MILITARY CONTRACTS August 24, 2009

NAVY
Moffatt & Nichol, Long Beach, Calif., is being awarded a maximum $100,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect/engineer (A/E) contract for design support services for various waterfront/marine projects covered by the Defense Policy Review Initiative and other projects in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for project engineering documentation, DD 1391s, Design-Build Request for Proposal (RFP) contract documents or Design Bid Build RFP contract documents, technical reports, studies, construction cost estimates, and construction consultation and geotechnical investigations as required for design, analysis and studies. Additionally, the A/E may provide other support services to include post-construction award services, construction surveillance and inspection services, operational and maintenance support information services, and other miscellaneous post-construction award services. Work will be performed in the NAVFAC Pacific AOR, and work is expected to be completed August 2014. 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 four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-09-D-0002).

Force Protection Industries, Inc., Ladson, S.C., is being awarded $8,098,360 for firm-fixed-priced delivery order #0010 modification under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5031) for the purchase of field service representative support for the U.S. Marine Corps in support of the MRAP Cougar vehicles. Work will be performed at Operation Enduring Freedom locations. Work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $6,526,019 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-07-D-0004) to exercise an option for the VH-3D Executive Helicopter special progressive aircraft rework. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn., and is expected to be completed in April 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $6,526,019 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., Kent, Wash., is being awarded a $6,459,897 firm-fixed-price order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-05-G-0026) for the procurement and installation of four winglets for two C-40(A) aircrafts. Work will be performed in Wichita, Kan., (50 percent) and Seattle, Wash., (50 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2011. 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.

Canadian Commercial Corp., General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada (GDLS-C) London, Ontario, is being awarded a $6,403,087 firm-fixed-priced modification to delivery order #0004 under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5028) for procurement of battle damage repair parts to support repair of RG31 MRAP vehicles damaged by improvised explosive devices and similar threats. Work will be performed in London, Ontario, Canada, and is expected to be completed May 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Correction: Contract awarded Aug. 21, 2009, to General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc., Fairfax, Va., for $22,217,150 should have stated the following places of performance as Fairfax, Va., (40 percent); Bellevue, Neb., (20 percent); Waterford, Conn., (9 percent); Manassas, Va., (7 percent); Redlands, Calif., (7 percent), and various other U.S. locations (17 percent).

AIR FORCE
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.,-Marietta, Marietta, Ga., was awarded a $30,202,726 modified contract to purchase the quick engine change assemblies for C/KC/BC/HC/MC-130J aircraft and FMS Norway and India aircraft. At this time $31,972,726 has been obligated. Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8625-06-C-6456).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems, San Diego, Calif., was awarded a $7,113,772 contract to provide peculiar spares equipments for forward operating location of the Global Hawk systems program. At this time the entire amount has been obligated. 303rd AESG/SYK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-08-G-3005, D.O. 0011).

ARMY
DTC Engineers & Constructions, LLC, Hamden, Conn., was awarded on Aug. 21, 2009, an $18,966,995 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of the Armed Forces Reserve Center. Work is to be performed in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico with an estimated completion date of June 3, 2011. Bids were posted on the World Wide Web with eight (eight) bids received. Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-09-C-0067).

Dean Kurtz Construction Co., Rapid City, S.D., was awarded on Aug. 21, 2009 a $10,434,000 firm-fixed-price contract for access gates/perimeter fence. Work is to be performed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD., with an estimated completion date of May 26, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with seven bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha district, Omaha, N.E., is the contracting activity (W9128F-09-C-0034).

Commonwealth Construction Co., Wilmington, Del.. was awarded on August 21, 2009 a $ 5,098,200 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of C-17 aircrew life support facility. Work is to be performed in Dover Air Force Base, Del., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 21, 2010. Ninety-eight (98) bids were solicited with eleven bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (W912BU-09-C-0036).

The Boeing Co., St Louise, Mo., was awarded on Aug. 20, 2009, an $8,433,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to change order for the continuation and enhancement of the ground tactical network for the Future Combat Systems. The modification will allow the contractor to execute tasks in relation to developing prime item descriptions, enhancing the common controller, comply with the NATO Standardization Agreement for the Unmanned Aerial System, initiate network management software for added systems, and enhance the transport layer to meet requirement shortfalls from a government complimentary program. Work is to be performed in Saint Louis, Mo., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2014. One bid solicited with one bid received. TACOM Contracting Center, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-05-C-0724).

