Threat of a Government Shutdown Looms

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.

Two weeks remain for Congress to reach a government spending agreement for fiscal 2025. Both chambers must approve a stopgap appropriations bill by Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday pulled a temporary government funding bill off the House floor amid dissent within his own party, reports Business Insider via MSN. The Louisiana Republican’s bill is tied to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, legislation that would require Americans to submit proof of citizenship in order to vote. Former President Donald Trump called on Republicans to vote against the spending package absent “absolute assurances” that it would bolster “election security” in a post on his new Truth Social platform, reports The New York Post.

Johnson’s Plan B for a stopgap federal spending bill is a no-go if it still includes a six-month time frame, said some House Republicans, reports The Hill. Now the GOP defense hawks, including House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), who worry about the impact of not increasing funding for the Pentagon, say they want to see a shorter continuing resolution in Johnson’s next plan.

In a letter to Tom Cole, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, DefSec Lloyd Austin, wrote, “If passed, a six-month CR would represent the second year in a row, and the seventh time in the past 15 years, where the Department is delayed in moving forward with critical priorities until mid-way through the budget year.”

Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) is spearheading a $3 billion Veterans Affairs supplemental funding bill, and he hopes that the legislation has enough support to keep it free from the political fight over the fiscal year 2025 funding, reports Fox News via MSN. The House is expected to vote this week on the bill.

Speaking last week before the Senate Budget Committee, Social Security Administration Chair Martin O’Malley testified to the “devastating” impacts of flat agency funding, as Congress looks to pass a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown, reports Federal News Network. O’Malley urged lawmakers to include the White House’s full fiscal 2025 budget request of $15.4 billion for SSA operations as a budget anomaly in the case of a stopgap spending agreement.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt is leaving the Middle East, reports Navy Times. The Pentagon’s rare move to keep two Navy aircraft carriers in the Middle East over the past several weeks has now finished. The Roosevelt had extended its deployment for a short time as fellow aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was on its way to the region. The Lincoln, which is now in the Gulf of Oman, arrived in the Middle East about three weeks ago, allowing it to overlap with the Roosevelt.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has reupped its commitment to microelectronics research, launching ERI 2.0 with an emphasis on cutting-edge manufacturing opportunities as well as technologies that can help electronic systems operate in extreme environments, reports C4ISRNET. DARPA plans to spend another $3 billion on these efforts over the next five years.

The US Navy commissioned its newest ship, the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock Richard M. McCool, earlier this month, reports Navy Times. McCool commanded LCS-122 during the Battle of Okinawa during World War II.

The Navy has commissioned its first Virginia-class submarine designed for both men and women sailors, reports Military Times. The New Jersey is entering the fleet roughly 14 years after then-DefSec Robert Gates ended the ban on women serving on subs in 2010. In October 2023, VADM William Houston, commander of Naval Submarine Forces, signed a revision to the force’s gender integration plan that would allow females to serve in all submarine homeports, Navy Times reported at the time.

Another first for the F-35 fighter jet. Two F-35As landed on a highway in Finland to practice how aircraft might operate in a high-intensity future war, reports Air Force Times. The jets were from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in England. “The successful first-ever landing of our fifth-generation F-35 on a highway in Europe is a testament to the growing relationship and close interoperability we have with our Finnish allies,” said GEN James Hecker, commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa.

NATO’s Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) has picked 10 companies — from an initial group of 44 — whose technology could address needs in both defense and commercial markets to transition into the national security sector, reports C4ISRNET. Two of those companies are Dolphin Labs, an ocean-observation company in the US, and Phantom Photonics, a Canadian quantum sensing company.

Marine Corps GEN Michael Langley, commander of US Africa Command, said the US is looking to West Africa as the new hub for counter-terrorism collaboration after leaving Niger and Chad, reports Task & Purpose. Countries being considered include Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Benin as options for the mission. Langley said diplomatic consultations are underway “to decide what level of capacity — what do they need to be able to successfully counter terrorism.”

Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have entered into an agreement to expand upon the companies’ business partnership through the C-130J Super Hercules, reports Aviation Week. The Indian company’s facility in Hyderabad has delivered more than 220 structures for the tactical airlifter.

