TOP NEWS:
Joint Statement by Secretary Gates and Secretary Clinton on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approval of the New Start Treaty
“We applaud the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s strong bipartisan vote today to approve the New START Treaty.
“If ratified, this agreement will advance some of our most critical national security objectives. It will provide stability and predictability between the world’s two leading nuclear powers, reducing the number of nuclear weapons held by the United States and Russia to a level not seen since the 1950s while retaining a safe and effective deterrent. It will restore crucial inspection and verification mechanisms that ceased when the original START agreement expired last year, allowing U.S. inspectors back inside Russian nuclear weapons silos. And it will help keep nuclear material from falling into the hands of terrorists or rogue regimes.
“The committee’s vote today continues a decades-long tradition of senators from both parties providing advice and consent on arms control accords. We especially appreciate the leadership of Chairman Kerry and Ranking Member Lugar in undertaking a thorough review of the treaty and developing the resolution of ratification that led to today’s successful vote.
“Like previous arms control treaties, the New START Treaty deserves broad bipartisan support and prompt ratification by the full Senate. We urge Senators to act quickly and approve this treaty.”
DOD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for August 2010
The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for August 2010.
- Active Component.
- Recruiting. All four active services met or exceeded their accession goals for August 2010.
- Army -- 6,608 accessions with a goal of 6,524; 101 percent
- Navy -- 2,952 accessions with a goal of 2,952; 100 percent
- Marine Corps -- 4,309 accessions with a goal of 4,309; 100 percent
- Air Force -- 3,043 accessions with a goal of 3,043; 100 percent
- Retention. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force retention is near or above the fiscal year-to-date goals for the first 11 months of the fiscal year.
- Recruiting. Four of the six Reserve components intentionally did not make 100 percent of their August recruiting goals to stay within end strength constraints.
- - Army National Guard -- 4,367 accessions with a goal of 6,292; 69 percent
- - Army Reserve -- 1,786 accessions with a goal of 1,792; 99 percent
- - Navy Reserve -- 714 accessions with a goal of 714; 100 percent
- - Marine Corps Reserve -- 309 accessions with a goal of 541; 57 percent
- - Air National Guard -- 523 accessions with a goal of 576; 91 percent
- - Air Force Reserve -- 824 accessions with a goal of 521; 158 percent
- - Attrition. Losses in all Reserve components are within acceptable limits.
Family Matters Blog: Caseys Voice Concerns for Military Families
By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2010 - I've heard many leaders discuss the need for better military family support, but I've heard few do it with the same passion and candor as the Army chief of staff and his wife.
I was lucky enough to catch Gen. George W. Casey Jr., and his wife, Sheila, speaking to an audience about their concerns for military families during the 2010 Defense Forum in Washington, D.C.
After nine years of war, it's clear the nation will be engaged in conflict for some time to come, Gen. Casey said, but less evident is what effect that long-term combat will have on servicemembers and their families.
"We have to try to figure out the cumulative effects -- how they will manifest themselves after nine years of war," he said. "We have to work our way through that."
The past nine years have left a lasting impact on the nation and its military, Gen. Casey said, citing statistics to drive the point home. More than 3,200 soldiers have died, leaving more than 20,000 family members behind. More than 27,000 soldiers have been wounded, with 7,500 of those soldiers severely wounded and requiring long-term care. Since 2000, the Army has diagnosed about 100,000 soldiers with traumatic brain injury, and since 2003, about 25,000 have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress.
"I honestly think those numbers are probably low," the general said. "We wrestle hard with reducing the stigma of seeking care."
Gen. Casey called for better support of soldiers to build their resilience. It takes 24 to 36 months to recover from a combat deployment, he said. Yet, the Army is deploying soldiers at a rate of one year deployed and one year at home. The Army's objective is to have two years at home between deployments, but that won't come to fruition till 2012, he said.
A rapid deployment pace and the current lack of "dwell time" at home have accelerated the cumulative effects of war, Casey said, and his wife agreed.
"Our soldiers are stretched and they're stressed," Mrs. Casey said. "And parents, spouses and children of our troops are all feeling the stress."
Mrs. Casey said she's concerned for the family unit, especially young families who don't have enough time to build the bonds that will sustain them, but yet are battered with continual deployments.
"I worry about the long-term effect this is having on our children," she said.
