Mar 10, 2006 14:53 UTC
Rafale-M carrier launch
The UK is the only Tier 1 F-35 partner aside from the USA, and with other participants wobbling and EU-related political pressures trying to pry members away, Britain’s ongoing participation matters a great deal to the program. As such, the escalating kerfuffle around technology transfer restrictions, F136 engine program cancellations and side steps, and escalating rumbles of discontent in Parliament have wider significance. At present, Britain is slated to buy 150 F-35B STOVL (Short Take-Off, Vertical Landing) fighters for use by the Royal Navy on its carriers et. al., complementing the RAF’s Eurofighters and possibly an upgraded set of Tornado GR4 strike fighters to form its fighter fleet from 2015-2030.
Britain and France announced their formal cooperation on their next-generation CVF/PA2 carriers. While negotiating that agreement in late January on Britain’s desired terms, however, Britain had another agreement offered – and promised to give it due consideration.
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Mar 10, 2006 09:01 UTC
F135 assembly
Melbourne-based family company Production Parts won what is potentially Australia’s biggest-ever military aircraft engine parts deal: an agreement to supply high-pressure turbine supports for the JSF’s Pratt & Whitney F135 engine. Production Parts was also chosen in 2004 to produce a titanium bearing housing for the fighter, and the two deals bring the potential value of the overall work to more than $60 million (A$ 80 million) over the life of the JSF project. The company expects to double its output over the next five years and add 50 staff to meet demand.
Production Parts managing director Peter Nicholls also noted that the Australian approach to the JSF project changed the way contracts were negotiated…
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Mar 10, 2006 04:52 UTC
Small business qualifier SkillsNET Government Ltd. in Waxahachie, TX received a $35 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract to provide operation, maintenance, analysis, training, technical services, and a commercial-off-the-shelf Skills Management System software application suite. Here’s an example of that sort of work, involving the Navy’s Chaplain Corps.
This work is part of the US Navy’s ongoing Total Force occupational data capture and analysis efforts, which encompasses all Navy personnel, enlisted, officers (active and reserve, afloat and ashore components), civilians (government and contractor). Work will be performed in Waxahachie, TX and is expected to be complete in March 2011. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division in Orlando, FL (N61339-06-D-0010).
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Mar 10, 2006 04:29 UTC
Guam
Black Construction Corporation in Barrigada, Guam received a $49.9 million firm-fixed-price contract for the FY06 MCON P-431, Alpha & Bravo wharf improvements at Naval Station Marianas, Polaris Point, Guam. Work includes sheet pile bulkhead improvements to existing wharves Alpha and Bravo, a concrete wharf extension to wharf Bravo, wharf fendering, mooring fittings, utility connections, security and area lighting distribution system, upgrade to potable water distribution system, dredging and incidental related work.
This contract will be incrementally funded. FY06 funds allotted at the time of contract award is $22.7 million. FY07 funds of $27.2 million will be provided no later than February 2007. Work will be performed at Polaris Point, Guam, and is expected to be completed June 2008. This contract was competitively procured with 22 solicitation packages distributed and 3 offers received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Construction Contracts Branch in Hawaii issued the contract (N62742-06-C-1305).
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