Friday, June 06, 2008

MILITARY CONTRACTS June 6, 2008

AIR FORCE

The
Air Force is modifying an undefinitized, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract with Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc., of El Segundo, Calif., not to exceed $75,000,000. This undefinitized contract action will authorize Boeing to conduct additional Risk Reduction and System Definition (RR&SD) baseline efforts as well as adding two tasks. First, they will perform an Industrial Base Impact Study which assumes a Transformational Communications Satellite System (TSAT) Development and Production contract start date of 1 July 2008. The study will include the assumption of a start date 6 months thereafter through a total delay of 24 months. Second, they will develop system definition and design concepts and present the results in the form of an Interim Design Review (IDR) for two Government-provided alternative TSAT program requirements sets (TSAT "Digital Core" and 'TSAT-Lite"). The prime contractor for this effort is Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc. At this time $37,500,000 has been obligated. HQMCSW/PK, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8808-04-C-0022/P00046).

The
Air Force is modifying an undefinitized, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract with Lockheed Martin Corporation of Sunnyvale, Calif., not to exceed $75,000,000. This undefinitized contract action will authorize Lockheed Martin to conduct additional Risk Reduction and System Definition (RR&SD) baseline efforts as well as adding two tasks. First, they will perform an Industrial Base Impact Study which assumes a Transformational Communications Satellite System (TSAT) Development and Production contract start date of 1 July 2008. The study will include the assumption of a start date 6 months thereafter through a total delay of 24 months. Second, they will develop system definition and design concepts and present the results in the form of an Interim Design Review (IDR) for two Government-provided alternative TSAT program requirements sets (TSAT "Digital Core" and "TSAT-Lite"). The prime contractor for this effort is effort is the Lockheed Martin Corporation. Approximately 33 percent of the work will performed by Lockheed Martin Corporation, Sunnyvale, California. The remaining 67 percent of the work will be performed by subcontractor Northrop Grumman Space and Missile Systems Corp, One Space Park, Redondo Beach, Calif., 90278. At this time $37,500,000 has been obligated. HQMCSW/PK, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8808-04-C-0023/P00047).

The
Air Force is modifying a firm-fixed-price contract with Raytheon Company, Missile Systems of Tucson, Ariz., for $44,820,181. This action will provide Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Air Intercept Missile (AIM) 120-C7 Software Tapes 18A/20. This effort supports foreign military sales to Greece and Taiwan. This action is a modification to the AMRAAM Production Lot 21 contract. At this time $17,362,439 has been obligated. 695ARSS, Eglin AFB, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8675-07-C-0055 P00010).

The
Air Force is modifying a cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery, requirements contract with Wyle Laboratories, Inc., of Huntsville, Ala., for an estimated $6,626,355. The Reliability Information Analysis Center will perform NAVAIR aviation readiness and resource analysis program lifecycle support. At this time no funds have been obligated. 55th Contracting Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb., is the contracting activity (HC1047-05-D-4005, DO 0013, Modification 21).

Canadian Commercial Corporation of Ottawa, Canada, is being awarded a firm-fixed price contract for $5,699,233. This action will provide Manufactured by Pyrogenesis Canada Inc., Montreal, Canada for delivery and installation at Hurlburt Field, AFB, Florida. At this time $3,716,000 has been obligated. Specialized Contracting, HQ AFSOC/A7KQ, Hurlburt Field, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA0021-08-C-0002).

ARMY

Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.,
Houston, Texas, was awarded on June 5, 2008, a $33,381,645 firm-fixed price contract for the construction of a primary health care clinic. Work will be performed at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Feb. 14, 2008, and four bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-08-C-0024).

Benham Constructors, LLC, Oklahoma City, Okla., was awarded on June 5, 2008, a $31,379,729 firm-fixed price contract for the design and construction of a consolidated fuel, overhaul, repair and test facility. Work will be performed at Tinker
Air Force Base, Midwest City, Okla., and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Aug. 21, 2007, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Tulsa, Okla., is the contracting activity (W912BV-08-C-2004).

