MILITARY CONTRACTS November 2, 2008

Air Force

The Air Force is modifying an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract with General Electric Aircraft Engines of Cincinnati, Ohio, for a maximum of $185 million. The VAATE Program is a joint DoD/NASA/DOE Industry effort to develop revolutionary and innovative technologies by the 2017 timeframe that will permit an order of magnitude increase in turbo-propulsion affordability over the year 2000 state-of the-art Technology. This effort focuses mainly on Phase II of the VAATE program with some smaller efforts for Phase III. Phase II and III efforts will focus on technologies that address Strike/ Persistent Engagement, Multi-Mission Mobility, Persistent Agile Combat Support./Enterprise and Platform Enablers (ACS/EPE C2ISR (P-C2ISR), Responsive Space Access (RSA), Agile Combat Support /Enterprise and Platform Enablers (ACS/EPE), Air Superiority/Protection. At this time $801,000 has been obligated. Det 1 AFRL/PKPB, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-09-D-2922).

Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems of Warner Robbins, Ga., is being awarded a firm fixed price, time and materials contract for an estimated $8,556,400. This action is for exercise option for Lot 4 of the UH-1H Upgrade Modification to include engine overhaul and installation, both Group A & B kits as well as installation, pre-modification aircraft repair and data. At this time all funds have been obligated. 580 ACSG/GFKAB, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (F09603-01-D-0207-009839).

The Air Force is modifying a firm fixed price contract with Lockheed Martin Co., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., of Marietta, Ga., for $6,123,675. This action is exercise of option for installation of five C-5 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) Kits onto the C-5 Aircraft. At this time all funds have been obligated. 716th AESG/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-98-C-0006, Modification P00215).

The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract with Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., of San Diego, Calif., for $5,962,924. This contract action will provide extension of engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) activities in support of the Global Hawk Program for one month. At this time all funds have been obligated. 303 AESG/SYK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-01-C-4600, P00282).

General Dynamics Information Technology of Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a fixed-price incentive firm target contract for $42,316,801. The Uni-Comm contract provides score communications and Information Technology (Comm/IT) services to AFSPC locations; it also provides remote/IT services in support of AFNETOps at Air Education and Training Command (AETC), Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), Air Mobility Command (AMC), Air National Guard (ANG) and Pacific Air Force (PACAF) locations. The Uni-Comm contract also provides Land Mobile Radio (LMR) zone controller services that support non-AFSPC owned locations, including locations not under the Department of Defense (DOD). $42,316,801 has been obligated. Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity. FA2550-09-C-8001.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., of El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a cost reimbursement with award fee contract modification for $5,822,000. This action provides for Joint Stars Modernization Risk Reduction effort to study feasibility of a Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Radar onto the JSTARS Platform. $5,822,000 has been obligated. Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity. F19629-00-C-0100 Modification P00153.

SELEX sensors and Airborne Systems Electro-Optics (Overseas) Limited of Basildon, United Kingdom, is being awarded a cost plus award fee and cost plus fixed fee contract modification for $6,590,620. The action will provide 1 Lot Contractor Logistics Support, 1 Lot Over and Above, Contractor Acquired Property and Contractor Furnished Material, 1 Lot Award Fee and 1 Lot Data for the All Low Light Television System Applicable to the AC-130U Gunship. $6,590,620 has been obligated. Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity. F33657-95-C-0072 Modification P00093.

Lockheed Martin Corp., of Lockheed Martin Space System Co., Colo., is being awarded a cost plus award fee contract modification not to exceed $27,500,000. This purpose of this undefinitized contract action (UCA) is to provide launch services and hardware coverage for the AFSPC-2 mission and to protect the current launch schedule under the Evolved Expendable Launch Capabilities (ELC) contract. This UCA will cover the Atlas V Geo-synchronous Orbit (GSO Kit and the ELC Mission Unique portions of the AFSPC-2 Mission. The contract has a required minimum lead time of 24 months to build and deliver a launch vehicle. Delay of this action will adversely impact the launch manifest for a critical national security AFSPC mission and the contractor's ability to meet its lead time requirements. $13,750,000 has been obligated. Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity. FA8816-06-C-0002, Modification P00121.

Aerospace Corp., of El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a cost plus fixed fee contract for $797,107,900. This action will provide Acquisition of Scientific, Engineering, and Technical support for the Federally Funded Research and Development Center (Aerospace Corp.) which supports the Air Force and other Department of Defense programs. $27,923,400 has been obligated. Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity. F08802-09-C-0001.

