In May 2007, “BRAC Leads to $6.2B Privatization Contract for DLA” discussed SAIC’s major win to manage key inventory stocks on behalf of the US Defense Logistics Agency, and the growth of SAIC’s partnership with that body. That contract was really the culmination of a relationship that has been ongoing for some time; for instance, SAIC has been providing consumable parts management services since 1998 to major U.S. military maintenance depots and the mechanics that maintain front-line aircraft, ranging from bench stock to aircraft subassemblies, engine and landing gear components. This work has helped SAIC develop its own “sense and respond” system using adaptive agents (software programs) that review sensor data, compare it with data from command and control systems and other sources, and decide what supplies should be ordered and when. These kinds of systems are in use within the corporate sector, but SAIC’s development of a system for defense use has helped position them as a key outsourcer for certain kinds of logistics services.
The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA recently exercised a $200 million 1st option year on a fixed price with economic price adjustment, integrated prime vendor contract for the material and material management of benchstock items. Performance by SAIC will take place in San Diego, CA, North Carolina and Florida, on behalf of the US Navy. There were 12 proposals originally solicited, with 4 responses. Date of performance completion is July 22, 2009 (SPM500-04-D-BP13).
A number of countries buying new armored personnel carriers, or refurbishing old ones, are abandoning conventional turrets and/or top-mounted machine gun stations in favor of unmanned turrets with multi-spectral sensors (zoom camera, infrared/thermal, night vision, et. al.) and launchers for smoke grenades et. al. – all controlled from within the vehicle using a joystick and screen. While there are many competitors at the lower end of the Remote Weapons System field, Israeli firms RAFAEL (RCWS-30, wins include Czech Republic) and Elbit Systems (ORCWS-30, wins include Belgium) have also fielded higher-end offerings that pack 30mm autocannons with 7.62mm coaxial machine guns, and can add anti-armor and/or anti-aircraft missiles for extra punch. These systems add less weight than conventional turrets, don’t offer the same profile exposure, and can even fold flat for air transport.
On July 25/07, Elbit Systems announced a pair of contracts worth $55 million with Eastern European countries for its ORCWS systems…
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., on behalf of the DuPont-University of Delaware Very High Efficiency Solar Cell Consortium in Wilmington, DE received an $8.1 million increment of a $12.2 million “other transaction.” That transaction was a prototypes agreement to design and develop very high efficiency solar cells. Work will be performed in Wilmington, DE and is expected to be complete July 2008. DARPA issued a solicitation in Federal Business Opportunities on January 1, 2005, and over 100 proposals were received by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va. (HR0011-07-9-0005).
Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) in San Diego, CA received a $9.1 million one-year follow-on contract under previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-reimbursement contract (N66001-04-D-2504) to exercise an option to provide support for the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC), San Diego, to include studies of symptoms, morbidity, hospitalizations, reproductive outcomes, mortality, and other health-related issues among service members and Department of Defense beneficiary populations.
The The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine has also received awards under this contract for this purpose; the original 2-year contract included three 1-year options, and this award represents exercising of the 2nd option year. The cumulative potential value of the contract, if the third option is exercised, is $45 million. Work will be performed in San Diego, CA (90%) and at NHRC Detachment at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio (10%), and is expected to be complete July 2008. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego, CA issued the contract.