The general's wife called for more services and support to stay in front of the problem. "If we wait until they're back," she said, "we're not going to be able to react fast enough for them."
She also called for increased support for families with the added challenge of caring for wounded warriors. The support the nation owes these warriors and their caregivers is "significant," she said.
To bolster this support, the Army is putting considerable efforts into developing its behavioral health force, the general said.
Gen. Casey highlighted several Army support programs, including the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, which equips soldiers with the tools to build resilience. The program features an online survey that directs those with needs to online self-help modules. More than 800,000 people have taken the program's online survey since October, he noted.
While progress has been made, much remains to be done, Gen. Casey acknowledged.
The Caseys both praised military members and their families for their resilience in the face of the "new normal" of multiple combat tours. "Our troops and their families have managed remarkably well," the general said. "You can be extremely proud of the men and women, not only of the Army, but all of our armed forces."
I'm grateful for leaders like the general and his wife. People like them help bring light to the challenges our military families face.
North Pacific Coast Guard Forum 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Written by: CDR Glynn Smith
Motion Center Editor's Note: Find More Information and Comment Section HERE:
A quick look at the northern half of the Pacific Ocean on a map or globe shows one of the largest stretches of open-ocean in the world. The vast expanses of our oceans can be a daunting prospect for a mariner in distress, but also provide a potential advantage for a poacher engaged in illegal fishing.
So how does a coast guard type organization provide search and rescue and law enforcement coverage in such a vast body of water? For this region of the world, it is done in part through the maritime services of the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum.
The forum, an international maritime coordinating body, is meeting this week in Vancouver, Canada, with U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp attending as part of the United States delegation.
Japan Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Hisayasu Suzuki and U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp sign a bilateral agreement at the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
Created in 2000, the Forum promotes information sharing and fosters international cooperative efforts relating to safeguarding international maritime commerce, stemming illegal drug trafficking, protecting fisheries, and deterring human smuggling.
The Forum membership includes coast guards and other maritime organizations from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States. Annually, member organizations from each of these nations meet in executive session to focus on issues affecting the North Pacific Ocean, participate in training and exercises, and conduct joint operations at sea.
“Each member organization provides an important piece to a challenging puzzle,” Papp said. “Independently, we cannot solve the problem, but together we can build a comprehensive solution.”
Now considered a model example of maritime cooperation, the Forum is built on a simple formula: all members voluntarily work equally toward solving shared problems and achieving mutual interests.
The cooperative nature of the Forum is most evident at sea where a joint fisheries patrol could easily involve a U.S. Coast Guard cutter with embarked Japanese law enforcement team operating in tandem with Chinese and Russian ships that are receiving aerial surveillance information from a Canadian aircraft.
U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp pilots CCGS Siyay, a hovercraft vessel belonging to the Canadian Coast Guard.
“A true international cooperative spirit is represented in all Forum activities,” said Papp. “The problems we face are common to each Forum participant; therefore, each has an interest in bringing solutions to the table.”
Since no single country has the resources, authorities, or jurisdiction to provide effective oversight across the mission areas affecting the North Pacific Ocean, the Forum fills the necessary gap. Together, the organizations can pool ships and aircraft, and provide the required coverage. And by carrying embarked law enforcement representatives from other Forum nations in those ships, they have the authority and jurisdiction to enforce a wide range of law.
If the past 10 years of Forum successes are any indication, the future is great. Member organizations actively collaborate and seek new areas for partnership, while operational efforts continue to place greater coverage in a region that necessitates attention. Ultimately, the efforts happening far out at sea help each nation by curbing trans-national crime, sustaining fish stocks and promoting safe and secure global trade.
“What happens far out at sea impacts the U.S.,” Papp said. “We have to reach further off our shores and the Forum provides an effective way for the U.S. and other partner nations to meet this common need.”
CONTRACTS DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Science Applications International Corp., Fairfield, N.J., is being awarded a maximum $1,050,000,000 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for maintenance, repair and operations of supplies. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was Web-solicited with 11 responses. The date of performance completion is Sept. 17, 2011. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting agency (SP0500-01-R-0011). By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2010 - I've heard many leaders discuss the need for better military family support, but I've heard few do it with the same passion and candor as the Army chief of staff and his wife.
I was lucky enough to catch Gen. George W. Casey Jr., and his wife, Sheila, speaking to an audience about their concerns for military families during the 2010 Defense Forum in Washington, D.C.
