CV 67 in happier days
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The 80,000 ton USS John F. Kennedy [CV 67], which hasn’t been deployed since 2004, managed to endure a few near-misses, but in the end, the curtain came down. Virginia legislators denied the Pentagon’s FY 2006 request to retire the carrier, but as DID reported a year ago in “Is The End Near for the USS JFK?” attitudes changed once they were presented with the estimated $2+ billion cost of restoring her to fighting condition.

The USS John F. Kennedy’s career as a US Navy vessel has now come to a close, leaving the CV 63 USS Kitty Hawk, based in Japan, as the last petroleum-powered aircraft carrier in the US Navy….

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Serco North America, Inc. in Vienna, VA received a $12 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract with a cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing arrangement. Their work on “surveillance systems engineering support and special projects” will include advanced technology efforts for “maritime domain awareness, homeland force protection, and antiterrorism systems; Navy tactical command and control; sector command center (joint) and joint perimeter security command and control; advanced concept site; fleet battle experiments; coalition warrior interoperability demonstration; extended littoral battlefield; and combined maritime operations center.” This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative potential value to $63.9 million.

Work will be performed in San Diego, CA and is expected to be complete March 2008. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited on an unrestricted basis in the Federal Business Opportunity web site and posting on the Space and Naval Warfare Systems e-Commerce Central web site, with 1 offer received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego, CA issued the contract (N66001-07-D-0069).

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Eagle IV, other RWS
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Denmark’s Defence Acquisition and Logistic Organisation has selected Remotely Controlled Weapon Station (RWS) for their newly purchased General Dynamics MOWAG Piranha III wheeled APCs, and Eagle IV light patrol vehicles. The winner was BAE Land Systems’ Bofors division in Karlskoga, Sweden, who won the The SEK 330 million (approximately $50 million) contract with their LEMUR RWS. Deliveries will take place from May 2007 – fall 2008, with all assembly, final testing and delivery taking place at the DALO workshops in Denmark, at facilities in Hjorring and in Fredrikshamn.

The Piranha III is known as the LAV III in North America, and forms the basis of the USA’s Stryker vehicles. The Eagle IV is based on a Duro truck frame, which allows more up-armoring and carrying capacity than earlier HMMWV-derived Eagle models. As previous DID article have noted, however, up-armoring is not the same thing as a fully blast-resistant vehicle.

LEMUR RWS
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LEMUR is a fully stabilized weapon station, which means it can fire accurately even if the vehicle is moving. Like other RWS options, it is operated from inside the vehicle by a gunner, using a color display and a two-hand control handle. A thermal infrared camera coupled with a day camera, and a laser range finder round out the optics. LEMUR falls into the category of smaller RWS systems, with an extremely compact design that carries either a 12.7 mm/ .50 cal machine gun (200 rounds) or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (48 rounds). Smoke grenade launchers are placed around the turret, including the area in front of the optics. BAE Systems’ announcement of the Danish win touts LEMUR as modular design that can fit wheeled or tracked combat vehicles, naval protection systems, or even act as a sensor and fire control system for other weapons. In general, this is true for all RWS system, so long as their components are properly “navalized” to resist corrosion.

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EFSS Concept
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“Lots Riding on V-22 Osprey” talked about the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) 120mm mortar as the short-range leg of the USMC’s future artillery support triad, and the $120,000 ITV jeep that would tow it. General Dynamics Ordnance & Tactical Systems in Saint Petersburg, FL was recently awarded $8.2 million for delivery order 0001 under a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (M67854-05-D-6014) to prepare low rate initial production (LRIP) and full rate production for the Expeditionary Fire Support System/ Internally Transportable Vehicle. The ITV is designed to fit the V-22 Osprey’s limited internal dimensions; it has come in for some criticism for its cost and capabilities.

Work will be performed in St. Petersburg, FL (75%); Ocala, FL (10%); and Robbins, NC (15%), and is expected to be complete by May 2007. This contract was competitively procured with 3 proposals solicited and 3 offers received by the Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, VA

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Wamar International Inc. in Simi Valley, CA received a $14.9 million firm-fixed-price contract for the hot gas path and combustion inspections for the GE frame 9 gas turbine units. Work will be performed in Qudas and South Baghdad, Iraq, and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2008. Bids were solicited via the World Wide Web on Dec. 23, 2006, and 4 bids were received. The Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/ Afghanistan in Baghdad, Iraq (W91GXY-07-C-0014).

