Nouvelles

Aug. 16 (UPI) -- FLIR Surveillance Inc. received a $12.6 million contract for supplies, repairs and upgrades to sensor systems aboard U.S. Navy littoral combat ships. The contract, announced Thursday by the Defense Department, refers to FLIR's Saffire III Electro-Optics Sensor Systems. The systems offer image stabilization, long-range and thermal imaging and color and low-light cameras. The systems are useful in search and rescue operations, reconnaissance, border and coastal patrol and target identification, the manufacturer said. Thousands of the ball-shaped 22-pound systems, which attach to horizontal planes of a vessel or aircraft, have been affixed to helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, as well as on the shallow-water littoral combat ships. The unit includes an optional sensor system for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear detection. In May, the company received a $48.1 million contract with the U.S. Army for reconnaissance vehicle sensor suite upgrades. Work in the new contract is expected to be completed by August 2024. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/08/16/FLIR-Surveillance-awarded-126M-for-sensors-aboard-littoral-combat-ships/4651565975028/

By Ed Adamczyk Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin received an $80 million contract from the U.S. Navy for electronic equipment upgrades to the Aegis missile system, the Pentagon announced. The new contract modification, announced Thursday by the Department of Defense, calls for Lockheed Martin's Rotary and Mission Systems division to cover the production, test and delivery of multi-mission signal processor equipment sets, electronic equipment fluid coolers, AEGIS Weapon System AMOD [Aegis Modernization] upgrade equipment and Kill Assessment System equipment and spare parts. The deal calls for the Navy to underwrite 78.1 percent of the expenses, with Australia and Japan, where some of the equipment is located, to pay for 21.9 percent. The Aegis Combat System is an integrated naval weapons system using radar and computer technology to track and guide weapons in destroying enemy targets. The project was started by the U.S. Navy in 1964 to defend ships from missile threats, and with constant upgrades is now a feature on over 100 U.S. and NATO ships, as well as those of Australia, Norway and South Korea. It is also an integral part of NATO's European missile defense system. In July, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $22.5 million modification to a prior contract for integration and delivery of the Aegis Baseline 9 weapons system. It called for the modernization of existing U.S. Navy systems using open architecture principles and software upgrades to increase the lethality of the surface Navy. Through the improvements, newer and more powerful missiles can be fired from ships, and the use of the latest Aegis weapons systems capabilities can be used against air and missile threats, the Navy said. Work on the contract is expected to be finished by 2023. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/08/16/Lockheed-nets-80M-contract-for-Aegis-system-upgrades/6591565971398/

NAVY Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $199,591,538 firm-fixed-price contract for MK 15 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) upgrades and conversions, system overhauls, and associated hardware. CIWS is a fast-reaction terminal defense against low- and high-flying, high-speed maneuvering anti-ship missile threats that have penetrated all other defenses. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $367,195,456. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky (29%); Tucson, Arizona (20%); El Segundo, California (9%); Melbourne, Florida (5%); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (3%); Andover, Massachusetts (2%); Ottobrunn, Germany (2%); Williston, Vermont (2%); Tempe, Arizona (1%); Grand Rapids, Michigan (1%); Hauppauge, New York (1%); Ashburn, Virginia (1%); East Syracuse, New York (1%); Camarillo, California (1%); Phoenix, Arizona (1%); Joplin, Missouri (1%); Murray, Utah (1%); Dallas, Texas (1%); Corona, California (1%); Huntsville, Alabama (1%); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1%); Valencia, California (1%); Palo Alto, California (1%); and various locations with less than 1% each (13%). Work is expected to be completed by October 2023. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. government (85%); Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (8%); and the United Kingdom (7%) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); 2019 other procurement (Army); 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); FMS Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; FMS United Kingdom; and 2019 weapons procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $199,591,538 will be obligated at time of award. Funds in the amount of $59,964,768 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c) (1). Raytheon is the only source that can provide the MK 15 CIWS to fulfill Navy, Army, Coast Guard, and FMS requirements without unacceptable delays and substantial duplication of costs that cannot be recovered through competition. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-5406). Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $27,303,596 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-6258 to exercise option for engineering services and other direct costs in support of the Integrated Submarine Imaging System. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (73.5%); Virginia Beach, Virginia (15%); Northampton, Massachusetts (5.5%); Fairfax, Virginia (3%); Arlington, Virginia (2%); and Newport, Rhode Island (1%), and is expected to be completed by September 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) in the amount of $2,633,461 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. The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded $15,300,139 for a firm-fixed-price modification under a previously awarded contract (N40085-15-C-8739) for design and installation of a fire protection system for the Power Propulsion Facility, Building (Bldg) 633, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. This modification will provide for the full design and installation of the fire protection system for the P-547 power propulsion facility, Bldg. 633, Bldg. 519, Bldg. 520, and the P-104 test cell. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed by September 2021. Fiscal 2013 military construction (Navy); and 2019 working capital fund (Navy) in the amount of $15,300,139 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One proposal was received for this modification. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Wolverine Fire Protection Co., Mount Morris, Michigan, is awarded $11,104,895 for firm-fixed-price task order number N69450-19-F-0715 under a previously multiple award construction contract for fire protection upgrades at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. The work to be performed provides for the repairs and replacement of various existing fire alarm and additional associated systems (electrical, sprinkler systems, piping, and fire pumps) of Buildings 171, 175 and 176. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida, and is expected to be completed by February 2021. Fiscal 2019 defense working capital contract funds in the amount of $11,104,895 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-16-D-0613). AIR FORCE International Business Machines Corp., IBM Research - Almaden, San Jose, California, has been awarded a $59,999,958 cost reimbursement contract for NorthPole Software/Hardware. This contract provides for the design, verification, fabrication, and testing of a prototype artificial intelligence and machine learning IBM NorthPole neural inference processor that will be mounted on a test board. Work will be performed in San Jose, California. The work is expected to be complete by Nov. 16, 2021. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Air Force Research Laboratory/RIKF, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-C-1518). Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $47,917,924 for 469 Laser Maverick units. This contract provides for the manufacture and delivery of 469 each Laser Maverick units. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona. The work is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 3020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount $43,809,367 are being obligated at the time of award. AFLCMC/EBHK is the contracting activity, Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah (FA8213-19-F-1006). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois; and Warner Robins, Georgia, has been awarded a $7,013,331, follow-on contract FA8523-19-D-0007, for DRE, Netherlands. This contract will provide action for the Royal Netherlands Air Force AN/ALQ-131 (V) electronics countermeasures pod upgrade. This program is focused on the redesign of the ALQ-131 Digital Receiver Exciter and ALM-256 Intermediate Level Support Equipment. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 15, 2022. This contract involves 100% foreign military sales to the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. CORRECTION: An Aug. 14, 2019, announcement that Alloy Surfaces Company Inc., Chester Township, Pennsylvania (FA8213-19-D-0011), was awarded a $25,000,000 contract for MJU-52 A/B aircraft decoy flares included an incorrect amount of funds being obligated at the time of award. The correct amount of fiscal 2018 ammunition procurement funds being obligated at the time of award is actually $5,281,631. All other information in the announcement is correct. ARMY WMR-532 LLC, Athens, Alabama, was awarded a $49,900,000 firm-fixed-price contract for operations, maintenance and technical support. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 18, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-19-D-0038). T.W. LaQuay Marine LLC,* Port Lavaca, Texas, was awarded a $10,736,570 firm-fixed-price contract for pipeline dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Port Isabel, Texas, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $10,736,570 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-19-C-0010). American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language, White Plains, New York, was awarded a $10,654,800 firm-fixed-price contract for oral proficiency interviews. 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. 16, 2020. U.S. Army Mission Installation Contracting Command, Presidio of Monterey, California, is the contracting activity (W9124N-16-D-0001). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative Inc., Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $13,700,591 modification (P00027) to the existing 50-year contract (SP0600-16-C-8314) for electric operations and maintenance and renewal and replacement utility service charge. This is a fixed-price contract being modified to incorporate the economic price-adjustment agreement to the third-year. Location of performance is Florida, with a July 31, 2067, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds. The Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is the contracting activity. CORRECTION: The contract announced on Aug. 14, 2019, for General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona (SPRBL1-19-P-0047), for $12,973,184 was announced with an incorrect award date. The correct award date is Aug. 15, 2019. *Small Busines https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1936972/source/GovDelivery/

