DEFENSE SECRETARY HAGEL OBSERVES DEVELOPING TECH DEMONSTRATION

Right:  Arati Prabhakar, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, briefs Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on the Atlas robot and other robotics at the Pentagon, April 22, 2014. The program showcased DARPA technologies and how they contribute to U.S. national security. DOD photo by Marine Corps Sgt. Aaron Hostutler.  

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
DARPA Officials Show Hagel Technologies Under Development
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2014 – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program personnel demonstrated five technologies under development to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in the secretary's conference room yesterday.
DARPA Director Arati Prabhakar provided the secretary with a demonstration of the agency's latest prosthetics technology.

The wounded warrior demonstrating the device was Fred Downs Jr., an old friend of Hagel's who lost an arm in a landmine explosion while fighting in Vietnam. Hagel hugged him and shook his mechanical hand, with Downs joking, "I don't want to hurt you."

"He and I worked together many years ago," said Hagel, who earned two Purple Hearts during his service as an enlisted soldier in Vietnam. "How you doing, Fred? How's your family?"

Downs demonstrated how he controls movements of the arm, which appeared to be partly covered in translucent white plastic, with two accelerometers strapped to his feet. Through a combination of foot movements, he's able to control the elbow, wrist and fingers in a variety of movements, including the “thumbs-up” sign he gave Hagel.

It took only a few hours to learn to control the arm, Downs said.
"It's the first time in 45 years, since Vietnam, I'm able to use my left hand, which was a very emotional time," he said.

Dr. Justin Sanchez, a medical doctor and program manager at DARPA who works with prosthetics and brain-related technology, told Hagel that DARPA's arm is designed to mimic the shape, size and weight of a human arm. It's modular too, so it can replace a lost hand, lower arm or a complete arm.

Hagel said such technology would have a major impact on the lives of injured troops.

"This is transformational," he said. "We've never seen anything like this before."
Next, Sanchez showed Hagel a video of a patient whose brain had been implanted with a sensor at the University of Pittsburgh, allowing her to control an arm with her thoughts.

Matt Johannes, an engineer from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, showed Hagel a shiny black hand and arm that responds to brain impulses. The next step is to put sensors in the fingers that can send sensations back to the brain.

"If you don't have line of sight on something you're trying to grab onto, you can use that sensory information to assist with that task," Johannes said.
The tactile feedback system should be operational within a few months, he said.
"People said it would be 50 years before we saw this technology in humans," Sanchez said. "We did it in a few years."

Next, officials gave Hagel an overview of the DARPA Robotic Challenge, a competition to develop a robot for rescue and disaster response that was inspired by the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident in Japan.

Virginia Tech University's entrant in the contest, the hulking 6-foot-2-inch Atlas robot developed by Boston Dynamics, stood in the background as Hagel was shown a video of robots walking over uneven ground and carrying things.

Brad Tousley, head of DARPA's Tactical Technology Office, explained to Hagel that Hollywood creates unrealistic expectations of robotic capability. In fact, he said, building human-like robots capable of autonomously doing things such as climbing ladders, opening doors and carrying things requires major feats of engineering and computer science.

Journalists were escorted out before the remaining three technologies could be demonstrated because of classified concerns. A defense official speaking on background told reporters that Hagel was brought up to date on the progress of three other DARPA programs:

-- Plan X, a foundational cyberwarfare program to develop platforms for the Defense Department to plan for, conduct and assess cyberwarfare in a manner similar to kinetic warfare;

-- Persistent close air support, a system to, among other things, link up joint tactical air controllers with close air support aircraft using commercially available tablets; and

-- A long-range anti-ship missile, planned to reduce dependence on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, network links and GPS navigation in electronic warfare environments. Autonomous guidance algorithms should allow the LRASM to use less-precise target cueing data to pinpoint specific targets in the contested domain, the official said. The program also focuses on innovative terminal survivability approaches and precision lethality in the face of advanced countermeasures.

(From a pool report.)

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR JANUARY 24, 2014

FROM:  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
CONTRACTS

ARMY

AMEC Environment and Infrastructure Inc., Plymouth Meeting, Pa. (W9133L-14-D-0002); CH2M Hill Inc, Atlanta, Ga., (W9133L-14-D-0003); AECOM Technical Services Inc. Alexandria, Va., (W9133L-14-D-0001); EA Engineering, Science And Technology Inc.*, Hunt Valley, Md., (W9133l-14-D-0004); Earth Resources Technology Inc.*, Laurel, Md., (W9133l-14-D-0005); J. M. Waller Associates Inc.*, Fairfax, Va., (W9133l-14D-0006); SAIC, McLean, Va., (W9133l-14-D-0007); Tec-Weston Joint Venture, Charlottesville, Va., (W9133L-14-D-0008); Tetra Tech, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., (W9133l-14-D-0009); URS Group Inc., Herndon, Va., (W9133L-14-D-0010) were awarded a $243,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for environmental engineering support services.  Funding and location will be determined with each order.  Estimated completion date is Jan. 23, 2017.  Bids were solicited via the Internet with 21 received.  National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics C4 Systems, Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $48,000,000 modification (P00014) to contract W900KK-10-D-0001 to continue the existing project manager for training devices live training transformation product line until the next consolidated product line management award.  Funding and location will be determined with each order.  Estimated completion date is Feb. 28, 2015.  Army Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity.

