Friday, September 25, 2009

MILITARY CONTRACTS September 25, 2009

AIR FORCE
Multiple contractors have been awarded a $3,000,000,000 contract for environmental requirements that include completion of a conceptual design, construction, implementation, demolition, repair and operation and maintenance of installed systems prior to delivery to the government. At this time, $3,000 per contractor has been awarded. AFCEE/ACV of Brooks City-Base, Texas is the contracting activity. AECOM Technical Services, Inc., Long Beach Calif., FA8903-09-D-8547 Arcadis U.S. Inc., Highland Ranch, Col., FA8903-09-D-8550, Bhate Environmental Associates, Inc., Birmingham, Ala., FA8903-09-D-8554, Conti Federal Services, In., South Plainfield, N.J., FA8903-09-D-8558, Engineering-Environmental Management, Englewood, Colo., FA8903-09-D-8568, Jacobs Government Services Co., Pasadena, Calif., FA8903-09-D-8568, AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc., Plymouth Meeting, Penn., FA8903-09-D-8549, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, FA8903-09-D-8552, CH2M Hill Constructors, Inc., Englewood, Colo., FA8903-09-D-8557, Environmental Chemical Corp., Burlingame Calif., FA8903-09-D-8561, Innovative Technical Solutions, In., Walnut Creek, Calif., FA8903-09-D-8567, Kellogg Brown & Root Services, Inc., Arlington, Va., FA 8903-09-D-8569, Aerostar Environmental Services, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., FA8903-09-D-8548, SpecPro Environmental Services, LLC, Oak Ridge, Tenn., FA8903-09-D-8581, Environmental Management Resources, Inc., Lawrence, Kan., FA8903-09-D-8562, SpecPro Environmental Services, Oak Ridge, Tenn., FA8903-09-D-8581, LATA-Kemron Remediation, Westerville, Ohio, FA8903-09-D-8571, Laguna Construction Co., Laguna, New Mexico, FA8903-09-D-8570, North Wind, Inc., Idaho Falls, Idaho, FA8903-09-D-8574, Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, Calif., FA8903-09-D-8579, Tetra Tech EC, Inc., San Antonio Texas, FA8903-09-D-8583, URS Group Inc., San Antonio, Texas, FA8903-09-D-8587, MACTEC Engineering & Consulting, Inc., Alpharetta, Georgia, FA8903-09-D-8572, Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group, Pasadena, Calif., FA8903-09-D-8576, Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc., San Antonio, Texas 78216, Toltest, Inc., Maumee, Ohio, FA8903-09-D-8586, Weston Solutions, Inc., San Antonio, Texas, FA8903-09-D-8589, BEM Systems, Inc., Chatham, N.J., FA8903-09-D-8553, CapeEnvironmental Management, Inc., San Antonio, Texas, FA8903-09-D-8556, EA Engineering, Science & Technology, Inc., Hunt Valley, Md., FA8903-09-D-8560, FPM Remediations, Inc., Ronkonkoma, N.Y., FA8903-09-D-8565, Oneida Total Integrated Enterprises, LLC, Milwaukee, Wis., FA8903-09-D-8575, RMA-Insight, JV, Pomona, Calif., FA8903-09-D-8584, Tidewater, Inc., Columbia, Md., FA8903-09-D-8584, Versar, Inc., Springfield, Va., FA8903-09-D-8588, Cabrera Services, Inc., Hartford, Conn., FA8903-09-D-8555, Dawson Technical, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, FA8903-09-D-8559, Environmental Quality Management, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, FA8903-09-D8564, HydroGeoLogic, Inc., Reston, Va., FA8903-09-D-8566, Project Resources, Inc., San Diego, Calif., FA8903-09-D-8577, Sullivan & Charter Environmental JV, Inc., San Diego, Calif., FA8903-09-D-8582, Tierra Dynamic, LLC, Phoenix, Ariz.., FA8903-09-D-8585, Zapata Inc., Charlotte, N.C., FA8903-09-D-8590.

Integral Systems Incorp., of Columbia, Md., was awarded a $77,662,446 contract which will implement the restructure of the rapid attack, identification, detection and reporting system block-10 program from a 6 fixed and 3 deployable site configuration to a five transportable system construct. At this time, $27,740,754 has been obligated. SMC/SYSW/PK of El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8819-05-C-0018).

L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $42,349,195 contract which will provide for logistics support for the T-1A aircraft at Vance, Columbus, Randolph, and Laughlin Air Force Bases and Pensacola Naval Air Station. At this time, $42,349,195 has been obligated. 727 ACSG/PKA, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8106-09-C-0001, P00001).

Terma North America, Inc., of Warner Robins, Ga., was awarded a $29,500,000 contract which will provide for engineering services to support the AN/ALQ-213 countermeasures sets. At this time, no money has been obligated. 542 CBSG/PKS, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia is the contracting activity (FA8540-09-D-0003).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., of Rolling Meadows, Ill., was awarded a $19,370,831 contract which will provide engineering services applicable to the ALR-20 system. At this time the entire amount has been obligated. 542 CBSG/PKS, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8523-09-C-0013).

Northrop Grumman Space Technology of Redondo Beach, Calif., was awarded a $9,999,999 contract which will provide special study for risk reduction tasks under Global Positioning System's next generation operational control segment contract Phase A. At this time the entire amount has been obligated. SMC/GPSW, El Segundo Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8807-08-C-0001,P00028).

Raytheon Co., of Aurora, Colo., was awarded a $9,999,903 contract which will provide special study for risk reduction tasks under Global Positioning System's next generation operational control segment contract Phase A. At this time the entire amount has been obligated. SMC/GPSW, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8807-08-C-0003, P00027).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., of Rolling Meadows, Ill., was awarded a $9,494,797 contract which will provide engineering services applicable to the ALQ-135. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380, DO:0341).

MacAulay-Brown, Inc. of Dayton, Ohio was awarded a $9,250,204 contract which will provide support to plan, implement, and execute the Air Force Networks Defense mission. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 33 NWS/MS, San Antonio, Texas is the contracting activity (FA7037-09-F-8108).

Eagle Applied Sciences, LLC of San Antonio, Texas was awarded a $8,000,000 contract which will provide for EGL Vision 2045: The Air Force Materiel Command Transformation Plan. At this time, no money has been obligated. AFDW/A7KM-S, Brooks City Base, Texas is the contracting activity (FA7014-09-D-0019).

M.J. Takisaki Contractors, Inc., of Seattle, Washington was awarded a $7,355,952 contract which will provide for design-build construction, renovation of four dormitories. At this time, $275,000 the entire amount has been obligated. 92d CONS, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington is the contracting activity (FA4620-07-D-B004, P0007).

Ahntech, Incorporated of Camino del Rio South of San Diego, Calif., was awarded a $6,581,617 contract which will provide for Air Combat Training Systems. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. AETC/CONS/LGCU, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas is the contracting activity (F41689-02-D-0044, P00046).

Parker Hannifin Customer Support Incorporated of Irvine, Calif., was awarded a $6,492,904 contract which will provide for a B52 retrofit modification kit. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 448 SCMG/PKBC, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8122-09-C-0005).

Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems and Solutions was awarded a $5,572,698 contract which will repair/refurbish 60 solid state radars in support of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile weapons system. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 526 ICBMSG/PKA, Hill Air Force Base, Utah is the contracting activity (FA8204-07-C-0022, P00006).

Raytheon Co., of Marlborough, Mass., was awarded a $5,571,415 contract for commercial procurement of one Auto Track II radar simulator and one MaxSim tower simulator equipment software, data, factory and site acceptance tests, installation and checkout tasks, spares and site design for the Multi National Security Transition Command-Iraq. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 653 ESW, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (FA8730-09-C0004).

NAVY
Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, Morgan City, La., is being awarded a $180,998,189 fixed-price letter contract for the detail design and construction of nine patrol boats and associated equipment and services for the Iraq Navy. This contract is in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Case IQ –P-SAZ and U.S. Case E4-P-LBT. The contract is for nine Swiftships model 35PB1208E-1455 patrol boats along with six 30mm gun weapons systems, machine gun mounts and cradles, spare parts, and contractor engineering technical services. Work will be performed in Morgan City, La., (60 percent), Detroit, Mich., (30 percent), Ocean Springs, Miss., (8 percent) and Charlottesville, Va., (2 percent) and is expected to be completed by August 2012. Funding in the amount of $129,104,173 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity (N00024-09-C-2256).

Sikorsky Support Services, Inc., Pensacola, Fla., is being awarded a $133,542,526 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-06-D-0017) to exercise an option for maintenance and logistics services in support of 374 T-34, T-44, and T-6 aircraft. Work will be performed at the NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, (44.11 percent ); NAS Whiting Field, Fla., (38.77 percent); NAS Pensacola, Fla., (10.70 percent); NAS Oceana, Va., (1.60 percent); NAS Lemoore, Calif., (1.34 percent); Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif., (.80 percent); Fort Rucker, Ala., (.80 percent); Naval Air Facility, El Centro, Calif., (.53 percent); Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., (.27 percent); Pope Air Force Base, Fayetteville, N.C., (.27 percent); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., (.27 percent); NASA Cleveland, Ohio, (.27 percent); and Fort Eustis, Va., (.27 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 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.