By: David B. Larter WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is months behind schedule getting its latest batch of Virginia-class attack subs under contract, and no resolution appears imminent — leading to mounting concerns that delays on the Virginia will affect the Navy's top acquisition priority, the Columbia-class submarine. The contract for the 10-ship Block V Virginia-class attack submarine was supposed to be signed in April, but Navy and industry sources say that there has been a lot of talk and little agreement between the service and the two shipbuilders, General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Newport News. Intended to integrate acoustic upgrades and an 84-foot section for additional strike missile tubes, the delayed contract for the Block V Virginias have instead turned into just the latest warning sign that all is not well in Virginia-land, as schedules have slipped and at least one of the builders is now bleeding profits. Furthermore, it's unclear what the Navy's buying profile for Block V will be, which is subject to both contract negotiations and Congressional action on the fiscal year 2020 budget. The anxiety over Virginia delays, however, are less about Virginia, which is still a strong performing program — especially when compared with other programs such as the Ford-class carrier — but are more driven by the potential for compounding issues bleeding over into the Columbia-class. Both submarines will be drawing on the same workforce and supplier base, which is already showing signs of strain. The Navy says the delays are part of ongoing negotiations and that the schedule should not be affected further since the Navy has already contracted for long-lead time materials, but with the first Columbia expected to be ordered in 2021, the service is facing the reality that it lacks a clear idea of the future of the Virginia program when it is preparing to launch Columbia. The delays center on the integration of the Virginia payload module and just how many the Navy intends to buy. Until this year, the public plan was for Virginia Block V to be a 10-ship class, where the first boat would integrate the acoustic upgrades but the follow-on boats would all integrate the VPM, which is designed to triple the Virginia's Tomahawk payload capacity to 40 per hull. When the Pentagon's 2020 budget request dropped in March, the plan changed, with the total buy expanded to 11 hulls with eight VPM boats. But according to sources who spoke to Defense News, the builder was laying the groundwork for the original plan, which the Navy had already purchased long-lead material toward. The confusion over just how many VPMs the Navy intends to buy has been a major sticking point in the negotiations, with sources telling Defense News that the number of VPMs could still end up as either eight or seven, or potentially even fewer. Complicating matters further is that Congress has yet to weigh in on the fate of the 11th Block V boat, which would mean buying three Virginia's in one year, and some on Capitol Hill have voiced skepticism that the industrial base can support that The Navy's top acquisition official, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Acquisition and Development James Geurts, is working toward a solution that will balance the needs of the Navy and the needs of the builders, his spokesman said. Geurts "continues to work closely with the program team and industry on negotiating a Block V Multi-Year procurement contract that will be affordable, executable and supports the industrial base,” said Capt. Danny Hernandez. “He wants to ensure we are maximizing the use of taxpayer dollars while at the same time striving for an acceptable level of design and program risk. “Additionally, during this period, the Navy is continuing to fund the shipbuilder for long lead time materials and pre-construction efforts to ensure submarine work continues at the shipyards and with the supplier base.” ‘Worst of Both Worlds' With uncertainty looming about the future of the Virginia class, questions remain about whether that will bleed into Columbia, creating schedule risk that Navy leaders have said for years was untenable. Congress has sought to ease the strain on the supplier base by offering money to help smaller vendors expand to meet demand. And in March, Geurts announced that he was standing up a new program executive officer for Columbia, citing the need to be proactive with any problems that might arise from the competing demands on the industrial base. “These yards are integrated,” defense analyst Dan Goure, a former Bush Administration official who now works for The Lexington Institute, said in an April interview. “When you start messing with the other program on a short-notice basis, you risk the yards being able to deliver on time and at cost for multiple programs. “In a sense you risk the worst of both worlds: You risk further perturbations in the Virginia class, and at the same time risk not being able to get Columbia out on time.” Both General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls said in earnings calls they expect the Block V contract to be signed by the end of the year. Delays The setbacks seem to be compounding for the Virginia program. Welding issues on missile tubes destined for the Virginia Payload Module and the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program have eaten into the schedule margin for both programs. And issues with the supplier base as well as the labor force have caused schedule delays. Industry sources who spoke