UNITED KINGDOM
LAND
23 Apr 20. Saab has signed a three-year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for the provision of support and services to the Direct Fire Weapon Effects Simulator (DFWES) capability. The contract valued at 320 MSEK came into effect on April 1, 2020. DFWES is a laser based Tactical Engagement Simulation (TES) system, that allows dismounted and mounted soldiers to simulate the effects of direct and indirect fire. This order includes support and maintenance for the British Army’s DFWES capability. In addition to the existing sites in the UK, Canada and Germany, this contract includes continuation of support to the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, the Infantry Battle School in Brecon and the Infantry Training Centre Catterick. The high fidelity, interoperable and deployable DFWES capability supports individual, collective and mission specific training around the globe. (Source: News Now/Saab)
SEA
20 Apr 20. Babcock Team 31 has awarded the second round of supply chain contracts across the UK and Europe to support the Royal Navy’s Type 31 general purpose frigate programme. One of the major suppliers for the programme is Rolls-Royce, with its brand MTU. It will deliver the main engines and diesel generators for the frigates.
Renk has won a contract to provide the main reduction gearboxes and MAN Energy Solutions has been contracted to supply the propellers and propeller shaft lines.
Blunox will also supply the exhaust environmental equipment that largely reduces emissions from the main engines and diesel generators.
Darchem Engineering has been subcontracted to supply the intake and exhaust systems for the main engines and generators.
The Chilled Water Plant subcontract has been awarded to Novenco, which will provide a critical system capability for the HVAC system.
Under the Type 31 Programme, a successful process of shipbuilding and its extended supply chain will be delivered. (Source: naval-technology.com)
22 Apr 20. Lockheed Martin Corp., King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, is awarded an $88,988,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides management and maintenance of the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System software product baseline, required system and software documentation for the Navy and the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Work will be performed at King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be complete by January 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-20-D-0017).
EUROPE
LAND
22 Apr 20. Czech Republic seals small arms deal. The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 21 April confirmed that they had signed an agreement with Česká zbrojovka (ČZUB) to acquire up to 39,000 small arms for the Czech Army. Minister of Defence Lubomir Metnar said: ‘Our goal is to modernise the army, but also to support Czech industry and maintain jobs in these difficult times… The framework agreement will allow us to purchase up to 39,000 small arms from a reputable manufacturer by 2025.’
The contract is reported by the MoD to be worth CZK2.35bn ($92.5m) and includes 16,000 BREN 2 assault rifles, 21,000 CZ P-10 pistols, 1,600 CZ 805 G1 suspended grenade launchers, 100 PDW CZ Scorpion pieces and training ammunition. Between 2010 and 2016, 40,000 small arms weapons were also supplied by ČZUB to the Czech Armed Forces. (Source: Shephard)
17 Apr 20. Nammo builds on 2017 contract with Sweden. Nammo has secured a contract for the delivery of small calibre ammunition from the Swedish Defence Material Administration. The agreement is worth SEK 670m ($67.04m) and builds on an earlier framework agreement which was signed in 2017. Delivery of the ammunition to the Swedish Armed Forces will occur from 2020-2023. The company is seeking to strengthen its relationship with Sweden following the formation of strategic partnerships with Finland and Norway. (Source: Shephard)
SEA
22 Apr 20. Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, was awarded a $519,063,283 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized contract for the procurement of international Aegis fire control loop development, Solid State S-Band Radar Processing Group, tools and test equipment and spares for five new multi-mission frigates supporting the Aegis combat system (Baseline 9C.2). Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (72%); Verona, Wisconsin (6%); Mt. Laurel, New Jersey (5%); Ferrol, Spain (6%); Andover, Massachusetts (3%); Washington, District of Columbia (2%); Pleasanton, California (2%); Sunnyvale, California (1%); Rota, Spain (1%); Herndon, Virginia (1%); and Clearwater, Florida (1%), and is expected to be complete by April 2030. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the Kingdom of Spain. FMS funding in the amount of $90,702,286 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with the authority from 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(4) (international agreement). The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-20-C-5105). (Awarded April 17, 2020)