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $112,650,548 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery, requirements type contract (N00019-08-D-0014) to exercise an option for logistics services and materials for organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance required to support 49 T-45A and 151 T-45C aircraft based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Miss.; NAS Kingsville, Texas; and NAS Pensacola, Fla. This requirement also includes the organizational level maintenance for the engine. Work will be performed in Kingsville, Texas, (54 percent); Meridian, Miss., (42 percent); and Pensacola, Fla., (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 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.

Rolls-Royce Defense Services, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $90,674,394 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price requirements contract (N00019-09-D-0002) to exercise an option for intermediate and depot level maintenance and related support for in-service T-45 F405-RR-401 Adour engines under the Power-By-the-Hour (PBTH®) arrangement. In addition, this modification provides for inventory control, sustaining engineering and configuration management, as well as integrated logistics support and required engineering elements necessary to support the F405-RR-401 engine at the organization level. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville, Texas (48 percent), NAS Meridian, Miss., (47 percent); NAS Pensacola, Fla., (4 percent), and NAS Patuxent River, Md., (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 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.

Harper Construction Co., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded an $81,821,721 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of three Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The BEQs will house a total of 1,148 Marines in the standard 2+0 configuration and will include a multipurpose community area and laundry facilities. The contract also contains planned modifications, which if issued would increase cumulative contract value to $90,256,146. Work will be performed in Oceanside, Calif., and is expected to be completed by March 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 23 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-09-C-1214).

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $76,324,240 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0023) to exercise an option for the fiscal year 2009 procurement of four Lot 6 UH-1Y helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Fort Worth (60 percent) and Amarillo, Texas (40 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2013. 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.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., is being awarded a $33,105,474 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the technology demonstration phase for the Joint and Allied Threat Awareness System for the design, development and demonstration of a prototype for an advanced missile warning system to be installed on U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft to increase survivability in hostile environments. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla., (79 percent); Dallas, Texas, (12 percent); and Danbury, Conn., (9 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals; three offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-09-C-0099).

ATK Integrated Systems, Clearwater, Fla., is being awarded a $32,234,576 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the Technology Demonstration Phase for the Joint and Allied Threat Awareness System for the design, development and demonstration of a prototype for an advanced missile warning system to be installed on Navy and Marine Corps aircraft to increase survivability in hostile environments. Work will be performed in Nashua, N.H., (41 percent); Clearwater, Fla., (21.5 percent); Woodland Hills, Calif., (21.5 percent); Dallas, Texas, (10 percent); and Danbury, Conn., (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals; three offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-09-C-0100).

Solipsys Corp.,* Fulton, Md., is being awarded a $28,000,000 indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Project under Topic N98-072 entitled "Open Architectures for Command and Control System Development" and N98-077 entitled "Multi-Level Networking. The objective of this tactical component network/multi-level sensor network applications project is to extend and deploy tactical component network and hub-and-spoke based prototype applications to cognizant user and program communities within the Department of Defense and potential to other government entities. Work will be performed in Fulton, Md. (70 percent) and Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii, (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using SBIR Program Solicitation under Topics N98-072 and N98-077; and three offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-09-D-0007).

AMEC Earth and Environmental, Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $22,363,463 firm-fixed-price task order #0005 under a previously awarded environmental multiple award contract (N62473-08-D-8816) for remedial action, alternative 10 for Hangar 1 (Site 29) at Former Naval Air Station Moffett Field. The contract also contains two unexercised options, which if exercised would increase the cumulative task order value to $24,896,594. Work will be performed in Mountain View, Calif., and is expected to be completed by March 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Jacobs Technology Inc., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is being awarded $18,134,187 for task order #0025 under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (M67854-02-A-9017). The scope of this effort is to provide support of the transition from the NMCI environment to the next generation USMC IT environment. This includes financial planning, programming, budgeting and execution of the USMC enterprise budget throughout the Future Year Defense Plan; acquisition management supporting the next generation IT environment; program management activities; USMC representation and coordination with Navy Next Generation Enterprise Network office, the Secure Operational Network Infrastructure Capability Program of Record activities as well as providing expertise in all other forums related to the delivery of this new IT environment. Work will be performed in Quantico, Va., and work is expected to be completed in September 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va. is the contracting activity.

Capstone Corp., Alexandria, Va., was awarded a $16,340,357 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract on Sept. 23, 2009, to provide professional support services to the Commander, Naval Installations Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. This contract includes a one-year base period with four one-year option periods which, if exercised, bring the total estimated value of the contract to $86,543,619. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C., and work is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the fiscal year. This contract was awarded through full and open competition, with twelve offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Philadelphia Office, is the contracting activity (N00189-09-D-Z069).

Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego, Owego, N.Y., is being awarded a $14,750,000 firm-fixed-price order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-09-G-0005) for non-recurring engineering support to complete the design, development, integration and test of a ship air upgrade into the MH-60 R helicopter. Work will be performed in Owego, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in April 2012. 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.

General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Fairfax, Va., is being awarded $11,312,805 for task order #0038 under previously awarded firm-fixed-price (M67854-02-A-9014) with a pre-priced option of $2,402,125. The primary scope of this effort is to provide general engineering and scientific support to the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), Operational Forces Systems, Product Group 09 (PG09), program manager, Ground Combat Systems (PM-GCS) for Item Unique Identification (IUID) marking of legacy ground non-mission essential principal end items (PEIs) and applicable assemblies/subassemblies, e.g., Secondary Reparables (SECREPS). The primary level of effort will be: (1) Class VII PEIs (~896 TAMCNs); (2) applicable assemblies/subassemblies (~4/PEI), e.g., secondary reparables; and, (3) other class type items, i.e., Class II, of controlled and/or serially managed as directed by PM-GCS and/or HQMC. For "primary" level of effort (1), this information may be obtained via email and/or compact disc from the COR/project officer. This SOW supports IUID efforts to identify PEIs and SECREPS for marking, engineering analysis for UII (Unique Item Identifier)/ 2D Data Matrix location, and technical documentation development and support. Other activities include IUID programmatic support, planning, and management support, capture of Marine Corps Data Field Requirements Phase I and future data requirements, e.g., WAWF, and a major emphasis on engineering analysis and assessment for the implementation of IUID marking, and ability to collect technical data for the USMC temporary data storage. Work will be performed in Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; New Orleans, La.; and Okinawa, Japan, and work is expected to be completed in September 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

First RF Corp.*, Boulder, Colo., is being awarded an $11,217,765 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contractfor antennas to support the CREW (Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare) Vehicle Receiver Jammer (CVRJ) System. The CVRJ system is used to counter continuous and evolving improvised explosive device threats. Acquisition of the antennas will provide spares to replace antennas damaged during operations. Work will be performed in Boulder, Colo., and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contractfunds in the amount of $5,909,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured and the solicitation was not posted to Federal Business Opportunities. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-09-D-WQ20).

Burns, Roe & Dick, A Joint Venture, Pittsburg, Pa., is being awarded $10,847,000 for firm-fixed-price task order #0003 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N69450-09-D-1279) for design and construction to restore building systems at the Naval Hospital at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay. The work to be performed provides for design and construction of repairs to flood damaged portions of the facility interior and additional construction and renovation in other portions of the facility. Work will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2012. Contract funds will 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.

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Inc., Newport News, Va., is being awarded a $6,607,021 modification to previously awarded Basic Ordering Agreement (N00024-05-G-4418) for alteration installation support services in support of combat and sonar system warfare federated tactical systems on the USS Springfield (SSN 761). Work will be performed in Groton, Conn., and is expected to be competed by February 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport, Keyport, Wash., is the contracting activity.

AT&T Government Solutions, Inc., Vienna, Va., is being awarded $6,544,248 for task order #0028 under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (M6785403A5154) to provide technical support to the Marine Corps Systems Command, Information Systems and Infrastructure Product Group, Marine Corps Network and Infrastructure Services Program Office to provide information technology networking support services for the secret internet protocol router network to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific installations. Throughout the contract period the contractor will be required to perform such duties as customer support, network testing and monitoring, system analysis and problem solving. Work will be performed in Quantico, Va., and work is expected to be completed in September 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is being awarded a $5,881,774 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00604-06-C-0018) to exercise option year three for ammunition handling and management services for Navy Munitions Command, East Asia Division Detachment Pearl Harbor. Work will be performed in Hawaii, and work is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds will expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured through Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.

ARMY
Honeywell International Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $79,059,282 firm-fixed-price contract for CH-47 T55-714A engines and fielding kits. Work is to be performed in Tempe, Ariz., (50 percent), and Greer, S.C., (50 Percent) with an estimated completion of Dec. 31, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army AMCOM, CCAM-CH-A, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-04-C-0061).

