Fort Liberty Name Out. Fort Bragg Is Back

Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not reflect opinions of the Leader’s owners or staff.

The Pentagon will change the name of the Fort Liberty military base in North Carolina back to Fort Bragg, reports The Hill. DefSec Pete Hegseth signed the order last week. The Army base was originally named for Confederate GEN Braxton Bragg, and Hegseth’s order lists another Bragg as its new namesake – PVT Roland L. Bragg of Maine, who was awarded the Silver Star for valor and fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, reports WUNC public radio.

The timeline for renaming Fort Liberty to Fort Bragg was unknown, and the costs associated with the process could exceed $6 million, reports USA Today.

A descendant of Confederate COL Edmund Rucker has denounced demands from Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen that Fort Novosel revert to being named after her distant cousin, reports AL.com. “We don’t want our name back on an Alabama base,” K. Denise Rucker Krepp, a former House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee senior counsel, posted on X.

There is likely to be more base name changes coming, reports Washington Examiner on MSN.

An unnamed US official said that Hegseth did not request more than $137,000 to repair and upgrade his military housing at Fort McNair, reports The Associated Press on MSN. The official said that the Army undertook the repairs on its own since the more than 100-year-old home had sat vacant for a year and needed security upgrades. Democrats asked the secretary last week to justify why he needed the government-provided home and why it needed to be improved, The Independent had reported.

Veterans Affairs leaders fired more than 1,000 employees Thursday as part of a White House purge of government workers still in their probationary periods, reports Air Force Times. VASec Doug Collins said the move will not negatively impact VA health care, benefits, or beneficiaries. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said, “Make no mistake — [President Donald] Trump is looking to fire probationary employees because it is easy, not because it is good for veterans or cost effective. In fact, it is a massive waste of taxpayer dollars to fire employees that the department just invested months into recruiting, vetting and training.”

Some Veterans Affairs employees joined Democratic lawmakers outside the department’s Washington, DC, headquarters Thursday to protest staff and funding cuts for veterans programs, accusing the White House of not doing enough to ensure their government reform efforts won’t hurt veterans, reports Military Times.

The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit expanded its list of commercial drones certified for military use, reports C4ISRNET. Thirty-seven systems and components were added to the list of commercial drone capabilities certified for military use, pending final approvals to ensure they meet congressionally mandated cybersecurity and supply chain standards.

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and the merchant vessel Besiktas-M collided Wednesday night in the Mediterranean Sea, reports Task & Purpose. The ships were operating near Port Said, Egypt. There were no reports of flooding or injuries. The incident remains under investigation.

Two crew members ejected from a US Navy EA-18G Growler before it crashed last week off the southern California coast, reports ABC News10 San Diego. They were quickly rescued by a sportfishing boat. Former fighter jet analyst Rex Rivolo said he was puzzled about the potential cause of crash into San Diego Bay.
It was the second Growler plane crash in three months “For a modern aircraft with two engines, not in combat, not on the range, just flying around to crash, is just absurd,” said Rivolo, a pilot who analyzed the F/A-18 aircraft from 1992 to 2009 for the Pentagon.

The US Coast Guard suspended its search last week for Seaman Bryan K. Lee, 23, who was reported missing from the cutter Waesche while operating in the Pacific Ocean “pending the development of new information,” reports Navy Times. Lee was “unaccounted for” a few days earlier while the cutter was conducting a routine counter-drug patrol about 300 nautical miles south of Mexico. Waesche and other assets searched for Lee for nearly 190 hours, covering more than 19,000 square nautical miles.

The head of US Northern Command believes that more Chinese military flights will be seen near Alaska, reports Air & Space Forces Magazine. Air Force GEN Gregory Guillot told the Senate Armed Services Committee last week that China will increase its presence both independently and as well as increased cooperation with the Russians “in the air, in the maritime, and undersea.”