21 Apr 20. Denmark’s Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) has placed a DKK5.6m (USD0.81m) contract with Saab Dynamics to remodel and upgrade three Double Eagle Mk IIS remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs). The Double Eagle ROVs were originally procured in the 1980s as part of the mine countermeasures mission modules embarked on the Royal Danish Navy’s Flyvefisken-class Standard Flex small multi-role surface combatants. The vehicles remain in service with the MCM Denmark (MCM DNK) modular offboard system, being deployed from Holm-class craft. According to DALO, the Double Eagle upgrade contract covers the procurement of various subsystems and spares, including four sonars, two GPS systems, two Doppler Velocity Log/Inertial Navigation Systems, two Internet Protocol cameras, and preparations for the installation of an additional camera and cabling. (Source: Jane’s)
23 Apr 20. Dutch LCF frigates to receive new 127mm guns. The Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) ordered 127 mm guns for the four Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) De Zeven Provinciën-class air defence and command frigates (LCFs) on 21 April, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website later that same day. Leonardo has contracted Thales Nederland to install the former’s 127/64 LW-Vulcano system by 2026, the ministry said. The MoD said that the medium gun system would be used mainly for surface fire and naval gunfire support, as well as for air defence. Leonardo’s website lists the system’s four subsystems as the 127/64 LW Gun assembly, a modular automated ammunition handling system, the Naval Fire Control Support mission planning system, and the Vulcano ammunition family. The 127/64 LW-Vulcano has a modular feeding system composed of four drums with 14 ready-to-fire rounds each that can be reloaded during firing, and that can be selected independently from their position in the drums. The gun can fire standard 127 mm rounds and precision-guided munitions, the latter with a range of up to 100 km, according to the MoD. The Naval Fire Control Support system supports the combat management system (CMS) by defining possible firing solutions, ammunition selection, trajectory, and the best course of the ship. (Source: News Now/Jane’s)
AIR
20 Apr 20. Italy Orders 15 AW169MA Multirole Helicopters for Army. The Italian Ministry of Defense has decided to award aerospace group Leonardo a €337m contract to develop and supply 15 AW169 Light Utility Helicopters in advanced multirole (Multiruolo Avanzato, M.A.) configuration for the Italian Army. The contract will run until 2028, with peak funding between 2021 and 2027. This procurement follows a previous contract, awarded to Leonardo on Dec. 20, 2019 but not made public, for the supply of the first two AW-169 Light Utility Helicopters in Addestratore Basico Commerciale (basic commercial training, A.B.C.) configuration. The follow-on contract awarded last week also includes two years of integrated logistic support with a guarantee of 400 flight hours per year for each of the two training helicopters, 432 hours of year of simulator training of Italian Army flight crew at the company’s Training Academy, and further training of six pilots as instructors. An option allows the support package to be extended for an additional four years at a cost of €10m. (Source: defense-aerospace.com)
21 Apr 20. A consortium of Norwegian and Dutch research centres selected satellite integrator NanoAvionics to build two nanosatellites, ‘Birkeland’ and ‘Huygens’. The purchase order is part of a military use of space (MilSpace) project under a bilateral strategic mutual assistance in research and technology (SMART) memorandum of understanding (MoU). The two nanosatellites are intended to demonstrate the concept of a space based spectrum monitoring system to geolocate radar signals. It is the first time for Norway and the Netherlands to launch a formation of satellites. The BROS (binational radiofrequency observing satellites) mission is the first known two-satellite system to detect, classify, and accurately geolocate Radio Frequency signals, including navigation radars used on ships, by combining the measurement angle of arrival (AoA) and time difference of arrival (TDOA). Simultaneous detection of pulsed radio signals by both satellites flying in tandem enables accurate geolocation during all weather conditions.
USA
LAND
21 Apr 20. DOD Details $133m Defense Production Act Title 3 COVID-19 Project. Statement attributed to Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, Department of Defense spokesman: Three companies were awarded contracts: 3M ($76m), O&M Halyward ($29m) and Honeywell ($27.4m). The increased production will ensure the U.S. Government gets dedicated long term industrial capacity to meet the needs of the nation.
