March 29, 2024

US Postpones Ballistic Missile Test

Missile

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

The Pentagon has postponed a planned test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in an effort to quell tensions with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, reports The Hill. “We did not take this decision lightly, but instead to demonstrate that we are a responsible nuclear power,” John Kirby, Pentagon spokesman, said in a DoD news release.

Fighter jets from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman are conducting airborne patrols with NATO allied air forces in Eastern Europe, reports Navy Times. NATO has nearly doubled the number of military jets on alert across Europe amid concerns that Russia’s flying in international airspace could escalate alongside its war in Ukraine.

Jason Miller, deputy director for management at the Office of Budget and management, said that 2022 will be “the most significant, most consequential year” for security clearance reforms, reports Government Executive. Miller was speaking last week at an event hosted by The Intelligence and National Security Alliance. He said the goal is to set up a single vetting system that easily allows clearance holders to move within and across agencies and does away with periodic reinvestigations in favor of continuous vetting. Agencies are now modernizing the decades-old process through the Trusted Workforce 2.0 initiative, reports Federal News Network.

The US Navy wants to add 4,000 more flight hours of service life to existing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, fully field the F-35C, and develop the Next Generation Air Dominance program’s F/A-XX manned fighter, reports Defense News. It is hoped that this plan will dig the service out of its fighter shortfall and stave off another in the 2030s. The Navy is making progress in adding new fighters to its inventory and will have fully closed the gap — which had grown to 49 aircraft — by 2025, according to VADM Kenneth Whitesell, commander of Naval Air Forces.

The Navy is working to develop a new mine countermeasure system for the MQ-8C Fire Scout, reports Seapower Magazine, that will enable the unmanned helicopter to detect and localize mines and other obstacles. The Fire Scout program office partnered with NAWCAD’s AIRWorks, Aircraft Prototype Systems Division, Webster Outlying Field, and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Four to execute the final phase.

BAE Systems reports that it has conducted a successful flight test of advanced Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) technology. The technology enables the rapid infusion of new payloads and platforms into the fleet to quickly enhance mission effectiveness and counter adversary technology.

Boeing said US sanctions against Russia could affect the company, reports The Hill. The aviation firm could see a dip in business, especially at its plant in Washington state, which relies on Antonov An-124 cargo planes from Russia to fly in components from other plants.

The guided-missile destroyer Ralph Johnson conducted a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait last month, which the US said was in accordance with international law, reports Navy Times. The Chinese see it differently, calling the move “provocative.” The destroyer recently changed homeports from Everett, WA, to Yokosuka, Japan.

MAJ GEN John George has joined Leidos as the company’s Army strategic account executive, reports Yahoo!Finance. George will be responsible for growing relationships with the US Army and advancing strategic initiatives.

 

 

The Pentagon’s inspector general said it will open an investigation into how the military services have been conducting exemption requests for the COVID-19 vaccination mandate, reports Military.com. The probe will also look at disciplinary actions that were taken against those who refused to get the shot.

A dozen US Air Force officers have filed a lawsuit against the federal government after the military denied their religious exemptions to the mandatory vaccine, reports Air Force Times.

Daquan Styles, an electrical engineer in the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Dam Neck Activity Combat Readiness Systems Division, has been recognized as the Most Promising Engineer in Government, reports The Southern Maryland Chronicle. Styles was honored at the recent Black Engineer of the Year awards program. Two NAVAIR employees also received recognition at the BEYA conference, reports The BayNet. Lead systems engineer Eric Bagho and computer scientist Olivia Briscoe received 2022 Modern Day Technology Leader awards.

US Marine Corps MAJ Corey Jones was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for conducting an emergency landing after another aircraft collided with his KC-130J Super Hercules, reports Task & Purpose. Jones’ piloting skills and timely decisions during the most critical moments of the 12 minutes from mid-air impact to landing are credited with saving the crew. In September 2020, Jones was piloting a Super Hercules during an air-to-air refueling mission when an F-35B struck his aircraft. The F-35B pilot ejected safely.

DoD officials acknowledged last week that there are shortcomings in their suicide prevention programs, reports Military Times. Suicides involving active-duty members have increased every year from 2015 to 2020.

The military will expand its gun safety programs in an effort to stem suicides among service members, reports Navy Times, following the lead of other federal agencies and public health experts.

Maryland lawmakers rolled out a package of bills to offer more protections to state and local government online networks following the discovery of myriad vulnerabilities in the state’s cybersecurity systems, reports Maryland Matters.