LT GEN Ronald Clark’s promotion to become commander of US Army forces in the Pacific is being blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), reports The Associated Press. Clark has faced criticism from Republicans over his role as one of DefSec Lloyd Austin’s top aides when the defense secretary was hospitalized in January and did not tell the president or other US leaders. The nomination will expire with the end of the congressional session, and the next president would have to renominate Clark or someone else to the post if he is not confirmed by early January. Tuberville kept a nearly 10-month hold last year on hundreds of senior military promotions, Military Times reported in December.

LT GEN Steven Nordhaus, a top US Air Force officer with the North American Aerospace Defense Command, is said to be moving quickly through the confirmation process to be the next chief of the National Guard, reports Military.com. Nordhaus testified Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Three Democratic lawmakers want the US Army to sanction former President Donald Trump over his recent visit to Arlington Cemetery, reports Marine Corps Times.  Reps. Jamie Raskin (MD), Adam Smith (WA), and Mark Takano (CA) want Trump admonished for his campaign staff’s actions at the cemetery last month in order to “avoid future abuse of this sacred site and its employees.” The lawmakers also want the findings from Trump’s visit to the gravesite released.

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance said last week that he would consider plans to privatize parts of the Department of Veterans Affairs and push for more private-health care options for patients in the system if elected, reports Navy Times. Vance was being interviewed on a podcast. Former president Trump’s running mate also said he would fire or cut thousands of federal civilian jobs, including many within VA.

Tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman made the first private spacewalk Thursday high above Earth, reports The Hill. Isaacman teamed up with SpaceX to test the company’s new spacesuits on his chartered flight. The new mission also tested laser-based communications with satellite broadband provider Starlink as part of an effort to pave the way for travel to places including Mars. Starlink is a subsidiary of SpaceX, reports CNET via MSN.

A new RAND Corp. report says the US Space Force should play a greater role in tracking factors related to human security, such as food production, climate trends, or energy distribution, for military decision-makers, reports C4ISRNET. “Enabling Human Security from Space” argues that Space Force’s access to communication, navigation, and intelligence satellites provides an opportunity to monitor nonmilitary factors that often lie at the heart of conflict on Earth.

While some US states are moving toward statewide policies on cell phones in schools, reports Maryland Matters, Maryland is not yet there. Maryland’s 24 school districts have various cell phone policies, but phones must be turned off during instructional time. St. Mary’s County Public Schools outlines its 2024-2025 cell phone policy in this 5 1/2-minute video.

The National Association of Attorneys Generals is supporting US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in his call for Congress to require a surgeon general’s warning on social media platforms, reports Maryland Matters. “Every day, our youth are turning to social media platforms that, unknowingly to them, are designed to exploit their vulnerabilities and push them deeper into cycles of anxiety, depression, and self-doubt,” Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said in a statement, reported by The MocoShow.

Contracts:

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $14,433,448 modification (P00037) to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N0001922C0041). This modification exercises an option to provide additional lab support labor and material to continue lab support of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter laboratory facilities at Edwards Air Force Base, California; Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland; and Fort Worth, Texas, in support of the Air Force, Navy, and F-35 cooperative program partners. Work will be performed Fort Worth, Texas (30%); Palmdale, California (26%); Patuxent River, Maryland (23%); Orlando, Florida (11%); San Diego, California (3%); Linthicum, Maryland (2%); Manchester, New Hampshire (2%); Los Angeles, California (1%); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (1%); and various locations within the continental US (1%) and is expected to be completed in March 2025. Fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $5,902,190; fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,951,095; fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Marine Corp) funds in the amount of $2,951,095; and cooperative program partners funds in the amount of $2,629,068, will be obligated at the time of award, $11,804,380 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, is awarded a $25,847,241 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N0001924F2595) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001921G0006.) This procures logistics management, product support analysis and integration, maintenance planning, and engineering services, as well as associated technical data for the P-8A aircraft in support of the Navy, the Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) and Republic of Korea. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida (25%); Whidbey Island, Washington (15%); Sigonella, Italy (7.5%); Manama, Bahrain (7.5%); Okinawa, Japan (7.5%); Misawa, Japan (5%); Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (5%), Patuxent River, Maryland (5%); Reykjavik, Iceland (5%); Seattle, Washington (2.5%); Birmingham, Alabama (2.5%); Fayetteville, Tennessee (2.5%); Plano, Texas (2.5%); Mesa, Arizona (2.5%); Dayton, Ohio (2.5%); and Huntsville, Alabama (2.5%), and is expected to be completed in September 2025. Fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $25,050,709; and RAAF funds in the amount of $233,040, will be obligated at the time of award, $25,050,709 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Jacobs-Cold Regions, a JV, Arlington, Virginia (W912DS-24-D-0003); HDR B&V JV, New York, New York (W912DS-24-D-0004); Michael Baker-International Stantec JV, Moon Township, Pennsylvania (W912DS-24-D-0005); Nattoralik A/S, Hoejbjerg, Denmark (W912DS-24-D-0006); Sweco International AB, Stockholm, Sweden (W912DS-24-D-0007); and ISC Radgivende Ingeniorer A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark (W912DS-24-D-0008), will compete for each order of the $99,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for general architect engineer services. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 13, 2029. US Army Corps of Engineers, New York, New York, is the contracting activity.

