Last year, we covered a $196.2 million firm-fixed-price contract modification exercising FY 2006 options for KC-10 Extender and KDC-10 contractor logistics support. These aircraft are McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Series 30CF variants converted to the air tanker role: 59 KC-10s serve with the USAF, and 2 KDC-10s serve with the Royal Netherlands Air Force. They are the USAF’s least-aged and largest aerial tankers, and have an unusual ability within the fleet – they can take on fuel from other aerial tankers to fill themselves up, then send the others back to base.
This year, the award is a $306.5 million firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract modification, exercising option VIII and option H for FY 2007. Work will be complete at the end of September 2007. The Headquarters Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base, OK issued the contract (F34601-98-C-0125/P00214). DID has left an enquiry with the US military asking about this 34% cost jump, and the factors behind it.
The T-45 Training System includes T-45 Goshawk aircraft, advanced flight simulators, computer-assisted instructional programs, a computerized training integration system, and a contractor logistics support package. The integration of all five elements is designed to produce a superior pilot in less time and at lower cost than previous training systems.
The US Navy used the T-45TS to train its pilots for the transition to modern jet fighters – and carrier landings. This is not a risk-free assignment, by any means; nevertheless, it’s a critical link in the naval aviation chain. DID recaps its coverage of the complete T45TS system, notes the budgetary figures, and covers the FY 2006 contracts. See this link for coverage beyond 2006, which also includes the contracts and material noted below.
The launch comes at an appropriate time for the program, as the Navy’s proposed FY 2007 budget requests $521 million to buy 2 Littoral Combat Ships. The House-reported version of the FY2007 defense appropriations bill (H.R. 5631) recommends approval, but the Senate’s reported version recommends a 2-ship cut by funding just one LCS in FY 2007, plus rescinding funding for one of the 3 LCS ships procured in FY 2006. In the background, the US Congressional Research Service released its updated report on July 26, 2006: “Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS): Background and Issues for Congress.”
DID has updated our LCS Focus Article to include all of this information. Team Lockheed’s design is still competing wth a General Dynamics/Austal-led space-enhancing trimaran design for the final LCS Flight 1 production award, and may also be bought by the Israeli Navy as an independent transaction.
J&E Associates, Inc. in Silver Spring, MD received a $5.5 million time & materials contract for the New Parent Support Program, to assist Marines and their families as they prepare to integrate a child into the home. The contract includes 3 option years, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $22.1 million.
Work will be performed at Quantico, VA (20%); Camp Lejune, NC (20%); MCAS Cherry Point, NC (20%); Camp Pendleton, CA (20%); Twenty Nine Palms, CA (10%); and Kaneohe Bay, HI (10%), and is expected to be complete by September 2010 if all options are exercised. This contract was competitively procured through Navy Electronic Commerce On-line site, with 3 offers received. The Regional Contracting Office Northeast at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA issued the contract (M000264-06-C-0014).