ITT Corp., of Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., is being awarded a cost-plus award fee; cost-reimbursable contract modification for $66,961,335.81. This modification provides for the unilateral exercise incremental funding of contract year (Nov. 1, 2008 thru Oct. 31, 2009) sustainment option contract line item numbers (CLINS) for the Space Lift Range System Contract (SLRSC). The action provides for the continued support for the program management, interface management, systems engineering and integration, depot maintenance transition, product acquisitions and modifications, and instrument modernization for operational systems and infrastructure including instrumentation, network and control display. $8,748,182 has been obligated. Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity. F04701-01-C-0001, Modification P00522.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation of Savannah, Ga., is being awarded a firm fixed price contract modification for $10,018,588.99. This contract modification provides for continued fleet maintenance support for nine Gulfstream aircraft owned by the Egyptian Government. This contract action is exercising option period 1 of 6. $10,018,588.99 has been obligated. Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity. FA8106-08-C-0001, modification P0001.

Lockheed Martin Corp., of Littleton, Colo., is being awarded a firm fixed price contract modification not to exceed $145,600,000. The purpose of this Undefinitized Contract Action (UCA) is to provide launch services and hardware coverage for the AFSPC-2 mission and to protect the current launch schedule under the Evolved Expendable Launch Services (ELS) contract. This UCA will cover the Launch Service Booster, Flight Hardware Mission Unique, and Solid Rocket Booster Nozzle portions of the AFSPC-2 mission. The contract has a required minimum lead time of 24 months to build and deliver a launch vehicle. Delay of this action will adversely impact the launch impact the launch manifest for a critical national security AFSPC mission and the contractor's ability to meet its lead time requirements. $72,800,000 has been obligated. Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity. FA8816-06-C-0004, modification P00012.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Electronic Systems, Defensive Systems Division of Rolling Meadows, Il., is being awarded a firm fixed price contract for $5,514,206. This action is for production phase of the Next Generation Missile Warning System (NexGen MWS). The purpose of NexGen MWS is to improve the existing Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) system's probability of declaring threat missiles and to increase probability of detection in high clutter environments. The contract will include system engineering and program management, travel, logistics, studies and analysis, options for field services representatives and interim contractor support. $4,791,890 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the contracting activity. FA8625-09-C-6454.

Army

Chugach Government Services Inc, Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded Oct. 31, 2008, a $113,750,000 construction/firm/fixed/price contract for manufacture, transport and install relocatable buildings, North Fort Polk, Louisiana, in support of Foreign Security Forces, Transition Teams Mission. Work will be performed in North Fort Polk, La., with an estimated completion date of Aug 24, 2009. Bids solicited were via Sole Source (8) Alaskan Native Corporation (ANC) and one bid was received. US Army Engineer District, Forth Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-09-C-0002).

DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY

The Defense Commissary Agency is awarding an indefinite delivery, requirements type contract to Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., 800 Stevens Port Drive, North Sioux City, S.D. 57049-5005, on November 3, 2008, to provide fresh beef and frozen coarse ground beef products for resale to DeCA's European Region's Central Meat Processing Plant (CMPP). The estimated award amount is $47,053,640.00. The contractor will deliver fresh beef and frozen coarse ground beef products to the CMPP as the need arises. The contract base period of performance is for two years beginning December 1, 2008, through November 30, 2010. Three one-year option periods are available. If all three option periods are exercised, the contract will be completed November 30, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Twenty eight firms were solicited and four offers were received. The contracting activity is the Defense Commissary Agency, Resale Contracting Division, Resale Commodities Branch, 1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, Va., 23801-1800. (HDEC02-09-D-0001)

NAVY

Honeywell International, Inc., Defense and Space Electronic Systems, Albuquerque, N.M., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $65,500,817 undefinitized contract action for the procurement of 90 Block II Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) systems, including associated support equipment, spares, training, and engineering and logistics support. Work will be performed in Alburquerque, N.M., and is expected to be completed in December 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-09-C-0004).

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $19,798,516 firm-fixed-price contract for organizational, selected intermediate and limited depot level maintenance for F-16s, F-18s, H-60s and E-2Cs operated by the adversary squadrons based at Naval Air Station, Fallon, Nev. Work will be performed in Fallon, Nev., and is expected to be completed in October 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $19,798,516 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured through an electronic request for proposals, with four offers received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-09-D-0007).