ITT Corp., Roanoke, Va., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $72,179,506 fixed-price Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract. This contract is for aviator's night vision imaging systems. Work is to be performed in Roanoke, Va., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2011. Bids are solicited on the World Wide Web with two bids received. U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Contracting Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-09-D-0079).

SRCTec, Inc., Syracuse, N.Y., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $53,216,250 firm-fixed-price contract. This is an undefinitized contract action is being issued for the procurement of 1851 each urgently required Duke V2 systems. Work is to be performed in Syracuse, N.Y., with an estimated completion date of Apr. 30, 2010. Sole Source bids were solicited with one bid received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-05-D-S205).

Colt Defense, LLC., West Hartford, Conn., was awarded on Sept. 25, 2009 a $32,143,048 firm-fixed-price contract for M240B machine guns. Work is to be performed in Hartford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2015. Bid solicitation was open to the Firms in the U.S. and Canada with two bids received. TACOM-RI, CCTA-AR-SA, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0175).

Spectrum Healthcare Resources, Inc., Saint Louis, Mo., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $28,462,855 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for the procurement of family health centers as extensions of the DeWitt Health Care Network, Fort Belvoir. The contractor shall provide all facilities, facility maintenance, staffing, supplies, and equipment necessary to support an ambulatory/primary care program for the treatment and authorized military beneficiaries and their dependents. Work is to be performed in Fairfax, Va., (41 percent), and Dumfries, Va., (59 percent). Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with two bids received. Center for Health Care Contracting, Fort Sam Houston, Texas., is the contracting activity (W81K04-09-C-0006).
CH2M Hill Contractors, Inc., Chantilly, Va., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $25,738,101 firm-fixed-price construction contract for construction of a communications facility, Camp Arifjan, State of Kuwait. Work is to be performed in the State of Kuwait., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2011. Fifty nine bids were solicited with 15 bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Transatlantic Programs Center, Winchester, Va., is the contracting activity (W912ER-09-C-0046).

Tetra Tech Facilities Construction, LLC., Alexandria, Va., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $22,564,852 firm-fixed-price contract. This is a design/build contract for the additional/alteration to the MDARING Army Aviation Support Facility, Weide Army Airfield, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Work is to be performed in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 6, 2009. Bids were solicited through ASFI with 18 bids received. National Guard Bureau, USPFO for MD, Havre de Grace, Md., is the contracting activity (W912K6-09-C-0002).

Pike Wohlsen DAFB, LLC., Lancaster, Pa., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $14,735,113 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of the Armed Forces Reserve Center, Newark, Del. Work is to be performed in Newark, Del., with an estimated completion date of Mar. 17, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with 11 bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-09-C-0083).

American Ordnance LLC., Middletown, Iowa., was awarded in Sept. 23, 2009 a $11,555,574 firm-fixed-price contract. This procurement is for the 60mm propelling charges: work for 835,990 each M204, 918,256 each M235 and 21,960 each M236 is awarded. Work is to be performed in Middletown, Iowa, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2013. Bids were solicited via National Technology Industrial Base with three bids received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Contracting Center, CCRC-AR, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-09-C-0032).

AP Midwest, LLC., Minneapolis, Minn., was awarded on Sept. 23, 3009 a $9,580,161 firm-fixed-price contract for a fire station, Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. This contract is to design and construct a 30,343 square foot consolidated crash/structural fire station to house fire protection vehicles, equipment, personnel, alarm center, and all support areas at Grand Forks Air Force Base. The fire station building will be of masonry construction with sloped standing seam metal roof and will include underground utilities and communications infrastructure, pavements, emergency vehicle access roads, parking lots, landscaping, wetlands mitigation, and demolition of existing fire station building and s maintenance building which includes asbestos/lead removal and site restoration. Work is to be performed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 30, 2011. Bids were solicited with 10 bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Omaha, Neb., is the contracting activity (W9128F-09-C-0045).

EEC International LLC., Burlingame, Calif., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $8,900,000 firm-fixed-price contract to design and construct the Wolverine Reloadable Building Housing Project, Qalat, Afghanistan. Work is to be performed in Qalat, Afghanistan., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2010. Five bids were solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District South, Afghanistan., is the contracting activity (W917PM-07-D-0015).

QSS Group Inc., Fairfax, Va., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $8,010,845 firm-fixed-price-task-order contract. This is a contract for information technology support services at Rock Island Arsenal in support of the Directorate if Information Management. Work is to be performed in Rock Island. Ill., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2014. Sixteen bids were solicited with four bids received. TACOM Contacting Center, Rock Island CCTA-AR-IC-Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W91QUZ-06-D-0011).

Lear Siegler Services Inc., Gaithersburg, Md., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $7,351,474 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract is for the Field Logistics Readiness Center Services, For Carson, Colo. This is for the Interim requirement of four months in anticipation of the award for the basic contract FLRC Services at Fort Carson, Colo., that will take the place of the Air Force CFT contract that expired Sept. 10, 2009 for this requirement. Work is to be performed in Fort Carson, Colo., with an estimated completed date of Jan. 10, 2010. Sole Sources bid was solicited with one bid received. Mission and installation Contracting Command Center, Fort McPherson, Ga., is the contracting activity (W911SE-07-D-0008).

Adaptive Manufacturing Solutions, Burton, Mich., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $6,800,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The purpose of this contract is to design, purchase and install equipment to consolidate a grenade line located at Pine Bluff Arsenal, Ark. Work is to be performed in Pine Bluff Arsenal, Ark., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2011. Twenty bids were solicited with two bids received. RDECOM Contracting Center, Pine Bluff Contracting Division, Pine Bluff, Ark., is the contracting activity (W911RP-09-C-0018).

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC., Madison, Miss., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $6,587,145 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract is to support the needs for the Fields Logistics Readiness Center at Fort Hood, Texas. Contractors will provide maintenance support on Army equipment, left-behind equipment, deployed equipment RESET and maintenance support to the installation units/customers. Work is to be performed in Fort Hood, Texas., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 1, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Mission & Installation Contracting Commands MICC Center, Fort Bragg, N.C., is the contracting activity (W911SE-07-D-0015).

Georgia Tech Research Corp., Atlanta, Ga., was awarded on Sept, 23, 2009 a $6,500,000 cost-no-fee contract. This contract is for Phase II of the Multifunctional Surface Systems- Carbon Nanotube (CNT) cold cathodes program aims to demonstrate morphopological control of CNT array structure the enables superior electron emitter performance and lifetime. CNT cold cathodes are ideal for electronic propulsion applications because they are lightweight, mechanically and thermally stable, damage tolerant, excellent field emission electron sources, and not operate at the extreme temperature of other thermionic devices. Large current density will allow for emitters to be small and reduce propellant budget. Distributed, high-performance CNT emitters are an enabling technology for vectoring thrust onboard satellites. Work is to be performed in Atlanta, Ga., (94 percent) and New Haven Conn., (6 percent), with an estimated completion date of Mar. 22, 2011. Bids were solicited with a Broad Agency Announcement with over 25 bids received. U.S. Army Defense Advanced Research Agency, Contract management Office, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR0011-09-C-0142).

EYAKTEK, Dulles, Va., was awarded on Sept. 21, 2009 a $6,358,753 firm-fixed-contract. This contract shall provide all required design, hardware, software, equipment, installation and testing to meet the following requirements. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a need for technical reach back support required to meet operational requirements in the regional operations management war rooms. In the event of a catastrophic national emergency there is a need to be able to propagate policies and guidelines down to the district offices in order for them to initiate their contingency plans. These plans may include redeployment of personnel/equipment to respond to the emergencies at hand: to this end we will need to upgrade all high end USACE regional operations management war rooms. The required war rooms will support all headquarters facilities in the 8 divisions with a direct connect Teleconferencing system to President, Congress and all major Armed Forces. Work is to be performed with each task order with estimated completion dates of Sept. 27, 2010. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Miss., is the contracting activity (W912HZ-09-C-0115).

Whitesell-Green, Inc., / W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co., Biloxi, Miss., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $5,776,975 firm-fixed-price contract. This project includes work which will reduce the moisture infiltration in six (6) Volar Barracks buildings. Specific items of work consist of installing roof over each courtyard, conditioning hallways and vestibules, enclosing vestibules and entrances and stair towers, enclosing vestibules at courtyards, repairing exterior brick walls, installing aluminum stair treads, insulating mechanical duets, insulating chilled water piping in the mechanical rooms, and weatherproofing mechanical room doors. Work is to be performed in Fort Stewart, Ga., with an estimated completion date of June 24, 2010. Seven bids solicited with five bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W91278-07-D-0045).

Hickory Construction, Inc., Alcoa, Tenn., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $5,890,225 firm-fixed-price contract to construct a KC-135 Squadron Operations Facility, Louisville, Tenn. Work is to be performed in Louisville, Tenn., with an estimated completion date of June 7, 2011. Unlimited bids were solicited with 13 bids received. U.S. Army Mission Support Contracting Office, MTAB, Louisville, Tenn., is the contracting activity (W912L7-09-C-0007).