After nine years of war, it's clear the nation will be engaged in conflict for some time to come, Gen. Casey said, but less evident is what effect that long-term combat will have on servicemembers and their families.
"We have to try to figure out the cumulative effects -- how they will manifest themselves after nine years of war," he said. "We have to work our way through that."
The past nine years have left a lasting impact on the nation and its military, Gen. Casey said, citing statistics to drive the point home. More than 3,200 soldiers have died, leaving more than 20,000 family members behind. More than 27,000 soldiers have been wounded, with 7,500 of those soldiers severely wounded and requiring long-term care. Since 2000, the Army has diagnosed about 100,000 soldiers with traumatic brain injury, and since 2003, about 25,000 have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress.
"I honestly think those numbers are probably low," the general said. "We wrestle hard with reducing the stigma of seeking care."
Gen. Casey called for better support of soldiers to build their resilience. It takes 24 to 36 months to recover from a combat deployment, he said. Yet, the Army is deploying soldiers at a rate of one year deployed and one year at home. The Army's objective is to have two years at home between deployments, but that won't come to fruition till 2012, he said.
A rapid deployment pace and the current lack of "dwell time" at home have accelerated the cumulative effects of war, Casey said, and his wife agreed.
"Our soldiers are stretched and they're stressed," Mrs. Casey said. "And parents, spouses and children of our troops are all feeling the stress."
Mrs. Casey said she's concerned for the family unit, especially young families who don't have enough time to build the bonds that will sustain them, but yet are battered with continual deployments.
"I worry about the long-term effect this is having on our children," she said.
The general's wife called for more services and support to stay in front of the problem. "If we wait until they're back," she said, "we're not going to be able to react fast enough for them."
She also called for increased support for families with the added challenge of caring for wounded warriors. The support the nation owes these warriors and their caregivers is "significant," she said.
To bolster this support, the Army is putting considerable efforts into developing its behavioral health force, the general said.
Gen. Casey highlighted several Army support programs, including the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, which equips soldiers with the tools to build resilience. The program features an online survey that directs those with needs to online self-help modules. More than 800,000 people have taken the program's online survey since October, he noted.
While progress has been made, much remains to be done, Gen. Casey acknowledged.
The Caseys both praised military members and their families for their resilience in the face of the "new normal" of multiple combat tours. "Our troops and their families have managed remarkably well," the general said. "You can be extremely proud of the men and women, not only of the Army, but all of our armed forces."
I'm grateful for leaders like the general and his wife. People like them help bring light to the challenges our military families face.
North Pacific Coast Guard Forum 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Written by: CDR Glynn Smith
Motion Center Editor's Note: Find More Information and Comment Section HERE:
A quick look at the northern half of the Pacific Ocean on a map or globe shows one of the largest stretches of open-ocean in the world. The vast expanses of our oceans can be a daunting prospect for a mariner in distress, but also provide a potential advantage for a poacher engaged in illegal fishing.
So how does a coast guard type organization provide search and rescue and law enforcement coverage in such a vast body of water? For this region of the world, it is done in part through the maritime services of the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum.
The forum, an international maritime coordinating body, is meeting this week in Vancouver, Canada, with U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp attending as part of the United States delegation.
Japan Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Hisayasu Suzuki and U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp sign a bilateral agreement at the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
Created in 2000, the Forum promotes information sharing and fosters international cooperative efforts relating to safeguarding international maritime commerce, stemming illegal drug trafficking, protecting fisheries, and deterring human smuggling.
The Forum membership includes coast guards and other maritime organizations from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States. Annually, member organizations from each of these nations meet in executive session to focus on issues affecting the North Pacific Ocean, participate in training and exercises, and conduct joint operations at sea.
“Each member organization provides an important piece to a challenging puzzle,” Papp said. “Independently, we cannot solve the problem, but together we can build a comprehensive solution.”
Now considered a model example of maritime cooperation, the Forum is built on a simple formula: all members voluntarily work equally toward solving shared problems and achieving mutual interests.
The cooperative nature of the Forum is most evident at sea where a joint fisheries patrol could easily involve a U.S. Coast Guard cutter with embarked Japanese law enforcement team operating in tandem with Chinese and Russian ships that are receiving aerial surveillance information from a Canadian aircraft.
U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp pilots CCGS Siyay, a hovercraft vessel belonging to the Canadian Coast Guard.
