GovExec.com has been offering an excellent set of briefings that cover the key decision makers in a number of defense-related U.S. government departments. Who are they? What’s their background? What role do they play, and is there anything special they are known for? It’s a very fine series, though readers are advised to use the included contact numbers at their own risk. Coverage includes:
Political efforts are underway to integrate the European defense industry. As one might expect, these efforts are most politically controversial in Britain, which has substantial defense industry ties to the USA as well.
A recent article in The Sunday Telegraph illustrates some of the political tensions and procurement issues that must inevitably accompany these efforts. It highlights broader trends that will accompany these integration efforts throughout Europe.
The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD recently issued a pair of contracts that provide for low-rate initial production of six H-60R helicopters, and provide the R&D required to integrate critical electronics like Link 16, SINCGARS communication, and the Downed Aircrew Locator System Personnel Locator System into the MH-60R and MH-60S.
Northrop Grumman Defense Mission Systems Inc. in Reston, VA received a $9.4 million modification to previously awarded contract N00178-04-C-2006, exercising an option for continuing engineering support for the development, installation, integration, maintenance and testing of Combat System Simulation and Stimulation Equipment for the AEGIS Program. This modification combines efforts for the U.S. Navy (92%) and the Governments of Japan (4%); Spain (2%); Korea (1.5%) and Norway (.5%). As DID has noted in the past, AEGIS is both a naval radar system and a battle management software combat system. As such, simulations are a key aspect of effective training.
Work on this contract will be performed in Dahlgren, VA (60%); Mount Laurel, NJ (20%); Arlington, VA (10%); San Diego, CA (5%); and New Church, VA (5%), and is expected to be complete by September 2006. The Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA issued the contract modification.
L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC in Madison, MS received a $36.2 million firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, indefinite-delivery requirements contract to provide additional logistics support for approximately 121 TH-57B/TH-57C Sea Ranger helicopters based at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, FL, and two TH-57C aircraft based at the NAS Patuxent River, MD.
The TH-57 is more commonly known as…
Insight Technology Inc. in Londonderry, NH received a $32.5 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for a minimum of 50 each Special Operations Peculiar Modification (SOPMOD) Visible Bright Light III (VBL III), and a maximum of 92,877 each production quantity of VBL III and associated data for the M4 Carbine in support of the United States Special Operations Command. “VBL” is acronym-speak for “flashlight-like device that mounts to a gun to keep soldiers’ hands free”. Insight Technology’s M6X is one example, though not necessarily the subject of this contract.
Work on this contract will be performed in Londonderry, NH and is expected to be complete by August 2010. This contract was competitively procured, with 2 offers received via Navy Electronic Commerce on-line and the Federal Business Opportunities website. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division in Crane, IN issued the contract (N00164-05-D-8568).
Small business qualifier Global Food Services (DBA GFS) in Baltej Pavillion, Tamuning, Guam received a $5.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) services provided in Guam for Commander, Navy Region Marianas. This contract contains options that, if exercised, will bring the total estimated value of the contract to $26.8 million. Work will be performed in Guam, and is expected to be complete by August 2010. This contract was a small business set aside, with five offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Pearl Harbor issued the contract (N00604-05-C-A006).
As DID has noted, Guam’s air base and naval base have recently been a focus of a number of ongoing improvements, including an OC-12 bandwidth contract. Of course, if GFS really want to boost morale and do something useful, maybe they ought to organize tree snake hunts.
Small business qualifier McTech Corp. in Cleveland, OH received a $6.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for Construction of a new Logistics Complex. Work will be performed in Swanton, OH and is expected to be complete by Dec. 5, 2006. There were seven bids solicited on May 6, 2005, and three bids were received. The National Guard Bureau, Swanton, OH issued the contract (W91364-05-C-0015).
