On November 7, 2006 The US Department of Defense has awarded a Raytheon/ US Navy partnership a Performance Based Logistics Award (sub-system level) for performance based logistics that has improved the availability, reliability and mission success of the AN/AAS-44(v) forward looking infrared system for the H-60 Seahawk helicopter. This FLIR system allows H-60 aircrews to detect, track, classify, identify and attack targets such as fast patrol boats, mine-laying craft, or even land targets. Along with Raytheon, the award recognizes Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Fleet Readiness Center Southeast, and the Naval Inventory Control Point.
Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) is in the fourth year of a 10-year firm fixed price contract valued at $123 million to provide performance based logistics and mission support for the AN/AAS-44(v) FLIR. “Performance-based logistics” is a global trend in advanced militaries; it can use a range of contract options, but its core focus is a shift from pay-per-part to paying for agreed-upon benchmarks of performance in reliability, availability, et. al. Award documentation notes that the Raytheon/ Navy AN/AAS-44(v) team has steadily maintained 100% availability and achieved a 40% growth in system reliability improvement. The program is also providing increased spares availability, a 65% improvement in logistics response time, and estimated savings and cost avoidance for the Navy of $31 million. Raytheon release.
The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, Specialty Center Contracts Core in Port Hueneme, CA has issued a trio of $16 million modifications to exercise a third option period under cost-plus award-fee, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contracts for fuel systems engineering services. These 3 firms will provide a variety of inspections, installation, maintenance, repair, modification, and upgrades of ocean, inter-terminal and intra-terminal petroleum, oil, and lubricants pipelines and related facilities throughout the world. This modification also increases the value of the basic 2003 contract, making the current total value for all 3 contracts $64 million. Work will be performed at various locations worldwide, and is expected to be complete December 2007. The modifications were awarded to:
Shaw Environmental Inc. in Irving, TX (N47408-04-D-8503)
Veco Federal Inc. in Greenwood Village, CO (N47408-04-D-8504)
Weston Solutions Inc. in West Chester, PA (N47408-04-D-8505)
The new budget spotlights increased funding and ongoing investment needs in a number of sectors, including investments for armoured vehicles and soldiers’ equipment, plus increases to help modernize Norway’s navy. More information can be found in the full English release from Norway’s Fordvarsdepartementet.
Despite these apparent budget increases, the financial situation in the Norwegian armed forces remains dire. Many have pointed out the continuing imbalance between mission and resources, and have called for the revision of one or both of these factors to fix this situation. Recently, these issues came to a head…
General Electric Co. in Cincinnati, OH received a $61.2 million firm-fixed-price and fixed-quantity contract modification. This action provides for a newly redesigned high pressure compressor and high pressure turbine assemblies in GE’s F110 series engines, and newly redesigned engine upgrade components to support the service life extension plan and aging engine upgrade initiatives. This contract is part of a program designed to get 20 more years of operational life from the USA’s F-16 fleet. While the DefenseLINK release describes the engines as F100s, Pratt & Whitney’s F100 has become a less of a presence in the USA’s F-16 fleet, whose newer aircraft are generally equipped with the more powerful GE F110.
Work will be complete by December 2008. The Headquarters Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base, OK issued the contract (FA8104-05-C-0053/P00009).
Lockheed Martin Corp. in Fort Worth, TX received a $144 million firm-fixed-price and time and materials contract for 12 operational single place F-16C Block 52 aircraft and 6 operational two place F-16D Block 52+ aircraft. Aircraft purchases will be accomplished under the firm-fixed price portion of the contract, and $78.4 million has been obligated at this time. Work will be complete by November 2010. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8615-07-C-6031).
Those figures seem a touch under-valued – DID will pursue the matter with Lockheed and see if they can shine any light on the discrepancy. Note that this order is part of a larger $5.1 billion improvement and expansion of Pakistan’s F-16 force, which DID has covered in depth.
DID reader Pedro Lucio sends us an URL and partial translation from Spain, where the Ministers’ Council has authorized a contract for the integral maintenance of over 500 Spanish Navy diesel propulsion engines and generators. Navantia’s maintenance performance in 2005-2006 has apparently resulted in a EUR 49.5 million (about $66 million) contract to continue this work from 2007 through 2010. Here’s the URL, en Espanol.
Spanish reader Pedro Lucio sends us a report that Spain’s Ministers’ Council has authorized a contract with IVECO Spain S.L. to buy 79 heavy trucks for their Military Emegency Response group. The order covers 70 general 10-ton transport trucks, 8 derrick/ladder trucks, and a heavy tanker truck. The trucks will come with a number of advanced features, and the contract is worth EUR 16.3 million (about $21.7 million). See URL en Espanol.
The US Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI recently issued a pair of contracts under vehicle # DAAE07-03-C-S023 to Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle System L.P. in Sealy, TX for FMTV trucks and trailers. Work will be performed in Sealy, Texas, and is expected to be complete on Nov. 15, 2008:
Dec 4/06: A $344.1 million modification to a firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursement contract for the family of medium tactical vehicle trucks and trailers. There were 2 bids solicited on Aug. 15, 2002, and 2 bids were received (DAAE07-03-C-S023).
Dec 4/06: A $305.4 million modification to a firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursement contract for the family of medium tactical vehicle trucks and trailers. There were 2 bids solicited on Aug. 15, 2002, and 2 bids were received (DAAE07-03-C-S023).
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in San Diego, CA received a $6.6 million fixed-price-incentive-firm contract modification for engineering changes to prepare one RQ-4 Global Hawk Air Vehicle to receive Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) capabilities. It also covers preliminary modifications to a second Air Vehicle in preparation for MP-RTIP insertion, and includes an option for aircraft ballast. At this time, $3.3 million have been obligated. Solicitations began October 2005, negotiations were complete November 2006, andwork will be complete by February 2009. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract (FA8620-05-C-4692/P00009).
Global Hawk Cutaway
The MP-RTIP radar is an important part of the USA’s future surveillance capabilities. This AESA radar is slated to equip future Block 40 Global Hawks, and will also feature in NATO’s AGS battlefield surveillance program and future E-8 J-STARS upgrades or successors. DID recently covered MP-RTIP testing on Rutan’s unusual-looking Proteus.
Small business qualifier TUG Technologies Corp. in Marietta, GA received a $14.4 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N68335-04-C-0111), exercising an option for the procurement of 400 Mid-Range Tow Tractors for use in moving aircraft and equipment up to 80,000 pounds. Work will be performed in Marietta, GA and is expected to be complete in May 2009. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ issued the contract.