“A true international cooperative spirit is represented in all Forum activities,” said Papp. “The problems we face are common to each Forum participant; therefore, each has an interest in bringing solutions to the table.”
Since no single country has the resources, authorities, or jurisdiction to provide effective oversight across the mission areas affecting the North Pacific Ocean, the Forum fills the necessary gap. Together, the organizations can pool ships and aircraft, and provide the required coverage. And by carrying embarked law enforcement representatives from other Forum nations in those ships, they have the authority and jurisdiction to enforce a wide range of law.
If the past 10 years of Forum successes are any indication, the future is great. Member organizations actively collaborate and seek new areas for partnership, while operational efforts continue to place greater coverage in a region that necessitates attention. Ultimately, the efforts happening far out at sea help each nation by curbing trans-national crime, sustaining fish stocks and promoting safe and secure global trade.
“What happens far out at sea impacts the U.S.,” Papp said. “We have to reach further off our shores and the Forum provides an effective way for the U.S. and other partner nations to meet this common need.”
CONTRACTS DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
GearyEnergy, LLC*, Tulsa, Okla., is being awarded a maximum $13,678,892 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for direct supply of natural gas. Other locations of performance are throughout the United States. Using services are Army, Air Force and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was Web-solicited with 29 responses. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2012. Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-10-D-7502).
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Rolling Meadows, Ill., is being awarded a maximum $9,190,500 firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for infrared processors. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Navy. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is July 30, 2011. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPRPA1-09-G-004Z-5002).
Oneok Energy Marketing, Topeka, Kan., is being awarded a maximum $6,252,360 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for direct supply of natural gas. Other locations of performance are throughout the United States. Using services are Air Force and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was Web-solicited with 29 responses. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2012. The Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-10-D-7515).
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Rolling Meadows, Ill., is being awarded a maximum $5,739,713 firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for infrared sensors. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Navy. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is July 30, 2011. The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPRPA1-09-G-004Z-5003).
NAVY
Caterpillar, Inc., Mossville, Ill., is being awarded a $641,200,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a maximum order quantity of 909 621 G wheeled tractor-scraper systems to support Marine Corps and Army units in support of world-wide operations. Work will be performed in Mossville, Ill., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 14, 2020. Army contract funds in the amount of $1,634,448 will expire by the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is a full and open competition with one offer received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-10-D-5117).
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $424,400,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-09-C-0010) for sustainment activities in support of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter air system Low Rate Initial Production Lot IV production. Sustainment activities will include autonomic logistics information system operations and support, block upgrade and concurrency modification planning, site activation, training systems, and support equipment. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent). Work is expected to be completed in December 2012. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($61,990,750; 15 percent), U.S. Air Force ($135,694,000; 31 percent), U.S. Marine Corps ($194,465,750; 46 percent), and international partners ($32,249,500; 8 percent). 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.
Watts Webcor Obayashi A, JV, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a $158,132,500, firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of a replacement hospital in Guam. The work to be performed provides for the construction of a new replacement Naval Hospital. The work also includes demolition of the existing Naval Hospital and various designated structures and the expansion of the Central Utility Plant building. Work shall be phased so that the existing hospital remains operational during construction of the new hospital, and new hospital shall be operational before demolition of existing hospital. Work will be performed on Marianas Island, Guam, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 2014. The Guam Naval Hospital Replacement is not a part of, or related to, the Defense Policy Review Initiative Military Relocation program, potentially involving the transfer of Marines from Okinawa to Guam. 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 five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-10-C-1304).
General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., is being awarded $146,290,144 for a firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the production of digital modular radios, high frequency distribution amplifier group and associated supplies/services. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $544,020,656. Work will be performed in Scottsdale, Ariz. (50 percent); Crawley, England (25 percent); and Clarksburg, Md. (25 percent). Work is expected to be completed by May 2013. If all options are exercised, work could continue until September 2018. Contract funds in the amount of $230,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured because General Dynamics C4 Systems developed digital modular radio hardware components, operating software, waveform generating software, radio control software and the cryptographic algorithm generating software for the embedded cryptographic modules in the radio. Thus, General Dynamics C4 Systems is the only qualified manufacturing source with the knowledge and technical expertise to produce the Digital Modular Radio system. General Dynamics C4 Systems is also the only vendor capable of efficiently integrating the high frequency distribution amplifier group, addressing technical issues identified in the software trouble reports and adding new encryption algorithm to the digital modular radio system. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Headquarters, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-10-C-0069).
