MD Fracking Rules Proposed

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.

Maryland’s fracking ban expires in October 2017, and while legislative opponents say they will try to prohibit the practice altogether before the ban expires, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration rolled out new fracking regulations which would ban drilling in three watersheds in Western Maryland and require extensive safeguards around drilling sites, reports The Washington Post. MD Secretary of the Environment Ben H. Grumbles called the regulations “the most stringent” in the country.

Congressional leaders are struggling to find a compromise after Senate Democrats blocked a Republican funding bill over aid to Flint, MI. The GOP bill would fund the government and battle Zika, but not aid to address Flint’s drinking water crisis. Friday at midnight government agencies are set to run out of money and government will shutdown. The bill, a continuing resolution to provide funding through Dec. 9, also would have finalized more than $180 billion in Veterans Affairs and military construction money for all of fiscal 2017, reports Military.com.

WeAreTheMighty.com reports on what the people who fly and fix the F-35 have to say about the most expensive weapons system ever.

Arizona State University’s Global Security Initiative releases a public database rating the relative autonomy of 283 weapons systems on 14 different parameters of autonomy, including their ability to acquire targets, and covers dozens of manufacturers and everything from missiles to unmanned aerial vehicles using publicly available data, reports IHS. (Paywall.)

A tattooed 26-year-old Russian who snowboards in his free time runs a server rental company used by hackers suspected of working for Russian state security in cyberattacks on democratic processes in several countries, including Germany, Turkey, and Ukraine, as well as the US, tells The New York Times no one is interested in the information.

The Navy’s next generation mine-clearing vessel still isn’t up to the task, reports the Pilot Online.

The US and South Korea navies conduct anti-submarine warfare drills to countering North Korea’s submarines, reports National Interest.

Aviationist.com has video of a deafening US Air Force B-1B bomber’s (almost) head-on take off from RAF Fairford, UK, where two B-1B “Bone bombers” were deployed.

SpaceX is taking reservations to Mars for $100,000 per seat, reports Aviation Week.

The Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump debate most-watched in 60-year history of televised presidential debates, reports CNN.com. More than 80 million tuned in.

Contracts:

Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded $27,000,728 for firm-fixed-price delivery order 0002 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N68335-15-G-0003) to establish depot capability for the P-8A Poseidon HF-121C and ARC-210 radio components at the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland (50 percent); and North Island, California (50 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2020. Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount $27,000,728 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Melbourne, Florida, is being awarded $19,976,836 for modification P000003 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-15-C-0091) for the integration of the following capabilities in support of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft: Secure Internet Protocol Router Chat by way of Beyond Line of Sight; Improved Link 16; Concurrent Multi-Netting; Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) by way of integrating Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS); and Cooperative Engagement Capability Accelerated Mid-Term Interoperability Improvement Program. In addition, this modification provides for incorporation of new S-Band frequencies to the MIDS-JTRS TTNT terminal, as well as to add new additional cybersecurity requirements. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida (65 percent); McKinney, Texas (20 percent); Scottsdale, Arizona (10 percent); Salisbury, Maryland (3 percent); and Boulder, Colorado (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2019. Fiscal 2016 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $400,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, is being awarded $10,364,612 for modification to a delivery order 4010 placed against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0004. This modification provides for the procurement of five cabin interior kits in support of the VH-3D cabin interior and environmental control system redesign, which will reduce the weight of the aircraft and allow for greater lift capability. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut (90 percent); and Patuxent River, Maryland (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2018. Fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,364,612 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Ocean Construction Services Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, is being awarded $8,755,000 for firm-fixed-price task order 0005 under a previously awarded, multiple award construction contract (N40080-15-D-0459) for the restoration and modernization of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system at Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by February 2018. Fiscal 2016 Defense health program contract funds in the amount of $8,755,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Public Works Department, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.