to Defense News said growing the Virginia-class program from one submarine per year to two submarines per year, which started with the budget in FY11, has put increasing strain on a diminished submarine supplier base, which has put pressure on schedules as the shipyards wait for parts. Huntington Ingalls has dropped 23 percent of its profit margin on the Virginia-class program, according to a second-quarter earnings report analyzed by defense business analyst Jim McAleese. In an earnings call, Huntington Ingalls executives seemed to blame the drop on the schedule delays. Two sources familiar with the issue said profit loss stemmed from labor force issues that resulted from a year-long delay in the Navy contracting for the carrier George Washington's mid-life refueling and overhaul. The delay caused Ingalls to lay off about 1,200 employees, which drew off workforce from the Virginia program because of labor union rules that say that the most recent hires must be laid off first. Those rules forced Huntington Ingalls Industries to lay off workers who were working on the Virginia program, who in turn were then snapped up by other yards; Huntington Ingalls Industries then had to train new employees for the Virginia work. Defense News reported in March that class-wide, Virginia is looking at four-to-seven month delays for delivery, which drives up labor costs. Huntington Ingalls Industries chief financial officer Chris Kastner said on the call that getting the Virginia program back on schedule is a top priority. “Especially when you're a in a serial production line like we are with the Virginia-class,” Kastner said. “If you start to have issues with schedule it does start to affect the synchronization of the line. “We've been working pretty hard to reset that this year, given kind of where we started last year fourth quarter and we made great progress on that." https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2019/08/16/questions-about-us-navy-attack-sub-program-linger-as-contract-negotiations-drag/

ARMY GiaCare and MedTrust JV LLC,* Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was awarded a $218,983,564 firm-fixed-price contract for registered nursing services. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2024. U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity, San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (W81K04-19-D-0021). Honeywell International Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, was awarded an $110,870,867 modification (P00102) to contract W56HZV-12-C-0344 for Total Integrated Engine Revitalization (TIGER) hardware to meet the Anniston Army Depot production of the Advanced Gas Turbine 1500 engine for the Abrams tanks and TIGER field repair site requirements. Work will be performed in Phoenix, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 22, 2022. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $110,870,867 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. The Ross Group Construction Corp., Tulsa, Oklahoma, was awarded a $46,949,880 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of a new visiting quarters facility at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 1, 2021. Fiscal 2019 non-appropriated funds for Air Force services funds in the amount of $46,949,880 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-19-C-0028). Lord & Son Construction Inc.,* Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was awarded a $32,128,489 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a Long-Range Stand-Off Acquisition Facility on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 14, 2021. Fiscal 2018 military construction funds in the amount of $21,128,489 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-19-C-0023). GEO Consultants Corp.,* Kevil, Kentucky, was awarded a $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for environmental services. Nine bids were solicited with nine bids received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 14, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-19-D-0045). Michael Baker International Inc., Moon Township, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for communications engineering services within the Central Command Area of Responsibility. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 14, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-19-D-0043). NAVY Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded an $80,011,579 fixed-price-incentive, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-14-C-5106 for fiscal 2019 AEGIS Modernization (AMOD) production requirements. This procurement covers the production, test and delivery of multi-mission signal processor equipment sets; electronic equipment fluid cooler; AEGIS Weapon System AMOD Upgrade equipment; Kill Assessment System 5.1 equipment; AEGIS spares; Australia Combat Systems Engineering Development Site; and AEGIS Ashore Japan Sites equipment. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (78.1%); the government of Japan (18.2%); and the government of Australia (3.7%) under the Foreign Military Sales program. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract action to $80,411,730. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (71.2%); Clearwater, Florida (27.4%); and Owego, New York (1.4%), and is expected to be complete by November 2023. Fiscal 2019 defense-wide procurement; 2019, 2018, 2017 other procurement (Navy); 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales funding in the amount of $80,011,579 will be obligated at the time of award, of which $968,079 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp. Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $55,960,700 cost-plus-incentive fee, cost-only, firm-fixed-price contract for combat system engineering support on the Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS). The SSDS combat system engineering agent/software design agent primary deliverables will be SSDS tactical computer programs, program updates and associated engineering, development and logistics products. This contract will manage the in-service SSDS configurations as well as adapt and integrate new or upgraded war-fighting capabilities. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (95.6%); and San Diego, California (4.4%), and is expected to be complete by December 2019. This contract includes options, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $637,583,110 and be complete by December 2028. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); 2019 other procurement (Navy); 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $12,438,006 will be obligated at time of award, and funding in the amount of $1,306 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-5603). American Electronic Warfare Associates Inc.,* California, Maryland, is awarded a $40,103,262 fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for technical support services for the Aircraft Prototype Systems Division of the Naval Air Warfare Center – Aircraft Division Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test Department. Services to be provided include all phases of program execution from initial conceptual studies, execution planning, management, engineering, documentation, fabrication, installation/ modification and test and evaluation activity support for aircraft research, development, prototyping, experimentation and test and evaluation programs. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in November 2023. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals as a 100 percent small business set-aside; two offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0042119D0076). FLIR Surveillance Inc., Wilsonville, Oregon, is awarded a $12,689,470 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a five-year ordering period for supplies, repairs and upgrades for Littoral Combat Ship configuration of Sea Star SAFIRE III Electro-Optics Sensor Systems. Work will be performed in Wilsonville, Oregon, and is expected to be complete by August 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $432,514 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-19-D-JQ49). Teledyne Instruments Inc., North Falmouth, Massachusetts, is awarded a $7,666,080 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for services and supplies to support the ongoing development of autonomous underwater vehicles, localization systems, monitoring and navigation tele-sonar subsea modems. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $22,222,593. Work will be performed in North Falmouth, Massachusetts (90%); and Keyport, Washington (10%), and is expected to be complete by December 2024. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $4,281,649; and fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,070,412 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was procured as a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III award without further competition. The awardee satisfied competition requirements during Phase I and Phase II under Topic N02-082. A justification and approval document pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(5) was approved by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport, Competition Advocate in January 2017. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport, in Keyport, Washington, is the contracting activity (N00253-19-D-0005). DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY AMYX Inc., Reston, Virginia, was awarded a fixed-price contract with an estimated value of $56,818,861. The contract provides contracting and program management support to the Defense Health Agency (DHA). Services include, but are not limited to, acquisition and contract management, program management support, and other related workload requirements associated with the award and administration of DHA contracts. The contract was awarded as a competitive 100% small business acquisition. There is a base period of eight months, and four one-year option periods. The places of contract performance are: Falls Church, Virginia; Rosslyn, Virginia; San Antonio, Texas; and Aurora, Colorado. The period of performance begins on Sept. 25, 2019, and the completion date is May 31, 2024. The base period is funded with fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $7,208,836. The Defense Health Agency, Enterprise Medical Services, Contracting Division, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (HT0050-19-F-0001). AMYX Inc., Reston, Virginia, was awarded a fixed-price contract with an estimated value of $47,926,649. The program and acquisition support services include, but are not limited to, program management support and other related workload requirements associated with acquisition and business processes. The contractor shall accomplish a variety of acquisition and other related administrative services to complement the government's workplace capabilities. The contract was a competitive 100% small business acquisition. There is a base period of nine months, and four one-year option periods. This contract provides support to San Antonio, Texas; Aurora, Colorado; Falls Church, Virginia; and Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, with a completion date of June 17, 2024. The base period is funded with fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $6,077,590. The Defense Health Agency, Enterprise Medical Services, Contracting Division, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity (HT0050-19-F-0002). