. Today, commercial and defense organizations often leverage a series of air-gaps, or breaks between systems, to keep the most sensitive computing devices and information secure. However, interfaces to such air-gapped systems are typically added in after the fact and are exceedingly complex, placing undue burden on systems operators as they implement or manage them. To create scalable solutions that provide safe, verifiable methods of tracking information and communications between systems, DARPA launched the Guaranteed Architecture for Physical Security (GAPS) program. The goal of GAPS is to develop hardware and software architectures that can provide physically provable guarantees around high-risk transactions, or where data moves between systems of different security levels. DARPA wants to ensure that these transactions are isolated and that the systems they move across are enabled with the necessary data security assertions. The intended outputs of this program are hardware and software co-design tools that allow data separation requirements to be defined during design, and protections that can be physically enforced at system runtime. GAPS is divided into three research areas that will address: 1) the creation of hardware components and interfaces; 2) the development of software co-design tools; and, 3) the integration of these components and tools, as well as their validation against exemplar Department of Defense (DoD) systems. The new hardware components and interfaces are designed to provide system designers with a library of hardware tools to securely isolate data during transactions. The software co-design tools could someday allow developers to easily employ GAPS hardware components without requiring changes to their existing development processes and frameworks. Finally, the integration and validation of the hardware and software architectures on DoD systems could be used to demonstrate the capability and maturity of the GAPS approach for the kinds of problems DoD system integrators currently face, and expect to see in the future. Commercializing the resulting technologies is also an objective of the program. The verifiable security properties created under GAPS may also help create safer commercial systems that could be used for preserving proprietary information and protecting consumer privacy. GAPS is part of the second phase of DARPA's Electronics Resurgence Initiative (ERI) - a five-year, upwards of $1.5 billion investment in the future of domestic, U.S. government and defense electronics systems. Under ERI Phase II, DARPA is exploring the development of trusted electronics components, including the advancement of electronics that can enforce security and privacy protections. GAPS will help address the DoD's unique requirements for assured electronics while helping to move forward ERI's broader mission of creating a more robust, secure and heavily automated electronics industry. DARPA will hold a Proposers Day on January 23, 2019 from 9:00am to 2:30pm (EST) at the DARPA Conference Center, located at 675 North Randolph Street, Arlington, Virginia 22203, to provide more information about GAPS and answer questions from potential proposers. For details on the event, including registration requirements, please visit: http://www.cvent.com/events/gaps-proposers-day/event-summary-34cbadc0ab2248bb860db3df8223a2f6.aspx. A Broad Agency Announcement that fully describes the GAPS program structure and objectives can be found here: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=cfecfe762954149924ec59c95ec6a7b8&tab=core&_cview=1. https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2019-01-16

ARMY Caddell Construction Co. (DE) LLC., Montgomery, Alabama, was awarded a $143,514,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of an airmen training complex dormitory, a dining and classroom facility, supporting facilities, a free standing equipment building, a weapons cleaning pavilion, running track, exercise pads and parking lots. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, with an estimated completion date of June 8, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $143,514,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-19-C-0001). IICON Construction Group LLC,* Colorado Springs, Colorado, was awarded a $15,179,720 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a National Guard readiness center. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Fort Carson, Colorado, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2017 military construction funds in the amount of $15,179,720 were obligated at the time of the award. National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W912LC-19-C-0001). CORRECTION: The contract announced on Jan. 15, 2019, for $474,084,062 to BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP, York, Pennsylvania, has not been awarded. No award date has been determined at this time. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Puerto Rico Apparel Manufacturing (PRAMA) Corp.,** Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $11,648,229 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for various types of coats and trousers. This was a competitive acquisition with seven responses received. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with a Jan. 10, 2024, estimated performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-1127). Alamo Strategic Manufacturing,*** San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $8,550,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for knee and elbow pads. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Texas and Puerto Rico, with a Jan. 30, 2020, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (SPE1C1-19-D-1122). NAVY Gilbane Federal, Concord, California, is awarded a $10,966,383 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract (N39430-15-D-1634) to decrease the value of the contract for the cleaning, inspection and repair of Fuel Storage Tanks 305, 307, and 308 at Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP) Tsurumi, Japan. Work on Tanks 305, 307, and 308 is being removed from the contract due to contractor performance problems. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $6,426,985. Work will be performed in Tsurumi, Japan, and is expected to be completed by March 2019. Fiscal 2016 defense working capital (Defense Logistics Agency) contract funds in the amount of $10,966,383 are de-obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded $7,026,164 for cost-plus-fixed-fee modification P00017 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm/cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0048). This modification provides for Automated Logistics Environment software maintenance operating systems and obsolescence avoidance in support of the low rate initial production CH-53K aircraft. The work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in October 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,026,164 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. *Small Business **Economically disadvantaged women-owned small business in historically underutilized business zones ***Small disadvantaged business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1733689/source/GovDelivery/