3M will add 78 million units within 6 months, with an additional 13 million units per month by June. 3M will accelerate production by converting current equipment supplier into a N95 producer, and will also expand meltblown material production in the Sheboygan Falls, Wis., and Aberdeen, Neb. plants.
O&M Halyward will add 25 million units within 6 months, with an additional 12.5 million masks every month after. In addition, they will be able to complete their Health and Human Services (HHS) N95 order within 12 months vs. 18 months without this action. O&M Halyward will expand their production line by five N95 machines their at Del Rio, Texas facility, while also expanding meltblown material production at Lexington, N.C. facility.
Honeywell will add 38 million units within 6 months, with an additional 12 million units per month after. In addition, they will be able to complete their HHS N95 order within 10 months vs. 13 months without this action. Honeywell will accelerate production scale-up, including capital equipment, at the Smithfield, R.I. plant. They will also accelerate a 2nd production line at the Phoenix, Ariz. plant to provide additional domestic capacity for long-term needs.” (Source: US DoD)
17 Apr 20. BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $14,069,872 modification (P00087) to contract W56HZV-15-C-A001 for engineering and manufacturing development portion of the armored multi-purpose vehicle. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 29, 2021. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 research, development, test and evaluation, Army funds in the amount of $14,069,872 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
23 Apr 20. The U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) has awarded L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) a five-year, $500m ceiling, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract — with an initial delivery order of $30.6m — for the Air Force and Army Anti-jam Modem (A3M). A3M provides the Department of the Air Force and Army with a secure, wideband, anti-jam satellite communications terminal modem for tactical satellite communication operations. The contract and order were received in the first quarter of 2020. L3Harris will collaborate with SMC for the design, development, fabrication, integration, certification and testing of Block 1 modems for use in the Air Force Ground Multiband Terminal and the Army Satellite Transportable Terminal. The jam-resistant modems support SMC’s Protected Tactical Waveform technology, an anti-jam capability operating on military satellite communication terminals through the Wideband Global Satcom constellation. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
21 Apr 20. L3Harris Technologies, Palm Bay, Florida, was awarded a $27,363,117 cost-no-fee, cost-plus-fixed fee contract to provide sustainment and support for the fielded modernization of enterprise terminals and AN/GSC-52 medium satellite communications terminal modernization programs. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Palm Bay, Florida, with an estimated completion date of April 21, 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army; and other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $27,363,117 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-20-C-0014).
22 Apr 20. Mack Defense has been awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to supply the full range of Mack-branded products to federal agencies for a variety of applications. The one-year contract, which runs to January 2021, includes two additional GSA-optioned one-year extensions, which could push the contract through 2022. Mack Defense has been a GSA contract holder since 2015 and has supplied various federal government agencies with Mack Trucks products as part of these contracts. The GSA is an independent agency of the United States government established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. GSA acquires and supplies products and communications for U.S. government offices, provides transportation and office space to federal employees, and develops government-wide cost-minimizing policies and other management tasks.
22 Apr 20. MP Materials, owner and operator of Mountain Pass, the only rare earth mining and processing site in North America, was chosen by the U.S. Department of Defense for a contract aimed at restoring domestic Heavy Rare Earths production to the United States. MP Materials is the only firm capable of providing a fully U.S.-based solution. The contract serves as Phase 1 of a DoD effort to reduce U.S. supply chain vulnerabilities by ultimately enabling commercial scale production and operation of a U.S.-based Heavy Rare Earth separation facility. MP Materials is the only rare earths producer with the ability to source and process these critical components, including Heavy Rare Earths, in the U.S. Currently, these elements, which are required for security and defense systems, are sourced and processed largely in China. The DoD’s Phase 1 funding will support detailed planning and design of a U.S.-based Heavy Rare Earth separation facility, a critical component for expansion of the U.S. rare earth and magnetics industry. Upon completion of Phase 1, the DoD may award further contracts in support of commercial scale production based on Phase 1 results. (Source: PR Newswire)
23 Apr 20. Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., a division of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, was recently awarded a contract with a $40m ceiling for production of Automated Radioxenon Concentrator and Spectrometer (ARCS) production units and spares for the U.S. Air Force. This sole source hybrid indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract will provide multiple radioxenon sampler systems for nuclear test monitoring requirements of the U.S. Atomic Energy Detection System network for the verification of international treaties. The system developed is also consistent with the requirements of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
23 Apr 20. Trijicon Inc.,* Wixom, Michigan, is awarded a $41,218,080 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the remanufacture of Rifle Combat Optics (RCOs). This contract provides for the materials, labor, equipment, facilities and missing/repair parts necessary to inspect, diagnose, test and restore the RCOs. Work will be performed in Wixom, Michigan, and is expected to be completed by April 2025. This contract has a five-year ordering period with a maximum value of $41,218,080. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) in the amount of $8,160,000 will be obligated at the time of award for the first task order 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 Marine Corps Logistics Command, Albany, Georgia, is the contracting activity (M67004-20-D-0003).