Harris Corp., RF Communications Division, Rochester, N.Y., is being awarded a $70,000,000 ceiling increase modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract (N00039-07-D-0001) for the procurement of the following Harris handheld, manpack, fixed mount, vehicular, and/or base station configuration of radio families: AN/PRC-117, AN/PRC-150, AN/PRC-152, as well as related ancillary parts for the warfighter. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $165,800,000. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured because Harris Corp., RF Communications Division, is the sole provider of AN/PRC-117, AN/PRC-150, and AN/PRC-150 radio systems. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
ITT Communications Systems, Fort Wayne, Ind., is being awarded a $49,529,759 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for in-service and technical support, maintenance/upgrades, and enhancements to the baseline Joint Tactical Radio System Bowman Waveform. Work will be performed in Fort Wayne, Ind., and is expected to be completed by September 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-10-D-0047).
BAE Systems Controls, Inc., Johnson City, N.Y., is being awarded a $39,572,550 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-10-D-0004) for the procurement of up to 106 A and B kits for the AN/ASW-60 Digital Autopilot System hardware for the U.S. Navy (76) and the government of Norway (30). Work will be performed at Johnson City, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in September 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($27,627,930; 74 percent) and the government of Norway ($11,944,620; 26 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. - Electronic Solutions, Wayne, N.J., is being awarded a $34,517,049 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Systems Engineering and Integration of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs). In support of MIDS-LVT production, BAE shall maintain MIDS-LVT software. The MIDS-LVT provides secure, high capacity, jam resistant, digital data and voice communications capability for U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army platforms, and the platforms of the nations of France, Italy, Germany and Spain. Work will be performed in Wayne, N.J. (98 percent), and Paris, France (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is a sole-source acquisition. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-10-D-0060).
Sodexho Management, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md., is receiving a $27,832,265 modification (P00084) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, incentive contract (M00027-02-C-0001) to exercise an option to extend services for East Coast Regional Garrison Food Service. This contract provides food services to the Marine Corps to manage and operate their mess halls in the eastern region of the United States. This modification does not include any work that is outside the scope of the original contract. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, N.C. (40 percent); Quantico, Va. (15 percent); Parris Island, S.C. (20 percent); Washington, D.C. (5 percent); Arlington, Va. (5 percent); Norfolk, Va. (5 percent); Havelock, N.C. (5 percent); and Beaufort, S.C. (5 percent). Work is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2011. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Contract years one through eight (the five-year base period, and three option periods) total $594,409,121. The Regional Contracting Office (Southeast), Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., is the contracting activity.
Data Link Solutions, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $24,629,268 firm-fixed-price delivery order under a previously awarded contract (N00039-10-D-0031) for Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs). The MIDS-LVT provides secure, high capacity, jam resistant, digital data and voice communications capability for Navy, Air Force and Army platforms. This delivery order combines purchases for the United States (11 percent) and the governments of Finland (38 percent), Pakistan (46 percent) and Hungary (5 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Wayne, N.J. (50 percent), and Cedar Rapids, Iowa (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $636,195 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Space and Naval Warfare E-commerce website, with two offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Northrop Grumman Corp., Aerospace Systems, Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a $19,713,414 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N00019-08-C-0023) in support of the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) System Development and Demonstration. This modification provides for radar risk reduction flight test efforts for the BAMS UAS. Work will be performed in Rancho Bernardo, Calif. (90 percent), and Bethpage, N.Y. (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 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.
Rock Industries, Inc.*, Bannockburn, Ill. (N40083-10-D-3022); Applied Thermal Coatings*, Romeoville, Ill. (N40083-10-D-3023); Alacran Contracting, LLC*, Rockford, Ill. (N40083-10-D-3024); Scott Reliance, JV*, Chicago, Ill. (N40083-10-D-3025); and Dae Sung Corp.*, Frankfort, Ill. (N40083-10-D-3040), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award design-build construction contract for roofing construction projects located primarily within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Midwest area of responsibility. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and four option years, for all five contracts combined is $15,000,000. Alacran Contracting, LLC, is being awarded task order #0001 at $747, 370 for the removal of the existing built-up roofing system at Building 238 at Naval Station Great Lakes, Great Lakes, Ill. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by November 2010. All work on this contract will be performed in Great Lakes, Ill. (70 percent), and within a 100-mile radius of Great Lakes, Ill. (30 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of September 2015. Contract funds for task order #0001 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with eight proposals received. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Midwest, Great Lakes, Ill., is the contracting activity.