The US Office of Personnel Management has clarified its return-to-office guidance for military spouses, reports Federal News Network. All federally employed spouses of military and Foreign Service members who work remotely are “categorically exempt” from the RTO mandate. The directive also says federal agencies “may” continue to hire military spouses for remote work positions under the Military Spouse Employment Act or other hiring authorities that allow such appointments.

A new Gallup poll found support among Americans for transgender individuals serving in the US military has decreased to 58%, down from 71% in 2019 and 66% in 2021, reports The Hill. The poll also found most Americans are supportive of women serving in combat roles in the armed services.

Hegseth said last week that the military will no longer allow transgender individuals to join the military, reports Reuters on NBC News. The military also will stop performing or facilitating procedures associated with gender transition for service members.

A page devoted to women’s service in the US Navy was removed this month by the Navy History and Heritage Command, reports Navy Times. In an effort to align with Trump’s recent executive order that terminated diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives across the federal government, the Army and Navy took down web pages that highlight the history and myriad contributions of female soldiers and sailors.

In the wake of the president’s executive order on DEI, defense contractors are beating a hasty retreat from their previous commitments to DEI initiatives and reshaping their public-facing images to fit the administration’s vision, reports Breaking Defense.

The military is reaching out to service members who were forced out or voluntarily left the military because they refused to get the COVID vaccine and see if they want to reenlist, reports Army Times. At least 8,200 troops were forced out of the military in 2021 for refusing to obey a lawful order when they declined to get the vaccine.

Maryland lawmakers have put a hold on a $445 million technology services contract amid concerns about the state’s Department of Information Technology’s role in tech projects, reports Maryland Matters. Two senators, Stephen Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) and Katie Fry Hester (D-Howard, Montgomery), said the state should consider a revamp of DoIT and perhaps turning major tech projects over to an entity such as the Maryland Stadium Authority.

The state has launched the Maryland Public Servants Resource Website, which serves as a hub for programs and resources to support Maryland’s federal employees and contractors impacted by federal workforce layoffs, firings, and changes to federal funding, Gov. Wes Moore’s office announced. There are approximately 160,000 federal civilian jobs in Maryland, representing approximately 6% of jobs in the state, according to Moore’s office.

Contracts:

Bowhead Enterprise, Science and Technology LLC, Springfield, Virginia, is awarded a $52,174,050 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for research and analysis, strategic initiatives and planning, executive leadership management, corporate data management, perform sound practical educational activities, administrative, operational, and technical support services in support of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) immediate staff of Flag Office and direct reporting teams, the NAVAIR Command Strategic Leadership Support team, the Business and Financial Management Competency, the Joint Strike Fighter front office, and the NAVAIR Washington Liaison Office. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (87.5%); and Arlington, Virginia (12.5%), and is expected to be completed by April 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of the award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competed as an 8(a) small business set aside; seven offers were received. NAVAIR, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0042125D0048).

Sierra Nevada Co., Hagerstown, Maryland, was awarded a $29,661,478 firm-fixed-price contract with cost-plus-fixed-fee line items for follow-on support and long-term sustainment of the Royal Saudi Air Force King Air 350ER aircraft. This contract provides field service representatives, program management, over and above, repair and return work, and diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages. Work will be performed in Hagerstown, Maryland; and Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia; and is expected to be completed April 30, 2029. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $2,872,091 are being obligated at the time of the award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8691-25-C-B003).

Gibbs & Cox Inc., Arlington, Virginia, is awarded a $32,435,193 cost-plus-award-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-22-C-2313) to exercise options for surface combatant ship design and engineering efforts for the Navy’s Future Surface Combatant Force, primarily in support of the DDG(X) Program, as well as other emerging ship concepts, and conduct feasibility studies as part of supporting the broader Navy fleet. Work will be performed in Washington, DC (54%); Arlington, Virginia (43%); and Philadelphia Pennsylvania (3%), and is expected to be complete by February 2026. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,338,492 (90%); fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $746,601 (6%); and fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $458,262 (4%), will be obligated at time of award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity (N00024-22-C-2313).