Manhattan Construction, Falls Church, Va., was awarded on June 4, 2008, a $24,380,000 firm-fixed price contract for the design and construction of the museum support center. Work will be performed at Fort Belvoir, Va., and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Dec. 14, 2007, and four bids were received. U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-08-C-0032).

FN Manufacturing, LLC, Columbia, S.C., was awarded on June 5, 2008, a $16,079,649 firm-fixed price contract for M240B machine guns. Work will be performed in Columbia, S.C., and s expected to be completed by Dec. 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Nov. 2, 2006, and five bids were received. U.S.
Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, Rock Islands, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-07-D-0319).

Applied Energetics, Inc.,
Tucson, Ariz., was awarded on June 4, 2008, a $9,280,801 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for the continued development and production of ten counter improved explosive devise systems plus spares, operator training and technical support for an overseas operational assessment. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by June 4, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on April 3, 2008. U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. is the contracting activity (W91CRB-08-C-0080).

Assistance Center Provides Expertise for Humanitarian Missions Worldwide

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

June 6, 2008 - A special organization within the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., works with the U.S.
military's combatant commanders to assess worldwide nations' capabilities for surveillance of infections and how quickly they can respond to an outbreak. Part of USUHS's Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine develops interagency relationships across the federal government and with nongovernmental organizations, Army Col. (Dr.) Charles Beadling, the center's director, said in an interview on the "Dot Mil Docs" program on BlogTalkRadio.com.

"We provide reach-back expertise for the critical management of disasters and humanitarian assistance medicine around the world," Beadling said.

This week, the center has a team supporting U.S. Pacific Command with a conference on avian influenza and pandemic influenza prevention for the island nations in the South Pacific.

"Our team works with the combatant commander's medical staff to assist allied host nations with developing surveillance capabilities and response plans," Beadling explained.

The center is uniquely postured by being part of an academic center with access to subject-matter experts in many relevant specialties, especially public health, Beadling said. The center was created in 1999, through direct congressional action.

"We also augment the education of
military medical officers here at the School of Medicine to specialize expertise, consultation and teaching," Beadling said. "This better prepares them for their future careers."

Since its creation, the center has reached around the globe offering its unique services.

"We have a team in Australia that's working with the island nations of the South Pacific to specifically look at their programs for education, prevention, surveillance and response," Beadling said.

In other parts of the world, the center is working not only on prevention or surveillance, but also on issues such as land mine victims' assistance efforts in the Central African country of Chad.

"Chad has a long history of warfare along its borders, and therefore has numerous unexploded remnants of war that are a hazard for the population, especially around water sources, lines of communication, [and] roads to market," Beadling explained.

Through the sponsorship of U.S. European Command, and now with the new U.S. Africa Command, the center has been working with government officials in Chad for the past three years to help to educate their de-mining organization in everything from first response to medical care for the population that may have been injured by exploded ordnance.

The center uses the Information Management System for Mine Action, a
computer system that can be used to compare mine risk and mine activity around the world. "We can look at Chad to see how they compare to Yemen, Cambodia or the Balkans," Beadling said.
Through sponsorship by U.S. Central Command and Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, the center also helps the Afghan government with consultation and expertise to assist in developing infrastructure for the Afghan National
Army and Afghan National Police.

"Our program is designed to improve the health care infrastructure that is directly providing health care to that Afghan national security forces and their families," Beadling said.

In Latin America and the Caribbean Basin, the center pitches in through sponsorship by U.S. Southern Command. "[It's] one of our longest-running programs," Beadling noted. "We provide HIV/AIDS prevention assistance to the militaries of allied nations."

(
Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg works in the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)

America Supports You: Distillery Raises Glass to Troops, Support Group

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

June 6, 2008 - With symbolic glasses raised on high, Jim Beam distillery offered a toast to U.S. servicemembers and their families with a $175,000 donation to Operation Homefront. Operation Homefront provides emergency assistance and morale to the nation's troops, to the families they leave behind, and to wounded warriors when they return home.

In supporting the organization, Jim Beam honors it as part of the brand's renewed top-down commitment to its own original values of true character, integrity and doing the right thing, Jim Beam officials said in a news release announcing the donation.

