Who’s the VOSS? Dual-Vendor Contract to Equip US Vehicles

A friend in high places

In November 2011, USMC Systems Command issued a pair of contracts for advanced Vehicle Optic Sensor Systems (VOSS). Gyrocam Systems, which was acquired by Lockheed Martin in 2009, has traditionally supplied these 15″ class gyro-stabilised surveillance turrets, which have generally been mounted on blast-resistant MRAP vehicles. They offer a combination of color, night vision and thermal sensors, and have been used for everything from force overwatch, to noting disturbed ground that might indicate land mines.

This new contract splits up to $755.6 million between Lockheed Martin Gyrocam Systems, LLC in Sarasota, FL (M67854-12-D-5504), and FLIR Systems, Inc. in North Billerica, MA (M67854-12-D-5503), over 1 base year and up to 4 option years. They’ll compete under the firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract for delivery orders, which could purchase up to 951 VOSS systems, plus spare parts, maintenance/sustainment, training, and provisional technical data in Afghanistan and the continental United States. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 3 proposals received.

To kick things off, each contract received an initial delivery order for 1 VOSS unit, and co-site integration, to be delivered within 30 days. FLIR Systems delivery order 0001 is worth $3 million, while Lockheed Martin Gyrocam Systems’ delivery order 0001 is worth $2.25 million. Totals were corrected by the Pentagon on Nov 23/11.

NGC Footing the Bill for LHD 8 Makin Island Ship Fix

LHD 8 construction

USS Makin Island [LHD-8] was built in Pascagoula, MS, as the last ship of America’s Wasp Class amphibious assault carriers. The keel was laid in February 2004, but all of the changes from the LHD-1 Wasp Class meant that about 67% of the previous line drawings, and 75% of the test procedures, needed to be modified for Makin Island. Then Hurricane Katrina hit the in-progress ship. The labor pool also took a hit, with up to 1/3 of the Gulf Coast personnel leaving the area and the company. The pool of electrical professionals was especially hard hit, and 55-60% of the LHD 8’s final labor force was under the 4-5 year threshold to be considered experienced workers.

Even so, Katrina hit back in August 2005. Which is why Northrop Grumman was surprised at the slowness of its integration and testing progress during final construction in 2008, as part of the ship’s preparation for sea trials. That led to a comprehensive review and audit – and a bill of $320-360 million to fix the ship, which was footed by Northrop Grumman:

• Makin’ Makin
  
• Updates & Outcomes
  
• Additional Readings & Sources
  

Rapid Fire 2011-11-16: Fake Savings | US Marines in Australia

• The US Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) approved (26-0) for a 2nd time the FY12 defense authorization bill, to reflect cuts originating in the Budget Control Act. Summary of the proposed additional cuts. Meanwhile the current continuing resolution expires in 2 days so Congress is set to vote this week on extending temporary funding until mid-December, and the Supercommittee has 7 days left. It’s time to get serious instead of goldwatching, missing the point, or considering resorting to blatant accounting tricks.

• The SASC also reviewed security issues in Iraq with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Martin Dempsey. Video embedded below after the cut; quick highlights.

• The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) says it wants to hold contractors accountable. The GAO however is not convinced by all the claims of savings made by government agencies following recent cost-control OMB directives.