NPOESS (click to view full)

The National Polar-orbiting Observing Satellite System (NPOESS) is a joint program of the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce and the NASA that will help develop 3-7 day weather forecasts for civilian and military purposes, replacing less sophisticated satellites that are expected to fail over the next several years. Those forecasts include weather like hurricanes, tornadoes, et. al. Unfortunately, it now appears that NPOESS could be as much as $3 billion over budget, and that it is not expected to be launched until 2012 – 3 years later than even the most recent program plan, and at least 6 years later than earlier projections. Some gaps in coverage are possible during that time, if enough older satellites fail.

In November 2005 testimony given at a House of Congress Science Committee hearing, the Administrator of NOAA and the Undersecretary of the Air Force promised new cost and schedule estimates and policy options, as well as fuller and more rapid information. Nor are these the only changes underway in NPOESS, which was openly described as “a program in crisis”... DID’s updates you with some contract history, and recaps the program’s issues and changes in the wake of a recent $2+ billion contract…

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F117 Cutaway
(click to magnify)

United Technologies Corp. subsidiary Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford, CT received an indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity, fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for $1.06 billion for F117-PW-100 install engines, spare engines and associated data. It covers new engine deliveries from 2007 – 2012 for the U.S. Air Force and foreign military sales in support of the C-17 Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft program. At this time, no funds have been obligated; delivery orders will be issued under this contract vehicle as engines et. al. are required. Solicitations began August 2006, negotiations were complete in June 2007, and work will be complete December 2012. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8626-07-D-2073). See also P&W release.

The F117-PW-100 is a derivative of Pratt & Whitney’s PW2000 commercial engine powering the Boeing 757. It adds a unique thrust reverser system that can be deployed in flight for tactical descents, enables the aircraft to back up a 2-degree incline, and allows tight turns on the ground. This creates faster unloading throughput, and allows the aircraft to use a wider range of runways. Ongoing improvement programs have allowed the F117 engine to exceed established goals for time on wing, in-flight shut downs, and support turnaround time.

Flew through turbulence
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America’s ITAR system for controlling military exports has become a persistent complaint abroad – and at home. Abroad, it is often seen as being about protectionism first, and protection second. At home, the system is widely seen as a stumbling block to joint projects with US allies, and to America’s defense industry more generally. Britain’s ITAR-related disputes with the USA (now resolved) over the multinational F-35 program, and recent problems with approval that tipped a major foreign weapon purchase in favor of a particular US competitor, illustrate both types of complaints at work.

At the same time, legitimate security concerns around military technology transfer must be satisfied – and hopefully updated in an era where nations like China have used “American” front businesses as vehicles for major espionage coups. Now an industry initiative is underway to change key aspects of the US defense export control system, with support from several European firms. A recent GAO report is adding fuel to the fire, noting vulnerabilities in the existing system and recommending rethink and reform.

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Rail gun test
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Envisioneering, Inc. in Alexandria, VA received a sole source $9.2 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for systems analysis, system/component design and development, system test and evaluation, data collection and analysis in support of the US Navy’s Directed Energy and Electric Weapons Program Office. See the 2003 Jane’s article “Naval warfare at the speed of light” for more background on the kind of developments being pursued by PMS-405, as well as DID’s article concerning US Navy rail gun research.

Work will be performed in King George, VA (92%); Kauai, Hawaii (6%); and Kirkland, WA (2%), and is expected to be complete by July 2012. The contract was not competitively procured, as “Envisioneering is the only known source with the knowledge and technical capability to provide the services and support required to meet milestones and deadlines.” The solicitation was, however, posted on the world wide web via Navy Electronic Commerce Online by the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, IN (N00164-07-D-8900).

Small business qualifier Singh Group, Inc., DBA Baja Pacific in Oceanside, CA won a not to exceed $28.3 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity service contract for tree trimming and removal services at the San Diego Metropolitan Areas and Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton. Guess you can’t just let them grow into the power lines…

Work will be performed in San Diego, CA (60%) and Oceanside, CA (40%), and is expected to be complete in July 2008. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured among the 6 certified 8(a) firms provided by the Small Business Administration San Diego District Office under the North American Industry Classification System, 561730-Landscaping, with 3 proposals received by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest in San Diego, CA (N62473-07-D-5005).

SSBN Vanguard Class
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The UK Ministry of Defence has signed a partnering contract with Rolls-Royce worth up to GBP 1 billion over 10 years for the provision and through-life support of pressurised water reactors for the Royal Navy’s nuclear powered submarines. The Flotilla Reactor Plant Support contract covers all aspects of support to the Nuclear Steam Raising Plants of the SSN Swiftsure Class and SSN Trafalgar Class fleet submarines (Pressurised Water Reactor Mk1), and to the new SSN Astute Class fleet and SSBN Vanguard Class ballistic submarines (Pressurised Water Reactor Mk2, removes the need to refuel the reactor during its service life). Technical support, management of spares, the provision of plant safety cases and product development capability are all included.