General Dynamics Information Technology, Needham, Mass. is being awarded $6,850,624 for hybrid firm fixed price, cost plus fixed fee delivery order #NS07 under previously awarded contract (FA8771-04-D-0007) for production and delivery of Automated Digital Network System Increment III low rate initial production units, including program management; configuration management; logistics; hardware and software updates; design documentation; configuration management support; testing support; and on-site technical support. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $10,964,515. Work will be performed in Taunton, Mass., and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command awarded this delivery order on behalf of its organizational partner, the Navy's Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence. This delivery order has an exception to the fair opportunity process pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2304c (b)(3), as implemented by FAR 16.505(b)(2)(iii) and DFARS PGI 216.505-70(2). The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

TXU Energy, Irving, Texas, is being awarded a $57,872,280.84 firm fixed price contract to provide electrical power to Fort Hood, Texas, for 24 months. There were 100 proposals solicited, with 12 responses. The date of performance completion is January 31, 2011. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-09-D-8005.).

UNITED STATES TRANSPORTATION COMMAND

SRA International, Inc, of Fairfax, VA 22033-4232, is being awarded a $6,098,477.30 fixed price contract modification for Option Year Five for FY09 sustainment of the Defense Personnel Property System (DPS). Work will be performed at Fairfax, Va, 22033-4232, and is expected to be completed September 30, 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contracting activity is United States Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., 62225. (W81GYE-04-C-0035/ P00055)

UNITED STATES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

AeroGlow of Gillingham, Dorset, United Kingdom, is being awarded an unusual and compelling urgent letter contract not to exceed $9,350,750 for Hatch Lighting Orientation System, HEED Bottle Lights, spares, training, technical reports and data, and services in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. The work will be performed in Gillingham and is expected to be completed by May 2009. This contract was awarded under unusual and compelling urgency, in accordance with 10 U.S.C 2304 (c)(2). The contract number is H92222-09-C-0003.

Compensation, Benefits Handbook Consolidates Warrior Care Information

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 3, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates calls a new handbook that compiles the myriad information seriously wounded, ill or injured servicemembers and their families need in one succinct, easy-to-read publication another step in improving the care and support they deserve. In his foreword to the Compensation and Benefits Handbook, Gates said its biggest benefit is that it "compiles into one source the relevant information that you and your family previously had to search through numerous sources to find."

The handbook was created to help servicemembers and the family members helping to care for them navigate through the military and veteran disability, evaluation, compensation and benefits programs designed to help them, explained Sharon Gunselman, a department policy and resource analyst.

It walks readers through the processes of recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration back to the military or into civilian life. Each section describes the compensation and benefits available at each stage.

The Dole-Shalala Commission, led by former Sen. Bob Dole and Donna Shalala, health and human services secretary during the Clinton administration, identified the need for a comprehensive information source last year during its investigation of problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Gunselman said.

The departments of Veterans Affairs, Labor, Health and Human Services and Education and the Social Security Administration, as well as other governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations, contributed to the handbook.

The handbook, mandated by the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, is now available online and is being distributed by the services in hard-copy format. It provides Web sites and toll-free phone numbers, and the electronic version includes hyperlinks. Gunseleman said the book will be updated annually to include new information.

Gates emphasized that the handbook is not intended to be a replacement for what he called "the best source of information" -- the servicemember's chain of command or medical and nonmedical care providers.

He noted that because all affected servicemembers will have different requirements, their support staffs will help design individual plans that ensure they and their families receive the support and benefits they need.

"You and your fellow patriots who volunteered to serve in our armed forces have no equal in the world," Gates concluded. "Our responsibility is to provide you care that is unequalled in the world. We owe this to you. We will deliver this to you."

Slowing Military Change

The author looks at the development of military technology in recent years. He examines three major platforms: fighter aircraft, tanks, and cruisers, examining the gaps between generations as well as the capability gains of each succeeding type. While development has slowed, at the same time capability increases have also slowed: it takes longer to get new equipment, and that new equipment is less of an improvement over its predecessor than its predecessor was over its predecessor. Only in electronics and computer technology was that shown to be somewhat untrue, but even there military technology has lagged significantly behind commercial advances. This relative military stasis, in technology at least, has a range of causes: the end of the Cold War, bureaucratic changes, political cultures, scientific limits, cost inflation, a focus on new characteristics that cannot be so easily measured. The author also looks at the strategic environment to see whether that has evolved rapidly while technology has proven more dormant.