National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California, is awarded a $6,754,785,160 fixed-price incentive (firm-target), block buy contract for detail design and construction of eight T-AO 205 John Lewis class fleet replenishment oiler ships (T-AO 214 through 221). Work will be performed in San Diego, California (56%); Iron Mountain, Michigan (8%); Mexicali, Mexico (6%); Crozet, Virginia (4%); Beloit, Wisconsin (4%); Metairie, Louisiana (3%); Santa Fe Springs, California (2%); Chesapeake, Virginia (2%); Chula Vista, California (1%); Walpole, Massachusetts (1%); Houston, Texas (1%); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1%); National City, California (1%); and other locations (less than 1% each, and collectively totaling 10%), and is expected to be completed by January 2035. Fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $780,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 US Code 3204(a)(3) (industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services). Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity (N00024-24-C-2301).

Davcon Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia (N4008524D2508); Fastbreak General Contractors LLC, Hampton, Virginia (N4008524D2509); McKenzie Construction and Site Development LLC, Washington, DC (N4008524D2510); Succor-PC&C JV LLC, Culpeper, Virginia (N4008524D2511); and Within Interior Design, doing business as Tazewell Contracting, Norfolk, Virginia (N4008524D2512), are awarded a combined $150,000,000 multiple award construction contract for the construction projects with the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic area of operations (AO). Fiscal 2024 operation and maintenance (Navy) (O&M,N) funds in the amount of $761,280 are awarded to Davcon Inc. for the initial task order to replace chiller, and mechanical room repairs at Building U-93 at Naval Station Norfolk. The remaining four awardees will be awarded $5,000 (minimum contract guarantee per awardee) at contract award. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and four option years for all five contracts combined is $150,000,000. Work will be primarily performed in the Hampton Roads, Virginia AO, and may be required in other areas of the NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic AO if deemed necessary. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion of September 2029. Fiscal 2024 operation and maintenance (Navy) (O&M,N) funds in the amount of $781,280 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M,N and military construction funds. This contract was competitively procured via the www.SAM.gov website with 12 proposals received. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

JJR Solutions LLC, Dayton, Ohio, is awarded $42,428,541 for a firm-fixed-priced task order (N00189-24-F-R517) under previously awarded basic ordering agreement (FA8003-22-G-0001) to provide deployment and implementation support services at four naval shipyards for the Naval Autonomous Data Collection System in support of Naval Supply Systems Command. The contract will include a one-year base period with a two one-year option periods, which if exercised, will bring the total estimated value to $98,416,644. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (25%); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (25%); Puget Sound, Washington (25%); and Portsmouth, New Hampshire (25%). Work is expected to be completed by September 2025; if all options are exercised, the ordering period will be completed by September 2027. Fiscal 2024 other procurement (Navy) funds in the full amount of $42,428,541 will be obligated at time of award, and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Individual task orders will be subsequently funded with appropriate fiscal year appropriations at the time of their issuance. The requirement was solicited for this sole-source procurement pursuant to the authority of 10 US Code 3204(a)(5) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-5 and one offer was received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Contracting Department Regional Directorate, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.

Total Computer Solutions Inc., Burke, Virginia, was awarded a $13,868,755 modification (P00008) to contract W31P4Q-23-F-D001 for programmatic support service. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2025. US Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

National Industries for the Blind, Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded an estimated $14,707,500 modification (P00011) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-23-D-B002) with four one-year option periods for advanced combat helmet pad suspension systems. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Pennsylvania and North Carolina, with a Sept. 17, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 through 2026 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

UPDATE: Maryland Industrial Trucks Inc., Linthicum Heights, Maryland (SPE8EC-24-D-0040, $93,000,000) has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract for sweeper and scrubber equipment, issued against solicitation SPE8EC-21-R-0002 and awarded Feb. 22, 2022.