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GBU-28 Bomb

On Wednesday, we observed that Mk80 family “bombs are produced in sections, with threaded holes at front and back for mixing and matching add-ons like different guidance sections, fuzes, tail fin kits to get different ranges and types of performance, et. al.” Here’s one application:

Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ received a $16.9 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for 139 guided bomb unit 28C/B guidance control units and tail kits, which appear to be dropping slightly in price. The 5,000 pound “bunker-buster” GBU-28C/B, also known as Enhanced Paveway III, possesses a laser guidance capability that can work without GPS and correct right up until impact, aided by JDAM-like Global Positioning System targeting that offers precision accuracy through any weather as long as the satellites survive. These improvements are being retrofitted to existing weapons via the Dual Mode Laser Guided Bomb Program, and the modular nature of the bombs makes this a simple switch. The GCUs screw into the front, and the tail kits screw into the back to provide the required maneuverability.

Enhanced Paveway
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Total funds have been obligated, and work will be complete May 2008. The Headquarters Air-To-Ground Munitions Systems Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, FL issued the contract (FA8681-05-C-0075/P00016).

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Walbridge Aldinger in Tampa, FLreceived an $11.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a security forces facility at MacDill Air Force Base, FL. Work is expected to be complete by Sept. 10, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were 685 bids solicited on Dec. 4, 2006, and 5 bids were received by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Mobile, AL (W91278-07-C-0010).

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The Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport Division in Newport, RI awarded 3 contractors firm-fixed-price, not-to-exceed $27 million, multiple-award contracts. They will create Interactive multimedia training modules, and modernize out-dated training materials, procedures and techniques for the Submarine On-Board Training Office. Funds in the amount of $182,500 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The winners were:

• Carley Corp. in Orlando, FL (N66604-07-D-153A)
• Long Wave Inc. in Fort Worth, TX (N66604-07-D-153B)
• EG&G Technical Services, Inc. in Gaithersburg, MD (N66604-07-D-153C)

These three contractors may compete for delivery orders under the terms and conditions of the multiple award contract. Work will be performed in Orlando, FL (33.4%); Fort Worth, TX (33.3%); and Gaithersburg, MD (33.3%), and is expected to be complete by March 2012. The contract was competitively procured and advertised via the Internet, with 19 proposals received.

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Kenneth Krieg

Kenneth Krieg is the Pentagon’s Undersecretary Of Defense For Acquisition, Technology And Logistics, which puts him right on the hot seat for major military procurement decisions. On March 15, 2007, he had a press conference in which he offered a quick update on the work they’ve been doing and took questions. Key issues included:

How to deal with an acquisition workforce of about 134,000, 85% of which are civilians, and and most of whom are hired into specific camps, posts and stations around America, in a way that makes meaningful changes and makes sure things get done?

How to think more comprehensively about infrastructure investment that stands at about $44 billion per year on all elements of facilities: construction, base operating support, sustainment, etc?

How to bring the kinds of business process changes, measurement changes and performance changes that work well in the private sector, to the public sector? And how do you bring the principles of life-cycle management back into the acquisition and decision-making process so that you’re giving birth to programs that are reliable and maintainable over time [DID: the British have done very substantial and path-breaking work in both areas]?

He also took questions about:

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Policeman, Sabari
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Small business qualifier AEY Inc. in Miami Beach, FL received a delivery order amount of $48.7 million as part of a $298 million firm-fixed-price contract for various ammunition for the Afghanistan Security Forces. AEY, Inc. was established in 1999; unsurprisingly, Craigslist says they’re hiring.

Work will be performed in Miami, FL and is expected to be complete by Dec. 30, 2008. Bids were solicited via the World Wide Web on July 28, 2007, and 10 bids were received by the U.S. Army Sustainment Command in Rock Island, IL (W52P1J-07-D-0004).

Ammunition and weapon shortages been an reported issue in Afghanistan, where police and other security forces trainees have been forced to use fake wooden rifles at times.

UPDATE: A major scandal followed this award, which was reportedly contested by up to 10 firms. See “AEY’s Ammunition: Ain’t An April Fools, Alas.”