SEA
17 Apr 20. Huntington-Ingalls Industries – Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, is awarded a $107,976,103 cost-plus-award-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-19-C-4313 to exercise options for the accomplishment of the planning yard services for the littoral combat in-service ships. Work will be performed in Hampton, Virginia (50%); Pascagoula, Mississippi (37%); San Diego, California (7%); and Jacksonville, Florida (6%). The requirements under this contract include, but are not limited to: ship installation drawings development; ship change document updates; operating cycle integration program management; work integration package engineering; type commander response; ship configuration logistics support information system support; configuration data management; research engineering and modeling; provisioned items order; cost and feasibility studies; integrated planning yard material support; provisioning technical documentation; naval ships engineering drawing repository system input and data management; interface and coordination with regional maintenance centers and fleet entities; design alteration and modification development; review and tracing; managing related class ship selected record documents; and hull, mechanical and electrical engineering standardization efforts. Work is expected to be complete by April 2021. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount $18,854,046 are obligated at time of award, and funding in the amount of $1,115,122 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
21 Apr 20. L3Harris Technologies, Palm Bay, Florida, was awarded a $27,363,117 cost-no-fee, cost-plus-fixed fee contract to provide sustainment and support for the fielded modernization of enterprise terminals and AN/GSC-52 medium satellite communications terminal modernization programs. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Palm Bay, Florida, with an estimated completion date of April 21, 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army; and other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $27,363,117 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-20-C-0014).
AIR
21 Apr 20. Black Swift Technologies (BST), a specialized engineering firm based in Boulder, CO, announced that it has been awarded a USAF SBIR Phase II contract to develop an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to autonomously conduct atmospheric profiling supporting more accurate cargo drops and improved localized weather forecasts supporting Air Force, Army and Special Operations Forces (SOF) operations. The aircraft, called the Black Swift SØ (S-zero), is a compact, yet rugged, aerial platform (Figure 1) designed to be hand-launched and quickly climb up to 15,000 feet. Its unique tail design allows deep-stall landing with near vertical descent and 10-foot accuracy. The rapid ascent and descent allow the SØ to quickly and accurately capture 3-dimensional (3D) wind profiles at various levels—essential for precision cargo drops. Manufactured entirely in the USA, the SØ was engineered from inception for flight in extreme atmospheric conditions, including hurricane deployments, and has a 90 minute cruise time. Its advanced avionics enables fully autonomous operation with minimal training. Designed for rapid atmospheric profiling, its automated sampling patterns and scripting allows for “launch-and-forget operations.” The SØ is a cost-effective aerial solution perfect for determining the thermodynamics of the atmosphere. Its modular system design allows for rapid integration of new sensors and capabilities. The system’s onboard Multi-Hole Probe (MHP) measurements are tightly coupled with the aircraft’s control algorithms, allowing significant improvement in measurement accuracy, while its data formatting and transmission seamlessly integrate with existing Air Force systems. (Source: UAS VISION)
21 Apr 20. On April 14, 2020, Erickson Incorporated, a worldwide leading operator, maintainer, and manufacturer of utility aircraft, was awarded a contract with the United States Navy, Fleet Readiness Center Procurement Group, Patuxent River, Maryland. The kits, aircraft recovery, augmentation, components and engines (KRACEn) multiple award contract will provide aircraft maintenance services and support. Work includes modification kit build and installations; recovery of downed aircraft; repair of aircraft and components; overhaul of engines; and contractor logistics support. The estimated cumulative aggregate ceiling for all contracts is $6,106,000,000 and work is expected to be complete by April 2030. (Source: PR Newswire)
22 Apr 20. Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that the Air Force Installation Contracting Center awarded the company a position on the Air Force Contract Augmentation Program V (AFCAP V) for eight years beginning in May 2020. As one of eight companies selected for a position on the AFCAP V indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, Fluor is now eligible to compete for specific task orders with a combined value not to exceed $6.4bn during the contract period of performance. AFCAP V task orders are intended to provide base life support services, construction and commodities support worldwide to the Air Force and other Department of Defense and U.S. federal agencies. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
20 Apr 20. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that Kratos Unmanned Systems Division has received a $2.7m sole-source option award for Command and Control System Mission Kits to support U.S. drone operations. Kratos is the design and qualification authority and this award is part of the follow(Source: ASD Network)-on production program. Production is now in its second year of a 5 year IDIQ contract.
