NavSec Del Toro Violates Hatch Act

NavSec Carlos Del Toro visits the Office of Naval Intelligence in Suitland, MD, on September 4. (US Navy photo)

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.

NavSec Carlos Del Toro violated the Hatch Act for voicing support for President Joe Biden during a work trip to the United Kingdom in January, reports CNN. The Hatch Act prohibits federal officials from participating in political activities while serving in their official capacity and in their federal workplace.

Some House lawmakers are asking leadership for enhanced classified information training, reports The Hill. “We respectfully request that you consider strongly encouraging and expanding opportunities for all Members of Congress to receive training on the proper handling of classified information, beginning in the 119th Congress,” reads a letter led by Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Laurel Lee (R-FL).

A military service interment with honors was held last week for US Private 1st Class Lemuel Dent Jr. at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery in southern Prince George’s County. The Charles County resident served as part of the Buffalo Soldiers and was recently identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency nearly 80 years after he was killed in action, reports Fox News. Dent, of Ironsides, was 30 at the time of his death. The DPAA is working to identify dozens of Black soldiers killed in World War II. They served as part of the 92nd Infantry Division, known as the Buffalo Soldiers.

Will Durant, president and COO of the Energetics Technology Center, headquartered in Indian Head, noted that several provisions contained in the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, which was passed in December 2023, offered “the most significant related to energetics that we’ve seen in many, many years,” he told National Defense. Indian Head and the surrounding area have become a hub for companies dealing in energetic materials: the chemicals used in explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics.

Federal News Network reports its investigation has found that the US Navy’s new electronic procurement system is facing similar challenges as previous failed efforts. The Department of the Navy’s third attempt to modernize its contract writing system and overall electronic procurement system is facing similar problems as earlier projects.

There’s a $10 million reward for each of the six Russian nationals, including military officers, wanted in a cybercrimes case announced Thursday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and US Attorney in Baltimore, reports WBAL News Radio. A federal official said the “WhisperGate” malware attack in January 2022 could be considered the first shot in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The cyberattacks penetrated US companies as well.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and National Security Agency assess that cyber actors affiliated with the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate 161st Specialist Training Center are responsible for computer network operations against global targets for the purposes of espionage, sabotage, and reputational harm since at least 2020. GRU Unit 29155 cyber actors began deploying the destructive WhisperGate malware against multiple Ukrainian victim organizations as early as Jan. 13, 2022, according to an advisory issued last Thursday.

The US Air Force said a new air superiority concept could open up more opportunities to smaller and non-traditional firms to compete for elements of the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance fighter system, reports Military Times. AFSec Frank Kendall said in June that NGAD was on track to cost about three times as much as an F-35, placing its potential price tag at as much as $300 million apiece.

Raytheon has been awarded a US Air Force contract, valued at up to $1,04 billion, to enhance the sensor capabilities of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jet, reports Aerotime.

Northrop Grumman says that adding a pilot on its Model 437 “Vanguard” autonomous collaborative aircraft will speed demonstrations and test flying, because it can overfly populated areas without special permits from the Federal Aviation Administration and will not be restricted to test ranges cleared for uncrewed aircraft, reports Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Boeing is offering the CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter to Poland, reports Aerotime. The CH-47 is an advanced, tandem rotor helicopter that can help perform many tasks, including transport cargo and troop, search and rescue missions, and carry out special operations.

NATO has selected Exail Robotics to produce mine-clearing underwater drones capable of finding and clearing naval mines to be used by Belgium and the Netherlands, report C4ISRNET. Exail was awarded a $67 million contract for the procurement of an undisclosed number of its K-Ster C expendable mine disposal vehicles and K-Ster CT training vehicles.

The US Department of Defense wants American researchers to study antibiotic-resistant wounds in Ukraine to help improve the country’s medical care and prepare US medical personnel to encounter similar challenges in a future war, reports Task & Purpose.

The US Coast Guard and US Navy rescued the passengers of a vessel caught in bad weather off the coast of Hawaii, reports Navy Times. Responding to an emergency call, the crew arrived to find a 47-foot sailboat broadcasting mayday calls from a 47-year-old woman who said she and her 7-year-old daughter were on board and in need of rescue.

A US Navy sailor has been detained since late last month in Venezuela after traveling there unauthorized on personal business, reports Navy Times. A Pentagon official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the service member was neither on official travel nor did they have authorized leave to visit Venezuela.

The US Drought Monitor releases a map every Thursday, showing where drought is and how bad it is across the US and its territories. The map uses six classifications: normal conditions, abnormally dry, showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought: moderate, severe, extreme, and exceptional. The latest map, released Sept. 5, shows Southern Maryland labeled D0, or “abnormally dry.”