Clement Group, LLC., Montgomery, Ala., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $5,857,425 firm-fixed-price contract of the construction of a chapel complex PN 10903, Fort Rucker, Ala. Work is to be performed in Fort Rucker, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 17, 2010. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with 11 bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Omaha, Neb., is the contracting activity (W9128F-09-C-0044).

HGL Construct Inc., Midwest City, Okla., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2009 a $5,275,000 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for the task order under an existing Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quality Performance Oriented Construction Activities contract for the design/engineering service to repair or replace the chilled water system only at building 230, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. The Option portion of this contract which is $190,000,000 and $270,000,000 will be exercised by Dec. 2009. Work is to be performed at Tinker Air Force Base, Midwest City, Okla., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District, Tulsa, Okla., is the contracting activity (W912BV-08-D-2045).

DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE
Bank of America N.A. Military Bank-Overseas Division, San Antonio, Texas, was awarded FY 2010 option of $7.2 million, as part of contract MDA210-02-D-0003-0009 ($42,402,612) to provide full banking services that are comparable, in scope and cost, to those available in the continental United States to authorized individuals that include, active duty military personnel, Department of Defense civilian employees who are U.S. citizens; U.S. citizens who are employees of all other government departments, agencies, private organizations, and non-appropriated fund instrumentalities carrying on functions on a Department of Defense installation oversea, as well as authorized family members of such military and civilian employees. The program management office is in San Antonio, Texas, however, the majority of the work is performed on U.S. Military Facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Italy, Korea, Diego Garcia, Honduras, Cuba, Japan, Okinowa and the Kwajalein Atoll. Under this option work will be performed from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010. The DFAS Contract Services Directorate, Columbus, Ohio is the contracting activity (MDA210-02-D-0003-0009).

DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY
The Defense Commissary Agency is awarding a fixed-price incentive, requirements-type contract to Coastal Pacific Food Distributors, Inc., 1801 Murchison Dr, Ste 300, Burlingame, Calif., 94010-4517, on September 25, 2009, to provide deli/bakery operations for resale to DeCA's West Region, Far East commissaries. The estimated award amount is $12,144,796.00. The contract base period of performance is for two years beginning Nov. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010. Two one-year option periods and four award terms are available. If both option periods are exercised and four award terms are earned, the contract will be completed Sept. 30, 2017. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Eight firms were solicited and two offers were received. The contracting activity is the Defense Commissary Agency, Resale Contracting Division, Resale Services Support Branch, 1300 E. Avenue, Fort Lee, Va., 23801-1800 (HDEC02-09-D-0011).

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
L-3 Communication Systems-West of Salt Lake City is being awarded a modification to contract H92222-08-D-0002 eliminating the contract unit quantity ceiling of 953 systems, and increasing the contract not-to-exceed funding ceiling by $57,000,000 to $150,000,000. This five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract is for the procurement and sustainment of remote operations video enhanced receiver systems in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. Work will continue to be performed in Salt Lake City and is expected to be completed by Sept. 29, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

British Pipes and Drums Band Performs at Pentagon

By Air Force Master Sgt. Russell P. Petcoff
Special to American Forces Press Service

Sept. 25, 2009 - The British army's 1st Battalion Scots Guards Pipes and Drums Band played in the Pentagon courtyard during lunchtime today in a show of solidarity with U.S. armed forces. The unit's performance is "an expression of admiration and appreciation of our alliance," said British army Lt. Col. William Swinton, a liaison officer to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In a display of camaraderie, the band played "Scotland the Brave" -- a traditional Scottish anthem -- immediately followed by "God Bless America."

"We came to [the District of Columbia] for a specific reason," Swinton said, "to demonstrate the admiration the British military has for the U.S. military."

The band will go to Walter Reed Army Medical Center tomorrow to play in salute and appreciation to America's wounded servicemembers, he said.

The unit is the oldest infantry battalion in the British army, Swinton said. Each member of the 20-piece band -- eight pipers, seven drummers, four sword dancers and one drum major -- is a soldier and not a permanent musician. They return Sept. 28 to their base at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, England, to begin training for a 2010 deployment to Afghanistan.

"These are front-line soldiers who will be fighting with U.S. Marines in Helmand [province]," Swinton said.

The band's 20-minute performance brought out many people from the Pentagon. One spectator had advance notice of the performance and wore his Gordon clan tartan kilt.

"I'm in a pipe band, so I'm loving it," said William Germelman, a contractor with the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Yellow Ribbon program and the drum major for the City of Winchester (Va.) Pipes and Drums band. "This is just phenomenal."

The British band has been in the United States for about a month. Their performances have taken place aboard the USS Intrepid in New York Harbor; a Scottish-Irish festival in Estes Park, Colo.; and a Scottish Highlands festival in San Francisco.

The band enjoyed playing throughout America, but playing in the Pentagon was special, said British army Sgt. Martin Godsman, drum major.

"It's an absolute privilege and honor," he said. "To come to the heart of this place is just fantastic."

"It's a great honor to play in the Pentagon," added British army Lance Cpl. Robert McCutcheon, battalion drummer. It's "something I thought I'd never do." The band also played at the Lincoln Memorial yesterday.

Besides the Pentagon, the band has the unique distinction of having played in the Kremlin, Swinton said.

The band's visit has been well received, said British army Sgt. Brian Heriot, the pipe major. "The American crowd seems to love the bagpipes," he said. "Everyone seems to have a Scottish ancestor."

(Air Force Master Sgt. Russell P. Petcoff serves in Secretary of the Air Force public affairs.)

Air National Guard Program Cuts Red Tape for Quick Solutions

By Judith Snyderman
Special to American Forces Press Service

Sept. 25, 2009 - An Air National Guard program designed to cut through bureaucracy has led to safety solutions for problems as vast and varied as avian flu, pilot fatigue and reducing the carbon footprint. Five years ago, some Guard members deployed to Iraq brainstormed to share tactical data in a new way using secure computer technology. The result was Project Black Mountain, a program that improved combat safety and led to the creation of the Disruptive Solutions Process, which cuts through bureaucratic static that can bury good ideas and prevent critical problems from surfacing.

"We are imposing upon ourselves a disruption to our own process; we want to see where the weaknesses are," Air Force Lt. Col. Edward Vaughan, deputy director of Air Force Blue Horizons, said in a Sept. 23 interview on "Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military" on Pentagon Web Radio. Blue Horizons is a program that studies long-range solutions.

Vaughan, an F-16 fighter pilot who calls himself "networker in chief" of the DSP program, said commonsense solutions can save lives. For instance, some older models of F-16 jets lacked built-in voice-activated warnings that instruct pilots to pull up when they get too close to terrain. Air Force engineers and vendors had an easy fix for the problem, but no access to decision makers, he said.

"We had some folks who were in the software development world who contacted us and said, 'we can add this in very inexpensively,'" Vaughan said. He added that "by connecting these folks to our disruptive solutions group, we were able to push the solution out and get that voice warning put into those jets. As recently as this summer, we were able to log an actual save, where a guy without that warning probably would have hit the ground."

Improvements that help achieve the defense mission also may help the civilian work force.

The DSP is credited with a program that tests and tracks the movement of bird-borne pathogens, including H5N1 "avian flu" and, potentially, the H1N1 "swine flu" viruses. The program, found at http://dbird.us/, started with the realization that both the Defense Department and Federal Aviation Administration already were capturing statistics on birds struck by military planes.

"The birds, and bird remains, are sent in for identification, [it] turns out by the Smithsonian Institution, and in years past, those thousands and thousands of data points were not being tested for pathogens," Vaughan said. Now the Defense Department is working with the Smithsonian, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agriculture Department and other governmental agencies to make better use of the existing data.

Another DSP-initiated program, Flyawake.org, aims to mitigate fatigue among pilots, air traffic controllers and others. The program, led by Air Force Capt. Lynn Lee, takes algorithms developed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in D.C. for the analysis of air mishaps, and puts them to work to prevent mishaps in both military and civilian sectors.

The DSP group maintains an open pipeline to capture ideas from frontline military personnel, and then acts quickly to select those with the most potential, Vaughan said.

The program's most successful Defense Department-wide project to date, Maintenance Resource Management, found at http://afmrm.org, is credited by the Air Force Safety Center with reducing major human-error caused, maintenance-based aviation mishaps by as much as 75 percent in three years. MRM's program manager, Air Force Lt. Col. Doug Slocum, is now the Air National Guard's director of safety.

A current DSP project with potential, Vaughan said, is a computer "dashboard" application that raises awareness of energy use on military bases to help reduce the department's carbon footprint.

Vaughan estimated that for every hundred ideas that are received, just 15 to 20 are pushed forward. "Fail fast, fail early, fail cheap," is a motto he adapted from Silicon Valley technology gurus to ensure the DSP spends limited resources wisely. However, he added, ideas are always welcome.

(Judith Snyderman works for the Defense Media Activity's Emerging Media directorate.)

