Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Navy Re-establishes 4th Fleet to Promote Future Interoperability

By Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg
Special to American Forces Press Service

April 30, 2008 - The recent re-establishment of U.S. 4th Fleet will promote increased alignment with the 32 countries and 13 territories in the Caribbean and in Central and South America, a senior
Navy official said yesterday. "The Navy, and probably the Department of Defense, recognized the importance of the region to the south of the United States that includes the Caribbean and western side of the Atlantic and the eastern side of the Pacific and all our partners down there," Navy Rear Adm. James W. Stevenson Jr., commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, said in a teleconference with online journalists and "bloggers."

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced the 4th Fleet's re-establishment April 24.

The 4th Fleet will man, train and equip U.S. ships deploying to Latin America, Stevenson said. He added that it will be patterned after the 5th Fleet and the
Navy component of U.S. Central Command.

"The Navy, by re-establishing the 4th Fleet, is serious about the countries in the Caribbean and Central and South America, and ... we're very mindful of the 40 percent of U.S. trade that goes on with those countries and the 50 percent of the oil imports from that region," Stevenson said. "I think that the other navies and
coast guards recognize that, and they would view that as a positive step."

With headquarters in Mayport, Fla., the new U.S. 4th Fleet commander also will command U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, which will retain the mission as the
Navy component for U.S. Southern Command.

"The area of operations within the Caribbean [and] Central and South American waters will be under the operational and tactical control of the 4th Fleet," Stevenson explained. "[This includes] its aircraft, submarine, surface ships and personnel."

The U.S. 4th Fleet originally was established in 1943 to protect the United States against raiders, blockade runners and enemy submarines. It was disestablished in 1950, when its responsibilities were taken over by U.S. 2nd Fleet. While its missions may evolve over time, Stevenson said, the new 4th Fleet's objectives are to keep the economic sea lanes of communication free and open.

"In this area, ... there are no conflicts on the seas or anything like that," he said. "And so, we're focused on building relationships and trying to improve the interoperability of our partner navies and
coast guards in the region."

Stevenson said building on the cooperative maritime strategy for the 21st century will include core competencies such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and theater
security cooperation. The admiral said he believes amphibious forces are among the best assets he has to help in carrying out the theater's objectives, as they typically have enormous capacity to bring in equipment for military-to-military training.

Stevenson added that he looks forward to using that capability later this year when USS Kearsarge and USS Boxer deploy on humanitarian missions.

"Kearsarge and Boxer will be primarily a humanitarian assistance type of load-out, in that doctors and dentists and nongovernmental organization people will embark, and we're going to try and perform medical assistance [and] medical training within the Caribbean and also Central and South America," he said.

The Norfolk, Va.-based Kearsarge will visit about 12 different ports in the Caribbean, and will focus on the northern portion of South America and a few ports in Central America. Boxer, based in San Diego, will visit eight ports in the eastern Pacific.

Stevenson said the
Navy's forward presence and the ability to sail anywhere, any time and sustain itself will be a benefit to the region, especially when that region is faced with natural disasters such as earthquakes, mudslides, forest fires and flooding.

Amphibious units provide "the perfect platform" for those types of missions if they're postured correctly and officials keep a sharp eye on indications of impending natural disasters, Stevenson said.

(
Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg is assigned to the New Media branch of American Forces Information Services.)

Face of Defense: 'Sgt. Ken' Urges Enlisted Leaders to Stress Fitness

By Army Master Sgt. Bob Haskell
Special to American Forces Press Service

April 30, 2008 - The
Army Physical Fitness Test would be a lot more demanding if "Sgt. Ken" was in charge. It would, in his world, gauge soldiers' ability to do a lot more than perform a mandatory number of push-ups and sit-ups in two minutes and run two miles within a required time. The test would determine soldiers' fitness for combat, if Sgt. Ken had his way. "We need to be focused on physical conditioning for combat, not just the APFT. The battlefield is no place for those who fatigue quickly," Sgt. Ken told the Army and Air National Guard's state enlisted leaders here in mid-April.

"Sgt. Ken" is Staff Sgt. Kenneth Weichert of the Tennessee
Army National Guard. He has gone to war in Southwest Asia twice: during Operation Desert Storm as an active Army soldier in the early 1990s and again during Operation Iraqi Freedom as a California Army Guard soldier in 2003-04.

He is 41, and he may best be known in Guard circles as the fitness guru for GX (Guard Experience) magazine. That magazine, which focuses on Army Guard soldiers, has included his feature, "Start Fitness," for the past three years. He is now the monthly publication's co-editor for health and fitness. He also has created workouts in video, audio and print products as the fitness director for AmericanSoldier.com. He has, in short, become the 21st century's Jack LaLanne for the
Army Guard.

