Boeing Co. subsidiary McDonnell Douglas Corp. received an $18.5 million contract modification to exercise Lot 1 Option for Small Diameter Bomb Increment I (Fixed/Stationary Target) Low Rate initial Production for munitions, carriage, and associated trainers and technical support.
The GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) is considered one of the most significant programs on the books because it will dramatically increase the strike capability of every combat aircraft in the U.S. inventory. This 250 pound guided weapon has the same penetration capabilities as a 2000lb BLU-109 thanks to its length to diameter ratio, smart fuse and nose shape, demonstrating penetration of more than 6 feet of reinforced concrete with only 50 pounds of explosive.
The fixed/stationary target version is INS/GPS guided like the JDAM, giving the winged bomb a range of up to 60 km and an accuracy rating of just 5-8m CEP. The size and accuracy of SDBs allows aircraft to carry more munitions to more targets, and strike them more effectively with less collateral damage. Because of its capabilities, the system is an important element of the U.S. Air Force’s Global Strike Task Force.
VSE Corp. in Alexandria, VA is being awarded a $544 million cost-plus-award-fee, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract to provide foreign navy continuous life-cycle support services for naval vessels bought, sold or otherwise transferred through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program to FMS customers.
Services provided under this contract include design, configuration management, field engineering, maintenance planning, maintenance, spare parts support, training, casualty and depot level repair. The contractor provides engineering, technical, procurement, logistics, test, inspection, calibration, repair, maintenance, equipment upgrade installation, and overhaul support services including reactivation to safe-to-sail status. Work will be performed in Alexandria, VA and in various locations throughout the world as required by FMS customers, and is expected to be complete by April 2010. The contract was competitively procured and advertised on the Internet, with one proposal received. This contract supports the Government of Egypt and other countries under the Foreign Military Sales program (more on the Egyptian Navy’s recent FMS buy of Ambassador MkIII Fast Attack Craft). The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC issued the contract. (N00024-05-D-4204).
After already delaying its ad account review decision by six months, AdAge reports that the U.S. Army has cancelled the $200 million review after all. The six agencies that wasted months and hundreds of thousands of dollars pitching the Army were cautioned last summer by at least one trade magazine that the process may prove one of those statutory, pro forma reviews that government agencies often must do simply to comply with the law.
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in San Diego, CA is being awarded a $143 million contract modification to provide for contract price increases and funding to account for the long-range Global Hawk UAV’s Engineering & Manufacturing Development overrun. The unmanned RQ-4A Global Hawk has been rushed into service as part of the Global War on Terror. The Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, issued the contract (F33657-01-C-4600, P00090).
Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle Systems L.P. in Sealy, TX won a $6.8 million modification to a firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursement contract for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Launcher Chassis. HIMARS is based on the need for a lighter weight, more deployable version of the M-270 MLRS tracked vehicle, one that can be sent anywhere in the world to provide lethal long-range rocket artillery fire. It is being designed and produced by the U.S. Army to support its Early Entry Contingency forces and its Light/Airborne/Air Assault Divisions.
Keco Industries Inc. in Florence, KY received a $14.9 million contract to support the Field Deployable Environmental Control Unit (FDECU) which is an electric motor driven, skid mounted, 5-ton air conditioner with a maximum cooling temperature of 125F and a total heating capacity of 48,000 BTU/HR. This requirement is for 1,388 units.
This program supports Air Force BEAR Mobility Equipment, better known as Harvest Eagle and Harvest Falcon. These “instant bare bases” are part of the U.S. Army’s Force Provider structure.
The Space Coast Launch Services in Ft. Worth, TX is being awarded a $7.3M contract modification to provide for a Launch Operations Support Contract (LOSC) which will provide operations, maintenance, and engineering support to critical launch, spacecraft and ordnance facilities support systems owned by the 45th Space Wing. The LOSC contractor is responsible for planning and executing all preventative and corrective maintenance and performing configuration changes to the LOSC facilities and systems necessary to achieve the greatest operational availability for mission support. These facilities and systems are vital to the support of the Department of Defense, civil, and commercial space launch processing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL, and work will be complete in September 2005. The 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, FL issued the contract (FA2521-05-C-0008).
San Francisco Drydock Inc. in San Francisco, CA won a $5.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for the regular overhaul of USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), a Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force ship owned and operated by Military Sealift Command. The ship is currently in Southeast Asia providing tsunami and earthquake relief support. This contract contains options, which if exercised, would bring the total cumulative value of the contract to $6.5 million. Work will be performed in San Francisco, CA, and is expected to be complete by September 2005. This contract was competitively procured with three proposals solicited and one offer received. The Sealift Logistics Command Pacific issued the contract (N62383-05-C-4200). See also DID – $12.9M in Drugs for Comfort and Mercy.
