Some key excerpts from the speech follow – and the opening sets the tone:
“After three months in the job as Secretary, I have some observations regarding the relationship between the Navy and industry that I would like to focus on over the next few minutes. There are some positive conclusions – but, at the same time, there are warning signs that the relationship between the Department of the Navy and industry, a relationship that won hot and cold wars, is beginning to fray under the tensions of the fiscal and security environments of today and tomorrow.”
I thought this next bit was his most compelling statement…
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in San Diego, CA received an $89.3 million cost-plus award-fee contract modification for the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program, which includes the design, build, and test of a family of radars systems employed on the RQ-4 Global Hawk platform. The undefinitized contract action is for the radar integration into the Global Hawk system, which includes all air vehicles, ground stations and support segment modifications required to support full radar functionally.
Work will be complete in September 2009. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (F33657-01-C-4600/P00147).
Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas Corp. in Long Beach, CA received a $26.8 million cost-plus fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract modification to provide for calendar year 2007 Global Reach Improvement Program nonrecurring engineering and technical support for C-17 Globemaster III heavy-lift transports. This effort shall define and integrate retrofit work packages to facilitate retrofit of the USA’s C-17 aircraft to a homogeneous configuration with the incorporation of Block 14 through Block 17 upgrades. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8614-04-C-2004/P00102).
GlobalSecurity.org notes that Block 13-14 has software modifications and improved station-keeping equipment used in flying formation with testing scheduled to be complete in 2004. Block 15 is planned to contain the upgraded on-board inert gas generating system along with navigation and safety modifications. Block 16 will contain an avionics modernization package and a weather radar modification with testing to be complete in 2006. Additional enhancements, modifications, and corrections to existing deficiencies are concurrent and include a fuel system retrofit, main landing gear deficiency corrections, and a wheel brake and tire cost saving initiative.
On March 7, 2006, Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems Air Combat Systems in San Diego, CA received a $6 million cost-plus fixed-fee contract for the operation of the RQ-4 Global Hawk high altitude, long endurance UAV system “in a forward theater of operations for a classified length of time.” The contract includes personnel, equipment, logistics and communication support. A follow-up contract on April 11, 2006 added another $7.1 million to the effort.
Work will now be complete July 2006 – and since they’re announcing that, what exactly is the point of saying the time period is classified? Anyway, the Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (F33657-03-G-4306-0031).
Whitesell-Green Inc. in Pensacola, FL received an $11.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of the Special Operation Forces Mobility/Aerial Delivery Center noted on this THOMAS page re: Military Construction And Veterans Affairs And Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 2006.
Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, FL and is expected to be complete by Oct. 2, 2007. There were 214 bids solicited on Nov. 21, 2005, and two bids were received by the Army Corps of Engineers in Mobile, AL (W91278-06-C-0024).
Small business qualifier Mandall Armored Barrier Systems in Phoenix, AZ received a $17.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for design, fabrication, and construction of high security doors and bypass wall assembly in support of the limited area processing and storage complex at Naval Base Kitsap. Work will be performed in Bangor, WA and is expected to be complete by September 2008. This contract was a sole source negotiated procurement under the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest in Silverdale, WA issued the contract (N44255-06-C-2103).