Weichert enlisted in the
Army in 1988 and then joined the Louisiana Army Guard in 1992 after serving during Desert Storm. He was a traditional soldier and full-time recruiting and retention NCO with the California Guard from 1997-2007 before transferring to Tennessee to join the IOSTUDIO team that publishes GX in Nashville. He has been a master fitness trainer since 1993 and has trained servicemembers and civilians for nearly 20 years.

The man who was partially paralyzed for four weeks from a football injury during his senior year in high school has made physical fitness his lifestyle and career.

Weichert is as much showman as he is a soldier. He has a Schwarzenegger-like body. He is polished and outgoing in word and manner. He has studied theater at Drake University and the University of Southwestern
Louisiana. He was clearly the celebrity at the National Guard Bureau's first Senior Enlisted Leaders Conference here April 18-21. He barked encouraging commands, sang inspirational songs and counted cadence like a seasoned drill sergeant during nonstop, half-hour morning workouts that were not for the faint of heart.

He attended the conference, however, not to promote himself but to promote physical fitness among Guardmembers who could find themselves in combat during the global war on terrorism or engaged with wildfires or floods in this country.

Command Sgt. Maj. David Ray Hudson, the National Guard Bureau's senior enlisted leader and the driving force behind the first-of-its-kind conference, acknowledged that his emphasis on fitness was Weichert's most important contribution.

Soldiers should train as if they are athletes year-round to be physically fit for those challenges, Weichert told the state command sergeants major and the command chief master sergeants. Combat, he observed, requires a lot of upper body strength. An infantryman should be able carry a 160-pound person in full combat gear on his back for 30 meters, as if he were carrying his injured buddy to a landing zone, Weichert said.

Guard soldiers should be able to sidestroke the length of an Olympic pool in full uniform, holding a rifle above the water, to be fit enough to swim across a flooded river. They also should be prepared to hit a hill in full gear to help fight the wildfires that scorch sections of this country from March through October.

Push-ups, tummy crunches, pull-ups, marches with full rucksacks, and swimming in uniform are the drills that Sgt. Ken advocates for those who must be prepared to support their state or defend their country during crises. And the traditional troops who are not inclined to exercise have to be encouraged to work out during the 28 days of most months when they are not in uniform. "We have to 'think smart, not hard' about ways to stay in shape," Weichert said.

"They don't call out the Guard when things are going good. They call us out when things have gone bad," he observed. "We have to be ready -- mentally and physically. Fatigue makes cowards of us all."

(
Army Master Sgt. Bob Haskell is assigned to the National Guard Bureau.)

America Supports You: Radio Program Gives Troops a Voice

By Air Force Maj. Miki Gilloon
Special to American Forces Press Service

April 30, 2008 - One program on
Phoenix's KFNX 1100 AM News-Talk Radio has a simple mission: give troops the world over a voice through a weekly show. Voice of the Troops debuted on News Talk KFYI last year as a monthly feature created by Dave Whitten, one of the original and current hosts. The show later moved to KFNX and evolved into a weekly Sunday feature.

"The philosophy is simple: We want to give a voice to those boots on the ground and hopefully be an outlet our servicemen and women can use to get their message out from the front lines," said Whitten, who currently hosts the show with retired
Army Lt. Col. Dawn Lake, who served in Afghanistan.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Noel T. "Tom" Jones, commander of 56th Fighter Wing here, was a special guest on Voice of the Troops, helping the station kick off its fourth program. Questions asked of the general during the show included local topics such as the importance of the Barry M. Goldwater Range, encroachment issues and training in military operations areas. When Whitten asked Jones about his most harrowing combat experience, the general spoke of a night sortie he was involved in during Operation Desert Fox.

"We were bombing the Republican Guard barracks in the center of Iraq. There were anti-radiation missiles being shot at the surface-to-air missile sites, and when missiles hit ground, everybody woke up," he said. "There was a lot of triple-A (anti-aircraft artillery), and it was pretty eye-opening."

Listeners can tune into Voice of the Troops between 7 and 8 p.m. Mountain Time on Sundays to hear airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines talk about their personal or combat experiences. The program streams live at www.1100kfnx.com.

(
Air Force Maj. Miki Gilloon serves in the 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office.)

