Nouvelles

Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department on Thursday OK'd two potential arms deals for a pair of NATO allies. The Netherlands was cleared to purchase 34 Patriot Advanced Capability‑3 (PAC-3) missiles, with an estimated price tag of $241 million. The United Kingdom, meanwhile, was cleared to purchase $401.3 million worth of logistics support for its fleet of C-17 aircraft. The announcements, posted on the website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, do not represent final locked-in sales. All Foreign Military Sales announcements must be cleared by Congress, after which dollar and equipment totals can change in final negotiations. The Netherlands deal would include the 35 PAC-3 missiles, as well eight kitted 2-pack PAC-3 MSE Missile Round Trainers, six kitted 2-pack PAC-3 MSE Empty Round Trainers, four PAC-3 MSE Skid Kits, one lot of Classified PAC-3 MSE Concurrent Spare Parts and one lot of Unclassified PAC-3 MSE CSPs, along with logistics support. “The Netherlands will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats, and provide direct support to coalition and security cooperation efforts,” per the DSCA. The Netherlands operates four Patriot batteries. The prime contractor would be Lockheed Martin. The Netherlands typically requires industrial offsets when buying foreign-made weapons, which are to be negotiated later between Lockheed and the Dutch. The U.K. request includes “aircraft component spare and repair parts; accessories; publications and technical documentation; software and software support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support” for its C-17s. Boeing will be the prime contractor. “This proposed sale will improve the United Kingdom's capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring the operational readiness of the Royal Air Force. Its C-17 aircraft fleet provides strategic airlift capabilities that directly support U.S. and coalition operations around the world,” per the DSCA announcement. Since the start of fiscal 2017, the Netherlands has been cleared for 11 other FMS cases, totaling $1.95 billion in potential sales. In that same period the U.K. has been cleared for seven FMS cases, worth a potential $7.35 billion https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/09/24/dutch-patriot-missiles-uk-c-17-support-cleared-by-us-state-department/

Murray Brewster Intelligence expert says Canadian Forces may be preparing for more missions without American help Canada's elite special forces are looking for some outside intelligence advice — a move that one expert said is likely meant to make the highly-trained special forces section less dependent on allies, notably the Americans. A request for proposals was posted late last week to the federal government's tendering website asking private contractors to submit bids to become a "senior intelligence" adviser to the special forces, which undertake some of the military's most secret and dangerous missions. The individual will be expected to "aid and support in the implementation of current intelligence projects, and the design and implementation of future capabilities." Specifically, the new adviser will be responsible for helping to guide "the establishment of specific [Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance] capabilities," which will include aircraft. The special forces recently bought three new surveillance aircraft from the U.S. The planes, which are expected to arrive in 2022, will be equipped with sensors and tracking gear to intercept cell telephone and other electronic transmissions. The request for proposals also says the new adviser will be expected to have a deep background in working with other allied intelligence services. In its defence policy, released three years ago, the Liberal government committed to bolstering the military's intelligence-gathering capability. The special forces section itself emphasized intelligence-gathering in its recently released strategy, called Beyond the Horizon. Within the defence community, the strategy is seen as an important effort to refocus the special forces after nearly two decades of concentrating on counter-insurgency warfare. A spokesperson for the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM), Maj. Amber Bineau, had little to say about the rationale for hiring a contract adviser beyond what was included in the request for proposals. The branch "periodically hires contractors, on a case-by-case basis" and the adviser will be working with "oversight from senior leadership within CANSOFCOM," she said in an email. The University of Ottawa's Wesley Wark, one of the country's leading experts in intelligence, said the decision to bring in outside expertise and establish surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for the special forces is a significant move — especially coming at a moment when the United States is seen as pulling back from engagement with its allies, or focusing on different priorities. Wark said Canada traditionally has relied on the Americans for a variety of intelligence-gathering capabilities, including military intelligence. The request for proposals, he said, amounts to a recognition by the Department of National Defence that some future special forces missions may not involve partnerships with U.S. special forces — and that Canada needs its own independent capabilities. "If you're going to work with some different kinds of partners, the expectation grows that you're going to have to have your own sources and you can't just be relying on the United States," he told CBC News. Wark said he could foresee, for example, Canadian special forces being called upon by the United Nations for specific intelligence help during peace support missions — a task that, in the current political climate, Washington would avoid. Just as important, Wark said, is the fact that the request for proposals asked for someone with expertise in social media intelligence, "which is interesting and indicative of the kind of complex operations" the force will be facing in the future. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/special-forces-intelligence-1.5726861

David Pugliese The project to purchase pistols to replace the Canadian military's Second World War-era handguns is once again underway and National Defence hopes to have the new weapons by the summer of 2022. The project had been stalled for years after small arms firms rejected in 2011 the federal government requirement that the guns be built at Colt Canada in Kitchener, Ont. In addition, the companies balked at the stipulation they had to turn over their proprietary firearms information to Colt, a firm that some saw as a competitor. But with small arms companies reluctant to bid on the Canadian pistol project, the federal government has had no choice but to drop those requirements and have an open competition. A request for bids will now be issued in early 2021, DND spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande confirmed to this newspaper. She said a “minimum of 9,000” handguns will be purchased. “These are mainly intended for the Canadian Army, and will be issued as required,” she added. The department hopes to have a contract in place by the summer of 2021, with initial deliveries by the summer of 2022, she added. The DND declined to discuss the amount of money that taxpayers will spend on the project. The new handguns will replace the Second World War-era Browning Hi-Power pistols used by the Canadian Forces. The replacement program for the 9mm Browning Hi-Power pistols has been on the books for years. In the fall of 2011, the DND abruptly cancelled plans for the purchase of 10,000 new pistols. The decision to shut the process down came after international firearms companies balked at the stipulation the firms turn over their confidential technical data to Colt Canada so the guns could be manufactured in Canada. Colt is the country's Small Arms Strategic Source and Centre of Excellence. The DND was told at the time by industry representatives that it didn't make economic sense to have Colt manufacture the guns in Canada or to have parts shipped to Colt so the guns could be assembled in Canada. The handgun replacement project has been seen as an example of a highly dysfunctional military procurement system. At one point the DND tried to prevent small arms companies from talking to journalists about the bungled procurement but the department's decree was largely ignored. Under the Munitions Supply Program sole source deals have been directed to Colt Canada to maintain a small arms expertise in the country. In late January Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced the purchase of more than 3,600 new C6AI FLEX General Purpose Machine Guns from the company. The $96-million order was a follow-on deal to the 2017 contract for 1,148 of the same machine guns. Some spare parts are included along with cleaning kits and carrying slings in the purchase. Critics pointed out that the cost of each gun worked out to around $27,000, at least twice the amount that other militaries are spending. In February and April two other contracts were directed to Colt to produce a semi-automatic rifle in 7.62 calibre to be used by Canadian Forces sniper teams as an auxiliary weapon. Lamirande said in 2018 changes were made to improve the Munitions Supply Program. Under those changes, new business was no longer automatically given to members of the supply program. Instead a thorough analysis is to be done to decide whether it is better to open a project up to competition or sole source the deal to firms in the Munitions Supply Program. “Factors that are considered include performance, value for money, flexibility, innovation potential, and socio-economic benefits,” Lamirande explained. “We also include considerations for current availability within timeframes and the long term sustainability of the solution.” https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/project-to-buy-new-pistols-for-canadian-forces-is-once-again-underway

AIR FORCE Amazon Web Services Inc., Seattle, Washington (FA8612-20-D-0065); Anduril Industries Inc., Irvine, California (FA8612-20-D-0066); Colorado Engineering Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado (FA8612-20-D-0067); Edgy Bees Inc., Palo Alto, California (FA8612-20-D-0068); Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc., Redlands, California (FA8612-20-D-0069); Global C2 Integration Technologies LLC, Las Vegas, Nevada (FA8612-20-D-0070); General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California (FA8612-20-D-0054); Grey Wolf Aerospace LLC, Delaware, Ohio (FA8612-20-D-0071); Kratos Technology and Training Solutions Inc., San Diego, California(FA8612-20-D-0055); LinQuest Corp., Los Angeles, California (FA8612-20-D-0056); Oddball Inc., Washington, D.C. (FA8612-20-D-0058); Red River Technology LLC, Claremont, New Hampshire (FA8612-20-D-0073); SES Government Solutions Inc., Reston, Virginia (FA8612-20-D-0074); Venator Solutions LLC, San Diego, California (FA8612-20-D-0063); and VivSoft Technologies LLC, Brambleton, Virginia (FA8612-20-D-0075), have been awarded a $950,000,000 ceiling in indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts to compete for future efforts associated with the maturation, demonstration and proliferation of capability across platforms and domains, leveraging open systems design, modern software and algorithm development in order to enable Joint All Domain Command and Control. These contracts provide for the development and operation of systems as a unified force across all domains (air, land, sea, space, cyber and electromagnetic spectrum) in an open architecture family of systems that enables capabilities via multiple integrated platforms. Work will be performed at locations determined at the contract direct order level and is expected to be complete by May 28, 2025. Air Force Life Cycle Management, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, Greenville, Texas, has been awarded a $90,000,104 not-to-exceed, firm-fixed-price, undefinitized contract modification (P00003) to contract FA8620-20-F-4837 for engineering, procurement and fabrication, which will result in Phase One modification to the mission aircraft. Work will be performed in Greenville, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2023. This contract involves 100% Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and is the result of a sole-source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $44,100,031 are being obligated at the time of award. The 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Alion Science and Technology Corp., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a $40,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract for information technology services. This contract provides for support with the enterprise protection risk management, utilizing the information technology application/software, countermeasures risk analysis software. The support will assess risk and implement countermeasures to mitigate the compromise, loss, unauthorized access/disclosure, destruction, distortion or non-accessibility of mission-related assets. Work will be performed in McLean, Virginia, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 24, 2025. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $352,000 are being obligated on the first task order at the time of award. Air Force District of Washington, Air Force Enterprise Support Division, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity (FA7014-20-D-0002). Parsons Government Services Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, has been awarded a $39,934,030 contract for the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Recovery of Airbase Denied by Ordnance (RADBO) vehicle. The contract provides for 13 fully operational MRAP RADBO systems (Cougar, Laser, and Arm) and three spares systems that will provide the warfighter with the ability to effectively identify, disarm and clear unexploded ordnance from an airfield while inside an MRAP Cougar (CAT1A1) vehicle, with little to no collateral damage. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by September 2023. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8534-20-C-0001). General Electric Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded a $23,472,820 firm-fixed-price, requirements-type contract with a five-year year ordering period for the remanufacture of the F108 Module 13/15 low pressure turbine union assembly. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 22, 2025. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Defense agencies working capital funds will be made available at the issuing of delivery orders against this contract. Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker, Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8122-20-D-0007). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, will be awarded a $22,990,520 cost-plus-fixed-fee task order for the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Operational Software Sustainment program. This contract provides a capability to correct existing software deficiencies, implements changes in Minuteman operational software domains and maintains the ICBM operational software update capability. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Huntington Beach, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Space Park, California, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2022. This award is a sole-source task order. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $22,990,520 for a base and one option year. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds will be used with no funds being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8204-20-F-0079). M1 Support Services, Denton, Texas, has been awarded a $12,244,288 firm-fixed-price modification (A00046) to contract FA3002-15-C-0006 for trainer maintenance services. Work will be performed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2021. This action is to exercise Option Period Six. The total cumulative face value of the contract. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds will be used with no funds being obligated at the time of award. The 82nd Contracting Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas, is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, has been awarded a $9,947,644 delivery order against contract FA2521-16-D-0010 for serviceable components and subsystems for instrumentation tracking systems, world-wide for both foreign and domestic government agencies to include radars, telemetry and optical instrumentation tracking systems. The contract delivery order is for Eglin Radar Transmitter Replacement Project – First Article, for the Space and Missile System Center Space Superiority Systems Directorate. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds will be used with none being obligated at the time of award. The 45th Contracting Squadron, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY American Water Military Services LLC, Camden, New Jersey, has been awarded a $771,347,903 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for the ownership, operation and maintenance of the water and wastewater utility systems at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. This was a competitive acquisition with 11 responses received. This is a 50-year contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Washington and New Jersey, with a Sept. 30, 2071, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2071 Army operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SP0600-20-C-8330). Noble Sales Co., Inc.,* doing business as Noble Supply and Logistics, Rockland, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $93,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity bridge contract for facility maintenance, repair and operations supplies and related incidental services. 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 300-day contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Massachusetts and Northern Europe, with a July 19, 2021, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and North American Treaty Organization. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Europe and Africa, Kaiserslautern, Germany (SPE5B1-20-D-0005). SRCTec LLC, Syracuse, New York, has been awarded a maximum $93,000,000 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for hardware spare and repair components of the AN/TPQ-50 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar System. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a five-year base contract with one five-year option period. Location of performance is New York, with a Sept. 23, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-20-D-0056). Simmonds Precision Products Inc., Vergennes, Vermont, has been awarded a maximum $50,182,405 firm-fixed-price, requirements contract for control data analysis. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Vermont, with a Sept. 22, 2025, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA1-20-D-0066). Thales Components Corp., Piscataway, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $21,494,100 firm-fixed-price, definitive contract for traveling wave tubes. 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 one-year contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are New Jersey and France, with a March 30, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Ogden, Utah (SPRHA3-20-C-0002). Lockheed Martin Corp., Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded a maximum $15,172,684 firm-fixed-price definitive contract for the Voice Control Panel Matrix on the Minuteman III weapon 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 31-month contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Colorado, with an April 23, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Hill Air Force Base, Utah (SPRHA2-20-C-0005). Simmonds Precision Products, Vergennes, Vermont, has been awarded a $43,347,590 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for electro-mechanical helicopter actuators. 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 one-year base contract with four one-year options periods. Location of performance is Vermont with a Sept. 22, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA1-20-D-0073). (Awarded Sept. 22, 2020) Ham Produce and Seafood Inc.,* Honolulu, Hawaii, has been awarded a $9,900,000 modification (P00003) to contract SPE302-20-D-P004 to lift a stop work order. This is a firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for fresh fruits and vegetables. Location of performance is Hawaii, with a Sept. 29, 2023, ordering period end date. Using customer is Defense Department. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Indo-Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Honolulu, Hawaii. (Awarded Sept. 3, 2020). ARMY Kokosing Alberici LLC, Westerville, Ohio, was awarded an $111,259,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of new upstream approach walls at the Soo Lock Complex, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 16, 2023. Fiscal 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $111,259,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W911XK-20-C-0018). Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. LLC, Oak Brook, Illinois, was awarded a $104,979,350 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging in Duval County, Florida. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 15, 2022. Fiscal 2017, 2019 and 2020 civil construction funds; 2020 civil operations and maintenance funds; and 2020 non-federal funds in the amount of $104,979,350 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (W912EP-20-C-0010). HGL-APTIM JV LLC,* Reston, Virginia, was awarded a $43,138,765 firm-fixed-price contract for environmental remediation activities at Hill Air Force Base. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 22, 2030. Fiscal 2020 revolving funds in the amount of $43,138,765 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento, California, is the contracting activity (W91238-20-C-0014). BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P., San Jose, California, was awarded a $39,754,114 modification (P00147) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0099 for engineering, logistics and fielding support for the Multiple Launch Rocket System Carrier. Work will be performed in San Jose, California, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2023. Fiscal 2020 weapons and tracked combat vehicle procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $39,754,114 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Breeze-Eastern LLC, Whippany, New Jersey, was awarded a $25,792,268 firm-fixed-price contract for the maintenance and overhaul of the winch, aircraft mounted. 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, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-20-F-0582). StructSure Projects Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, was awarded a $23,766,565 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction facility restoration of an Army Reserve Center. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in North Little Rock, Arkansas, with an estimated completion date of April 23. 2023. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Army Reserve) funds in the amount of $23,766,565 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-20-C-0044). American Ordnance LLC, Middletown, Iowa, was awarded a $20,000,000 modification (P00003) to contract W52P1J-19-F-0370 to design a long-range precision artillery production line at Iowa Army Ammunition Plant. Work will be performed in Middletown, Iowa, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2020 procurement of ammunition (Army) funds in the amount of $20,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Orion Marine Construction Inc., Tampa, Florida, was awarded a $15,855,250 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging in Galveston County, Texas. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Galveston, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 20, 2021. Fiscal 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $15,855,250 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-20-C-0033). Knight's Armament Co.,* Titusville, Florida, was awarded a $13,480,110 firm-fixed-price contract for the M110 semiautomatic sniper system and various M110 configurations. 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. 25, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-20-D-0044). AirTronic USA LLC,* Spring Branch, Texas, was awarded a $13,322,593 firm-fixed-price contract for Precision Shoulder-fired Rocket Launchers, VirTra 100 shooting simulators, installation and training. 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. 23, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-20-D-0045). Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded an $11,101,830 modification (P00406) to contract W56HZV-15-C-0095 to retrofit mufflers, forward facing cameras, rear-door transparent armor and muffler robustness into the baseline configuration of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle family of vehicles. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 23, 2021. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 Marine Corps procurement funds in the amount of $11,101,830 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Kinsley Construction Inc., York, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $9,992,147 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of an administrative facility for Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron located at Joint Base Andrews. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of April 5, 2022. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Air Force Reserve) funds in the amount of $9,992,147 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-20-C-0049). Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $9,776,331 modification (P00007) to contract W15QKN-19-C-0017 for to procure Excalibur Ib projectiles. Work will be performed in Healdsburg, California; Karlskoga, Sweden; East Camden, Arizona; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Plymouth, United Kingdom; Cincinnati, Ohio; Glenrothes, United Kingdom; Salt Lake City, Utah; Joplin, Missouri; Gilbert, Arizona; Lansdale, Pennsylvania; Santa Clara, California; Woodridge, Illinois; Trenton, Texas; Valencia, California; Cookstown, New Jersey; Phoenix, Arizona; Anniston, Alabama; Chino, California; Inglewood, California; Tucson, Arizona; McAlester, Oklahoma; and Farmington, New Mexico, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $9,776,331 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. LLC, Oak Brook, Illinois, was awarded an $8,092,700 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging Morehead City Harbor. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Brunswick, Georgia; and Savannah, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,092,700 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, North Carolina, is the contracting activity (W912PM-20-C-0030). General Dynamics Information Technology, Fairfax, Virginia, was awarded a $7,913,730 modification (P00010) to contract W52P1J-19-F-0727 for logistical staff augmentation support throughout the Central Command area of responsibility. Work will be performed in Bagram, Afghanistan; and Kuwait City, Kuwait, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 25, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $4,716,991 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. NAVY BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P., Armament Systems Division, Louisville, Kentucky, is awarded an $80,384,866 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00174-19-C-0004 for five overhauled/upgraded MK45 Mod 4 Gun mounts and their associated components. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky, and is expected to be completed by June 2025. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy; 60%); and fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy; 40%), funding in the amount of $80,384,866 will be obligated at time of award and not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Sippican Inc., Marion, Massachusetts, is awarded a $72,171,182 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-6412 to exercise options for the production of MK 48 Mod 7 Heavyweight guidance and control sections, upgrade Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System kits and torpedo equipment and support. This modification combines purchases for the Navy (87%); and the governments of Australia (7%); Taiwan (5%); and Turkey (1%) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Marion, Massachusetts (81%); Braintree, Massachusetts (18%); and Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania (1%), and is expected to be completed by December 2023. Fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy; 86%); FMS and Armament Cooperative Program (13%); and fiscal 2018 weapons procurement (Navy; 1%), funding in the amount of $72,171,182 will be obligated at the time of award, of which, $180,003 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded a $52,761,020 modification (P00097) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00019-14-C-0050. This modification procures support equipment and additional spares in support of VH-92A aircraft Lot II low rate initial production. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut (70%); Woodland, Washington (17%); Owego, New York (9%); and Cedar Rapids, Iowa (4%), and is expected to be completed by December 2022. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $52,761,020 will be obligated at the 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. Skookum Educational Programs, Bremerton, Washington, is being awarded a $40,327,106 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification for the exercise of Option Two for base operations support services at various installations in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for facility maintenance services including janitorial services, grounds maintenance, facility investment, pest control, regulated medical waste, chemical toilets, pavement clearance, lighting maintenance and warehousing services. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $111,812,749. Work will be performed in the NAVFAC Northwest AOR, including but not limited to, Washington (96%); Idaho (1%); Minnesota (1%); Montana (1%); and Oregon (1%). This option period is from October 2020 to September 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $33,201,547 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the option period. The contract was awarded under the AbilityOne program, Federal Acquisitions Regulation Part 8.7, Acquisition from Non-Profit Agencies Employing People Who Are Blind or Severely Handicapped. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity (N44255-18-D-5009). Skookum Educational Programs, Bremerton, Washington, is awarded a $31,157,545 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification for the exercise of Option Three for base operations support services at various installations in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for all management and administration, facilities management and investment, pest control, integrated solid waste, pavement clearance, utilities management, base support vehicles and equipment and environmental services for base operations support services. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $119,425,916. Work will be performed at various installations in the NAVFAC Northwest AOR, including but not limited to, Washington (90%); Alaska (1%); Idaho (1%); Iowa (1%); Minnesota (1%); Montana (1%); Nebraska (1%); North Dakota (1%); Oregon (1%); South Dakota (1%); and Wyoming (1%). This option period is from October 2020 to September 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $23,270,333 will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the option period. The contract was awarded under the AbilityOne program, Federal Acquisitions Regulation Part 8.7, Acquisition from Non-Profit Agencies Employing People Who Are Blind or Severely Handicapped. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity (N44255-17-D-4039). Clark Construction Group LLC, Bethesda, Maryland, is awarded an $18,372,142 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a taxiway at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The work to be performed will construct a new taxiway utilizing economical construction methods to satisfy operational and mission requirements at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Construction includes demolition of existing pavement, construction of storm water management facilities, taxiway lighting, site preparation, full depth concrete pavement with asphalt shoulders and all other supports necessary to make a complete and usable taxiway. Work will be performed in Camp Springs, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by January 2022. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Air Force) contract funds in the amount of $18,372,142 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Pursuant to Federal Acquisitions Regulation 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii), which authorizes the use of other than full and open competition when there is only one available source, this contract was sole-sourced to Clark Construction Group LLC, because of their uniquely qualified and position to perform the required work. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N40080-20-C-0024). Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is awarded a $17,024,177 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded order N00024-20-F-5518 under basic ordering agreement N00024-18-G-5501 for dual band radar spares in support of DDG 1000. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, Massachusetts (50%); Andover, Massachusetts (27%); Portsmouth, Massachusetts (14%); and Marlborough, Massachusetts (9%), and is expected to be completed by July 2024. Fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy; 94%); fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy; 3%); fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy; 2%); fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy; less than 1%); and fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy; less than 1%), funding in the amount of $17,024,177 will be obligated at time of award, of which, funds in the amount of $542,009 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Niking Corp.,* Wahiawa, Hawaii, is awarded a $16,406,600 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a new entry control point (ECP) facility and security improvements at the perimeter gate on Mokapu Road, Marine Corps Base, Hawaii. The work to be performed includes construction of a new ECP facility and security improvements to meet anti-terrorism/force protection requirements. The ECP facilities will include an overwatch tower and station, generator/toilet/communications building, gate/controls house with a guard booth and canopy and a privately-owned-vehicle inspection area with canopy. Work will be performed in Kaneohe, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by January 2022. Fiscal 2018 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $16,406,600 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov website with four proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-20-C-1304). Hydroid Inc., Pocasset, Massachusetts, is awarded a $16,301,288 modification to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00174-19–D-0010 to exercise option year one for engineering support and training services for the MK 18 Family of Systems (FOS) – Unmanned Underwater Vehicle systems. Work will be performed in Pocasset, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. No funding is being obligated at modification award but according to future task orders. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Diversified Service Contracting Inc., Dunn, North Carolina, is awarded a $15,871,115 firm-fixed-price modification for the exercise of an option for the base operating support services contract at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The work to be performed provides for recurring and non-recurring facility maintenance, janitorial services, pest control services, grounds maintenance, sweeping and snow removal, base support vehicles and equipment. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $117,616,402. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $6,582,754 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This award is issued under Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 6.302-2 Unusually and Compelling Urgency. The purpose of this modification is to ensure critical services continue as the agency responds to a post-award protest on the re-procurement of this contract. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N40080-11-D-3020). North Star Scientific Corp.,* Kapolei, Hawaii, is awarded a $13,211,025 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price order (N68335-20-F-0003) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N68335-19-G-0037. This order provides for continued research and development efforts for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) products for the High Gain Ultra High Frequency Electronically Scanned Antenna under SBIR topic N06-125 titled, “L-Band Solid-State High Power Amplifier for Airborne Platforms.” Further development and research efforts will provide one prototype radar transceiver assembly, one high power balanced amplifier, and various laboratory and radome parts. Additionally, it will provide data deliverables to include technical reports and hardware design descriptions. Work will be performed in Kapolei, Hawaii (76%); Stockton, California (12%); San Diego, California (6%); Newark, Delaware (3%); and San Ramon, California (3%), and is expected to be completed by September 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,279,534; and fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,931,491 will be obligated at time of award, $7,931,491 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada, is awarded a $10,550,368 firm-fixed-price order (N68335-20-F-0809) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N68335-19-G-0013. This order procures hardware components for 30 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Common Automatic Recovery System version 2 tracking subsystems for the Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in support of Webster Outlying Field Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems Division. Work will be performed in Sparks, Nevada, and is expected to be completed by September 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,516,789; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,923,505; and fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy), funds in the amount of $2,110,074 will be obligated at time of award, $3,516,789 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Liverpool, New York, is awarded an $8,890,000 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-20-C-5503 to exercise options for increased low rate initial production quantities of Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program AN/SLQ-32C(V)6. Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York (78%); and Lansdale, Pennsylvania (22%), and is expected to be completed by January 2022. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $8,890,000 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, D.C. is the contracting activity. L-3 Technologies Inc. KEO, a subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies Inc., Northampton, Massachusetts, was awarded a cost-plus fixed-fee contract with a potential value of $7,952,871 with options. This effort is to procure Multi-Function Mast (OE-538B) Antenna Group and upgrade kits as a second source. The Navy requires delivery of first antenna within 18 months of contract award and the second antenna within 24 months of contract award. This contract includes options for engineering services and provisional items required to support installations, repairs and sustainment, and if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $7,952,871. If all options are exercised, work could continue until August 2024. Work will be performed in Northampton, Massachusetts, with an expected completion date of August 2024. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,452,871 will be obligated at the time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is awarded as a sole-source under the under the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(3) - "Industrial Mobilization; Engineering, Development or Research Capability or Expert Services." The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N00039-20-C-0030). (Awarded Sept. 21, 2020) *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2358917/source/GovDelivery/

Jen Judson WASHINGTON — Partnering helicopters and unmanned aircraft just a few years ago meant that a pilot could control a drone to fly ahead to conduct reconnaissance. Maybe it meant a pilot could control payloads or even the weapon systems on that drone. But at Project Convergence at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, this month, manned-unmanned teaming took on a far more advanced meaning. The Army's Future Vertical Lift team rolled into the service's weeks-long “campaign of learning” with 19 semi truck trailers and almost 200 people, Brig. Gen. Wally Rugen, who is in charge of the Army's FVL modernization efforts, told Defense News in a Sept. 22 interview. The effort brings together future weapons and capabilities envisioned for a 2030s battlefield against near-peer adversaries such as Russia and China. It includes using a machine learning and artificial intelligence-enabled battle management system that is in development. Rugen said he was “very, very proud” to see technology at the event mature to the point that allowed for data to be pushed across networks “faster than we've done in the past” through a tight-knit kill chain that included space, air and ground assets underpinned by Assured Position, Navigation and Timing (APNT) and an advanced network. The team had 127 technical objectives it wanted to meet through 11 use cases and the three mission threads. The breadth of the effort reflects that the Army is at a critical juncture when it comes to modernizing its fleet. The service is attempting to develop and field both a Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) and Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) as well as a variety of Air-Launched Effects (ALE) capabilities along with a modular open system architecture that makes it easier to upgrade and modernize as time goes on. Leaders want all of this by 2030. The next level of algorithmic warfare A year ago, the Army's Architecture, Automation, Autonomy and Interfaces capability, or A3I, was put to the test at China Lake, California. In that effort, an operator with a tablet in the back of an