23 Apr 20. The U.S. Navy awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) $165m for Lot 9 full rate production (FRP) of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) in March. Assets will include all-up round missiles and captive air training missiles for the U.S. Navy and foreign military sales. Northrop Grumman’s AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system, upgrading legacy AGM-88 HARM systems with advanced capability to perform suppression and destruction of enemy air defense missions. AARGM is the most advanced system for pilots against today’s modern surface-to-air threats. It is able to rapidly engage land- and sea-based air-defense threats, as well as striking, time-sensitive targets. AARGM is a U.S. Navy and Italian Air Force international cooperative major defense acquisition program with the U.S. Navy as the executive agent. AARGM is currently deployed and supporting operational requirements for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The missile is integrated into the weapons systems on the FA-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler aircraft and the Tornado Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance (ECR) aircraft utilized by the Italian Air Force.
23 Apr 20. Orbital UAV signs with Northrop Grumman to develop a hybrid propulsion system for a VTOL UAV. Orbital UAV, an Australian designer and manufacturer of propulsion systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has signed a deal with Northrop Grumman to design and develop a hybrid system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV, the company announced on 23 April. The system will combine an electric motor, which has yet to be selected, with the company’s flight-proven heavy-fuel engine. Under the contract Orbital UAV will develop, supply, and support two initial hybrid propulsion systems for integration into what the company described as Northrop Grumman’s small UAV development platform. Work will be performed at Orbital’s facility in Perth, Western Australia. (Source: News Now/Jane’s)
TECHNOLOGY
22 Apr 20. Alion Science and Technology announces today that it is has been awarded a $29m task order by the U.S. Air Force to support the Joint Electromagnetic Warfare Center (JEWC) to provide Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) Information, Analysis and Fusion (JEMSIAF) solutions. The Joint Electromagnetic Warfare Center (JEWC), a subordinate component of United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), is tasked with providing engineering analytics, modeling, simulation, and assessments that support the planning and execution of Joint Force Commander (JFC) electronic warfare operations. This task order is to provide scientific and engineering research, analysis, and development accelerating the Government’s capability to provide the authoritative, validated, and verified data, information, and modeling required for JFC elements and service organizations to achieve EMS superiority and EMS control and to plan, direct, monitor, and assess EMS operations across all operational domains (air, ground, maritime, space, and cyber) and operational functions (e.g. intelligence, logistics, targeting, communications, and information operations). Alion will provide technical, analytical, engineering and operational level research, analysis, assessment and evaluation to build the framework for model object development using current EMS user community concepts and standards. This task order has a 48-month period of performance and was awarded under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center Multiple Award Contract (IAC MAC) issued by the Air Force Installation Contracting Center. (Source: PR Newswire)
22 Apr 20. BAE Wins DARPA Contract to Develop Machine Learning Analytics As a Service for Constant Global Situational Awareness. BAE Systems aims to develop machine learning analytics as a service – a first-of-its-kind, cloud-based model for the government – that can leverage commercial and open source data to deliver constant worldwide situational awareness for a diverse range of challenges. BAE Systems was awarded a contract by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop machine learning analytics as a service – a first-of-its-kind, cloud-based model for the government. This new technology model seeks to provide an automated service that aims to leverage commercial and open source data, including satellite imagery, to deliver continuous worldwide situational awareness for a diverse range of challenges, including anomaly detection and prediction. (Source: ASD Network)
23 Apr 20. Dataminr Inc., New York, New York, has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for $258,661,096 for a commercially available license subscription that can leverage a variety of publicly available information sources, evaluate content to detect emerging events as they are developing and push alerts to users based on user-defined areas and topics of interest. The solution must be capable of distributing alerts in near real-time via email, web-based application and mobile platforms. The solution must be available commercially in the marketplace and able to scale to a Department of Defense enterprise capability and keep pace with developments and standards within the commercial industry sector. Work will be performed in New York and is expected to be complete by April 23, 2025. This award resulted after three firms were solicited and submitted bids. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $48,720,000 are being obligated at the time of the award. The Air Force District Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity (FA7014-20-C-0016).