Five Stones Research Corp.*, was awarded a $43,653,541 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for headquarters and directorate support services for the Army Test and Evaluation Command, Redstone Test Center.  Funding and location will be determined with each order.  Estimated completion date is Jan. 31, 2019.  Sixty-three bids were solicited with six received.  Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-14-D-0002).

Arcadis Inc., Highlands Ranch, Colo., (W912DR-14-D-0003); Nova Consulting Inc.*, Washington, D.C., (W912DR-14-D-0004); CH2M Hill Inc., Chantilly, Va., (W912DR-14-D-0005); Black and Veatch Inc., Overland Park, Kan., (W912DR-14-D-0006) were awarded a $9,900,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architectural and engineering services for the Washington Aqueduct.  Funding and location will be determined with each order.  Estimated completion date is Jan. 23, 2017.  Bids were solicited via the Internet with six received.  Army corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company Inc., Woodland Hills, Calif., has been awarded a $200,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to perform acquisition and sustainment for the Embedded Global Positioning System Inertial Navigation System (EGI).  The acquisition and sustainment will consist of platform integration, modernization, diminishing manufacturing sources, flight test support, technical support following integration efforts, training, engineering support/studies, contractor depot repair, spares, and data for the standard EGI.   Work will be performed at Woodland Hills, Calif., and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2018.  This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition.  This contract allows for orders to support foreign military sales countries; it is estimated that unclassified FMS sales will account for approximately 45 percent of the total contract ceiling.  Contract contains five ordering periods in total.  The first order placed against this IDIQ contract will obligate $2,027,004 of FMS funding in support of unclassified Iraq EGI sales and $722,192 of FMS funding in support of unclassified Thailand EGI sales.  Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WNKCB, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8540-14-D-0001).

B3H Corp., Shalimar, Fla., has been awarded a $6,856,100 firm-fixed-price task order (SK02) for an existing contract (FA4890-12-D-0014) for English language instructors and an English language training program using Defense Language Institute English Language Center courseware, methodology and processes.  This modification provides for the exercise of the first option year.  Work will be performed at King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Dhahran, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2015.  This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales for the government of Saudi Arabia.  338 SCONS, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Fla., has been awarded a $20,618,247 modification to cost-plus-fixed-fee contract HR0011-09-C-0096 to perform risk reduction and technical maturity efforts associated with the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile program, design to engineering, manufacturing and development phase.  The contractor will execute Systems Requirement Review 2 and support a preliminary design review.  Lockheed will conduct demonstration and performance assessment of all subsystems through testing, analysis, simulation and analogy.  Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla., (69.92 percent); Nashua, N.H., (26.35 percent) and Palm Bay, Fla., (3.73 percent).  The estimated completion date is Dec. 31, 2014.  Fiscal 2013 research and development funds are being obligated at time of award.  The contracting activity is DARPA, Arlington, Va.

Goodrich Corp., Jacksonville, Fla., has been awarded a $7,598,764 cost contract for engineering design services and fabrication of a full scale prototype submarine rotor component under the Hybrid Demonstration program.  Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Fla., (38 percent); Groton, Conn., (13 percent); Arvonia, Va., (17 percent) and Huntsville, Ala., (32 percent).  The estimated completion date is April 15, 2015.  Fiscal 2013 research and development funds are being obligated at time of award.  The contracting activity is DARPA, Arlington, Va., (HR0011-14-C-0054).

NAVY

Wolf Creek Federal Services Inc.*, Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded a $12,960,577 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for housing operations and maintenance services and change of occupancy maintenance services at Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base, Commander Joint Region Marianas.  The contract contains four option years, which if exercised, would bring the contract value to $95,323,477.  Work will be performed in Santa Rita, Guam (60 percent) and Yigo, Guam (40 percent), and is expected to be completed by October 2014.  Fiscal 2014 family housing operation and maintenance, Navy; fiscal 2014 quarter operations, Navy; fiscal 2014 sustainment, Navy; and fiscal 2014 family housing operation and maintenance, Air Force contract funds in the amount of $8,362,773 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities Online website, with three proposals received.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas, Guam, is the contracting activity (N40192-14-D-9000).

Patriot Contract Services LLC, Concord, Calif., is being awarded a $7,236,660 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed price contract (N0003-10-C-5301) to exercise a one-year option period for the operation and maintenance of four large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ships.  These four ships support the deployed military forces worldwide.  Work will be performed worldwide at sea and is expected to be completed by January 2015.  Working capital contract funds in the amount of $7,236,660 are obligated for fiscal 2014, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

CORRECTION:  The contract modification announced Jan. 22, 2014 had incorrect dollar values associated with the award and obligated amounts.  The correct amounts are:  Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. (LMSSC) of Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $31,674,868 modification (P00004) to firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract HQ0147-14-C-0004 to provide highly specialized services to support Ballistic Missile Defense System flight test activities using LMSSC developed target hardware.  The work will be performed at several LMSSC facilities, and government test sites and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2014.  Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $6,582,845 are being obligated at time of award.  The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity.