MILITARY CONTRACTS April 30, 2008

NAVY

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.,
Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $190,000,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-07-C-0097) for special tooling and special test equipment associated with the Lot two Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP II) of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Work will be performed in El Segundo, Calif., (25 percent), Ft. Worth, Texas, (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom, (15 percent); Orlando, Fla., (10 percent); Torrance, Calif., (5 percent); Eagan, Minn., (5 percent); Nashua, N.H., (5 percent); Broomfield, Colo., (5 percent); and San Jose, Calif., (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in Apr. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

BRDC A Joint Venture of Burns & Roe and Dick Corp., Large, Pa., is being awarded a not to exceed $50,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity job order contract for construction projects at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay. The work to be performed is for construction, addition, renovations, alterations and/or repair various types of facilities/buildings and provide minor construction and marine work. Work will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of May 2013. The contract was competitively procured via the Naval Facilities Engineering Command e-solicitation website with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-08-D-1273).

American Systems, Chantilly, Va., is being awarded a $34,801,258 ceiling Blanket Purchase Agreement resulting from Request for Proposal (No. M67854-07-R-7034) for the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate Omnibus Support Services. Work will be performed in Dumfries, Va., (90 percent) and Quantico, Va., (10 percent), and work is expected to be completed April 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively awarded under a full and open, best value competition, with two offerors providing proposals in response to the solicitation. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-08-A-7038).

Northrop Grumman Corp.,
El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a ceiling priced $24,999,810 for delivery order #5115 under a Basic Ordering Agreement (N00383-06-G-032D) for aircraft rudders which are spares in support of the F/A-18 aircraft Work will be performed in El Segundo, Calif., and work is expected to be completed by April 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity.

John C. Grimberg Co., Inc., Rockville, Md., is being awarded $15,805,000 for firm-fixed-price task order #0022 under a previously awarded indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract (N62477-04-D-0012) for construction of an aircraft prototype facility at the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River. The work to be performed provides for construction of a single hangar structure with an adjacent second level support and office space. The facility will provide secure work space consisting of a secure aircraft preparation bay, technical service laboratory, assembly area, tool crib and special access program facilities. The facility will also provide other office and support spaces, a conference room with video teleconferencing capabilities. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md., and work is expected to be completed by January 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Wash., D.C., is the contracting activity.

Marshall Co., Ltd.*, Corpus Christi, Texas, is being awarded $13,750,000 for firm-fixed price task order #0001 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract (N62467-04-D-0078) for design and construction of an aviation training facility at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi. The work to be performed provides for construction of a standard single story facility with high bay simulator trainer areas. The facility includes spaces for brief/de-brief, instructors, simulator maintenance, administrative support,
computer support, and mechanical rooms. Three existing structures will be demolished in site preparation. The new structure will be a secure limited access facility and will be constructed with sustainable features. The contract contains two options totaling $258,600, which may be exercised within 180 calendar days, bringing the total contract amount to $14,008,600. Work will be performed in Corpus Christi, Texas, and work is expected to be completed by Sep. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.

Referentia Systems Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded an $11,719,335 cost-plus-fix-fee contract to provide investigative research and analysis to develop individual and cultural behavior simulation models for the
Navy to achieve its "Revolution in Training" and to increase the level of trained and missioned ready Navy and Joint Forces. This contract will include a scenario generation editor that will make use of agent-based distillation models technology creating rapid scenario generation and performance measurement metrics for analysis, experimentation, and training federations; a prototype system that creates and builds on the novel use of these emerging technologies as they are applied to a live virtual constructive training environment; and a prototype eLearning testbed that will allow research into when, where, what and why basic eLearning courses should be enhanced with gaming and distributed training technologies. Work will be performed in Honolulu, Hawaii and is expected to be completed in Apr. 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $1,120,500 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via a Broad Agency Announcement; with one offer received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61339-08-C-0023).

L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC,
Madison, Miss., is being awarded an $11,262,673 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price, cost-reimbursable contract (N00019-03-D-0010) to provide additional funds for services in support of the T-45 trainer system contractor logistics support effort. Specifically, this modification provides for the fiscal 07 and fiscal 08 cost impact for wages and fringe benefit adjustments as a result of the collective bargaining agreement, dated Oct. 1, 2006 through Aug. 1, 2009, and area wage determination No. 05-2300 (Rev-4), 05-2300 (Rev-5), 94-2300 and 05-2508. This action is in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act – price adjustment clause and notification of changes cslause. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville, Texas, (51 percent) and NAS Meridian, Miss., (49 percent), and work is expected to be completed in Sep. 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Healy Tibbitts Builders, Inc., Aiea, Hawaii, is being awarded $6,299,940 for firm-fixed-price task order #0022 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract (N62742-04-D-1300) for maintenance dredging of Sierra Wharves, Yankee Wharves and Kilo Wharf and construction of a confined disposal facility cell #3 at Waipio Peninsula, Naval Station, Pearl Harbor. Work will be performed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and work is expected to be completed by Apr. 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.