Soldier Serves up Counsel, Coffee

By Army Pfc. J. Princeville Lawrence
Special to American Forces Press Service

Sept. 25, 2009 - Army Sgt. Maj. Virginia Stickler enjoys serving up drinks and snacks, as well as a bit of advice, to her fellow soldiers here at a coffee shop that speaks volumes about her deployment. God's Grounds is next to the chapel in an area of repose and comfort that soldiers come to for more than just a cup of coffee. Stickler, a California native serving with the Kansas National Guard's 287th Sustainment Brigade, is the manager, and is more than happy to serve up espressos, slurpees, honey buns and muffins. There is a refrigerator full of drinks and shelves of snacks courtesy of the chaplains, people back home and Army supply. This is a place where folks kick back on the couch, munch on a snack and watch a movie. The best part is, it's all free.

And for those in need of some guidance, that's free too.

"A number of soldiers come here, and they're stressed and they're away from their families, away from their support systems and they come here to kind of talk and ventilate, and I'm able to listen," Stickler said.

For many soldiers, God's Grounds is a source of help in troubled times. Soldiers can talk to people like Stickler, who draws from a lifetime of experience in helping people. She has two master's degrees, a doctorate and experience as both a drug and alcohol counselor and a marriage counselor.

"That experience and knowledge has helped me help some soldiers get their lives back on track," Stickler said. "The ones that I wasn't able to help, I generally refer some to the chaplains' office or various other resources.

"But for the most part, I have been able to talk to soldiers who have been in crisis and they came here, basically for something to drink, and just started pouring their heart out," Stickler said, "and I listened and gave them some guidance and helped them put their lives back together."

Stickler finds it gratifying to help people and recalls a "special case near and dear to my heart."

"There was a very troubled individual whose marriage was on the rocks. This soldier had two children," she said. "I was able to talk to this soldier, as well as the spouse in the states, and we worked on their priorities."

Helping other soldiers is Stickler's way of breaking the cycle. She has been dealing with family problems her whole life.

"I came from a pretty messed-up background," Stickler said. "My father was a World War II veteran and he had post-traumatic stress. As a kid, I didn't know what that was. He was a very violent man. And all I could think of in my high school days was leaving my family because I was tired of being afraid of my dad."

Stickler left home at 18 and joined the military. "I met other people in life, and I realized that not everybody's like my dad and I started to grow."

Her self-esteem continued to grow as she took college courses. After taking a psychology class, she was hooked. Between gigs as a school teacher, college professor, counselor and government worker, she amassed years of experience and was getting ready to retire.Then she got deployed.

"I had just finished a weeklong retirement seminar with my civilian job and that Saturday following, I received a FedEx package in the mail with a set of military orders for [Iraq]. So I put my civilian retirement on hold, and in six weeks I had to go to Fort Jackson, South Carolina."

A religious person, Stickler said she found her purpose during a sunrise Easter service at the birthplace of Abraham. As the sun came up over the ruins, she had an epiphany of purpose, and she knew why she had been placed in Iraq.

"I didn't want to do this because it really disrupted my life," she said. "But you know, sometimes God places us in places we don't want to go. After the experience, I realized why I was here.

"I think I'm blessed as a soldier who came here kicking and screaming, so to speak. Not only was I able to help a lot of people, but I myself have had a lot of spiritual growth and development while I was here. God has used me in a great way, and I'm glad for that."

(Army Pfc. J. Princeville Lawrence serves with the 1st Armored Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team public affairs office.)

Noteworthy new reports from the Congressional Research Service

"Iraqi Civilian, Police, and Security Forces Casualty Statistics,"
September 17, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R40824.pdf

"Iran's Nuclear Program: Status,"
September 18, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/RL34544.pdf

"Military Recruitment on High School and College Campuses: A Policy and Legal Analysis,"
September 22, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R40827.pdf

"The Second Amendment and Incorporation: An Overview of Recent Appellate Cases," September 21, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40820.pdf

"Legal Standing Under the First Amendment's Establishment Clause,"
September 15, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40825.pdf

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Wounded Veterans Find Therapy in Sports Clinic

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 24, 2009 - More than 60 wounded veterans suffering disabilities ranging from post-traumatic stress to amputations are learning "to live again" this week through competition at the 2nd Annual National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic in San Diego. The clinic is sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and features surfing, cycling, sailing, kayaking and track and field events. It began Sept. 20 and goes through tomorrow.

Veterans are experiencing the value of recreational therapy, many of whom haven't been physically active since they were injured.

"For the longest time after my injury, I was kind of homebound, not doing anything recreational," said Marc Lavigne, a 32-year-old Army veteran suffering from traumatic brain injury. "The clinic is really teaching me to get out there and live again and really enjoy life."

Lavigne is unable to work and receives 100 percent disability compensation from VA. He was injured performing maintenance on a vehicle while he was stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., in 1999. He was knocked unconscious when the jack-stand supporting the vehicle gave way.

His recreational therapist at the San Diego VA recommended the clinic to him. Lavigne, a former high school swim team captain, became more excited than he'd been in years, he said.

"It's really a blast," he said. "I never pictured myself surfing, and it was one of the best times I've ever had. Competing here really does show that I can get out there and do things; it might take a little more work than it used to, but I now know I can."

Kevin McCoy, a 39-year-old Army veteran suffering from combat-related mental and physical injuries shares Lavigne's enthusiasm. He's been looking forward to the competition for the past six months, he said.

McCoy has had several surgeries on both of his ankles due to an accident he had repelling out of a helicopter while deployed to Bosnia. McCoy once loved to run, he said, and before participating in the clinic, hadn't done so since April 3, 2006. He ran five miles that day and had his first ankle surgery the next. He hasn't been physically active since.

"The last time I ran was the day before my first surgery, and to be able to have my heart rate going and my blood flowing again was just great," he said. "I feel like we can do anything now."

The clinic also provides veterans with a chance to share their stories and experiences. Competition and esprit de corps goes a long way toward recovery, McCoy said, adding that the camaraderie he once felt as an Army sniper and cavalry scout is something he misses in his new life as veteran and college student.

The opportunity to bond with other veterans and learn their struggles has given him a new sense of motivation to confront and overcome his disabilities, he said.

"The competition is great and being a former scout, we were always on the edge and pushed our bodies to the limit, so to be out here with other folks with disabilities, and to be able to have that competitiveness and esprit de corps back makes a huge difference in our attitudes," he said.

DoD Announces Requirement for New Aerial Tanker Competition

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 24, 2009 - The needs of warfighters and value for taxpayers are at the heart of the new draft request for proposal for aerial refueling capability, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn said here today. Lynn, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Ashton B. Carter, defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, briefed the Pentagon press on the draft RFP to replace the Air Force's aging KC-135R tanker fleet.

This is the second time the contract has been competed. The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, recommended that the Air Force re-bid the contract – originally won by a Northrop-Grumman/EADS/Airbus consortium in February 2008. Boeing protested the decision, and in June 2008 the GAO agreed that there were irregularities in the contracting process.

The GAO said the previous process for selecting a winner was too subjective. DoD took this to heart, and officials stressed this draft RFP is not a rerun of the last competition.

"This time we will be crystal clear about what we want and what the bidders need to do to win," Lynn said.

Price is important in the competition, but it will not be the only factor, Lynn said. "First of all, we'll look at price from a broad perspective, not just acquisition cost," he said. "We're going to include certain aspects of life-cycle cost, in particular fuel burn and military construction; and we're going to look at non- price factors, particularly how each aircraft that the companies might bid would meet warfighting requirements."

DoD and Air Force officials worked closely together to ensure the process this time will be fair, open and transparent. Air Force and DoD officials developed the source selection strategy and it has been approved by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

"The Air Force source selection authority will execute this strategy," Lynn said.

The warfighter requirements – devised by Air Mobility Command – for the tanker fleet have not changed since the last procurement try. "But the warfighter has specified which requirements are necessary for the tanker to 'go to war on Day 1,'" he said.

These requirements are on an acceptable/not acceptable basis, he said. The team has also identified capabilities that would provide some additional value, but are not mandatory.

The buy is for 179 aircraft valued at around $35 billion. If all goes as planned the contract could be awarded next summer. The draft RFP will hit the streets tomorrow. It will be a fixed-price incentive contract in the development phase, and the first five production lots will be a firm fixed-price contract. The remaining production will be a not-to-exceed contract.

"This is going to constrain prices considerably, we believe," Lynn said. "It's shifting the department from a cost-plus world more towards a fixed-price world, and we think that that's going to be an important element in avoiding cost overruns."

Air Force Secretary Donley said the newest KC-135R entered the Air Force in 1964. The first production model of whatever aircraft is selected would enter the force in 2015 with an initial operating capability set for 2017.

Donley said the defense and Air Force teams reviewed the 808 requirements the old RFP had.

"We conducted extensive reviews of the requirements, eliminating duplication, refining definitions, combining where appropriate and ensuring all requirements were measurable," Donley said.

