The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA recveived a $3.17 billion multi-year cost contract for research and development pertinent to national defense, with particular emphasis on advanced electronics programs. Work will be performed at MIT in Cambridge, MA from March 30, 2005 to March 31, 2010. Solicitation began November 2004, and negotiations were completed March 2005. The Headquarters Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA issued the contract (FA8721-05-C-0002). Note that Hansom AFB is rumored to be one of the bases under threat of closure as part of the Pentagon’s BRAC efforts.
Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. in Newport News, VA received a $50.6 million cost-type modification to previously awarded contract N00024-04-C-2118 for continuation of CVN 21 engineering services and feasibility studies. The CVN-21, formerly the CV(X) program, is slated to be America’s next-generation aircraft carrier, replacing the current Nimitz class. Work will be performed at Newport News, VA (85%) and Groton, CT (15%), and is expected to be complete by December 2006. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC, issued the contract modification.
Raytheon Co. in El Segundo, CA received a $27.7 million cost-plus fixed-fee multi-year contract to develop and demonstrate Polymorphous Computing Architecture (PCA) technologies under the MONARCH program. PCA is aimed at developing a new class of processing technology that is “morphable” such that processing resources can be reprogrammed during operations, in order to more optimally meet mission-processing requirements.
Northrop Grumman in Linthicum Heights, MD is being awarded a $40.3 million cost-plus incentive-fee contract for the F-16 Block 50/52 aircraft’s APG-68 (V) 10 Standard 2 Radar Modernization Program (RMP). The v10 model will extend the capabilities of the current APG-69(V)9 platform, whose requirements were developed in collaboration with the Israeli Air Force. The Software Engineering division at Hill Air Force Base, UT is also involved in ongoing development of the F-16’s APG-68 radar system.
One portion of the Northrop Grumman contract covers the development of two new capabilities: Automatic Target Cueing (ATC), and new operator modes for Large Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) video processing hardware and software. Another part of the contract covers the procurement of five radar test models. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8615-04-C-6050).
L3 Communication Flight International Aviation LLC in Newport News, VA received a $40.4 million modification that exercises an option for simulations that help ships and air squadrons train their crews to counter electronic warfare efforts by airborne targets. This effort modifies a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-02-D-3157). Work will be performed at Norfolk, VA (45%); San Diego, CA (45%); and various locations located across the United States (10%), and is expected to be complete in April 2006. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.
With all the attention being paid to the projected increases in the MQ-1 Predator fleet and tests of the MQ-9 Predator B, other Umanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) may not get much attention. Recently, small business qualifier Aurora Flight Sciences of Manassas, VA received a sole-source delivery order amount of $5 million as part of a $20 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for development of the Excalibur Tactical UAV.
Alliant Techsystems, Inc. in Janesville, WI received an $8 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-04-C-0133), exercising an option for the procurement of 9,164 FMU-139C/B electronic bomb fuzes. Meanwhile, Smith Barney Citigroup recently downgraded the company’s stock to “sell” from “hold”.
ITT Federal Services International Inc. in Colorado Springs, CO received a $9.4 million increment as part of their $69 million firm-fixed-price contract for management of armed guard services at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo (DABN01-03-C-0010). ITT also has other U.S. government contracts in Kosovo. There were 28 bids solicited on Dec. 23, 2002, and 6 bids were received. The contract runs until April 30, 2008. The U.S. Army Contracting Agency in Wiesbaden, Germany, issued the contract.