MH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter took control of a Gray Eagle drone and tasked it to fire a small, precision-glide munition at an enemy target located on the ground. At the last second, a higher level threat was detected and the munition was rapidly redirected toward a different threat, taking it out within seconds. At Project Convergence, the final shot of the campaign came from a soldier on the ground taking control of a Long-Range Precision Fires (LRPF) munition surrogate (a Hellfire missile) on a Gray Eagle — representing a FARA — and firing on the target. This takes critical seconds out of the operation as the pilot of the aircraft wouldn't have to focus on trying to locate the target himself, aiming and firing the missile. At China Lake, the Army was able to use automation to reroute the Gray Eagle around poor weather. This year the aircraft were avoiding threat weapon systems, Rugen said. And while the Dynetics GBU-69 small glide munition used last year was inert, this time the Army used live rounds. The Army also used an open system architecture that was flexible enough for payloads and capabilities to be swapped in out of its A3I Gray Eagles without having to rely on the original equipment manufacturer to do it, Rugen highlighted. Multidomain aviation During the first mission thread, which focused on the penetration phase laid out in the Army's Multidomain Operations warfighting concept, aircraft partnered with space-based assets, APNT, and LRPF capabilities to locate, then degrade and destroy enemy assets modeled after the Russian Pantsir air defense systems and other weapons. The ALE pushed ingested data forward through the network to get it to the right shooters, whether that would be an Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) system on the ground or a Gray Eagle or another ALE. During the exercise, the team launched six ALEs “flooding the zone with our drones for the first time and we did that multiple times over,” Rugen said. Flooding the zone brought a variety of capabilities to the overall force during the three phases of operations. First, the Army was able to extend the ALE capability out to almost 62 kilometers, which provides deep standoff for manned aircraft like FARA. “For a division commander,” Rugen said, “that's just transforming his or her battlefield geometry.” The ALEs performed both the reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting acquisition mission and worked as a mesh network to extend the battlefield. Two ALEs were truck launched and four were air launched. “We did prove we could launch up to 80 knots forward speed on our FARA surrogate aircraft,” Rugen said. The team was also able to recover all of its ALEs from the operation using the Flying Launch and Recovery System (FLAReS). Rather than letting the drones belly land in the sand or on a runway, which would result in damage, FLAReS has a hook on the edge of the wing that catches the ALE's wing in flight. “It's been wonderful to see that innovation,” Rugen said. In a classified operation related to the penetration phase of battle, an ALE dropped off a Gray Eagle at an operationally relevant altitude for the first time, Rugen noted. In the dis-integrate mission thread, which aims to destroy and disrupt subcomponents of enemy capability such as command and control systems and intelligence capabilitiesas well as other critical nodes, the ALEs helped refine targeting information in a GPS-denied environment and passed it back to the ERCA system for long-range shots. In that phase, a Gray Eagle, serving as a “munitions mule,” flew outside of the enemy weapon engagement zone, and another aircraft took control of a sensor-enabled munition deployed from the Gray Eagle. In the third mission phase, where the goal is to exploit freedom of maneuver gained in the penetrate and dis-integrate phases in order to defeat enemy objectives, the air assets and Next-Generation Combat Vehicles were able to pass information back and forth using an internally developed system called Firestorm that works as the machine-to-machine brain. During the phase, the team was able to demonstrate the ability to automatically route the engagement, Rugen said. This means the aircraft or vehicle was able to ingest data and then the machine automatically sets up its route to engage the target with no involvement from the pilot. “Keeping the aviator out of it was the ingenious thing we were able to do,” Rugen said. Project Convergence also wasn't just about the technology but the tactics, techniques and procedures through which the Army worked, according to Rugen. “We're not just hitting the technology button here,” he said. “Some of it is the advanced ingress techniques against our pacing threats.” Overall, the interoperability between various battlefield capabilities from the ground all the way to space was an achievement, according to Rugen. "I'm not saying it's flawless, but we are not in our stove pipes and it's made us, at times, uncomfortable. But being uncomfortable is not necessarily bad. “We definitely had to converge because we were forced to, and there was some forcing to it, but it's been great,” he added. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/09/23/flooding-the-zone-future-aviation-capability-tightens-kill-chain-at-project-convergence/

Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — While the phrase “tsunami of data” seems to have exited everyday use by Defense Department officials, the problem remains the same: The Pentagon simply cannot exploit the sheer amount of information that comes in every day to its fullest. It's a challenge that will only get worse as more sources of information come online, with each branch having its own data sets, which often don't talk to each other. At the same time, the lack of ability to properly sort, catalog and exploit the data means the department cannot fully achieve its goals of using artificial intelligence to its fullest. After almost a decade of talking about the problem, military leaders appear to have a target date for when the department will get its arms around the problem, according to Gen. John Hyten, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. By 2030, the Pentagon expects handling data will no longer be an overwhelming challenge, Hyten said Monday during an event organized by the Defense Innovation Unit. But, he added, the department is looking at any way to move that date closer, including by reworking how requirements are developed in the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, or JROC, a group chaired by Hyten, which serves as an oversight body on the development of new capabilities and acquisition efforts. Currently, “a service develops the capability, it comes up through the various coordination boards in the JROC, eventually getting to the JROC where we validate a service concept and make sure it meets the joint interoperability requirement,” Hyten explained. “But what was intended is the JROC would develop joint requirements and push those out to the services and tell the services ‘you have to meet those joint requirements.'” To get back to that top-down model, Hyten plans to push out a list of joint requirements for two major department priorities in all domain command and control and logistics for joint fires, which will have specific requirements for data and software. “They're not going to be the traditional requirements that you've looked at for years, capability description documents and capability production documents. They're going to capabilities and attributes that programs have to have,” he said. “And if you don't meet these, you don't meet the joint requirements and therefore you don't get through the gate, you don't get money. That's how we're going to hold it.” Hyten added that the goal is to have those data requirements out to the services around the end of the year, shortly after the expected publication of the new joint warfighting concept. That concept — which Hyten has previously described as essentially eliminating lines between units and services on the battlefield — inherently relies on the ability to combine data to be successful, he noted. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2020/09/23/hyten-to-issue-new-joint-requirements-on-handling-data/

