$17.6M More for M1, Bradley Support

M2 Bradley

The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI has placed a pair of sole-source support contracts for the Army’s M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles. The contracts are worth a total of $18.6 million.

United Defense L.P. in Santa Clara, CA received an $11.6 million modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (DAAE07-01-C-M011) for Systems Technical Support/ Logistics Services for the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle System. Work will be performed in Santa Clara, CA and is expected to be complete by Nov. 26, 2005. General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. in Sterling Heights, MI received a $6 million modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (DAAE07-01-C-N075) for Systems Technical Support for the M1 Abrams Tank Program. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, MI and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2006.

$24M for 60 Aerial Target Drones

BQM-74 Chukar

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems, San Diego, CA is being awarded a $24.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 12 BQM-74E Aerial Targets and 48 Extended Range BQM-74E Aerial Targets. The BQM-74E Chukar is a subsonic, subscale, jet-powered aerial target capable of being launched from planes, ships, or land. It simulates low-altitude anti-ship cruise missiles, highly maneuverable fighter aircraft and attack bombers for weapons testing and training exercises. Work will be performed in San Diego, CA (37%); Walled Lake, MI (22%); Elmira, NY (13%); Palmdale, CA (11%); and Mandaree, ND (4%), and is expected to be complete in December 2006. This contract (N00019-05-C-0040) was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD.

$5.2M for Networking Components in Iraq

Small business qualifier World Wide Technology of Maryland Heights, MO won a $5.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for 200 Lines of Interchangeable Networking Components for the Multi National Force-Iraq and Multi National Corps-Iraq. Work will be performed at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq, and is expected to be completed by April 15, 2005. There were five bids solicited on Feb. 2, 2005, and five bids were received. The Victory Contracting Office, Baghdad, Iraq, issued the contract (W274P4C-05-M-0858).

MV-22 Osprey Engineering & Testing Contracts

MV-22 Osprey

The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD has issued a pair of contracts worth a total of $27.8 million to the Bell-Boeing Joint Program Office in Patuxent River, MD, for further development and testing of the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft as it prepares for operational evaluation in the face of projected procurement cuts.

The first contract is a $16.8 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N00019-93-C-0006), that provides additional funds for the MV-22 Engineering and Manufacturing Development Program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, TX (50%) and Ridley Park, PA (50%), and is expected to be complete in October 2005. The second contract is an $11 million cost-plus-award-fee delivery order against a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00019-04-G-0007) to provide additional MV/CV-22 common flight test efforts. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, MD and is expected to be complete in September 2005.

$10.3M for U.S. Joint Forces Experimentation & Lab

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems in Suffolk, VA is being awarded a $10.3M cost-plus-fixed-fee task order contract for services in support of the U.S. Joint Forces Command’s Joint Experimentation Program and Joint Futures Lab. Work will be performed in Suffolk, VA, and work is expected to be complete by July 2005. This contract was competitively procured, with 30 proposals solicited and 1 offer received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk Detachment in Philadelphia issued the contract (N00140-04-D-0195, Order 0023).

$7.2M for Foreign Sidewinder Conversion, Components

AIM-9M

Raytheon Systems Co. in Tucson, AZ received a $7.2 million ceiling-priced modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed price contract (N00019-03-C-0003) to convert 414 AIM-9M-2 Sidewinder air-air missiles for the Government of Egypt and for the procurement of 36 Guidance Control Sections and 7 containers for the Czech Republic. Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ and is expected to be complete in March 2006. This modification combines purchases for the Government of Egypt ($4,119,300; 57.49%) and the Czech Republic ($3,046,260; 42.51%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.

Super Lynx Preferred Helicopter for $1.9B Order

Agusta Westland in Yeovil, U.K. has had its Super Lynx helicopter named as the preferred option for a U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) order worth approximately GBP 1 billion (USD $1.9 billion). The MoD says the Future Lynx meets its requirements for helicopters which could be used for land reconnaissance missions and attacks on small boats, and it was hoped contracts would be signed within six months. The MoD also announced that it intends to develop a long-term partnering arrangement with Agusta Westland, which is also strongly placed to pick up a contract to support and maintain the armed forces’ Sea King helicopters.

$834 Million for Ultra-Lightweight M777A1 Howitzers

He ain’t heavy,
he’s my howitzer

The M777 ultra-lightweight towed 155mm howitzer is a joint program between the Army and Marine Corps to replace the 155mm M198. Britain is also a partner, but Canada became the first country to field them in combat via an emergency buy before their “Operation Archer” Afghanistan deployment.

The weapon has an integrated digital fire control systems, and can fire all existing 155mm projectiles. This 8,250 pound howitzer, which saves 7,000 pounds of weight by making extensive use of titanium and titanium castings, is designed to be transportable by Marine Corps MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft and/or airdropped by C-130 aircraft. It will perform fire support for U.S. Marine Air Ground Task Forces and U.S. Army Stryker Brigade Combat Teams…

F/A-22 Integrating Bomb Capability

F/A-22 Shows its
Weapons Bay

As part of the F-22 Raptor‘s transformation to a more multi-role F/A-22, McDonnell Douglas Corp. of Saint Louis, MO is being awarded a $6.8 million cost-plus fixed-fee contract modification. This contract is for F/A-22 Spiral 3A Phase A+ design, testing, integration and support for the 250 lb. Small Diameter Bomb, which can be carried in the F/A-22’s missile bays. This work will be complete by March 2006. The Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base, FL issued the contract (FA8682-04-C-0019, P00050).

Biodiesel for Navy, USAF

Small business qualifier G.P. Resources Inc. of Rancho Dominguez, CA won a $5.3 million contract for biodiesel for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force. Work will be performed in various locations throughout California, with performance completed by March 31, 2007. G.P. Resources Inc. was already supplying biodiesel fuel to the Port of Long Beach, CA. There were 228 proposals solicited with 33 responses. The Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) at Fort Belvoir, VA issues the contract (SP0600-05-D-4513).