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Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) announced a federal investment of more than C$ 48.8 million (about $45 million) for 29 new projects under the Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI). These projects will address diverse requirements such as the development of more rapid, accurate and portable tools to detect chemical, biological and radiological agents, the fast-track development of an antiviral drug against Avian influenza, and the enhancement of decision-making support tools that assist the first responder and national security communities in coordinating a more efficient response to CBRNE incidents.

Canadian government departments and agencies working on this round of projects include DRDC, Department of National Defence, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Environment Canada, Health Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, National Research Council of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Projects funded under this round include…

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Surgery, USNS Mercy
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Up to $700 million or more in medical supplies has been ordered by the US military’s Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA, as they lay out their contracts and secure their stocks.

These firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity/ indefinite-delivery Prime Vendor contracts for medical/surgical needs cover the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Federal Civilian Agencies, Coast Guard, and other Non-DoD Agencies. The contracts all run until Feb 19/09; what differs from contract to contract is the winner and the specific regions covered. The big winners seem to be Owens & Minor and Cardinal Health, but a couple of other firms got contracts as well. All of these contracts were announced on June 14/07….

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US Corpsmen carry
Iraqi Soldier
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On May 24/07, the US DSCA announced Iraq’s purchase request for medical consumables, pharmaceuticals, medical, surgical, dental supplies, medical equipment, support equipment, program support, publications, documentation, personnel training, training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services and other related program requirements.. The total value, if all options are exercised, will be slightly less than $1.05 billion. The principal contractors are unknown at this time.

The requested items will be used to provide for the basic medical needs to Iraqi forces “and, as necessary and appropriate, civilians who are casualties of ongoing conflict. The medical supplies will help minimize the casualties sustained during military operations.” DSCA adds that “The proposed use of this equipment is consistent with the statutory authorities in section 4 of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, and section 607 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.” DSCA release.

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Sadr City, Baghdad
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The Government of Iraq has requested technical assistance services from the US military to ensure provision of adequate facilities and infrastructure in support of the recruitment, garrison, training, and operational facilities and infrastructure for the Iraqi Security Forces. This proposed sale would enable Iraq to support the recruitment, training, bed-down, and operational effectiveness of its military, supporting its mission to improve security and stability throughout Iraq. In many cases, the facilities under construction will include civilian infrastructure and dual-use facilities as well. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $350 million.

On May 18/07, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of Iraq’s request [PDF format]. Construction help seems like an odd request, but a mature procurement system that offers good project management skills, has a tested regulatory and oversight system to back it up that’s based on appropriate laws, and is relatively free from corruption takes time to build. Indeed, one can argue that this has been absent from significant periods in American history.

The contractors have not been chosen yet, but the executing agency has…

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Adara Networks, Inc. in Scotts Valley, CA received a $7.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for designing and testing an integrated service platform to solve problems of network latency, scalability and integration complexity for the Naval Health Research Center. Which leads one to ask the question on everybody’s mind: do they make house calls?

They probably do, but only for people with very complex in-house networks. Their NPX technology coordinates all sites, servers, and content in the network using a GOLD (Generic Object Locator by Distance) approach. The system builds tables that contain the best location for objects on the network, then maintains and updates the tables. This provide a single platform for additional network services and objects, and offers global load balancing, fail-over capability, and dynamic content management/ object re-location. Low-overhead encryption is also part of NPX’s services. See technology page for relevant Flash movies.

This contract for the Naval Health Research Center also covers evaluation and project support. Work will be performed in San Jose, CA (85%); Charleston, SC (10%); San Diego, CA (2%); Dahlgren, VA (1%); Patuxent River (1%); and Quantico, VA (1%), and is expected to be complete by May 2008. This contract was awarded competitively through Navy Electronic Commerce Online, with 1 offer received by the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center in San Diego, CA (N00244-07-C-0027).

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USNS Mercy
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Cardinal Health, Inc. in Dublin, OH received a maximum $12.9 million firm-fixed-price prime vendor contract awarded to meet the pharmaceutical requirements of the routine Navy fleet, and the hospital ships USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy. Date of performance completion is May 19, 2008. This contract consists of a 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods; this is the third option year. There were 11 proposals solicited and 3 responded to the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA (SPM200-04-D-7020).

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Draeger Medical Inc. in Telford, PA received a maximum $70 million fixed price with economic price adjustment for anesthesia, ventilation and patient monitoring systems on behalf of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal civilian agencies. There were 45 proposals solicited and 31 responded. This is a 5-year base contract with 5 one-year options. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is March 08, 2012. Contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, PA (SPM200-07-D-8003).

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Siemens MRI
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The USA’s Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA recently issued a set of contracts for medical imaging systems, sub-systems, and components on behalf of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Federal civilian agencies, and Veteran’s Administration. Date of performance completion is November 11, 2007.

Total contract values exceed $120 million, and winners included…

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NARP’s WALK
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In the field, time counts. The right emergency medical care, coupled with equipment that makes rapid evacuation possible, can easily be the difference between life and death. To that end, small business qualifier North American Rescue Product, Inc. in Greenville, SC won a maximum $31.9 million fixed price with economic-price-adjustment contract for litters, medical kits, accessories and similar products for the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Their products include the Combat Casualty Response Kit(R), the WALK Warrior Aid & Litter Kit built around their Talon II® Model 90 litter, et. al. Unlike the Skedco SK-200 BRS, the Talon cannot be dragged in hands-free mode and takes up more room on one’s back; even so, the integrated system is a step forward.

This is an indefinite-quantity/ indefinite-delivery type contract with a 5 year base and 5 more 1-year options; the contract will end on February 5, 2012. There were 455 proposals solicited, and 31 responded to the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA (SPM200-07-D-8260).

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Force 3, Inc. in Crofton, MD won a $7.9 million contract for local area and wide area network infrastructure, material, and network routers and switches, with a cumulative value of up to $15.9 million if all options are exercised. The equipment specified in the indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract (N65236-07-D-5100) will support the Local Area Network Upgrade Project for the Military Health System (MHS) Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) at Army, Navy, and Air Force CONUS (Continental United States) and overseas (OCONUS) TRICARE Regions sites.

Work will be performed in Force 3’s Crofton, MD manufacturing plant, and is expected to be complete by February 2008. Eight offers were received for this competitive contract via the Commerce Business Daily’s Federal Business Opportunities website, and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center e-Commerce Central website. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in Charleston, SC issued the contract.

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