Burak Ege Bekdil ANKARA— Turkish government officials and industry executives are hoping to find new sales in what they see as emerging export markets in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. “These are promising markets for Turkish manufacturers,” said one senior procurement official. A Turkish diplomat familiar with the three countries said that “smooth, friendly, problem-free political relations” with all three Asian countries promise export deals for Turkish companies. “As more Turkish-made systems become combat-proven [by local use], interest from those countries will increase,” he said. Hakan Kurt, chairman of Capital Exhibition, calls Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan as “hot markets” for Turkish defense and aerospace industries. Capital Exhibition organizes Defence Port Turkey South Asia. “Turkish manufacturers do not have the problem of ‘lack of sellable platforms' like they had a decade ago,” Kurt said. Kurt expects that Turkish defense and aerospace exports to the three Asian countries could reach $5 billion in the next 10 years. Turkey's overall defense exports stood at $2.74 billion in 2019, down from the official target of $3 billion. A defense specialist in Ankara advised caution about Asian markets. “These countries need hardware. They have good political ties with Turkey. But their economies are often cash-strapped. Turkey may also have licensing problems in any potential export deal as it depends on foreign technology for local production,” he said. In 2018, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) signed a $1.5 billion agreement to sell a batch of 30 T129 attack helicopters to Pakistan. But the deal has not moved forward as TAI has failed to secure U.S. export licenses for the contract. The T129 is a twin-engine multirole attack helicopter produced under license from the Italian-British company AgustaWestland. It's powered by two LHTEC T800-4A turboshaft engines. Each engine can produce 1,014 kilowatts of output power. The T800-4A is an export version of the CTS800 engine. LHTEC, the maker of the engine, is a joint venture between the American firm Honeywell and the British company Rolls-Royce. The defense specialist said that most likely Turkish hardware to go into Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan would include naval vessels and patrol boats (except Afghanistan), smart ammunition, drones and armored vehicles. https://www.defensenews.com/global/2020/09/23/turkey-eyes-new-markets-for-exports/

Former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden commented in a Sept. 10 Stars and Stripes interview that he does “not see major reductions in the U.S. defense budget” if he is... https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/opinion-whats-defense-budget-cut

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Sysco Hampton Roads Inc., Suffolk, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $804,744,193 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for full-line food distribution. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a five-year contract. Location of performance is Virginia, with a Sept. 20, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military services are Air Force and Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-20-D-3286). O&M Halyard, Mechanicsville, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $35,188,397 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical and surgical products. This was a competitive acquisition with 18 responses received. This is a one-year base contract with nine one-year option periods. Location of performance is Virginia, with a Sept. 21, 2021, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 Warstopper funds. The contracting agency is the Defense Logistics Agency, Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D0-20-D-0018). Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $32,248,579 firm-fixed-price contract for television cameras and sensor assembly units for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. 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 two-year base contract with one one-year option period. The option is being exercised at the time of award. Location of performance is Texas, with a May 25, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-20-C-0188). AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, has been awarded an $85,273,664 fixed-price, incentive-firm, firm-fixed-price, cost‐plus‐incentive‐fee and cost-reimbursement modification (P00180) to previously awarded contract FA8810‐13‐C‐0002 to continue Space Based Infrared System contractor logistics support. Work will be performed at Peterson Air Force Base, Buckley AFB, Greeley Air National Guard Station, and Boulder, all located in Colorado, and is expected to be completed March 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds will be used with no funds being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $1,914,295,948. The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Peterson AFB, Colorado, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., Layton, Utah, has been awarded a $13,287,959 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00132) to contract FA8214-15-C-0001 for additional qualification requirements for the Signal Conditioner Module for the MOD 7 Flight Test Kit (SC Module). The objective of this proposed effort is to perform full qualification and acceptance testing to support new builds. Work will be performed in Layton, Utah, and is to be completed June 30, 2022. Fiscal 2020 missile procurement funds in the amount of $4,140,649 are being obligated at the time of award. Modification is funded with current year 3020 funds. AFNWC/PZBB is the contracting agency at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity. Systems and Technology Research,* Woburn, Massachusetts, has been awarded an $8,297,019 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for software deliverables. This contract provides for the research and development of challenge problems to validate and evaluate the design technologies developed by the Technology Area (TA) 1 team and the symbiosis technologies developed by TA2 teams. The focus of the research is Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) related models and seed designs. This effort brings two unique and differentiated design approaches to the Symbiotic Design for Cyber Physical Systems community from two pioneering UUV developers. Work will be performed in Woburn, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed October 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 23 offers were received. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,011,150 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-20-C-0535). ARMY FN America LLC, Columbia, South Carolina, was awarded a $78,709,973 firm-fixed-price contract for M249 Squad Automatic Weapons. 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. 19, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-20-D-0036). James Construction Group LLC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was awarded a $13,349,914 firm-fixed-price contract to design and construct a new two-lane bridge. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed at Fort Hood, Texas, with an estimated completion date of May 23, 2022. Fiscal 2020 military construction (Army) funds in the amount of $13,349,914 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-20-C-0038). World Wide Technology LLC, St. Louis, Missouri, was awarded an $8,980,145 firm-fixed-price contract for network upgrades. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 9, 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $8,980,145 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army 408th Contracting Support Brigade, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, is the contracting activity (W912D2-20-F-0046). Julius Kaaz Construction Co. Inc.,* Leavenworth, Kansas, was awarded an $8,852,723 firm-fixed-price contract to complete the renovation of Building 50 at Fort Leavenworth. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with an estimated completion date of March 25, 2022. Fiscal 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $8,852,723 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-20-C-4015). NAVY Life Cycle Engineering Inc., Charleston, South Carolina (N64498-20-D-4036, $44,312,721); and McKean Defense Group LLC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (N64498-20-D-4037, $33,941,662), are awarded a combined total $78,254,383 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for engineering and technical services to support the shipboard Electronic Chart Display and Information System and the Situational Awareness Bridge Display System for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (20%); Norfolk, Virginia (10%); San Diego, California (10%); Washington, D.C. (5%); Mayport, Florida (5%); Charlottesville, Virginia (4%); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (4%); Yokosuka, Japan (4%); the Kingdom of Bahrain (4%); Bremerton, Washington (2%); Rota, Spain (2%); and the remainder of the work (30%) will be performed at the contractor sites according to each awarded task order, and is expected to be completed by September 2025. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $500,000 ($250,000 obligated on each contract) will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with four offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., Jacksonville, Florida, is awarded a $75,129,607 modification (P00006) to previously awarded, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00019-19-D-0003. This modification exercises options to provide aircraft inspections, modifications and repairs as well as inner wing panel (IWP) modifications and repairs for the F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G series aircraft. These efforts restore the aircraft and IWP to meet service life projections in accordance with new design specifications. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida (80%); St. Louis, Missouri (15%); and Lemoore, California (5%), and is expected to be completed in September 2021. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Etolin Strait Partners LLC,* Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded a $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract modification for the exercise of Option Year One under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for construction projects located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington, D.C., area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for various maintenance, repair, alteration and minor new construction projects for facilities located primarily within the NAVFAC Washington, D.C., AOR in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The total contract amount after this modification will be $60,000,000. No task orders are being issued at this time. Work will be performed primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and is expected to be completed by September 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. Task orders will be primarily funded by fiscal 2021 military construction (Navy); operations and maintenance (O&M) (Navy); O&M (Defense Logistics Agency); and Navy working capital funds. NAVFAC Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N40080-19-D-0007). Centerra Integrated Services LLC, Herndon, Virginia, is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum amount of $30,000,000 for minor construction, alteration and repair of real property and utilities at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. An initial task order is awarded at $64,194 to provide new high density polyethylene pile fenders at the Windward and Leeward Ferry Landing. The work to be performed provides for, but is not limited to, general construction projects including new construction, repair, alteration, renovation, demolition and other construction-related operations or projects. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by January 2021. All work for this contract will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of September 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $64,194 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M, N and O&M (Army). This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM.gov Contract Opportunities website with three proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-20-D-0072). Bette & Cring LLC, Latham, New York, is awarded a $23,064,843 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of a co-generation plant at the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. This work to be performed is a construction project for the co-generation plant with a combined heat and power system to generate electricity and steam at the Naval Research Laboratory. Site preparation includes above-ground site demolition and relocations, underground site demolition and utility relocations, excavation, grading preparation for construction and paving. Mechanical systems will include water, steam, sewer, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C., and is expected to be completed by April 2023. Fiscal 2016 and 2017 military construction contract funds in the amount of $23,064,843 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with four proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N40080-20-C-0023). The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $21,909,659 modification (P00040) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-16-C-0032. This modification exercises an option for test and evaluation support for Next Generation Jammer integration on the EA-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in September 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,360,505 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. Pacific Maritime Industries (PMI) Corp.,* San Diego, California (N00189-20-D-0030); TST Fabrications LLC,* Norfolk, Virginia (N00189-20-D-0031); and Tri-Way Industries (TWI) Inc.,* Auburn, Washington, (N00189-20-D-0032), are awarded an estimated $15,984,115 multiple award for a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract that will include terms and conditions for the placement of firm-fixed-price task orders to provide a means to purchase shipboard lockers and related materials in support of the Shipboard Habitability Improvement Program at competitive prices in accordance with the delivery schedules listed on the Statement of Work. The contracts will run concurrently and will include a 60-month base ordering period with an additional six-month ordering period option pursuant of Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-8, which if exercised, will bring the total estimated value of this contract to $19,540,057. The base ordering period is expected to be completed by September 2025; if the option is exercised, the ordering period will be completed by March 2026. Specific requirements for habitability support cannot be predicted at this time; therefore, the various locations of where the supplies will be delivered cannot be determined at this time. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,500 ($2,500 on each of the three contracts) will be obligated to fund the contracts' minimum amounts and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Individual task orders will be subsequently funded with appropriate fiscal year appropriations at the time of their issuance. This contract was competitively procured with the solicitation posted on beta.SAM.gov as a small business set-aside for the award of multiple contracts pursuant to the authority set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation 16.504, with four offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Norfolk Office, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded a $9,018,804 firm-fixed-price modification (P00023) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-successive-target contract N00019-17-C-0018. This modification establishes final configuration and final price determination for the unique material required for the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft. This modification provides for the procurement of three Integrated Functional Capability (IFC) 4.0 material kits and one IFC 4.0 retrofit kit. Additionally, this modification adds scope to support non-recurring engineering efforts associated with wing and v-tail modifications and the procurement of components and associated efforts in support of Lot Three low rate initial production. Work will be performed in Rancho Bernardo, California (28.9%); Palmdale, California (12.6%); Waco, Texas (9.6%); Red Oak, Texas (5.6%); Sparks, Nevada (5%); Verona, Wisconsin (4.4%); Bridgeport, West Virginia (2.4%); Westchester, Ohio (2.4%); San Clemente, California (2.1%); Salt Lake City, Utah (1.2%); Menlo Park, California (1.1%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (24.7%), and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,018,804 will be obligated at the 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. Oceaneering International Inc., Chesapeake, Virginia, is awarded a $7,733,142 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-6413 to exercise options for configuration changes, engineering services, material maintenance and repair. Work will be performed in Chesapeake, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Defense-wide; 80%), and fiscal 2020 procurement (Defense-wide; 20%) in the amount of $497,000 will be obligated at the time of award, of which, funds in the amount of $397,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2357052/source/GovDelivery/