Sedna Digital Solutions LLC, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $13,952,674 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost contract modification to previously awarded contract N00024-23-C-6109 to exercise options for Navy engineering design, development, and supporting material and travel for sound navigation and ranging systems. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by March 2026. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,700,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Manassas, Virginia, is awarded a $11,000,175 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-6258 for engineering support, components, and other direct costs in support of the Integrated Submarine Imaging System. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (49%); Orlando, Florida (33%); Virginia Beach, Virginia (15%); Clearwater, Florida (1%); Andover, Massachusetts (1%); and Arlington, Virginia (1%), and is expected to be completed by February 2026. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,000,175 (91%); and fiscal 2023 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,000,000 (9%), funding will be obligated at time of award, of which, $1,000,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.

J&J Maintenance Inc., McLean, Virginia, was awarded a $7,782,406 modification (P00011) to contract W91278-23-F-0242 for operation and maintenance services. Work will be performed in Honolulu, Hawaii, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 17, 2026. Fiscal 2025 Defense Health Program funds in the amount of $7,782,406 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs LLC, Tulsa, Oklahoma, is awarded a $9,547,384 option modification extending services on a firm-fixed-price order task order (HT001123F0075) issued against General Services Administration OASIS contract 47QRAD20D8141. The task order provides services in support of the Defense Health Agency Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division. The services include management and administrative support; development of standard operating procedures; epidemiological consultations and generation of studies and reports; generation of tools, reports, and products to increase knowledge and awareness of global health threats relevant to Department of Defense bio-surveillance; and creation of predictive analysis products to enhance situational awareness of disease within the military and civilian communities. The modification is being issued subject to availability of fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance appropriations for services through March 14, 2026. The principal place of performance is Falls Church, Virginia. The original contracting method was OASIS 8(a) fair opportunity. The Defense Health Agency, Professional Services Contracting Division, Falls Church, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

DGCI Corp., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $397,716,480 firm-fixed-price contract for contractor-owned, contractor-operated fuel storage services for receiving, storing, protecting and shipping various government-owned fuel at Defense Fuel Support Point Services, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a four-year base contract with one five-year option period and one option to extend, not to exceed six-months. The performance completion date is June 29, 2030. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE603‐25‐C‐5002).

Amentum Services Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, was awarded a $74,836,694 modification (0001BE) to contract W52P1J-17-G-0091 for delivery of critical maintenance, supply and transportation requirements at Fort Campbell. Work will be performed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with an estimated completion date of June 14, 2027. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $4,267,835 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity.

Teledyne FLIR Defense Inc., Elkridge, Maryland, was awarded a $74,226,486 hybrid (cost-no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract to integrate sensors onto the M1135 Flat Bottom Hull Stryker. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Elkridge, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 2, 2029. Fiscal 2024 procurement, defense-wide funds and research, development, test and evaluation, Army funds in the amount of $16,813,554 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W911SR-25-C-0012).

Frontier Electronic Systems Corp., Stillwater, Oklahoma, is awarded a $9,871,875 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N0017825D4502), containing cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price line items for hardware and support for the AN/SPQ-15(V) system equipment and contractor support to Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Dam Neck Activity and coalition partners. Work will be performed in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed by February 2030. This contract is for the government of Australia under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Fiscal 2025 FMS Australia funds in the amount of $500 (minimum contract guarantee) will be obligated at time of award. All other funding will be made available at the delivery order level as contracting actions occur. This contract was not competitively procured in the Federal Business Opportunities. This contract is a sole source, In accordance with Title 10 of the US Code, section 10 US Code 3204(a)(1), as implemented by paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 authorizes the use of other than full and open competition when it is necessary to award the contract to a particular source or sources when “supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in (A) Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition; or (B) Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.” The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N0017825D4502).