Textron Systems Corp., New Orleans, Louisiana, is awarded a $312,389,283 cost reimbursable, not-to-exceed modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-23-C-2452) for the procurement of material and recurring and non-recurring activities for up to nine future ship-to-shore connector landing craft air cushion (100 class) craft. Work will be performed in New Orleans, Louisiana (35%); Camden, New Jersey (21%); Gloucester, United Kingdom (13%); Harahan, Louisiana (8%); Huntington Beach, California (8%); Cincinnati, Ohio (6%); Portsmouth, Virginia (3%); Riverdale, Iowa (2%); Gold Beach, Oregon, (2%); and Jupiter, Florida (2%), and is expected to be completed by October 2025. Fiscal 2024 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $163,538,958 (69%); fiscal 2022 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $43,990,734 (18%); and fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $30,554,948 (13%), 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.

The Lane Construction Corp., Chantilly, Virginia, is awarded a $207,849,000 firm-fixed-price contract for repair to taxiway pavements at Naval Air Station Oceana. The base price and all options will be awarded in the amount of $207,849,000. Work will be performed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by January 2028. Fiscal 2024 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $207,849,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the www.sam.gov website with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-24-C-0021).

Nixon & Nixon Inc., San Antonio, Texas (N4523A24D1301); SEW Inc., Washington, DC (N4523A24D1302); Madison Hospitality, Leesburg, Virginia (N4523A24D1303); Stress Free Corporate Housing, Weston, Florida (N4523A24D1304); and Lima Charlie Inc., Riverbank, California (N4523A24D1305), are awarded a combined $44,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for long term lodging services in San Diego, California. Each awardee will be awarded $1,000 (minimum contract guarantee) at contract award. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by July 2029. Fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,716,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the System for Award Management website, with 25 offers received. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility Contracting Department, Bremerton, Washington, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a not-to-exceed $30,833,156 cost-plus-fixed-fee, level of effort, undefinitized contract to provide systems engineering, data configuration, quality management, cybersecurity, and site stand up support, as well as assessment of the current government equipment to determine what is adequate, needs repaired, upgraded, and/or replaced in support of Phase I of the Principal Enterprise Reprogramming Lab redesign for F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (98%); Baltimore, Maryland (1%); and Amherst, New York (1%), and is expected be completed in February 2026. FMS funds in the amount of $8,136,915 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 US Code 3204(a)(4). Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001924C0027).

Systems Planning & Analysis Inc., Alexandria, Virginia, is awarded an $11,996,620 firm-fixed-price order to previously awarded contract (N00024-23-C-2103) for procurement of an Industrial Base study. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by July 2025. Foreign partner funds in the amount of $11,996,620 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured and is a sole-source award pursuant to 10 US Code 3204(a)(1) and (4). The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.

R&I Construction, Aiea, Hawaii (W912CN-24-D-0020); North Star Government Services, San Diego, California (W912CN-24-D-0021); NC JV LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii (W912CN-24-D-0022); Mashima Electric, Kapolei, Hawaii (W912CN-24-D-0023); Landan Construction, Kapolei, Hawaii (W912CN-24-D-0024); EPC Service Inc., Aiea, Hawaii (W912CN-24-D-0025); D&D Construction, Waipuhu, Hawaii (W912CN-24-D-0026); Auli’i Construction Inc., Kaneohe, Hawaii (W912CN-24-D-0027); Amethyst Builders LLC, Ewa Beach, Hawaii (W912CN-24-D-0028); and 2A LLC, Aberdeen, Maryland (W912CN-24-D-0029), will compete for each order of the $137,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for repair, maintenance, minor construction, demolition, and other work. Bids were solicited via the internet with 13 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2029. 411th Contracting Support Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.

Elbit Systems of America, Roanoke, Virginia, was awarded an $8,409,488 firm-fixed-price contract to test, inspect and repair monocular assemblies. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 18, 2029. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W15P7T-24-D-0006).

Manta Group LLC, Purcellville, Virginia, has been awarded a $21,510,973 firm-fixed-price contract for Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) exercise planner. This contract provides for personnel, expertise in exercise planning support, budget analyst support, administrator support, supervision, and services necessary to support Headquarters PACAF exercise planning requirements. Work will be performed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; and Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 14, 2029. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and 13 offers were received. Fiscal 2024 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,761,899 are being obligated at time of award. The 766th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Honolulu, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (FA521524F0030).