"Jim Beam is doing the right thing by helping us keep
military families and wounded warriors from homelessness and to keep these families safe and secure," said Amy Palmer, executive vice president of operations and development for Operation Homefront. "We're so grateful for this donation, which will allow us to enhance our support of the brave men and women in uniform and their families who are experiencing hardships."

The admiration is mutual.

"We're so proud of Operation Homefront and all that they do, so we're putting it right on our bottle," said Fred Noe, seventh-generation Beam distiller and self-described Beam family ambassador. "A special limited-edition Operation Homefront label is going on more than 500,000 bottles of Jim Beam bourbon."

In addition, Jim Beam has partnered with the ABC Fine Wine and Spirits chain in
Florida to celebrate America and support the nation's military families.

"Jim Beam has the heritage of the only distilled spirit indigenous to America," said Andy Abernathy, senior vice president, ABC Fine Wine and Spirits. "As the largest bourbon retailer in the state, we are thrilled we can show respect for our country while providing our customers with an opportunity for them to support Operation Homefront."

ABC Fine Wine and Spirits will donate $1 for every 750 milliliter bottle of Jim Beam White and Jim Beam Black sold between June 1 and July 6. Patrons also will have a chance to learn more about the military and Operation Homefront at ABC Fine Wine and Spirit stores throughout the Sunshine State.

Operation Homefront and military personnel will greet customers at various locations, which will have
military vehicles, including Humvees and tanks, on display, through July 6.

Jim Beam also is inviting its customers of legal drinking age to support the troops by posting a toast on its "The Stuff Inside" Web site. Toasts will appear on the site until July 4. Of those submitted, best toast or toasts that capture the spirit of "the stuff inside" may be considered for use in Jim Beam advertising, officials said.

Bottles of Jim Beam featuring the limited edition Operation Homefront labels are on store shelves now and are estimated to be available until July 4.

Operation Homefront is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

Troops Anxious for GI Bill Revision, Mullen Says

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

June 5, 2008 - At every "all-hands" meeting he's had with troops from Zamboanga in the Philippines to Baghdad to Fort Bragg, N.C., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff gets questions about changes to the GI Bill.
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said he is delighted that Congress is considering changes that would allow servicemembers to transfer their education benefit to children or spouses. Defense leaders are following the debate in Congress closely and are waiting to see the specifics of the changes, Mullen said.

"From our standpoint, it is transferability first and a more robust benefit second," the nation's top military officer said during an interview aboard a C-40 aircraft bringing him back from meetings in Pakistan today.

The chairman said he believes the GI Bill is a sound investment for America in people who have proven their worth and loyalty to the country.

"All servicemembers worth anything want to improve themselves and many enlist specifically for the educational benefits," Mullen said. That was true when he was commissioned in 1968, and it is true today, he said.

The young men and women in the
military today "are serving at a level I have never seen before," Mullen added. "This benefit would enhance them, enhance the U.S. military and enhance the country."

Under one proposal, servicemembers could transfer educational benefits to spouses or children. Currently, only servicemembers and veterans can use the benefit. The proposed legislation is attached to the emergency supplemental funding bill for war operations that is awaiting passage.

In a May 21 news conference, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates considers transferability of GI Bill benefits to family members "absolutely imperative." However, Morrell said, Gates has concerns about how some proposals for GI Bill enhancement would affect the all-volunteer force if they became law.

Gates advocates offering enhanced benefits after six years of service -- rather than the two years in some proposals under consideration in Congress -- to reward servicemembers who opt to re-enlist at least once, Morrell said.

"We are not trying to keep people here forever, but we are trying to create a system in which troops see the benefit of making a career out of the
military," Morrell said at the news conference. "We make an enormous investment in their careers and their futures, and we think it would be very damaging to the all-volunteer force if they were to leave prematurely."

That would create big problems to the
military, particularly as it confronts the global war on terror, he said. "Now, more than ever, we need to hold on to our superbly trained, battle-tested troops," Morrell said. "They are the key to victory in this conflict."