US Wind’s Maryland offshore wind project was approved last week by the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, reports Maryland Matters. The project is expected to generate more than 2 gigawatts of renewable energy for the Delmarva Peninsula, enough to power more than 718,000 homes. The lease area is approximately 8.7 nautical miles off the coast of Ocean City.

Maryland will join a new free tax filing program with the Internal Revenue Service, reports WBAL News Radio. The program is called “Direct File,” and Marylanders will be able to start using the program in January 2025. Direct File will streamline federal and state tax filings.

A high school team mentored by Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division — the RoboLancers of Central High School — recently won a world title at the FIRST Robotics Championship in Houston, TX, the Office of Naval Research announced. Naval STEM coordinates investments in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education, outreach, and workforce initiatives across the Department of the Navy.

Due to the large turnout, the 2024 announcement of Naval Horizons Highest Honors winners has been delayed, reports Naval Horizons. The group expects to provide an update on Sept. 30. Naval Horizons introduces students to cutting-edge STEM topics that impact the US Navy and Marine Corps – to include autonomy, oceanography, cybersecurity, undersea medicine, and more.

The deadline to enter the US Navy’s Next Jet Competition is Oct. 15. Students from kindergarten through 12th grades across Southern Maryland are invited to submit their futuristic jet designs for a chance to earn a tour with a NAWCAD squadron and experience naval aviation up close, according to NAVAIR at NAS Pax River.

Contracts:

J.F. Taylor Inc., Great Mills, Maryland, is awarded a $563,189,472 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides continued design, development, documentation, coding and/or fabrication, integration and delivery of simulation systems supporting research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) and acquisition program activities as well as fleet operator training. This requirement also includes associated services for the upgrade, maintenance, and sustainment of simulation systems and the operational support of those systems associated with RDT&E activities for the Navy. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (55%); and Great Mills, Maryland (45%), and is expected to be completed in September 2029. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; one offeror was received. Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0042124D0021).

Federal Connect LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland, is awarded an estimated $72,098,863 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price ordering provisions to provide research and surveillance support services required to conduct medical research, development, testing infectious disease samples, evaluation, and surveillance to enhance deployment readiness of Department of Defense personnel worldwide in support of Naval Health Research Center Operation Infectious Diseases department. The contract will include a five-year ordering period with an additional six-month ordering period pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-8 which, if exercised, will bring the total estimated value of the contract to $80,040,214. Work will be completed by September 2029; if the option is exercised, work will be completed by March 2030. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (80%); and various locations inside and outside of the contiguous US that cannot be determined at this time (20%). Fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) (RDT&E) funds in the contract’s minimum amount of $1,000 will be obligated at time of award and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Subsequent task orders will be funded with appropriate fiscal year operations and maintenance (Navy) or RDT&E (Navy) funds. The requirement was competitively procured on Navy Electronic Commerce Online and sam.gov websites under a small business set-aside with three offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk Contracting Department, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00189-24-D-Z047).

CACI Technologies LLC, Chantilly, Virginia, is awarded a $8,417,291 cost-plus-fixed-fee definitized bridge contract action for scientific, engineering, technological and analytical services in support of the Naval Sea Systems Command, Industrial Operations Management Office. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (25.73%); Bremerton, Washington (22.69%); Kittery, Maine (11.35%); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (12.85%); and Washington, DC (27.38%) and is expected to be completed by Jan. 15, 2025. Fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,483,686 (100%) will be obligated at time of award, of which $3,483,686 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 US Code 2304(c)(1) (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). The Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Division, Corona, California, is the contracting activity (N6426724C0074).

Northup Grumman, McLean, Virginia, was awarded an $83,233,096 modification (P00257) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0014 for additional and continued lifecycle contractor services. Work will be performed in McLean, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2025. Fiscal 2024 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $81,822,522 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Etolin Strait Partners LLC, Norfolk, Virginia, is awarded $15,000,000 for indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification to a previously issued contract (N40080-10-D-0007). This modification provides for increasing the maximum dollar value of a multiple award contract for various construction, repair and alterations to shore facilities and utilities within Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington area of operations. Work will be performed in Maryland (35%), Virginia (35%), and Washington, DC (30%). After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $165,000,000. The term of the contract shall not exceed September 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. This contract was procured as a Small Business set-aside, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 19, specifically an 8(a) competitive set-aside competitive procurement in accordance with FAR Part 15 Contracting by Negotiation. NAVFAC Washington, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.