BOH Bros Construction Co., LLC, New Orleans, L.A., was awarded on Aug. 20, 2009 a $7,952,381 firm-fixed-price contract for Jefferson Lakefront, Duncan Pump stations breakwater and bridge. Work is to performed in Duncan Pump Stations Jefferson Parrish, L.A., with an estimated completion date of May 4, 2010. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with six bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, L.A., is the contracting activity (W912P8-09-C-1206).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Davis Aircraft Products, Bohemia, N.Y.*, is being awarded a maximum $6,606,437 firm fixed price, indefinite quantity contract for cargo tie down chain assemblies. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. The original proposal was DIBBS solicited with four responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Aug. 23, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Richmond, Richmond, Va., (SPM4A7-09-D-0251).

McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co., Mesa, Ariz., is being awarded a maximum $6,556,888 firm fixed price, sole source contract for tail rotor fork assembly parts. Other location of performance is Mesa, Arizona. 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 Apr. 15, 2013. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Huntsville, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., (SPM4A1-09-G-0004-ZB03).

Voto Manufacturers Sales Co., Steubenville, Ohio*, is being awarded a maximum $6,386,873 firm fixed price, indefinite quantity contract for cargo tie down chain assemblies. Other location of performance is Lexington, Tenn. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. The original proposal was DIBBS solicited with four responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is August 23, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Richmond, Richmond, Va., (SPM4A7-09-D-0258).

Caterpillar Inc., Mossville, Ill., is being awarded a maximum $5,983,632 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for dump trucks. Other location of performance is Decatur, Illinois. Using service is Navy. There were originally four proposals solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is May 31, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM500-01-D-0059-0346).

Peerless Chain Co., Portsmouth, R.I.*, is being awarded a maximum $5,606,201 firm fixed price, indefinite quantity contract for cargo tie down chain assemblies. Other location of performance is Winona, Minn. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. The original proposal was DIBBS solicited with four responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is August 23, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Richmond, Richmond, Va., (SPM4A7-09-D-0250).

Requirements, Cost Control Drive Acquisition Reform

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 24, 2009 - As Defense Department officials overhaul the Pentagon's acquisition system, they're asking warfighters to define exactly what they need, then holding industry to more fixed-price contracts to develop those capabilities, a senior defense official told American Forces Press Service. Shay Assad, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition and technology, cited two problems that have long plagued the defense acquisition system. Expectations were set so high -- and contracts written accordingly -- that systems took longer than expected to develop. Meanwhile, costs escalated, with the Defense Department left to pick up the bulk of the additional charges.

Both practices are coming to a halt as the Pentagon changes the way it does business. The goal, Assad said, is to be more responsive to warfighters' needs and better stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Warfighter requirements always will trump in the acquisition effort, Assad said. "We want our warfighters to have the overwhelming technological superiority. We want them to have every advantage they can possible have," he said. "We do not want this to be a fair fight."

But too often in the Pentagon's drive to provide that superior capability, "we push the technical envelope too far," he acknowledged.

"We are expecting too much, instead of being realistic about what we can achieve in the near term and getting that to the field," he said.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told Congress earlier this year the Pentagon too often makes the perfect the enemy of the good. Gates said the department needs to be more willing to settle for the "75-percent solution" that gets capability into warfighters' hands faster, than always waiting for a near-perfect system.

Therefore, officials are looking to the experts -- the warfighters themselves -- to define exactly what they need.

"Bringing warfighters into the decision-making process that drives acquisition is "a big change," Assad said. "We're very focused on working with the warfighters, and there's a significant amount of interchange," he added.

The dialog promotes a better understanding of what capabilities are available now and can be delivered in the short-term, and which requirements have no present-day solutions and will take longer to meet, Assad said.

Warfighters get to identify, for example, when the 75-percent solution that's deliverable within two years will work until the 100-percent solution will be ready in about seven years.

"Our warfighters sometimes get frustrated because of the length of time it takes to design, develop and field a system," Assad said. "And when we look back on it, the reason that happens is because we did not do as good a job as we should have up front, defining what we need, or making sure that the technologies exist to meet that requirement. So this is a big step forward in being more responsive to warfighters' needs."

Meanwhile, the department is keeping no-bid contracts to a minimum to increase competition. And in awarding contracts, it's helping to prevent cost overruns through better up-front cost estimates and more fixed-price development programs.

Assad conceded that fixed-price contracts aren't suitable for every program, and that it is nearly impossible to estimate precisely how much every development program will cost. But getting a better handle of costs at the beginning of the development process will reduce expensive surprises later in the process, he explained.