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http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?PubID=878

Leadership and National Security Reform: The Next President's Agenda

On March 20, 2008, the Bush School of Texas A&M University hosted a conference on “Leadership and National Security Reform: The Next President’s Agenda.” The participants examined the contemporary international environment and American national security policy for the next presidential administration. How threats, policies, and strategies have changed since 2001 and how the U.S., European, and other international security systems have responded to changing requirements were explored. The conference included a debate on the political parties international affairs positions and focused on three major themes: (1) In the post-9/11 world, what are the threats and challenges facing the next presidential administration? (2) What reforms are needed to the current national, European, and international security systems in terms of policy, institutions, and Leadership? and (3) How can the next presidential administration affect change to improve U.S. and international security?

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http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?PubID=888

Stability Operations and State Building: Continuities and Contingencies

The Department of Defense published its Directive 3000.05, “Military Support for Stability, Security, Transition, and Reconstruction (SSTR) Operations,” in November 2005, to address this area of state building and stability operations. The process of arriving at this point, however, indicates that no consistent view of the state-building mission area exists as yet. The Strategic Studies Institute’s collaboration with Austin Peay State University allowed for academics, governmental and nongovernmental practitioners, and military personnel to step back and review the entire spectrum of state-building needs as theorized and practiced by modern societies.

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http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?PubID=879

Airman Missing In Action From WW ll is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War Two, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Staff Sgt. Martin F. Troy, U.S. Army Air Forces, of Norwalk, Conn. He will be buried on Nov. 20 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

Representatives from the Army's Mortuary Office met with Troy's next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.

On June 30, 1944, Troy was on a B-24H Liberator participating in a mission to bomb an oil refinery in Blechammer, Germany. The plane was shot down by German aircraft and crashed into a swampy area near Nemesvita, Hungary beside Lake Balaton. Seven of the crewmembers parachuted to safety where they were captured by enemy forces and subsequently released. Three crewmen died in the crash and the remains for two of them were eventually recovered and identified. Troy's remains were not recovered.

In 1999 and 2003, Hungarian citizens turned over to U.S. officials human remains supposedly recovered from Troy's crash site. In 2003 and 2005, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) teams surveyed the site.

In 2007, another JPAC team excavated the site and recovered human remains and non-biological evidence.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of Troy's remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.

Postal Service Sets Holiday Mailing Guidelines

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 3, 2008 - As the holidays approach and military families start thinking about what they're going to send loved ones serving overseas, there are a few dates to keep in mind.
"The earliest deadline is for troops that are serving in the Iraq [and] Afghanistan area," said Al DeSarro, spokesman for the western region of the U.S. Postal Service. "You want to send all your holiday mail and packages [to those areas] by Dec. 4."

Holiday mail, including packages and cards, going to military bases in other parts of the world should be shipped by Dec. 11, he said.

"We do encourage people to closely follow these deadlines," DeSarro said. "Of course, we make every attempt, even if you miss the deadline, to deliver the mail to our troops."

Pseudo-Santas who can't beat those dates have another option to get holiday goodies to their destinations in time: Express Mail. But it will cost a bit more and it's not available for servicemembers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes are the best value when shipping to military members serving at home or anywhere overseas, DeSarro said. The largest flat-rate box costs $10.95 to ship to an APO or FPO address. That's a $2 discount, and the boxes are free.

The flat-rate boxes come with another bonus. If it will fit in the box, and weighs 70 pounds or less, it ships at the established rate.

"We also offer a special military package kit, ... and this applies even if you want to send to our troops here in the U.S.," DeSarro said. "If you call ... 1-800-610-8734, they'll send you a free kit of packaging materials -- priority mail boxes, tape, labels and stuff that can make your holiday packing much easier."

When shipping any holiday package, there are some basic guidelines to take into consideration, he added. If a USPS-provided box isn't being used, senders should make sure the box they're using is sturdy. Don't use wrapping paper or string on the outside, and print both the shipping and return addresses clearly. Contents should be packaged securely and in leak-proof containers, and consider the customs of the country to ensure the items are appropriate and acceptable.

USPS also suggests including the mailing address, return address and the contents of the box on a slip of paper with the other contents, just in case something out of the ordinary should happen.

Following not only the shipping date guidelines, but also the general packing guidelines can help the USPS get packages where they're going during their busiest time of the year.

DeSarro urges people to mail as much as they want and as early as they can, noting that officials expect 20 million pounds of mail will be sent U.S. troops this holiday season.