Jacobs Technology, Inc., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is being awarded $12,058,815 for task order #0031 under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (M67854-02-A-9017) to provide support of the transition from the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) environment to the next Marine Corps (USMC) Information Technology (IT) environment. This includes financial planning, programming, budgeting and execution of the USMC enterprise budget throughout the Future Year Defense Plan; 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 Dumfries, Va. (96 percent); Washington, D.C. (3 percent); and Stafford, Va. (1 percent). Work is expected to be completed in September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $12,058,815 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
General Dynamics Information Technology, Fairfax, Va., is being awarded $10,000,000 for cost-plus-fixed-fee task order EJG1 under previously awarded SeaportE multiple award contract (N00178-04-D-4012) for analyzing, designing, researching, developing and implementing innovative and special engineering solutions to ergonomic, fall, electrical, and other "Workplace Environment" issues within the purview of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC). The work to be performed provides for initial site surveys, develop/design code-compliant resolutions for each identified hazard; conducting cost/benefit trade-offs for each option and provide recommendations to contracting officer's technical representative for implementation of the most cost effective solutions associated with occupational health and safety issues. The task order also contains four unexercised options which, if exercised, would increase cumulative task order value to $39,000,000. Work will be performed throughout NAVFAC Pacific and NAVFAC Atlantic areas of responsibility within and outside the continental United States, and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $4,355,692 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Specialty Center Acquisitions, Port Hueneme, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Matthews Manufacturing Inc.*, St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $9,837,425 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for multi-spectral targeting system turret unit shipping and storage containers use by the Navy, Army and Air Force aircraft programs which utilize the multi-spectral targeting system. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2015. Contract funds in the amount of $35,300 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with four offers received. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-10-D-JQ25).
Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, is being awarded an $8,892,667 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed priced performance-based contract for support services which include engineering and technical services for cryptologic systems and antennas. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated $44,243,298. Work will be performed in Texas (92 percent), Virginia (2 percent), California (2 percent), Hawaii (2 percent), and Japan (2 percent). Work is expected to be completed September 2011. If all options are exercised, work could continue until September 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-10-D-6841).
Goodrich Corp., Sensors and Integrated Systems, Vergennes, Vt., is being awarded a $5,765,474 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0298) for the procurement of 19 MH-53 integrated mechanical diagnostic and health usage monitoring system units. Work will be performed in Vergennes, Vt., and is expected to be completed in September 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.
ViaSat, Carlsbad, Calif., is being awarded a $5,521,059 firm-fixed-price delivery order for multifunctional information distribution system-low volume terminals (MIDS-LVTs). The MIDS-LVT provides secure, high capacity, jam resistant, digital data and voice communications capability for Navy, Air Force and Army platforms. This delivery order combines purchases for the United States (64 percent) and the government of Australia (36 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. Contract funds in the amount of $723,211 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, Calif. (30 percent), and in various other sites worldwide (70 percent). Work is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2012. This contract was competitively procured via the Space and Naval Warfare E-commerce website, with two offers received. The synopsis was released via the Federal Business Opportunities website. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-10-D-0032).
AIR FORCE
Alenia North America, Inc., Washington, D.C., was awarded a $30,240,664 contract modification for the refurbishment of two G222 aircrafts including ballistic protection for the cockpit and liquid oxygen compartment, technical support and travel in support of the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps. At this time, $30,240,664 has been obligated. WR-ALC/GRBKB, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8504-08-C-0007; P00006).
Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $24,898,128 contract which will provide threat and vulnerability assessments, periodic anti-terrorism and force protection intelligence summaries and threat intelligence briefings to Army counterintelligence senior leaders. At this time, $1,410,189 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380; Delivery Order 391).
Boeing Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Seattle, Wash., was awarded a $19,650,233 contract modification which will exercise the options for the Phase II-A production requirements of the radar system improvement programs capability for the Royal Saudi Air Force AWACS fleet of five aircraft. At this time, $19,650,233 has been obligated. AASSD/HBSK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (F19628-01-D-0016; Delivery Order 0070; Modification 003).