23 Apr 20. ECS Federal LLC, Fairfax, Virginia, was awarded an $83,099,372 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for to create combined artificial intelligence (AI)-platform prototypes enhance. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Fairfax, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of March 26, 2023. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test, and evaluation, Army funds in the amount of $83,099,372 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911QX-20-C-0023).
21 Apr 20. Engility Services, LLC., a subsidiary of Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC), was awarded a $655m award to provide systems engineering, planning, integration and sustainment services to the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) Innovation and Prototyping Directorate through the Engineering, Development, Integration, and Sustainment (EDIS) contract. SAIC will work with SMC to modernize satellite ground systems for the United States Space Force (USSF) operations, research and development and demonstration missions. Under the EDIS contract, SAIC will support SMC DCIO in its mission to operate and sustain an affordable Ground System Enterprise (GSE) for research and development, demonstration, and operational missions. The GSE includes the Multi-Mission Satellite Operations Center command and control ground system architecture, as well as equipment, systems, and facilities. Development of Enterprise Ground Services (EGS) is one of the major components of Space Warfighting Construct (SWC) and is intended to provide the standardized hardware capacity and service oriented architecture (SOA) software platform required to perform tracking, telemetry, and commanding (TT&C), contact scheduling, and cyber defense functions for Space Force user missions. The EDIS acquisition is one contractual mechanism to continue prototyping and pathfinding for the EGS-related SWC initiatives. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
20 Apr 20. The US Army has awarded a USD21.8m technology development deal to Virginia-based Research Innovation Inc. to create a prototype version of a new battle management tool designed specifically for cyber-warfare operations. Army officials announced the prototype development deal on 12 April for the Cyber Situational Understanding (Cyber SU) programme, which is part of the service’s mission command cyber portfolio, one of several mission command and situational awareness portfolios run by Project Manager Mission Command (PM MC) as part of Program Executive Office Command, Control, and Communications – Tactical (PEO-C3T) headquarters at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Built upon the army’s core Command Post Computing Environment (CPCE) software and server hardware, battlefield management applications in the Cyber SU programme will be designed to “ingest, normalise, correlate, and analyse disparate data from multiple army programs of record”, supported by commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and non-developmental item (NDI) software, a 12 April statement by PEO-C3T said. (Source: Jane’s)
22 Apr 20. Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada, was awarded an $88,000,000 modification on an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost reimbursable contract (H92241-19-D-0009) in support of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for the Degraded Visual Environment Pilotage System. This modification raises the contract ceiling to $110,000,000. Fiscal 2019 procurement funds in the amount of $5,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The majority of the work will be performed in Sparks, Nevada. This contract is a non-competitive award and is in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302.1. USSOCOM Headquarters, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity.
