U.S. Marines Extend Westpac Express TSV Ship Charter

Westpac Express

After four years supporting the operations of the US Marine Corps’ Third Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) in the Western Pacific theater, Austal’s 101 meter aluminum catamaran “WestPac Express” has been re-chartered by the US Navy for a further 18 months.

Capable of sustaining fully loaded speeds of 36 knots, Westpac Express can rapidly deploy a complete battalion of up to 970 Marines and 663 tons of vehicles and equipment in a single lift, saving both time and money. Whereas the normal transit from Okinawa to South Korea aboard ferry or amphibious shipping would take two to three days, and moving a Marine infantry battalion by air would take fourteen to seventeen C-17 aircraft lifts, the same deployment could be carried out by WestPac Express in 24-30 hours, at approximately 25% of the cost of the airlift option and with far less inconvenience to Okinawa’s civilian population.

$5.8M for Specialized R&D and Training Center

Innovative Productivity Inc., a non-profit corporation in Louisville, KY, received a $5.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for the operation of the McConnell Technology and Training Center (MTTC). Work will be performed in Louisville, KY and is expected to be complete by December 2006. The contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division, Louisville Detachment issued the contract (N63394-05-C-4001).

MTTC provides over 150 e-learning courses in a variety of areas that include computer technologies, business, human resources development and home/personal applications. They have also helped the U.S. Navy resolve nagging and costly shipboard problems through the insertion of commercial products and technologies. For example, MTTC has developed a number of Fleet maintenance reduction projects, and has a technology transfer program that works with the U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, universities and industry to identify innovative technologies, processes and concepts that reduce operating costs and increase productivity.

OICW Individual Weapon RFP Temporarily Suspended

XM29 OICW Prototype

The U.S. Army announced today it temporarily suspended the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the acquisition of a new family of small weapons – Objective Individual Combat Weapon Increment 1 (OICW-1) – in order to incorporate joint requirements. The Army’s proposal for this rifle/ carbine/ SAW replacement has received interest from the other military services, and is further supported by several internal reviews reinforcing the increase in the potential for joint use. A meeting of the Joint Requirements Oversight Committee (JROC) is scheduled for early September 2005, after which new requirements and an amended RFP will be issued. The solicitation number for OICW-1 is W15QKN-05-R-0449 and can be viewed at http://procnet.pica.army.mil.

OICW-1 is comprised of a family of small arms weapons that are intended to replace the M4 carbine, the M16 rifle, the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and selected M9 pistols. This rifle was to have a modified XM8 firng 5.56mm bullets, with a 20mm semiautomatic grenade launcher with a six-round clip for distant targets. It is also was to have a lot of the latest technology, including a ballistic computer, laser rangefinder, video camera, and a day-night scope.

SELEX Wins $30M Polish Maritime Radar Surveillance Contract

Finmeccanica group company SELEX Sistemi Integrati has been chosen to build an automated radar surveillance system (ZSRN) for Poland’s coastal waters. The contract is worth around EUR 30 million, and will see SELEX Sistemi Integrati act as representative of a temporary consortium formed together with a number of local companies. Poland has a maritime border stretching for around 534 km, and the new system will be used by Polish border police, but the information gathered will also be passed on to other institutions such as the navy where appropriate.

$22.6M to Design On-Board O2 System for New Hawkeye

E-2C Hawkeye

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in Bethpage, NY received a $22.6 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N00019-03-C-0057) to design, develop, produce and test an On-Board Oxygen Generating System for the Navy’s upgraded E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AWACS aircraft.

The E-2D’s powerful 360 degree radar and sensor coverage will provide advance warning of approaching enemy surface units, cruise missiles and aircraft, to vector interceptors or strike aircraft to attack. It will also provide area surveillance, communications relay, search and rescue coordination and air traffic control. The aircraft will meet airborne early warning, surveillance, battle management and theater missile defense needs as the Navy achieves its Sea Power 21 concepts in support of Joint Vision 2020.

$6.2M for Non-Rechargeable Batteries

Small business qualifier Matthews Associates Inc. in Sandford, FL received a maximum $6.2 million firm-fixed-price, definite-quantity contract for non-rechargeable batteries for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The other location of performance is Southwest Asia. Batteries have become increasingly important items for front-line soldiers as their kit has modernized, powering everything from handheld systems to night vision devices. The performance completion date is March 31, 2006. There was one proposal solicited and one responded.The Defense Supply Center Richmond in Richmond, VA issued the contract (SP044105C2848).