EDO Communications & Countermeasures Systems, Inc., Thousand Oaks, Calif., was awarded a $11,400,000 contract modification which will provide sustaining engineering services in support of the B-1 and B-52 mission data test laboratories and special test equipment. Planned taskings will directly support the maintenance, operation and technical capabilities of the electronic warfare systems mock-ups, special test equipment and mobile test facilities. At this time, $782,309.45 has been obligated. AAC/PKES, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA9200-10-D-0273; FA9200-10-D-0273, 0001).
BAE Systems National Security Solutions, BAE Systems Advanced Information Technologies, Inc., Burlington, Mass., was awarded a $7,390,057 contract which will develop information diffusion models over evolvable social networks with the ability to monitor impact and to generate an adaptive question plan for the patrollers. Final deliverables are software and a final technical report. At this time, $981,791 has been obligated. AFRL/RIKE, Rome, N.Y., is the contracting activity (FA8750-10-C-0207).
*Small business
Air Force Races Ahead as Scientific Field Levels Out
By Ian Graham
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2010 - The world is flattening because engineering capabilities are becoming more and more widely available, the Air Force's chief scientist said this week.
That poses a significant challenge to the United States, because technologies that were once purely in the realm of top-level military research and development are now in the hands of more and more allies and potential enemies, Werner J.A. Dahm said during a Sept. 13 "DoD Live" bloggers roundtable.
"There is, I would say, greater risk as a result of that," he said. "The number of peers and near-peers who we could potentially face over the next 20 years and beyond is certainly going to grow. The world, as we say, is flattening from a science and technology and engineering-derived-capabilities perspective."
And the United States is not going to be able to stop the world from flattening, he added.
"That is a one-way train that is going to continue, and we recognize that, and it is irreversible," he said. "And it's the Air Force's challenge to maintain its technological superiority in that environment."
Dahm also discussed key findings and summarized major elements contained in the recently completed Air Force Technology Horizons effort. Technology Horizons is vision that will be used to focus Air Force Science and Technology efforts in the coming decades.
Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley announced at this year's Air Force Association conference that the completion of Technology Horizons is one of the Air Forces' major accomplishments this year. The project was announced publicly at last year's conference.
"The major findings of Technology Horizons are, first of all, that the Air Force is going to have to do far broader and deeper use of autonomous systems and processes to get manpower efficiencies, which we desperately need," Dahm said, "as well as capability increases to meet some of the challenges we face."
The increase in use of augmentation doesn't end at using remote-controlled or computer-controlled vehicles or weapons, Dahm said. The second major finding is that the military is going to have to conduct further research into human performance augmentation and human-machine coupling.
"To get many of the benefits of greater use of autonomous systems and processes," he said, "we will also need to go much deeper into human-machine coupling, as opposed to human-machine interfaces -- since humans are recognized as becoming increasingly less well matched in terms of their natural capacities to the demands that technology has -- and then finally even going so far as direct augmentation of humans using technologies in some cases developed from the world of prosthetics and elsewhere."
Dahm said the third major finding was the necessity for development of technology to allow more freedom of operations in contested areas.
"Those include quantum-interferometry approaches to provide us GPS-like capabilities for [positioning, navigation and timing], even in GPS-denied environments," he said, "a shift from cyber defense to cyber resilience using technologies for massive virtualization, and then finally, technologies for electromagnetic spectrum dominance in the increasingly crowded and contested [electromagnetic] environment that we work in."
The Air Force has the means to keep its position as a technology leader, Dahm said -- it's simply going to be a different game to play in the future. While the hierarchy of technological dominance levels out, he said, the Air Force will have to work harder to stay ahead of its adversaries.
"I think our job as an Air Force, through efforts like Technology Horizons, is to in effect stay ahead of the curve in order to have a better, a clearer, a sharper understanding of where those disproportionately valuable technologies are, both on the opportunity side for the U.S. Air Force and the broader joint force, as well as on the threat side, those technologies that would be disproportionately valuable to our potential adversaries," Dahm said.
"I think we can avoid technology surprise, or at least we can minimize the risk of it, through efforts like Technology Horizons that allow the Air Force to step back from its day-to-day narrower look at the technology landscape and really look from the 65,000-foot view over, say, a decade-long period and assess where the great opportunities and risks are, and then prepare itself to address those risks," he added.
Biographies:
Werner J.A. Dahm