Jon Byrd, left, receives the 2021 Office of the Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment PSM of the Year (Major Defense Acquisition Program, Acquisition Category 1) award. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Product Support Lisa P. Smith makes the presentation. .Byrd provided logistics sustainment solutions to the H-60 Multi Missions Helicopter Program Office from January 2020-December 2020, (NAVAIR News photo)

Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians from the Fort Belvoir, VA, destroyed more than 250 Civil War-era cannon balls during a domestic explosive mitigation mission Chambersburg, PA, reports dvidshub.net. More than 157 years old, the cannon balls were discovered during a renovation project in downtown Pittsburgh where a Union Army arsenal once stood.

The US Navy is seeking input from neighbors of Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, VA, people who have worked there as civilians or military members, business owners in King George County and anyone else interested in the base’s environmental cleanup program, reports fredericksburg.com. The info is sought, not because there’s been a new spill or incident at the research and development facility. Instead, the focus is on “cleaning up the effects caused by past waste disposal practices.”

Contracts:

AEVEX Flight Operations, Solana Beach, California (N0042122D0006); Alion Science and Technology Corp., McLean, Virginia (N0042122D0007); Altus Technical Solutions LLC, Hanover, Maryland (N0042122D0008); American Electronics Inc., California, Maryland (N0042122D0009); AV3 Inc., Hanover, Maryland (N0042122D0010); BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland (N0042122D0011); Berry Aviation Inc., San Marcos, Texas (N0042122D0012); Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Virginia (N0042122D0013); CAE USA Mission Solutions Inc., Tampa, Florida (N0042122D0014); CaVu Consulting Inc., San Diego, California (N0042122D0015); Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs, Tulsa, Oklahoma (N0042122D0016); CRL Technologies Inc., Alexandria, Virginia (N0042122D0017); Coherent Technical Services Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042122D0018); DCS Corp., Alexandria, Virginia (N0042122D0019); Entrust Government Solutions, New Orleans, Louisiana (N0042122D0020); FGS LLC, La Plata, Maryland (N0042122D0021); George Consulting LTD, Charleston, South Carolina (N0042122D0022); Gryphon Technologies LLC, Washington, DC (N0042122D0023); Innovative People and Technology Corp., California, Maryland (N0042122D0024); IOMAXIS, Lorton, Virginia (N0042122D0025); J.F. Taylor Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042122D0026); Jacobs Technology Inc., Severn, Maryland (N0042122D0027); Kairos Inc., California, Maryland (N0042122D0028); KBR Wyle Services LLC, Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042122D0029); KIHOMAC, Reston, Virginia (N0042122D0030); La Jolla Logic Inc., San Diego, California (N0042122D0031); Long Wave Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (N0042122D0032); MAG Aerospace, Fairfax, Virginia (N0042122D0033); ManTech Advanced Systems International Inc., Herndon, Virginia (N0042122D0034); National Technologies Associates Inc., a VTG Co., California, Maryland (N0042122D0035); Naval Systems Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042122D0036); Navmar Applied Sciences Corp., Warminster, Pennsylvania (N0042122D0037); Nexagen Networks Inc., Morganville, New Jersey (N0042122D0038); NikSoft Systems Corp., Reston, Virginia (N0042122D0039); Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., McLean, Virginia (N0042122D0040); ORBIS Sibro Inc., doing business as ORBIS, Charleston, South Carolina (N0042122D0041); Mercury Systems LLC, Torrance, California (N0042122D0042); Precision LLC, McMinnville, Oregon (N0042122D0043); Prescient Edge Corp., McLean, Virginia (N0042122D0044); PSI Pax Inc., California, Maryland (N0042122D0045); Resource Management Concepts Inc., Lexington Park, Maryland (N0042122D0046); Ricardo Defense Inc., Goleta, California (N0042122D0047); RPI Group, Fredericksburg, Virginia (N0042122D0048); RTL Networks Inc., Denver, Colorado (N0042122D0049); Sabre-Avian-ASEC-Platform JV, Warrington, Pennsylvania (N0042122D0050); Sentek Global, San Diego, California (N0042122D0051); Serco Inc., Herndon, Virginia (N0042122D0052); Smartronix LLC, Hollywood, Maryland (N0042122D0053); Solutions Through Innovative Technologies Inc., Fairborn, Ohio (N0042122D0054); Specialty Systems Inc., Toms River, New Jersey (N0042122D0055); System Dynamics International, Huntsville, Alabama (N0042122D0056); TestPros Inc., Sterling, Virginia (N0042122D0057); The Columbia Group, Inc., Washington, DC (N0042122D0058); The MIL Corp., Bowie, Maryland (N0042122D0059); Torch Technologies Inc., Huntsville, Alabama (N0042122D0060); TQI Solutions Inc., Norfolk, Virginia (N0042122D0061); Trabus Technologies, San Diego, California (N0042122D0062); Valkyrie Enterprises, Virginia Beach, Virginia (N0042122D0063); VSE Corp., Alexandria, Virginia (N0042122D0064); Watershed Security LLC, Chesapeake, Virginia (N0042122D0065); WGS Systems LLC, Frederick, Maryland (N0042122D0066); YKJV LLC, Syracuse, Utah (N0042122D0067); and Zenetex LLC, Herndon, Virginia (N0042122D0068), are awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides support for new and emerging requirements, as well as growth across the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Webster Out Lying Field services portfolio. This will be accomplished by using a strategic sourcing vehicle that complements or adds to, but will not duplicate, the current services, that include application of rapid development, rapid prototyping, and systems integration in the development of product-based solutions in the following six functional areas: combat integration and identification systems, ship and air integrated warfare systems, special communications mission solutions, air traffic control and landing systems, airborne systems integration, and integrated command and control and intelligence. The estimated aggregate ceiling for all contracts is $249,720,634, with the companies having an opportunity to compete for individual orders. Work will be performed at St. Inigoes, Maryland (5%); and various contractor locations within the continental US (95%) and is expected to be completed in March 2027. 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, 107 proposals were received from 69 vendors. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a not-to-exceed $869,864,564 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-award-fee, undefinitized modification (P00062) to a previously awarded contract (N0001919C0010). This modification adds scope for integrating mission and weapon systems capability development, including flight-test hardware, through system functional review to development test complete on the F-35A, F-35B, F-35C aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (54%); Nashua, New Hampshire (15%); Orlando, Florida (14%); Baltimore, Maryland (6%); San Diego, California (5%); Northridge, California (3%); St. Charles, Missouri (1%); Tucson, Arizona (1%); and Torrance, California (1%), and is expected to be completed in December 2026. Fiscal 2022 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $20,142,000; fiscal 2022 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $19,342,000; and non-US Department of Defense partner funds in the amount of $3,747,331 will be obligated at the 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.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, is being awarded a $9,215,614 modification (P00013) to previously awarded, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract HR001120C0038 for the development of the integrated OpFires system. This includes risk reduction testing to achieve a system-level critical design maturity. Fiscal 2022 research and development funds in the amount of $3,773,344 are being obligated at the time of award. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas (48%); Elkton, Maryland (34%); and Huntsville, Alabama (18%), with an estimated completion date of September 2022. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