Rolls-Royce has been supplying Nuclear Steam Raising Plants to the Royal Navy for almost 50 years from their production site at Raynesway, but this contract is different because it falls within the “future contracting for availability” initiatives of the UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy. Rolls-Royce and the UK MoD will form a joint team to set agreed service levels, whereupon Rolls Royce will manage the process and be paid for meeting those service targets, rather than through individual contracts for spares, service hours, et. al. Rolls-Royce will also receive additional incentive payments for improvements which create savings for the Ministry when the submarines are in service, and both parties will share any savings made through improved business efficiency and effectiveness using an agreed-upon formula.

SSN Swiftsure Class
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Rolls Royce’s submarine operations are based at Derby, where 1,400 people are employed. In addition to the production site at Raynesway, the firm also operates the Vulcan reactor core research facility in Dounreay, Scotland, on behalf of the MoD. The UK MoD anticipates that the Flotilla Reactor Plant Support contract will lead to savings of over GBP 120 million over its 10-year term. UK MoD release | Rolls Royce release.

It’s not the size of the
sub that counts…OK, it is

No, not Tango Uniform – Tango Bravo, as in “technology barriers.” The Navy and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plan to pour $97 million between 2004-2009 into a new joint project known as Tango Bravo, asks what technologies would be required for a new attack submarine that could have all the capabilities of the current Virginia Class boats, but at half the size and half the build cost. As a comparison, SSN-774 Virginia Class attack submarines are 377 feet in length, and have a 34-foot beam. They cost approximately $2.0-2.5 billion each.

Tango Bravo grew out of a joint Navy-DARPA study that ended in May 2004. It looked at a number of factors that affect the size and cost of hull, mechanical and electrical systems on a submarine. Led by Naval Sea Systems Command’s Program Executive Officer for Submarines, Tango Bravo is a demonstration project aimed at bringing fundamental change to future U.S. submarines, while maintaining or improving their current capabilities. This updated DID Focus Article offers a snapshot of DARPA’s program, and looks at the contracts and winners that are beginning to shake out…

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“It had to be you….“
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America’s recently-passed 2007 supplemental defense funding bill (#2) included $320 million for an unusual weapon: biometrics. Fingerprinting, iris scanning, certain approaches to automated facial recognition, DNA, and more are all part of biometrics, which seeks to identify humans based on unique physical characteristics.

Back in May 2005, “Biometric Access Card Project Underway for Iraq” shed light on biometrics’ increase use for defensive purposes; funding for those kinds of projects has continued, including research into fast, high-volume technologies and systems for National Guard units. What’s changing is the use of biometrics for offensive purposes as an integral tool in military operations, as opposed to just a defensive system for military installations. This requires a lot more interoperability and software bridging between systems, of course, in order to work. WIRED’s Danger Room e-zine covers the shift within Iraq, from operations in Baqubah to end-runs around the bureaucracy in order to get necessary equipment to warfighters. Read “Baqubah’s Biometric Squeeze” for more links and info…. and see also these front-line reports:

• US DoD DefenseLINK (Aug 15/07) – Officer Hails ‘Tremendous Success’ of Iraqi Automated ID System
• USMC (July 28/07) – BAT system helps 3/1 catch bad guys
• USMC (July 28/07) – High-tech ID system sniffs out hidden threats

San Diego State University Foundation in San Diego, CA received a $9.1 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract with a time and materials pricing arrangement to procure analytical and technical support services from undergraduate and graduate level students in the following disciplines: 1) electrical engineering, computer engineering, mathematics, physics, and statistics; 2) computer science and information systems; 3) mechanical engineering and fluid mechanics; and, 4) public health, exercise physiology, psychology, social science, biology and chemistry. The students will support a wide variety of research and development projects at the Naval Health Research Center, the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego).

This is a 5-year contract that contains no options. Work will be performed in San Diego, CA and is expected to be completed July 2012. This contract was competitively procured under solicitation N66001-07-R-0016 via publication on the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central and Federal Business Opportunities web sites. Competition was limited to educational institutions in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-3, and 1 proposal was received. SSC San Diego is the contracting activity (N66001-07-D-0016).

Caddell Construction Company Inc. in Montgomery, AL won a $73.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for Construction of a Clinic and Demolition of a Hospital at MacDill Air Force Base, FL. Work is expected to be complete by Aug. 9, 2009. Bids were solicited via the World Wide Web on Aug. 10, 2007, and 3 bids were received by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Mobile, AL (W91278-07-C-0037).