Future Research Corp.,
Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a $6,132,815 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for laptop computer, associated accessories and integrated services to support the DOD Joint Technical Data Initiative. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., and work is expected to be completed by September 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was awarded competitively, with six offers received. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity (N00104-08-D-Q277).

AIR FORCE

General Atomics of San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a cost plus fee term contract for $177,082,588. This contract includes all programs management, urgent repairs and services, logistics support, configuration management, technical manual and software maintenance, engineering technical services, contractor engineering technical services, contractor engineering technical specialists (formerly field support representatives), contractor inventory control point (formerly depot supply support) and spares management, depot repair, flight operations support, reliability/maintenance enhancements, CAMs/REMIS/CEMS data collection/entry and numbered periodic depot maintenance for the Predator/Reaper MQ-1 and MQ-9 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) programs. At this time $163,082,588 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-05-G-3028 003502).

Northrop Grumman Information
Technology of Herndon Va., is being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for $177,082,588. This effort will accomplish the delivery of Joint Enterprise DoDIIS Infrastructure software and DoDIIS Trusted Workstation software. This effort will include requirements definition analysis, systems engineering, development, integration management, quality control, requirements definition analysis, systems engineering, development, integration management, quality control, familiarization, integration/interoperability testing, security and system operation and administration. This effort will result in the delivery of several software releases (approximately one release every six months) to the DTW/JEDI user community, to include computer software, technical documentation, and as required, the installation and maintenance of the current systems located at existing intelligence sites worldwide. At this time $3,500,000 has been obligated. Rome, N.Y., is the contracting activity (FA8750-08-D-0001 (Umbrella) and Order 0001).

Honeywell International Incorp., of Clearwater Fla., is being awarded a firm fixed price modification contract for $15,433,853. This action will provide one hundred eighty-one EGI production units, thirty EGI retrofit units, twenty-one EGI contractor depot repairs and one EGI mount. The embedded GPS/INS (EGI) unit is a non-development Item being procured to meet the navigation requirements of Tri-Service and Foreign
Military Sales platforms. This is a modification to exercise options for the aforementioned efforts. At this time $15,433,853 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8626-06-C-2065 P00058).

Boeing Co., Integrated Defense Systems of
Wichita, Kan., is being awarded a firm fixed price modification contract for $8,220,600. This contract modification will provide additional contract funding in support of the fourth year of a five year contractor logistics support for contract the VC-25A aircraft. At this time $8,220,600 has been obligated. Tinker AFB, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8106-04-C-0006 / P00081).

ARMY

SRTec., Inc., Syracuse, N.Y. was awarded on Apr. 29, 2008, a $42,013,967 firm-fixed price/cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a change-order for V(2) upgrades. Work will be performed in Syracuse, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by May 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Apr. 14, 2008. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-05-C-P004).

Phillips Corp.,/Viereck Co., Columbia, Md., was awarded on Apr. 29, 2008, an $8,390,000 firm-fixed price contract for 1 fluid cell press used for metal working. Work will be performed at Corpus Christi
Army Depot, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 23, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five bids were solicited on Mar. 10, 2008. Corpus Christi Army Depot, Corpus Christi, Texas, is the contracting activity (GS-07F-7729C).

Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded on Apr. 28, 2008, a $6,331,055 cost-reimbursement contract for support of the Future Combat Systems spin out 1 low rate initial production, procurement of long lead items for the initial operational test and evaluation set. Work will be performed at Boeing, BAE Systems, Textron Defense Systems, and General Dynamics Systems across the nation, and is expected to be completed on Jan. 27, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Aug. 17, 2007. U.S.
Army TACOM, Warren, Mich. is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-C-0145).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Delta Coals Inc., Nashville, Tenn., is being awarded a maximum $10,969,600.00 firm fixed price contract for bituminous coal. Other location of performance is in Virginia. Using services are
Army and Marine Corps. There were originally 160 proposals solicited with two responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is May 31, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-08-D-0654).

Petro Marine Services, Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded a maximum $7,407,737.20 fixed price with economic price adjustment for delivery of gasoline, fuel oil burner, jet fuel and diesel fuel products. Other locations of performance are throughout the state of Alaska. Using services are
Coast Guard and federal civilian agencies. This proposal was originally solicited on FedBizOps with eight responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is Sep. 30, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-08-D-1010).