The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contracts to 3 small business qualifiers to provide advisory and assistance services to MDA’s Quality, Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate. Each contract has an ordering ceiling of $209.6 million.
The contractors will assist the directorate in assessing the engineering, technology, production and programmatic practices/ processes used to develop and operate the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system. MDA is developing a layered BDM system that is designed to destroy enemy missiles by engaging them in all phases of flight (see graphic).
The MDA has come under criticism for the slow pace of BMD development, cost overruns, questionable auditing practices, and repeated test failures. The 3 contracts are part of an effort by MDA to streamline is contracting processes. The winners of the contracts are:
* a.i. solutions‘ Launch Services Division in Lanham, Md. (HQ0147-10-D-0027);
* A-P-T Research in Huntsville, AL (HQ0147-10-D-0028); and
* Bastion Technologies in Houston, TX (HQ0147-10-D-0029).
These contracts were awarded as part of an effort by the MDA to consolidate existing advisory and assistance services contracts. In addition, MDA set up a single office to administer the contracts called the Engineering and Support Services Program Office.
The companies will have the opportunity to bid on individual task orders. These contracts are being competitively awarded under the small business set aside request for proposal HQ0147-09-R-0001.
Work under these contracts will be performed in Huntsville, AL and other MDA locations. The performance period is through December 2014. Obligations will be made by task orders using research, development, test and evaluation funds.