The draft RFP has 373 mandatory requirements. Still there is some value in non-mandatory capabilities, and Donley said the team identified 93 of these added-value capabilities and assigned points to them.

The defense officials said they want to make the selection process as objective as possible. The RFP spells out exactly what warfighting capabilities are needed, but also details what efficiencies are desired, said Undersecretary Carter. To test warfighting effectiveness, evaluators fly each of the offeror's aircraft against he Integrated Fleet Aerial Refueling Assessment model, Carter said.

The model posits a situation where the United States is executing several major war plans simultaneously, and tanker demand is at a peak. The model will answer the question of how many tanker aircraft are needed to execute these real-world war plans.

But there is another consideration: The cost of ownership, Carter said.

"These are the elements, of the life-cycle cost of the tanker, that are under the control of the offerors and which therefore can fairly be used to discriminate the offerors," he said. "The vendors do determine the aircraft design, which in turn determines how much fuel they will burn, over the next 40 years, carrying out the day-to-day tasks."

Military construction projects needed to accommodate the aircraft are also taken under consideration, he said. Costs to adjust hangars, ramps, taxiways and runways for the aircraft will be taken into account.

"So both wartime effectiveness and peacetime efficiency we will assess for each aircraft," Carter said. "We will 'dollarize' those assessments and in dollar terms adjust the bid prices.

MILITARY CONTRACTS September 24, 2009

NAVY
DWG & Associates, Inc.*, Clearwater, Fla., (N69450-09-D-1774); Lake Moultrie Construction, Inc.*, Bamberg, S.C., (N69450-09-D-1775); Mitchell Brothers Inc.*, St. Helena Island, S.C., (N69450-09-D-1776); SBG, Inc.*, Ladson, S.C., (N69450-09-D-1777); GSC Construction, Inc.*, Augusta, Ga., (N69450-09-D-778); Military & Federal Construction Company, Inc.*, Jacksonville, N.C., (N69450-09-D-1779); IronBridge Construction, Inc.*, Chesterfield, Va., (N69450-09-D-1780) are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award design-bid-build construction contract for general building type projects at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, (45 percent); Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort (45 percent); and Naval Hospital, Beaufort, (10 percent). The general building type projects include new construction, renovation, alteration, and repair of facilities and infrastructure, roofing, demolition, and routine renovation. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and two option years, for all seven contracts combined is $100,000,000. Work will be performed in Beaufort, S.C., (45 percent) and Parris Island, S.C., (45 percent), and work is expected to be completed September 2012. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 25 proposals received. These seven contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.

Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nev., is being awarded an $80,613,182 modification to previously awarded (N00024-09-C-6306) to exercise Option CLIN (contract line item number) 0003 for production systems including shipping containers and ancillary equipment and cables for 1,300 dismounted joint counter radio-controlled improvised explosive device (RCIED) electronic warfare (JCREW) systems. Dismounted JCREW systems are electronic jammers designed to prevent the initiation of RCIED. This contract is for the procurement and support of JCREW systems, to be used by forces in each of the military services of the Central Command area of responsibility. The Navy manages the joint CREW program for Office of the Secretary of Defense's Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization. Work will be performed in Sparks, Nev., (90 percent); Rancho Cordova, Calif., (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Sodexho Management, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md., is being awarded a $78,931,079 modification (P00066) which exercises the 3rd Option Year to provide funding and authorizes performance of Contract Year 8 (FY10 requirements) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive contract (M00027-02-C-0001) to provide food services to the Marine Corps and manage and operate their mess halls in the eastern region of the United States. This modification does not include any funding for work that is outside the scope of the original contract. Work will be performed in Washington D.C.; (5 percent); Arlington, Va., (5 percent); Quantico, Va., (15 percent); Norfolk, Va., (5 percent); Jacksonville, N.C., (40 percent); Havelock, N.C., (5 percent); Parris Island, S.C., (20 percent); and Beaufort, S.C., (5 percent), and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Contract years 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (the five year base period and two option period) total $508,051,250. The Regional Contracting Office (Southeast), Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, N.C., is the contracting activity.

Amee Bay, LLC, Anchorage, Alaska is being awarded an $48,492,977 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus fixed-fee contract for the acquisition of engineering, technical, logistic and installation support services, including the engineering and technical support personnel and facilities, required to support all Navy and submarine and surface ship hull, mechanical and electrical systems and propulsion equipment. In addition, the contractor will also provide support to foreign navies via the Foreign Military Sales program. This contract is operated under the Small Business Administration using the authority of Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act. Work will be performed at various locations within the Continental United States and outside Continental United States, and is expected to be completed by March 2015.. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Ship System Engineering Station, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (N65540-09-D-0040).

General Electric, Lynn, Mass., is being awarded a $47,148,749 requirements contract for repair of T-64 engine components used on the CH53D/E and MH53E helicopters. Work will be performed in Lynn, Mass., and work is expected to be completed by June 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity (N00383-09-D-005M).

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $44,489,426 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-05-D-0023) to exercise an option for logistics support for 126 TH-57B/TH-57C aircraft. Work will be performed at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., (99 percent) and NAS Patuxent River, Md., (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 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.

Honeywell International, Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., is being awarded a $30,868,286 modification to definitize a previously awarded undefinitized contract action (N00019-09-C-0004) to a firm-fixed-price contract. In addition, this modification provides for the procurement of an additional 46 Block II micro aerial vehicle systems for the Navy (40) and the United Kingdom (6), with associated spare parts, engineering support services, and training. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($28,242,266; 91.5 percent) and the United Kingdom ($2,626,020; 8.5 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Alburquerque, N.M., and is expected to be completed in September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $299,717 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Del-Jen, Inc., Gardena, Calif., is being awarded $23,127,300 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N69450-07-D-0770) to exercise the second option period for base operations support services at Naval Air Station Pensacola and surrounding areas (Saufley Field, Corry Station, and Bronson Field). The current total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $69,728,751. Work will be performed in Pensacola, Fla., and work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a $22,999,043 firm-fixed-price order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00421-05-G-0001) for spares in support of two E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot 1 aircraft. Spares include two Quick Engine Change Kits; two T-56-A-427A engines; one Rotodome; and consumables. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Ind., (30.9 percent); Bethpage, N.Y., (27.8 percent); Menlo Park, Calif., (23.9 percent); Springville, Utah, (7.5 percent); St. Augustine, Fla., (1.8 percent); and at various locations within the United States (8.1 percent), is expected to be completed in May 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Systems Application & Technologies, Inc.*, Oxnard, Calif., is being awarded a $17,964,468 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N68936-09-C-0003) for additional operational, maintenance, and technical services for the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Ranges Department. These requirements include preparation of land targets and target areas, operations and maintenance of range instrumentation/communication systems, frequency monitoring, field power systems (fuel-powered generators and photo-voltaic systems), photo-electronics (maintenance and repair of video equipment, cameras, tracking mount trailers, and domes), land targets, range scrap removal, ordnance removal and cleanup, range scheduling and billing, meteorology, operational support, stand-by maintenance, and post-operation analysis of test data. The estimated level of effort for this modification is 384,090 man-hours. Work will be performed in China Lake, Calif., (70 percent), and Point Mugu, Calif., (30 percent) and is expected to be completed in September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Systems Co., McKinney, Texas, is being awarded an $11,715,755 firm-fixed-price order under Basic Ordering Agreement for multi-spectral targeting systems (MTS) for the Navy and associated line items in support of the MH-60 Romeo and Sierra multi-mission combat helicopters. The MTS is a forward looking infrared system for the MH-60 helicopters. The MTS provides real-time imagery selectable between infrared and day TV as well as a laser designation capability. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be complete by February 2011. The order under the BOA was awarded on a sole source basis. Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-06-G-8555).

Oroday, Inc., Newbury Park, Calif., is being awarded a $10,257,729 modification under a previously awarded time and materials, indefinite-delivery contract (N00244-08-D-0039) to exercise option year one for instructional, administrative, and academic program support services for the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. Work will be performed in Monterey, Calif., (95 percent) and Newbury Park, Calif., (5 percent), and work is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $3,500,000 will expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was awarded competitively through Navy Electronic Commerce Online website as a small business set-aside with two offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Capitol Technology Services Inc., – Consolidated Engineering*, Washington, D.C., is being awarded a $9,888,355 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery award fee/award option contract (N40083-08-D-0066) to exercise option two for base operating and support services at Naval Support Activity Mid-South and Naval Warfare Center, Carderock Division. The total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $27,456,726. This contract also contains four additional unexercised option periods, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $100,217,696. Work will be performed in Millington, Tenn., (95 percent) and Memphis, Tenn., (5 percent), and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Midwest, Great Lakes, Ill., is the contracting activity.

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., McLean, Va., is being awarded a $9,836,377 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-06-C-0003) to exercise an option for technical, engineering, professional and management support services for the Special Communications Requirements Division of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in support of the Department of Defense, Joint Service, and federal agencies programs. The estimated level of effort for this modification is 131,823 man-hours. Work will be performed in Lexington Park, Md., (80 percent) and St. Inigoes, Md., (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, St. Inigoes, Md., is the contracting activity.

Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $9,726,520 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2100) for Common Missile Compartment prototype material procurement, manufacturing, and test. Work will be performed in Groton, Conn. and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Dimensions Construction, Inc.*, Riverside, Calif., is being awarded $7,034,832 for firm-fixed price task order #0002 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-09-D-1614) for the design and construction of a mess hall dining facility at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The contract also contains a planned modification, which if issued would increase cumulative contract value to $8,459,832. Work will be performed in Oceanside, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Apr. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Solpac Construction, Inc., dba Soltek Pacific Construction Co., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $6,675,000 for firm-fixed-price task order #0012 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-08-D-8615) for construction of an education facility at the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey. The work to be performed provides for construction of a multi-story structure consisting of housing classrooms for the School of Business and Public Policy and any incidental related work. The task order also contains one planned modification, which if issued would increase cumulative task order value to $7,022,000. Work will be performed in Monterey, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 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, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., McLean, Va., is being awarded a $6,492,099 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-06-C-0002) to exercise an option for systems engineering and analysis and technical management services in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Identification Systems Division. The estimated level of effort for this option is 109,760 man-hours. Work will be performed in St. Inigoes, Md., and is expected to be completed in September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, St. Inigoes, Md., is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, Owego, N.Y., is being awarded a $6,444,966 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-04-C-0028) for the procurement of additional common cockpit components for the MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters. Work will be performed in Owego, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in April 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.

AIR FORCE
Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., of Herndon, Va., was awarded a $44,999,065 contract which will provide the Army intelligence and security command force management, transformation development, strategic planning, operations, and all-source threat intelligence analysis. At this time, $7,890,659 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380, DO: 0339).

Lear Siegler Services Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., was awarded a $36,480,912 contract which will exercise option year three of the contract for contractor logistics support for the C-26B aircraft for the RC-26B aircraft for the Army National Guard, consisting of maintenance, repair, and support functions for the period of Oct. 1, 2009 through Sept. 30, 2010. At this time no money has been obligated. 727 ACSG/PKC, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma is the contracting activity (FA8106-07-C-0004, P00070).

Environmental Tectonics Corp., of Southhampton, Penn., was awarded a $34,444,420 contract which will provide 1) a single centrifuge system for operational research, qualification testing, and high G centrifuge training for operational and aero-medical aircrew b) related data; and c) interim contractor support and replenished spares. There are also two priced options for contractor logistics support plus one priced option for contractor logistics support transition and training. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 577 AESG/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8626-09-C-2060).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., was awarded a $24,010,788 contract which will provide initial lay-in of spares parts for Global Hawk systems sustainment. At this time the entire amount has been obligated. 303d AESG/SYK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8620-08-G-3005, DO 0016).

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., of Herndon, Va., was awarded a $17,900,333 contract which will provide command and control survivability analysis and integration for 24th Air Force. At this time, $710,000 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380, DO: 0341).

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. of Herndon, Virginia was awarded a $14,491,612 contract which will provide survivability/vulnerability modeling and simulation analysis for information operations, command and control and communications. At this time, $200,000 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska is the contracting activity. (SP0700-03-D-1380, DO: 0340).

InDyne Incorp., of Reston, Va., was awarded a $14,095,664 contract which will provide Eglin Test and Training Complex range operations and maintenance of test and training areas and technical facilities to include test and training mission support, engineering support for range system design/modification/range configuration and range support services to accomplish authorized range activities. At this time, no money has been obligated. AAC/PKET, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA9200-05-C-0001, P00039).

Battelle Memorial Institute of Columbus, Ohio was awarded a $9,844,183 contract which will investigate, analyze, and enhance the Kirtland Air Force Base chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear readiness and response program, emergency response education/training exercises, and advance techniques for CBRN risk characterization, risk assessment, risk mitigation, and risk management. At this time, $275,000 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska is the contracting activity (SP0700-00-D-3180, DO: 0622).

Battelle Memorial Institute of Columbus, Ohio was awarded a $9,628,899 contract which will provide technical and analytical defense research consisting of capabilities development, studies, analysis, experimentation, and demonstration to identify and address capability gaps in doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education personnel and facilities. At this time, $179,971 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-00-D-3180, DO:0621).

General Dynamics Advance Information System, of San Clara, Calif., was awarded a $8,794,601 contract which will procure counterspace plug in production units and spares kits which provide the warfighter counter space capability. At this time, $8,794,601 has been obligated. SMC/SSSW, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8819-07-C-0004, P00009).

Honeywell International Incorporated of Clearwater, Fla., was awarded a $7,104,300 contract which will provide 82 Embedded Global Positing System Inertial Navigation System (EGI) production units and 52 EGI mounts. At this time, $793,400 has been obligated. 647 AESS/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8626-06-C-2065,P00112).

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems of Clearfield, Utah was awarded a $6,360,297 contract which will support the RS/RV programmer time processor pathfinder. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 526 ICBMS/PKE, Hill Air Force Base, Utah is the contracting activity (F42610-98-C-0001).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Caterpillar Inc., Mossville, Ind., is being awarded a maximum $9,032,311 fixed price with economic price adjustment, long term contract for tractor crawler. Other location of performance is Illinois. Using service is Navy. There were originally four proposals solicited with two responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is June 30, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM500-01-D-0059-0364).

Man Diesel North America, Inc., Houston, Texas is being awarded a maximum $7,061,315 firm fixed price, sole source, definite quantity contract for diesel engines. Other location of performance is in England. Using service is Navy. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is June 2011. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Mechanicsburg, Mechanicsburg, Pa., (N00104-08-C-PA61).

Fraga Group USA, Greenbelt, Md.*, is being awarded a minimum $6,944,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for diesel fuel. Other location of performance is Sao Tome, Africa. Using service is Army. There were originally eight proposals solicited with four responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Oct. 31, 2012. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-09-D-9410).

L-3 Communications Avionics Systems, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., is being awarded a maximum $5,838,730 fixed price with economic price adjustment, sole source, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for calibration test set. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Dec. 31, 2015. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Huntsville, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., (SPRRA1-09-D-0055).

Leaders Take New Missile Defense Plan to Congress

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 24, 2009 - President Barack Obama's decision to restructure a previous missile defense plan designed to protect Europe from a possible ballistic missile attack from Iran provides a more effective, flexible system that will take less time to implement, senior Pentagon officials said on Capitol Hill today. "We are confident that our new approach represents a dramatic improvement over the program of old," Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy told Senate Armed Services Committee members.

Under the previous plan developed by the Bush administration in 2007, the United States would emplace missile-tracking radar units in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. The purpose of the system, officials said, is to protect Europe from potential ballistic missile attacks from the Middle East, specifically Iran.

Obama announced a change in plans Sept. 17. Switching to existing ship- and ground-based radars and using the Standard Missile 3 as an interceptor that can be launched from U.S. Navy Aegis-equipped ships or from land, he said, provides "greater defenses against the threat of missile attack than the 2007 European missile defense program."

By implementing the new plan, "we'll be able to protect vulnerable parts of Europe and the tens of thousands of U.S. troops stationed there by the end of 2011," Flournoy said. "And, we'll be creating a far more flexible and adaptive missile defense system, one that can adapt to provide better protection against emerging threats."

The previous European missile defense plan couldn't be put into operation "until at least 2017," Flournoy said.

New intelligence data, she said, helped to drive the decision to change the program.

"The intelligence community now assesses that the threat from Iran's short- and medium-range ballistic missiles is developing more rapidly than previously projected," Flournoy said, "while the threat of potential Iranian intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, has been somewhat slower to develop than previously estimated."

Therefore, Flournoy said, in the near term "the greatest missile threats from Iran will be to our allies and our partners, and U.S. deployed personnel and their families, in the Middle East and in Europe." That concern, she said, is all the more urgent because of Iran's continued uranium-enrichment program.

The new missile-defense system is based on proven Standard Missile 3 interceptors, Flournoy explained, which can be launched from both U.S. Navy Aegis ships and from land.

"This means greater geographic flexibility, greater survivability and greater scalability in response to an evolving threat," she said. "That's exactly what we mean by a phased, adaptive approach."

Meanwhile, Flournoy said, the United States has "sufficient capability" to deter any Iranian long-range missile threat for many years to come.

Obama approved the new European missile-defense program, Flournoy said, upon the unanimous recommendations of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In late 2006, Gates recommended to then-President George W. Bush that the United States place radar units in the Czech Republic and 10 ground-based missile interceptors in Poland. But, that was when intelligence officials had gauged Iran's work on developing longer-range ballistic missiles as being the greater threat.

The new missile-defense plan, Flournoy said, also "greatly increases our ability to work with our European allies and our partners to strengthen extended deterrents and our mutual defenses."

The United States, Flournoy said, is now consulting with allies Poland and the Czech Republic about their potential roles in the new missile-defense program.

The Russian government, which had been opposed to the previous European missile-defense plan, seems to like the new one better.

