On October 13, 2006, Jane’s Navy International reported that:
“Production of the US Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) next-generation amphibious assault vehicle is expected to slip after the vehicle returned poor reliability in a recent operational assessment. Designed as a replacement for the ageing AAV7 family of amphibious assault vehicles, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) is to be capable of speeds of up to 25 kt at sea – three times faster than the legacy AAVP7-A1 – and 45 mph on land, enabling it to keep up with the M1A1/2 Abrams main battle tank.”
Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle Program Manager Col. John Bryant took the time to answer questions on the project. The conversation covered that operational assessment, its implications, and the future of the EFV program. Some things are clear. Some things aren’t yet clear…
With the collapse of the RAH-66 Comanche program, and rededication of its funding into the ARH-70 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), the UH-145 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), and other programs, the AH-64 Apache will remain the USA’s primary attack helicopter for several more decades. That status has been getting the US Apache fleet a lot of use during the war as the most common escort option for helicopters in Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond. The US fleet has now accumulated over 2 million flying hours, with over 25% of that logged since 2001. American allies are also using their AH-64 fleets to support coalition efforts on ground, and countries like Britain and the Netherlands can field the AH-64D “Longbow” version, with substantial improvements to its radar, targeting, electronics, and missile set.
Recent contracts include a $152 million order for war replacement AH-64D Longbow helicopters (probably about 8-10 machines) from the USA, plus a number of ongoing upgrades requested during October 2006. DID covers them all below.
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in Rolling Meadows, IL received a $104.6 million firm-fixed-price, time and material contract for LAIRCM defensive systems to equip NATO’s Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) fleet of NE-3A Sentry aircraft. The NE-3A fleet act as flying radar stations, directing aerial operations and providing an overall picture of activity in the air and on the sea. The contract also provides contract logistic support. Solicitations began September 2006, negotiations were complete November 2006, and work will be complete December 2009. At this time, $51.3 million have been obligated. The Headquarters 551st Electronic Systems Group at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA issued the contract (FA8704-07-F-0001).
LAIRCM Concept
This Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) program will defend aircraft against infrared missiles, and is comprised of 17 Group A kits, 7 Group B kits, 10 additional Group B kits without small laser transmitter assemblies, and supporting spares. The scope of the contract includes installation and checkout of the LAIRCM system in the first (trial aircraft, NL-1 at L-3 Com in Greenville, Texas) and second (kit proof aircraft, NL-2 at EADS in Manching, Germany). The LAIRCM System Group B line replaceable units are being procured as non-development item. Optional contract additions include enhanced built in test for sensor window heater, new electromagnetic emissions robust sensor design (if needed), flight test of sensor, and equipping to trainer cargo aircraft.
Small business qualifier Lean Quest, LLC in Huntington Beach, CA received a maximum $7.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for implementation of lean principles in Defense Distribution Centers within the USA and abroad. Proposals were Web-solicited and 16 responded. This is an indefinite delivery/quantity type contract whose date of performance completion is November 5, 2007. The contracting agency is the Defense Distribution Center (DDC) in New Cumberland, PA (SP3100-07-D-0001).
Small business qualifier I E Pacific, Inc. in San Diego, CA won a $12.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a Special Operations Force (SOF) Military Operations on Urban Terrain Training (MOUT) Complex (Part A) at San Clemente Island. Work will be performed in San Diego, CA and is expected to be complete by November 2008.
This contract was competitively procured via the Naval Facilities Engineering Command e-solicitation website, with 2 proposals received by The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest in San Diego, CA (N62473-06-C-6006).
On August 4, 2005, DefenseLINK announced that ITT Industries Inc., DBA(Doing Business As) Advanced Engineering & Sciences in Reston, VA won a 10-year, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract with the Defense Information Systems Agency, Joint Spectrum Center. This contract “will provide the Joint Spectrum Center with electromagnetic spectrum engineering services, to include engineering and analysis; information management; standards development and application; measurement, testing, and evaluation; modeling and simulation; research and evaluation of emerging technologies; interference resolution; and ordnance risk assessment.”
What does that mean, why is this award to an ITT-led team important, and who is on the team?
Tecolote Research Inc. in Goleta, CA and Quantech Services Inc. in Bedford, MA are being awarded an $88 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract. This contract will procure specialized costing services for Hanscom Air Force Base for the next four years. These services includes but are not limited to cost estimating, earned value computations, what if calculations, etc. These calculations are important for benchmarking the performance of major weapons programs et. al., and feed into both project management and top-level acquisition & budgeting decisions.
The Air Force can issue delivery orders to these contractors totaling up to $88 million, but doesn’t have to spend it all. At this time, $1.2 million has been obligated. Solicitations began June 2006, negotiations were complete October 2006, and work will be complete October 2010. The Headquarters Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA issued the contract (FA8721-07-D-0002-0001 and FA8721-07-D-0003-0001).
Hensel Phelps Construction Co. in Chantilly, VA received a $301.5 million modification to a fixed-price incentive with award-fee contract, for in-scope changes to the Pentagon renovation. Work will be performed in Arlington, VA and is expected to be complete by Dec. 30, 2010.This was a sole source contract initiated on Jan. 19, 2001 by the Pentagon Renovation & Construction Program Office in Arlington, VA (MDA947-01-C-2001).
State owned no more, it seems. A recent release notes that PENTA Group company Oakfield a.s. has submitted the highest offer in the amount of CZK 2.91 billion (about $129.6/ EUR 102.6 million), winning the tender for the firm’s privatization and taking on both the government’s 99.98% share total and the firm’s CZK 10.3 billion (about $457.5/ EUR 363.2 million) debt to the state.