21 Apr 20. Steampunk is excited to announce that it has been awarded entry into the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program under the Air Force Commercial Solutions Opening for its Design Intelligence™ human centered design (HCD) approach to technology innovation and application modernization. Under this AFWERX sponsored SBIR entry, Steampunk has the opportunity to work not only with the US Air Force and the Department of Defense, but also with all (11) eleven SBIR participating Federal Agencies. The SBIR program allows nimble and streamlined contracting options to provide commercially proven solutions to Government customers. As a member of SBIR program, Steampunk is eligible for sole source contract awards to organizations within the eleven participating Agencies for design-led technology application including DevSecOps, Data Exploitation, Digital Platforms, and Cybersecurity. (Source: PR Newswire)
20 Apr 20. Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK) announced today that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded the Company a $300m, multiple-award contract to provide assessment, monitoring, and evaluation services to support the DoD objective of strengthening alliances with key strategic partners across the globe through security cooperation. DoD awarded Tetra Tech the initial $117m task order to provide advanced analytics to identify performance indicators to measure progress and provide frameworks to facilitate security cooperation. Working with the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Tetra Tech will use innovative techniques to acquire data and deploy advanced analytics to provide in-depth evaluation of the effectiveness and sustainability of various security cooperation programs. Building an advanced data-driven program will enable more accurate and timely monitoring of any gaps in partner nations’ institutional capacity, especially in their ability to design and implement policy, logistics operations, and resource and human capital management. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
20 Apr 20. Kazakhstan signs agreement for SARP-Dual RCWS. Aselsan announced on 20 April that it had signed a new contract with Kazakhstan to supply its SARP-DualAdvanced Remote Controlled Stabilized Weapon Station (RCWS). The Turkish company has strong links with Kazakhstan via its Kazakhstan Aselsan Engineering subsidiary, which was established to increase ‘manufacturing capacity in order to meet Kazakhstan’s military and civilian needs’. The SARP-Dual RCWS can be integrated on a range of land or naval platforms with varying configurations and calibres. More than 20 armed forces use the system globally. (Source: Shephard)
24 Apr 20. Electro Optic Systems wholly owned subsidiary, Brisbane-based EM Solutions, has recently closed contracts to deliver its Cobra maritime satellite terminals to four allied Navy end-users in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. These contracts, valued at approximately $14m, will be delivered through 2020 and 2021. In addition to its strong existing order book with the Royal Australian Navy, these contracts result in a record backlog for the company, six months after being acquired by EOS. With its Cobra terminals now in use or on order with six of the world’s largest navies across four continents, the contracts further validate the acceptance of EM Solutions’ satellite communications products as a technology of choice to some of the world’s pre-eminent naval end users. Operating at X-Band, military Ka-Band and commercial Ka-Band, and certified for operation on major global networks such as WGS and Inmarsat GX, the Cobra terminals provide users with robust and resilient beyond-line-of-site communications with unprecedented flexibility and assuredness for their operations at sea. (Source: Defence Connect)
22 Apr 20. KBR (NYSE: KBR) has been awarded a $15m bridge contract by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (NAVFAC EURAFSWA) for repair, maintenance and construction services at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Africa. This is a bridge contract for an existing indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) job order contract (JOC) KBR previously won in 2014. This six-month contract brings the total ceiling value to $65m. Under the bridge contract, KBR will perform engineering, design, new construction, renovation, repairs, maintenance, replacement, alterations, demolition and other construction tasks at Camp Lemonnier and its associated Chabelley Air Field. For more than 30 years, KBR has supported multiple JOCs in the U.S. and overseas, establishing a legacy of delivering high-quality enduring projects. This contract follows the recently awarded Camp Lemonnier Djibouti Mini-Multiple Award Construction Contract (MACC) under which KBR will continue providing construction, renovation, alteration and repair services at multiple bases across Djibouti and Kenya. The MACC contract includes one base year and four option years and has a total ceiling value of $95m. KBR’s work through both contracts complements its existing base operating support at Camp Lemonnier, highlighting the company’s premiere construction and services capabilities. The company has provided base operating support services at Camp Lemonnier, the largest U.S. base in Africa, since 2013. Its work in the region dates back to 2002.
