Beyond Armaris: Thales “Buys” Minority Stake in DCN

In December 2005, the French state and Thales issued a joint declaration of intent that Thales and DCN would tighten their ties via Thales’ purchase of a 25% interest in DCN. The two companies have previously formed Armaris in 2002 to work on joint projects like the Horizon Class air defense frigates and FREMM multi-role frigates for the French and Italian navies, and are also joint participants in the MOPA2 joint company set up to build France’s second aircraft carrier.

GD MOWAG’s Duro Light Vehicle Family Racking Up Wins

Duro IIIP

General Dynamics subsidiary MOWAG GmbH has racked up a number of contracts over the last few months from Denmark, Germany, and the UK for its Duro hardened trucks and derivative light armored patrol vehicles. The orders amount to 201 Duro trucks and 85 Eagle IV Armored Patrol Vehicles in total, and some of these vehicles are either in present use on the Afghan front or are likely to accompany deploying ISAF troops there.

MOWAG’s releases noted that based on the good experience gained in missions abroad, MOWAG GmbH expects further orders from both the UK and Germany. Recent orders and configurations include:

GBP 315M Tornado Maintenance Contracts Pave Way for “Future Contracting for Availability”

Tornado GR4s

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded an innovative GBP 130 million contract ($230.5 million) to BAE Systems for Combined Maintenance and Upgrade work on the Royal Air Force’s Fleet of 139 Tornado GR4 strike aircraft (the UK also operates the Tornado F3 interceptor variant). Another GBP 185 million ($330 million) agreement has been signed with Rolls Royce for the Tornado fleet’s Turbounion RB199 turbofan engines.

As discussed in DID’s focus piece on the UK’s CVF future aircraft carrier, The UK MoD’s “Future Contracting for Availability” orientation represents a long term trend toward all-encompassing lifecycle maintenance contracts that is slowly being rolled out across its equipment fleet. These contracts are another step in that direction. Details follow…

$75M for Roofing in US NAVFAC SW

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest in San Diego, CA has issued a set of firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery /indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract for new construction and renovation of various roofing systems at various locations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of responsibility. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps installations within the NAVFAC Southwest AOR including, but not limited to, California (80%), Arizona (18%), and Nevada (2%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of December 2006 (December 2010 with options).

The three contract winners are DRI Commercial in Irvine, CA (N68711-06-D-1009); Small business qualifier WEBCO in Ventura, CA (N68711-06-D-1010); and VT Griffin in Atlanta, GA (N68711-06-D-1011). The total amount per contract is not to exceed $25 million (base period and four option years) bringing the cumulative total for all three contracts to $75 million. This contract was competitively procured via the NAVFAC e-solicitation website with four offers received. These three contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract.

Temporary Buildings for Southern U, New Orleans

Katrina

Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure in Baton Rouge, LA received a delivery order amount of $8.4 million as part of a $20 million firm-fixed-price contract to Furnish Temporary Modular Buildings for Southern University New Orleans Campus. Work will be performed in New Orleans, LA, and is expected to be complete by Feb. 13, 2006. There were three bids solicited on Nov. 23, 2005, and two bids were received by the Army Engineer District, New Orleans, LA (W912P8-06-D-0019).