Time to Improve U.S. Defense Manufacturing

F-35 Wing Assembly

National Defense Industrial Association President Lt. Gen. Lawrence P. Farrell (ret.) writes:

“As the industry seeks ways to cut costs, one area that deserves close attention is manufacturing… Although key sectors of the manufacturing industry have been declining in the United States for several decades as companies have moved production plants offshore, the defense industry will need to reverse that trend and actually strengthen its manufacturing capabilities.”

The entire article is up at the NDIA’s National Defense Magazine. See also US Secretary of the Air Force Gen. Roche’s 2003 speech to the Defense Manufacturing Conference: Defense Manufacturing – learning the lessons of history.

SAIC to Go Public

Science Applications International Corporation’s (SAIC) “About Us” statement notes that they “believe employee ownership is largely responsible for our success as a company,” with quarterly trading allowable on an internal market. They would appear to be changing their minds. SAIC is ending its 35 year tradition by announcing that it intends to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) and a capital restructuring (merger).

Navy Issues Contracts for Automated Item Identification

New Data Matrix AIT

Automatic Information Technology (AIT) media includes bar codes, contact memory buttons, radio frequency identification (RFID), et. al. that can identify items in the logistics chain, for asset management purposes, et. al. The US Department of Defense set new policy re: EAN.CC markings for all items in the supply chain.

On a related note, the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk Philadelphia Division has recently issued a pair of cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contracts for program management, engineering, and technical services in support of the Navy Automatic Information Technology (AIT) Program Office. Contract winners included:

SOCOM Stocking Up on CV-22 Osprey Spares

V-22 Osprey

The Naval Inventory Control Point has issued a pair of ceiling priced order contract procurements to the Bell-Boeing Joint Program Office in Patuxent River, MD. The orders come under contract N00383-03-G-001B, covering additional U.S. Special Operation Command (SOCOM) spares for the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft as it prepares to enter service. The contracts were not competitively procured.

These contracts follow on the heels of a number of related events.

$25.4M for NASIC Intelligence Production Complex

Monarch Construction Co. in Cincinnati, OH received a $25.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of a National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) Intelligence Production Complex. NASIC is the US Air Force organization responsible for integrated intelligence on aerospace systems, forces, and threats.

Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH and is expected to be complete by July 15, 2007. There were 257 bids solicited on Dec. 3, 2004, and five bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Louisville, KY is the contracting activity (W912QR-05-C-0026).

$20.6M for USAF’s new Physical Training Uniform Jackets

New USAF PT Uniform

The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA has issued three firm-fixed-price/ indefinite-delivery contracts to small businesses for the Air Force’s new physical training (PT) uniform jackets. Proposals were Gateway solicited with five responses, and the contracts’ performance completion date is January 2008.

The contract values total $20.6 millon, and there are some interesting details re: the procurement program as well. The contract recipients were:

$10.1M for Training Facility at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO

Realy, really final exam

M.A. Mortenson Co. in Minneapolis, MN received the full delivery order amount of $10.1 million firm-fixed-price contract for a countermine training facility and a dog kennel with runs. Work will be performed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and is expected to be completed by May 19, 2007. There were two bids solicited on Aug. 25, 2005, and two bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Kansas City, MO issued the contract (W912DQ-05-D-0015).