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Sysco Alabama, Calera, Alabama, has been awarded a maximum $37,893,960 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for full line food distribution. 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 bridge contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Central Alabama and Florida Panhandle regions, with an Aug. 8, 2020, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-19-D-3234). Arizona Industries for the Blind, Phoenix, Arizona, has been awarded an estimated $8,600,000 firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for warehousing, storage, logistics and distribution functions. This is a two-year base contract with three one-year option periods. Location of performance is Arizona, with an Aug. 16, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and National Guard and Reserves. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-B065). U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND Trident Technologies LLC, Huntsville, Alabama, has been awarded a contract modification (P00013) on contract HTC711-14-D-D003 in the amount of $13,616,300. The contract modification executed Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services for the Enterprise Architecture, Data, and Engineering (EADE) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity to continue vital support services. The EADE contract acquires enterprise architecture, data, and information technology engineering services for the U.S. Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command/A6, and the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. Period of performance is Oct. 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020. The location of performance is Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Operations and maintenance; transportation working capital funds; and research, development, test and evaluation funds will be obligated at the individual task order level. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract from $125,752,500 to $139,368,800. U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is contracting activity. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1935785/source/GovDelivery/

By: Shawn Snow The iconic over-the-ear style headsets worn by the Corps' special operations Raiders will soon be in the hands of conventional Marines. The Marine Corps is ordering 4,519 headsets produced by INVISIO to the tune of $4,800,340.89, according to Manny Pacheco, a spokesman with Marine Corps Systems Command. INVISIO is expected to deliver those headsets between this November and March 2020, with the first order going to artillery and recon Marines, according to Pacheco. Pacheco explained that infantry Marines will be fielded new headsets on another contract. Marines will be getting two versions of INVISIO's T5 headset, according to Ray Clarke, a spokesman for INVISIO. One headset will be a stand-alone to provide hearing protection, while the other will interface with Marine Corps radio systems allowing for hearing protection and communications, Clarke said. INVISIO said in a press release that the headsets being delivered to the Corps would be compatible with the enhanced combat helmet. “Infantry, artillery, reconnaissance and combat engineer Marines decided on INVISIO systems based on fit, form, function and comfort,” the release said. Marines will also be getting the V50 controller that will serve as a communications hub and allow Marines to better operate their radio systems. The Marine Corps announced in September that it was ready to order thousands of new headsets and was looking at a range of systems. As part of that effort, the Corps also kicked off testing of various mid to high cut versions of the enhanced combat helmet to gauge the best ballistic and hearing protection fit. For that testing, the Corps ordered nearly 200 ECH helmets from Gentex Corp., the maker of the iconic Ops-Core helmets worn by special operators. The Corps also announced in June that it was also pursuing a new lightweight integrated helmet system for grunts that can better work with the slew of cables and electronic devices carried by infantry Marines. “With the increased number of battery powered optics and other attachments to the helmet, the amount of exposed/unsecure wires and battery packs are increasing,” a June posting on the government's business opportunities website reads. “The Marine Corps is looking for an optimized configuration to allow power and/or data to flow to the attachments while minimizing bulk," the posting reads. Clarke said INVISIO also provides Marine Raiders with the Maritime Communications Accessory Suite that comes with the V60 controller and X5 in-the ear headset. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2019/08/15/marines-will-be-getting-these-tacticool-over-the-ear-headsets/

The Marine Corps is nearly doubling the number of Joint Light Tactical Vehiclesit plans to buy to replace its fleet of aging Humvees, officials said this week. The planned increase -- up to about 15,000 from the 9,000 the service initially planned to buy -- comes as the Marine Corps recently declared the JLTV has reached initial operating capability and is ready to deploy with Marines into combat. The JLTV is the result of a joint effort by the Army and the Marine Corps to field a more capable tactical vehicle after seeing how the Cold War-era Humvee could not protect troops from the powerful, homemade bombs enemy forces used on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. The Corps had originally planned on buying just 5,500 JLTVs but later increased that number to 9,000. Even with that increase, the Marines maintained earlier this year that the JLTV would replace only about 60 percent of the service's Humvees over the next decade. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/08/15/marine-corps-increase-jltv-buy-15000-replace-its-humvee-fleet.html

Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy continues to build up its unmanned vehicle programs, issuing a request for proposals for the corvette-sized Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle. The Naval Sea Systems Command on Wednesday issued the RFP, with plans to award multiple conceptual designs for the LUSV, one of three new types of unmanned vehicle the branch is looking to develop. The RFP, first reported by USNI News, starts a move from the two-hull Ghost Fleet into an actual ship-building program. Interest in the program is strong, as an industry day earlier this year attracted about 80 companies that are considering jumping into the program. NSSC said in the request that the LUSV will be a high-endurance, reconfigurable ship to augment the Navy's surface force, and take on a variety of warfare operations either on its own or with manned surface combatants -- and it is expected to be semi- and fully-autonomous, depending on its mission. The Navy is pushing to develop three separate unmanned vehicles -- the LUSV, a medium unmanned surface vehicle, and the extra-large unmanned undersea vehicle -- and requested $628.8 million from Congress in its 2020 budget for the programs. An RFP for the medium vehicle was issued in July, and Boeing is already at work on the XLUUV program. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/08/15/Navy-requests-proposals-for-Large-Unmanned-Surface-Vehicle/5881565890289/

GATINEAU, QC, Aug. 15, 2019 /CNW/ - Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada is revitalizing a world-class marine industry in order to provide the women and men of the Royal Canadian Navy with the safe and effective warships they require to protect Canadian sovereignty. The government is investing more than $7.5 billion in the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 Halifax-class frigates to provide necessary ongoing maintenance until they are retired in the early 2040s. Today, the Government of Canada awarded a $500-million contract to Irving Shipbuilding Inc., of Halifax, Nova Scotia, to carry out maintenance work on the Halifax-class frigates. This initial five-year contract guarantees a minimum of three frigates for the shipyard, with work planned to begin in the early 2020s. The contract is expected to rise in value as additional work packages are added. This contract is expected to result in up to 400 jobs at the shipyard, plus hundreds of related jobs for marine sector suppliers and subcontractors across the country. On July 16, 2016, the Government of Canada awarded similar contracts to Seaspan's Victoria Shipyards Limited in Victoria, British Columbia, and Chantier Davie in Lévis, Quebec. The Canadian Surface Combatants will replace the Halifax-class frigates and the retired Iroquois-class destroyers. With them, the Royal Canadian Navy will have modern and capable ships to monitor and defend Canada's waters, to continue to contribute to international naval operations for decades to come and to rapidly deploy credible naval forces worldwide, on short notice. Construction on the Canadian Surface Combatants is scheduled to begin at Irving in the early 2020s. Quotes "The National Shipbuilding Strategy continues to support the women and men of the Royal Canadian Navy by providing them with safe, reliable ships to carry out their important work on behalf of Canada. This contract is another example of how the Strategy is helping to maintain our existing fleet, while supporting economic opportunities for the Canadian marine sector across the country." The Honourable Carla Qualtrough Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility "This announcement is essential for supporting the modernization of the Royal Canadian Navy. With our government's continued investment, our navy will continue to contribute to maritime security and stability around the world. This is a testament to how our defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, continues Canada's re‑engagement in the world. I am proud of our sailors and the great work they do." The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan Minister of National Defence Quick facts Docking maintenance work periods are essential to ensure the Halifax-class frigates are available and reliable during their operational cycle and deployments. Of the current fleet of Halifax-class frigates, 7 have their home port in Halifax, Nova Scotia, while the 5 others are based in Esquimalt, British Columbia. The Royal Canadian Navy requires that at least 8 of the 12 frigates are able to deploy at all times to meet the Navy's commitment to the Government of Canada. The Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, including the Value Proposition, was applied to this procurement. These frigates monitor and control Canadian waters, defend Canada's sovereignty, facilitate large-scale search and rescue activities, and provide emergency assistance when needed. The frigates operate with and integrate into the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and coalitions of allied states in support of international peace and security operations. Introduced into service in the 1990s, the Canadian-built Halifax-class frigates were recently modernized to remain effective and operationally relevant until the Canadian Surface Combatants enter into service https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-awards-third-contract-to-help-maintain-canada-s-fleet-of-combat-vessels-818012638.html