$272M for Low-Rate Production of Global Hawk B UAVs

RQ-4A and RQ-4B

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in San Diego, CA is being awarded a $272,700,000 fixed price incentive firm contract modification to provide for Low Rate Initial Production Lot 4 items: Four Global Hawk RQ-4B Production Air Vehicle with Enhanced-Integrated Sensor Suites; one Mission Control Element; one Launch Recovery Element, Support Equipment and Spares. The RQ-4B is a larger version of the extremely successful RQ-4A Global Hawk reconaissance UAV, which has been rushed into service as part of the Global War on Terror. See all DID Global Hawk coverage.

Solicitation began March 2004, and this work will be complete by July 2008. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8620-04-C-3430).

Two New U.S. Organizations to Optimize UAVs

In the wake of recent jockeying between the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army for control of the U.S. military’s growing number of UAVs, the US Department of Defense (DoD) announced the establishment of two organizations to coordinate the development and use of unmanned-aerial-vehicle (UAV) capabilities.

Up to $58M for Flu Pills

Roche Laboratories Inc. in Nutley, NJ received a maximum $58 million firm-fixed-price contract for Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps for Oseltamivir Phosphate Capsules. The drug is more popularly known as TAMIFLU, and it is often prescribed in America for the treatment and prevention of influenza. This is a requirements contract with a base year and one option period; the base year expires Feb. 28, 2006. There were two proposals solicited and one responded. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA issued the contract (SP0200-05-D-0009).

$74.8M for Sikorsky Spare Parts

United Technologies subsidiary Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, CT received a maximum $74.8 million firm fixed price requirements type contract for various aircraft spare parts for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Federal Civilian Agencies. Sikorsky makes a number of helicopters that serve as the backbone of the U.S. rotary-wing fleet. This is a sole source contract with a one-year base period with nine one-year option periods. Performance completion date is July 7, 2006. Proposals were Web solicited and one responded. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR), Richmond, Va. (SP0400005D9413).

$65.1M to Overhaul T700 Family Helicopter Engines

General Electric Aircraft Engine in Cincinnati, OH received an $18.7 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for overhaul and repair for the entire T700 family of engines. The T700/CT7 engine family powers 21 types of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft for close to 130 customers in 55 countries. In the U.S. military arsenal, the T700 and its variants power the Blackhawk/Seahawk family of helicopters (UH-60, MH-60, SH-60, HH-60), other utility helicopters (SH-2G Super Seasprite, Bell UH-1Y Huey, US101), and attack helicopters (AH-1W and AH-1Z SuperCobra, AH-64 Apache).

LaBarge Receives $7.4M from Raytheon for F/A-22 ‘Brains’

F/A-22 Raptor

Raytheon Preferred Supplier LaBarge, Inc. of St. Louis, MO has received a contract valued at $7.4 million from the Raytheon Company’s Space and Airborne Systems in El Segundo, CA, to continue to produce backplane electronic assemblies for the F/A-22 Raptor fighter. LaBarge has manufactured the backplane assemblies for Raytheon since 2002, and work on this contract will begin at LaBarge’s Joplin, MO facility in Q4 of FY 2005 and continue through fall 2006.

The backplane assemblies are used in the F/A-22’s Common Integrated Processor (CIP), and process electronic signals for the entire aircraft. Developed as the “brains” of the F/A-22, the CIP uses fiber optics and high-speed integrated circuit technology to fuse and convert data into a clear, concise picture of the combat situation, reducing pilot workloads and allowing them to focus more fully on executing the designated mission.

$8.3M for US Marines Emergency Responder Training

EAI Corp. Inc. in Abingdon, MD received $8.3 million for Task Order 0018 under a previously awarded Interoperable Consequences Management, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract (M67004-04-D-0039) to support the Marine Corps emergency responder sustainment and training. EAI Corporation has specialized in “all-hazards” preparedness since it was founded in 1980, and has a particular specialization in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive preparedness and disaster response.

Work will be performed in 22 Marine Corps locations worldwide, and is expected to be complete July 2006. This contract was competitively procured with over 40 proposals solicited via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online; nine offers were received. The Marine Corps Logistics Command in Albany, GA issued the contract.

$15.8M for Port-Related Services in Oakland

Marine Terminal Corp. in Oakland, CA received a fixed-price requirements contract with an estimated value of $15.8 million to arrange for and provide stevedoring and related services in support of the 834th Transportation Battalion in Concord, CA over the next 4 years. The work is to be complete June 20, 2009, and is to be performed at Marine Terminal’s Concord location. Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command’s Contracting Center in Alexandria, VA issued the contract (W81GYE-05-D-0008).

$5.5M for River Dredging in Louisiana

Mike Hooks Inc. in Westlake, LA received a firm-fixed price contract potentially amounting to $5.5 million for river dredging in Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes, Louisiana. The work is expected to be complete by March 6, 2006. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District issued the contract (W912P8-06-C-0045).