CONTRACT NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
LAND
08 Sep 08. Protected Patrol Vehicles (PPV): Additional Contract Award. The Defence Secretary visited (8 Sep 08) NP Aerospace in Coventry and announced the award of a £60m contract to the Company. The contract covers the conversion of a second batch of 174 Cougar 6×6 PPV to become Mastiff 2. The conversions include improved armour, axles and suspensions.
Comment: Three batches of Cougar vehicles have been ordered from Force Protection Inc of the US, which are up-armoured by NP Aerospace to become the 6×6 Mastiff or the 4×4 Ridgback. The initial batch of 108 Mastiff have all been deployed, with each conversion costing £308,000 excluding VAT. First deliveries of Ridgbacks to Afghanistan and Iraq are expected to take place in Spring 2009. Broadly speaking, Mastiff PPV are for patrolling in the urban fringe and in rural areas whereas Ridgback are more suitable for urban patrolling. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0836, 16 Sep 08)
USA
LAND
16 Sep 08. DRS Technical Services, Inc., Herndon, Va., is being awarded a $15,733,333 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract for satellite communications equipment and training. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated $47,200,000. Work will be performed in Herndon, Va., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities web site and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command E-commerce website, with seven offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-08-D-5152).
19 Sep 08. DRS Technologies, Inc. received a $42m order to build more than 670 additional M989A1 Heavy Expanded Mobility Ammunition Trailers (HEMATs).
The order is part of a previously awarded fixed-price, five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract from the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, Michigan. Work for this contract is being performed by the company’s DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc. unit in West Plains, Missouri.
The HEMATs are part of the U.S. Army’s future force transformation and modularization into combat brigades. The trailer has a heavy cargo capacity to transport various payloads such as Multiple Launch Rocket System pods, palletized or non-palletized conventional ammunition and fuel bladders. The trailers can be operated on paved, unpaved or cross-country roads.
15 Sep 08. BAE Systems has been awarded a $5m contract from the U.S. Army for Air Warrior Flexible Body Armor (FBA). The FBA protects Army aviators and aircrew members from fragmenting munitions and handgun threats. Air Warrior is a modular system that provides aviators with advanced life support capabilities. (Source: ASD Network)
10 Sep 08. BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle Systems, Limited Partnership, Sealy, Texas was awarded on Sept. 8, 2008, a $10,586,177 firm/fixed price contract for undefinitized contract action for 57 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher chassis in order to support the HIMARS production program. Work will be performed in Sealy, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2009. Two bids were solicited and two bids were received. U.S. Army TACOM LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-03-C-S023).
10 Sep 08. General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., was awarded on Sept. 5, 2008, a $34,244,205 firm fixed price contract. This is a 12-month effort to procure Land Warrior Systems, spares, and services in support of the 5th Brigade 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Brigade Combat Team (5/2 SBCT). Work will be performed in Scottsdale, Ariz., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 5, 2009. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. CECOM Acquisitions Center, Fort