16 Apr 20. Kia Motors awarded contract to supply thousands of 2.5- and 5-tonne trucks to RoKA. South Korean company Kia Motors Corporation has won a tender for the supply of thousands of 2.5- and 5-tonne trucks to replace the Republic of Korea Army’s (RoKA’s) in-service KM250 and KM500 vehicles. Company officials told Jane’s on 17 April that the company had emerged as the preferred bidder – over rival local company Hanwha Defense – in November 2019 with its 4×4 ‘Medium Standard Vehicle’ and 6×6 ‘5-tonne Bulletproof Kit Vehicle’, the latter of which also comes in an armoured variant. The following month Kia signed a contract with the RoKA for the mass production of 7,000 units of the 2.5-tonne truck and 3,400 units of the 5-tonne platform from 2024 for KRW1.7trn (USD1.4bn) once development of the platforms has been completed. In addition, the company said it will manufacture 600 units of the armoured variant of the 5-tonne truck along with several other special variants of both vehicles. The new vehicles, both of which were displayed at the 2019 Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) under the names ‘2½ tonne cargo truck’ and ‘Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV)’, have a cab-over-engine (COE) configuration; unlike the KM250 and KM500 trucks, both of which are 6×6 and have a bonneted cab and have been in service with the RoKA and a few other countries for more than 40 years. (Source: Jane’s)
17 Apr 20. Mercury Systems Receives $30m Video Display Contract Award for Mobile Ground Vehicles. Mercury Systems, Inc., a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense, announced it received a $30m multi-year award from a leading defense prime contractor to provide video display technology for integration into mobile ground vehicles. The award has a 36-month planned performance and shipment period. Mercury is accelerating innovation for its customers as the Company bridges the gap between commercial technology and defense applications to meet the industry’s current and emerging needs. (Source: ASD Network)
SEA
20 Apr 20. BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems, Nashua, New Hampshire, is awarded a $17,381,169 modification (P00001) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00019-20-C-0042. This modification procures the necessary hardware, technical engineering, management and logistics support to fabricate, assemble, test and deliver three T-1622/ALE-55(V) fiber optic towed decoys for a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer and 102 electronic frequency converters for the Navy. Work will be performed in Nashua, New Hampshire (48%); Chelmsford, United Kingdom (12%); Mountain View, California (6%); Rochester, New York (4%); San Diego, California (4%); Landenberg, Pennsylvania (3%); Hamilton, New Jersey (2%); Commerce, California (2%); Los Osos, California (2%); Toledo, Ohio (1%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (16%). Work is expected to be complete by March 2022. Fiscal 2020 procurement of ammunition (Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $13,088,010; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,027,080; and FMS funds in the amount of $266,079 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
23 Apr 20. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Baltimore, Maryland, was awarded a $147,639,775 undefinitized contract action modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-20-C-5310 for the procurement of MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) vertical launcher module electronic components. Work will be performed in Baltimore, Maryland (44%); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (39%); Waverly, Iowa (3%); Hampstead, Maryland (2%); Dover, Pennsylvania (2%); Chaska, Minnesota (1%); St. Peters, Missouri (1%); Wooddale, Illinois (1%); Plainview, New York (1%); Irvine, California (1%); Roebling, New Jersey (1%); Forest Hill, Maryland (1%); Millersville, Maryland (1%); Sterling Heights, Michigan (1%); and Red Lion, Pennsylvania (1%). This modification provides the electronic components for MK 41 VLS, which is installed onboard Navy surface combatants (CG-47 and DDG-51 class ships) and multiple allied Navy platforms. MK 41 VLS stores, selects, prepares and launches standard missiles, Tomahawk, Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles. Work is expected to be completed by March 2025. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (65%); and the governments of South Korea, Finland and Germany (35%) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and FMS funding in the amount of $29,527,952 was obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 17, 2020)
AIR
19 Apr 20. China’s GAIC reveals first export order for FTC-2000G aircraft. China’s Guizhou Aviation Industries Corporation (GAIC) has received its first export order for the locally developed FTC-2000G advanced jet trainer (AJT)/light-attack aircraft. The stated-owned Xinhua News Agency reported on 19 April that the order was placed in early 2020 by an undisclosed Southeast Asian country, with delivery of the “first batch” of aircraft expected to be take place in 2021. No details were provided about the contract value or the number of platforms on order. The announcement came after the first series-produced FTC-2000G, which appears to be based on the GAIC JL-9G two-seat supersonic turbojet-powered trainer operated by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), conducted its maiden flight on 28 September 2018. (Source: Jane’s)