2007-03-15: Ken Krieg Discusses Pentagon Procurement

Kenneth Krieg

Kenneth Krieg is the Pentagon’s Undersecretary Of Defense For Acquisition, Technology And Logistics, which puts him right on the hot seat for major military procurement decisions. On March 15, 2007, he had a press conference in which he offered a quick update on the work they’ve been doing and took questions. Key issues included:

How to deal with an acquisition workforce of about 134,000, 85% of which are civilians, and and most of whom are hired into specific camps, posts and stations around America, in a way that makes meaningful changes and makes sure things get done?

How to think more comprehensively about infrastructure investment that stands at about $44 billion per year on all elements of facilities: construction, base operating support, sustainment, etc?

How to bring the kinds of business process changes, measurement changes and performance changes that work well in the private sector, to the public sector? And how do you bring the principles of life-cycle management back into the acquisition and decision-making process so that you’re giving birth to programs that are reliable and maintainable over time [DID: the British have done very substantial and path-breaking work in both areas]?

He also took questions about:

$298M to AEY for Ammo in Afghanistan

Policeman, Sabari

Small business qualifier AEY Inc. in Miami Beach, FL received a delivery order amount of $48.7 million as part of a $298 million firm-fixed-price contract for various ammunition for the Afghanistan Security Forces. AEY, Inc. was established in 1999; unsurprisingly, Craigslist says they’re hiring.

Work will be performed in Miami, FL and is expected to be complete by Dec. 30, 2008. Bids were solicited via the World Wide Web on July 28, 2007, and 10 bids were received by the U.S. Army Sustainment Command in Rock Island, IL (W52P1J-07-D-0004).

Ammunition and weapon shortages been an reported issue in Afghanistan, where police and other security forces trainees have been forced to use fake wooden rifles at times.

UPDATE: A major scandal followed this award, which was reportedly contested by up to 10 firms. See “AEY’s Ammunition: Ain’t An April Fools, Alas.”

$104.5M contract for 25,000+ Mk80 Bomb Bodies

Mk-80 Bomb Bodies

General Dynamics in Garland, TX received a delivery order amount of $44.9 million as part of a $104.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for MK80 series bomb bodies. Work will be performed in Garland, TX and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2010. This was a sole source contract initiated on Feb. 16, 2006 by the U.S. Army Field Support Command in Rock Island, IL (W52P1J-06-D-0006).

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems adds that delivery order covers a combination of 500 lb., 1,000 lb. and 2,000 lb. bomb bodies, totaling more than 25,000 units, for the U.S. Navy and Air Force. They say “bomb bodies” because bombs are produced in sections, with threaded holes at front and back for mixing and matching add-ons like different guidance sections, fuzes, tail fin kits to get different ranges and types of performance, et. al.

MK80 Bomb Structure

General Dynamics OTS is the world’s only manufacturer of MK80 Series Bomb Bodies that conform to the U.S. Dept. of Defense’s approved technical data packages. In this capacity, General Dynamics OTS is the U.S. Government’s restricted source of supply for all MK80 Series General Purpose Bomb Bodies, both tactical and inert training rounds.

Flagship Training Extends, Expands Royal Navy Contract

BAE Systems and VT Group’s 50/50 joint venture Flagship Training has enhanced its contract with the UK Royal Navy, extending its contract that has Flagship Training designing, planning and assisting with the delivery and assessment of a range of training courses. The extension expands the scope of training delivery and adds another 21 months to the agreement, stretching it to 2013 subject to performance. As part of the new contract, Flagship will deliver 900 naval and maritime training courses at naval training establishments throughout the south, from HMS Collingwood in Fareham to HMS Raleigh in Cornwall.