"So when we say something is going to cost $50 million, we will be comfortable that it is going to be in that range somewhere -- not $300 million," he said.

Fixed-price contracts, with payouts tied to performance, will make contractors closer partners in ensuring programs proceed on schedule and on budget, Assad said.

President Barack Obama emphasized the importance of these and other acquisition reforms under way during an address last week at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Phoenix.

"Every dollar wasted in our defense budget is a dollar we can't spend to care for our troops or protect America or prepare for the future," the president said. "We cannot build the 21st-century military we need and maintain the fiscal responsibility that America demands unless we fundamentally reform the way our Defense Department does business. It's a simple fact."

Police Department Earns Award for Troop Support

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 24, 2009 - The Santa Ana, Calif., police department will receive the Defense Department's top employer-support award for providing exceptional financial and emotional support to its employees who deploy as National Guard or Reserve members. The police department provides its deployed members with differential pay and continued family health benefits, among other accommodations that go beyond what the law requires.

For example, military liaisons stay in touch with deployed employees to let them know what's happening back at the department and to see if they need anything, Cmdr. Bill Nimmo said.

The department recognizes its employees' military service through newsletters, photographs and prominent display cases throughout the station. In addition, policies are in place to guide supervisors and servicemember employees during the reintegration process when citizen-soldiers return to their police jobs.

Nimmo said the relationship between the department and the military often starts well before a reservist or National Guard member is even on the payroll.

"It starts off in our recruiting process," he said, explaining that department officials specifically look to hire military members. "We go to different bases and places where military people are going to be to recruit military people, because we like to have them for law enforcement," he said.

Servicemembers often make ideal candidates for employment in law enforcement, he explained, because their military background instills a sense of discipline and the ability to work with others on a team, he said.

"In the military, you work as a team, and in the police department we work as a team," he said. "We can't get anything accomplished without each other." Many police officers who have military experience also come to the job with vital training as supervisors or managers, he added.

Of course, the parallels between the natures of the two jobs don't end there.

"A lot of [police officers with military experience] are used to coming under stressful situations," he said. "So if you can perform in that environment, it also helps out here, because a lot of times our jobs -- especially out in the field -- can be stressful."

But department officials also understand the military portion of the phrase "citizen-soldier," and willingly accommodate employees with dual duties.

"Once they do get in the system, we want them to feel like they're able to fulfill their Reserve or National Guard obligation, but at the same time to know that their job here is still safe," he said.

The Santa Ana Police Department will receive the Freedom Award along with 14 other employers in a ceremony here next month. The Freedom Award, instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, recognizes exceptional support from the employer community.

"We were very proud to receive it," Nimmo said. "We were happy that the efforts that we put forward were recognized by someone, and [that] they thought what we did was valuable and good."

In supporting the department's servicemember employees, Nimmo added, officials strive to remove one worry from what can sometimes be a lengthy list.

"We try to take the worry away from them about their job here – they have a job when they get back, and they'll be eligible for promotion or opportunities," he said. "We just try to keep this as one less worry for them."

VA Simplifies Compensation Rules for Post-traumatic Stress

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 24, 2009 - The Veterans Affairs Department is taking steps to help veterans seeking compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced today. "The hidden wounds of war are being addressed vigorously and comprehensively by this administration as we move VA forward in its transformation to the 21st century," Shinseki said.

VA is publishing a proposed regulation today in the Federal Register to make it easier for a veteran to claim service connection for PTSD by reducing the evidence needed if the stressor claimed is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted over the next 60 days, and a final regulation will be published after consideration of all comments received, VA officials said.

Under the new rule, VA would not require corroboration of a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA psychiatrist or psychologist confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor.

Previously, claims adjudicators were required to corroborate that a noncombat veteran actually experienced a stressor related to hostile military activity. This rule would simplify the development that is required for these cases, officials explained.

PTSD is a recognized anxiety disorder that can follow seeing or experiencing an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury to which a person responds with intense fear, helplessness or horror, and is not uncommon in war. Feelings of fear, confusion or anger often subside, officials noted, but if the feelings don't go away or get worse, a veteran may have PTSD.

VA is bolstering its mental health capacity to serve combat veterans, adding thousands of new professionals in the last four years. The department also has established a toll-free suicide prevention helpline -- 1-800-273-TALK -- and has a Web site available for online chat in the evenings at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans/.

(From a Department of Veterans Affairs news release.)