"While we certainly welcome Russian interest in the new approach, as well as potential Russian cooperation in sharing data from their radars, this is not about Russia," Flournoy said of the rationale to change the structure of the European missile defense plan.

"Regardless of Russian reaction, we will continue to do whatever it takes to ensure the security and defense of our European allies," she said.

Flournoy was accompanied at the Senate hearing by Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Army Lt. Gen. Patrick J. O'Reilly, director of the Defense Department's Missile Defense Agency.

Providing an effective overseas-based anti-ballistic-missile deterrent is a necessary requirement, Cartwright said, that's "emerging as the greatest need that we have today, that we face out there against these short- and medium-range ballistic missiles."

O'Reilly attested to the capabilities of the SM-3 interceptor missile that plays such an important role in the new program.

The SM-3 interceptor "is a very capable weapon due to its high acceleration, burn velocity and its proven track record," O'Reilly said. Using the SM-3, he said, also provides an "ability to rapidly increase to over 80 interceptors at any one launch site."

Widow Finds Comfort in Military Community

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 24, 2009 - Melina Nolte and her 8-year-old daughter Alanna call this quaint Carolina town home, but not because of its close proximity to the beach or its southern hospitality. They chose Havelock because it's the last place their Marine Corps family was together. Like many survivors of fallen servicemembers, the Nolte's chose to hold on to their military community because it's familiar and offers a strong support system. Military communities give widows and survivors a sense of family when they need it most, Nolte said.

"Just the familiarity of going on base and shopping and seeing Marines, you're just reminded every day that they're there," she said.

Havelock is a small community just outside the gates of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Melina, Alanna and Marine Corps Sgt. Nicholas Nolte were stationed here for less than a year before Nicholas was deployed to Iraq. He was a loving husband and father whose life was cut short at 25 when he was mortally wounded November 2004 in Anbar province.

Melina was heartbroken and exhausted with grief. She savored the memories of outings her young family shared on the beaches and nearby national parks. Nicholas loved the outdoors, but more than anything, he loved being a father, she said.

"[Nicholas] was a really special guy," she said. "He loved the outdoors and rock climbing. He was the kind of guy who always made everyone laugh. He loved being a dad."

Nicholas was medically evacuated to a military hospital in Germany, and then transferred to Bethesda Naval Hospital, Md., He fought hard for his life for 15 days after the roadside bomb struck his up-armored vehicle, but ultimately died of an infection, Melina said.

The young couple's four-year marriage ended too abruptly and violently for Melina and Alanna to stay in North Carolina, she said. She longed for a fresh, new start and thought that leaving her Marine Corps life behind was the best thing for her daughter, who was only three then.

Shortly after burying Nicholas next to his father's grave in Falls City, Neb., they moved to Melina's hometown in Keene, N.Y.

"I just wanted to start over and figure out what I needed to do with my life now," she said.

Soon after the move, Melina realized that upstate New York didn't share her same admiration for service men and women. Her family and friends were mostly supportive, but Melina became disgusted with the overall lack of appreciation for the military she found there, she said.

"When I went back to New York, everyone who found out how I became a widow would say, 'what a waste' or something negative towards the military," she said. "I'd say my husband died serving his country, and they'd respond, 'I'm sorry,' then 'what a waste.' They weren't supportive of the military at all, and I needed people to believe in what he died for."

New York wasn't home anymore. She started to realize that North Carolina was her home, and even more to her surprise, she realized that the Marine Corps was where she and Alanna belonged. Nicholas loved the Corps, and after a little more than a year away from it, Melina was beginning to understand why, she added.

"I felt like I needed to be around the Marine Corps because of their toughness and discipline," she said. "I felt like that was instilled in me."

Melina found a house near Cherry Point and settled here. Many of her friends are Marines, and many of Alanna's friends are children of Marines. They frequently do their shopping on base, and civilians here appreciate the sacrifices her family made.

"Down here, people are a little more apt to say 'thank you for your service,'" she said. "We were able to be more proud of Nicholas, and there was more support. Back home, they didn't get it."

It's been nearly five years since Nicholas passed away, the last three of which Melina and Alanna have lived in North Carolina. Melina, 31, said she'll always have a connection to the Marine Corps, but confesses that she hopes to one day become less dependent on the military, she said.

"I think I'll get to the point one day to where I can leave here," she explained. "Being here helps, and as time goes on, I think it gets easier to let go."

Servicemembers Can Weather Financial Storm

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 24, 2009 - Servicemembers and their families can weather the "perfect storm" of credit, savings and banking crises; bailouts; market instability; and foreclosures, if they stay financially prepared, the Pentagon's personal finance director said here recently. Dave Julian urged those attending the Defense Department Joint Family Readiness Conference here earlier this month to save more than the average American.

"Back before [the recession], the average American spent $1.22 for every dollar they made," Julian said. "If you put that in real dollars, you make $30,000 a year, you're spending close to $37,000.

"The bottom line is, that's the average American and we can't have our servicemembers and families ... afford to be average," he added. "Their work is far too important. They mean too much to us to let them fall into those kinds of traps that are out there that snare most Americans."

A recent report published in the American Psychological Association said money is a "top source of stress for adults," he said.

Many people don't understand how credit affects their lives, and lead to unhealthy coping behaviors, a loss of sleep, strained personal and professional relationships and other long- and short-term health effects, Julian said.

Studies also have linked financial stress as a factor in suicides, he said.

"The Army did say in 2006, [in] 11 percent of the suicides they had, finances were a known stressor," Julian said.

Being financially ready, which includes having good credit, can save a person at least $250,000 in interest over the course of a lifetime, Julian said.

While that kind of savings should be a good incentive, servicemembers have a greater motivator: mission readiness.

Financial readiness begets mission readiness, Julian said.

If a servicemember has bad credit or a bankruptcy or glaring signs of financial unpreparedness, they also jeopardize any security clearance they may have and, consequently, mission readiness.

Servicemembers aren't immune to economic trends, but unlike much of the general population, servicemembers have some resources and protections, Julian said.

"If you take a look at what we provide or what servicemembers and their families have access to, it really can help them avoid some of those pitfalls that are out there," he added. "We have counselors in our family readiness center ... we have command financial specialists embedded in the units.

"We've got online resources like Military OneSource ... if they don't feel comfortable walking into the family center or they don't live near a base," he said.

Other resources include Military Saves, Military Homefront's "Personal Financial Readiness" section. The department also works with other financial readiness partners like In Charge Institute, FINRA Investor Education Program, the Better Business Bureau Military Line and the Federal Trade Commission, among others.

Through these resources, servicemembers can learn how to start down the road to financial success and what tools are available to help them along the way.

The Thrift Savings Plan is one of those tools. It's the government's 401k-style plan, which allows pre-tax contributions up $16,500 and a combat zone tax exclusion up to $49,000, including bonuses and combat pay this year.

Any tax-exempt contributions made to Thrift Savings Plan accounts are not taxable, even after withdrawal, Julian said.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, signed into law June 22, beefed up TSP, adding a Roth 401k contribution option, auto enrollment for civilian employees, survivor benefits for TSP accounts and a mutual fund investment option.

Another savings option for servicemembers is the Savings Deposit Program. It's available to those serving in a designated combat zone. The account guarantees an automatic 10 percent return up to 10,000, but the interest is taxable.

Servicemembers also are able to take advantage of some protections against a bad economy, Julian said.

These include the Nelson-Talent Amendment, part of the Defense Reauthorization Bill of 2007, which caps interest rates for all loans to servicemembers and their dependents at 36 percent. It was an attempt to curb the practice of payday lenders targeting military personnel.

A 2008 report to Congress said the amendment was having the desired effect, Julian said.

Military Sentinel is another way servicemembers can protect their financial security. It's a partnership between the Defense Department and the Federal Trade Commission where servicemembers can report scams and register complaints.

The site is accessible to more than 500 law enforcement agencies and judge advocate generals, Julian said.

Like civilians, servicemembers also can "freeze" their credit by calling one of the three consumer credit agencies. It's good for at least a year unless the decision is reversed, and unlike civilians, it doesn't cost military members anything.

"[This] means that no one else while you're ... on active duty ... can open up or take out any lines of credit in your name without your permission or the person you designated to be your agent," Julian said. "Your identity cannot be stolen if this [is in effect].

"Ten million people a year get their identities stolen, and a lot of people are preying on military now," he added.

Servicemembers also may be protected from eviction while on active duty under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which was expanded in 2003. It also provides a servicemember who receives permanent change of station orders or who is deployed to a new location for 90 days or more the right to terminate a housing lease.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expanded the Homeowners Assistance Program to include wounded warriors and surviving spouses. It also could help some affected by Base Realignment and Closure 05, and those facing a permanent change of station that have been affected by the mortgage crisis.

With all the resources and opportunities available to them, the bottom line is any servicemember can achieve or maintain a state of financial readiness, Julian said.

"Our families are very proud," he said. "They like to pick themselves up by their bootstraps, but hopefully I got them at least aware that, 'Hey, there are resources out there. I can reach out.'"