Feed the Drones: Battlespace’s UAV Maintenance Contract, 2007-2013
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General Atomics may make the USA’s Predator and Reaper drone fleets, but Battlespace Flight Services LLC in Arlington, VA has been a key provider of maintenance support for several years now, and their FY 2007 multi-year contract ended up being worth over $500 million. It actually applies to “predator MQ-1 aircraft and related systems”, which may include the Predator B (as it was known, now the MQ-9 Reaper). Both the MQ-1 and MQ-9 are explicitly within the scope of Battlespace’s 2012-2014 follow-on contract, which is worth up to $950 million.
Recent contracts appear to be the close-out and bridge to the new arrangements. Note that Battlespace is hiring, if you’ve been an MQ-1 or MQ-9 pilot or sensor operator. As for the contracts…
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Unless otherwise noted, Battlespace Flight Services LLC in Arlington, VA performs the contracts, which are managed by US Air Combat Command’s Acquisition Management and Integration Center at Langley AFB, VA. The total to date appears to be $575.2 million, based on announced figures, but it’s important to remember that each contract period can spend less than the allotted contract.
Jan 16/13: A $13.7 million contract modification for MQ-1 O-level operation and maintenance services to March 31/13 at Creech AFB, NV; Whiteman AFB, MO; and deployed sites worldwide (FA4890-07-C-0006, PO 0124).
Dec 19/12: A $7 million contract modification to continue to provide MQ-1 O-level Operation and Maintenance Support Services at Creech AFB, NV; Whiteman AFB, MO; and deployed sites worldwide.
The contract modification is for the exercise of the 1st option month: Jan 1-31/13 (FA4890-07-C-0006, PO 0120)
Dec 14/12: A $412.1 million contract modification to provide O-level operation and maintenance support services for the MQ-1 Predator until Jan 31/13. When added to previous installments, this award brings the contract to an announced total of $527.7 million.
Work will be performed at Creech AFB, NV and deployed sites worldwide. The AMIC/PKCA at Langley AFB, VA manages the contract (FA4890-07-C-0006, PO 0120).
Sept 26/12: A $26.8 million contract modification for operations and maintenance services at Creech AFB, NV until Dec 31/12 (FA4890-07-C-0006, PO 0115)
Oct 3/11: A $104.2 million firm fixed price/cost plus award fee contract modification to fund extension of contract for organizational maintenance support for the predator MQ-1 aircraft and related systems at at Creech AFB, NV; Whiteman AFB, MO; and deployed sites worldwide (FA4890-07-C-0006, PO 0087).
July 22/09: AFSOC. Battlespace Flight Services receives a Support Contract for the MQ-1 Predator UAV from US AFSOC (Air Force Special Operations Command. The contract will be performed at Cannon AFB, NM and deployed locations. They add that:
“Battlespace Flight Services’s current support of the MQ-1 for the Air Combat Command helped the Air Force accomplish a record number of sorties and flight hours exceeding more than 12,000 sorties and 200,000 flight hours since March, 2007.”
It isn’t clear that this award takes place under the existing contract, but it’s probable. No figure is announced. Battlespace Flight Services release, Dec 7/10.
March 7/07: A $11.5 million firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-award fee contract for organizational maintenance support for the Predator MQ-1 aircraft and related systems at Creech AFB and deployed sites worldwide. At this time, total funds have been obligated.
Solicitations began May 2006, and negotiations were complete January 2007. This initial award will run until September 2007 (FA4890-07-C-0006). A 2010 release from Battlespace contends that:
“Maintenance Program for the Predator® UAV was initiated as an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) to develop a Medium Altitude Endurance (MAE) UAV. BATTLESPACE wrote the initial Concept of Operations and the ACTD Management Plan. BATTLESPACE also developed and implemented the Predator® ACTD maintenance training program and trained all the initial Air Force Mechanics.”