Salient Federal Solutions Inc., Fairfax, Virginia, was awarded a $10,954,545 modification (P00024) to contract W52P1J-18-C-0020 for project management, system engineering, hardware and software installation, network and system administration, video teleconferencing installation/operation, visual information display system installation/operation, and configuration management. Work will be performed in Qatar and Jordan, with an estimated completion date of March 14, 2023. Fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $10,954,545 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity.

Cyber Engineering and Technical Alliance LLC, Columbia, Maryland, has been awarded a $22,522,751 fixed-price, level-of-effort task order to provide a full range of information warfare training and operations, information systems and operations, communications, administrative support and knowledge-based services. Work will be performed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2023. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and nine offers were received. Fiscal 2022 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,372,583 are being obligated at the time of award. The Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Langley AFB, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA489022F0013).

Federal Prison Industries, doing business as UNICOR, Washington, DC, has been awarded a maximum $13,041,000 modification (P00007) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-20-D-F055) with two one-year option periods for physical fitness uniform jackets. This is an indefinite-delivery contract. Locations of performance are Florida and Washington, DC, with a March 18, 2023, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2022 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Inverness Technologies Inc., Annandale, Virginia, was awarded a $20,002,366 firm-fixed-price contract for pre-separation counseling and employment assistance training. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Fort Knox, Kentucky, with an estimated completion date of July 3, 2022. Fiscal 2010 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $10,016,183 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Field Directorate Office, Fort Knox, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W9124D-22-C-0010)..

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