*Small Business

U.S. DEFENSE CONTRACTS FOR DECEMBER 16, 2013

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
CONTRACTS

AIR FORCE

United Launch Services LLC, Littleton, Colo., has been awarded a $530,794,720 firm-fixed-price modification (PZ0001) on an existing contract (FA8811-13-C-0003) for fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2017 launch vehicle production services and options for that associated launch capability for fiscal 2015 through fiscal 2019 are available and may be exercised at a later date.  This executes the requirements for fiscal 2014 launch vehicle production services in support of the following Air Force and National Reconnaissance Organization launch vehicle configurations:  Air Force Atlas V 501, Air Force Atlas V 511, Air Force Delta IV 4,2, Air Force Delta IV 5,4, and a National Reconnaissance Organization Delta IV Heavy.  Work will be performed at Centennial, Colo., Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., and is expected to be completed by second quarter 2018.  This award is the result of a sole source acquisition.  Fiscal 2014 missile procurement funds in the amount of $679,434,676 are being obligated at time of award. Launch Systems Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center is the contracting activity, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity.

SURVICE Engineering Co., Belcamp, Md., has been awarded a $42,147,274 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to collect, analyze, synthesize/process, and disseminate scientific and technical information for the Defense Technical Information Center.  Work may be conducted worldwide and work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2019.  Award of contract is the result of a past performance price tradeoff acquisition between five Offerors.  Fiscal 2014 research and development funds in the amount of $1,000,000 are being obligated at time of award.  Air Force Installation Contracting Agency/KD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (FA8075-14-D-0001).

D&D Machinery and Sales Inc., San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $12,078,000 firm-fixed-price contract for C-17 Peculiar support equipment.  Contractors will provide 11 C-17 aircraft engine lift trailer (ELT), ground handling, NSN 1730-01-560-2167, part number PT90-F-509, with a potential requirement (options) for an additional nine within a 24-month period.  The C-17 ELT provides for lifting, lowering, and positioning capabilities supporting removal and replacement of the engine, core thrust reverser, or the inlet assembly to/from the on-board location on the C-17 Globemaster III.  Work will be performed at San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by June 12, 2015.  This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, 100 percent set-aside for small business.  The solicitation was posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website and two offers were received.  This contract includes nine percent foreign military sales in support of Strategic Airlift Capability Consortium located in Hungary.  Fiscal 2012 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $12,078,000 are being obligated at time of award.  Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WLKA, C-17 Contracting, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8526-14-C-0001).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Pelican Lumber and Export Inc.*, Lake Charles, La., has been awarded a maximum $123,232,281 modification (P00101) exercising the first one-year option period on a two-year base contract (SPM8E6-12-D-0002) with three one-year option periods for a tailored logistics support contract to provide items under the general category of wood products for the Central region.  This is a firm-fixed-price contract.  Location of performance is Louisiana with a Jan. 16, 2015 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

S & S Forest Products LLC**, Boerne, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $123,223,834 modification (P00101) exercising the first one-year option period on a two-year base contract (SPM8E6-12-D-0003) with three one-year option periods for a tailored logistics support contract to provide items under the general category of wood products for the Central region.  This is a firm-fixed-price contract.  Location of performance is Texas with a Jan. 16, 2015 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

Forest Products Distributors Inc.*, Rapid City, S.D., has been awarded a maximum $121,882,356 modification (P00101) exercising the first one-year option period on a two-year base contract (SPM8E6-12-D-0001) with three one-year option periods for a tailored logistics support contract to provide items under the general category of wood products for the Central region.  This is a firm-fixed-price contract.  Location of performance is South Dakota with a Jan. 16, 2015 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

Seashore Fruit and Produce Co., Inc.*, Atlantic City, N.J., has been awarded a maximum $49,500,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for fresh fruit and vegetable support.  This contract is a competitive acquisition and two offers were received.  Location of performance is New Jersey with a June 14, 2018 performance completion date.  This contract is an eighteen-month base with two eighteen-month option periods.  Using military services are Army, Navy, and non-Department of Defense customers.  Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2014 through fiscal year 2015 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.; (SPE300-14-D-P232).

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, R.I., has been awarded a maximum $42,589,944 firm-fixed-price contract for the manufacture and delivery of airborne low frequency sonar helicopter dipping sonar systems.  This contract is a sole source acquisition.  Location of performance is Rhode Island with a February 2017 performance completion date.  Using service is the Royal Australian Navy.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 foreign military sales funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pa.; (SPRPA1-09-G-001Y-5027).

AMO Sales and Services Inc., Santa Ana, Calif., has been awarded a maximum $27,888,242 modification (P00018) exercising the third one-year option period on a five-year base contract (SPM2D1-07-D-8400) with five one-year option periods for medical equipment, maintenance, and spare/repair parts.  This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.  Location of performance is California with a Dec. 19, 2014 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

ARMY

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $15,058,750 modification (P00051) to contract W15QKN-08-C-0530 to acquire 216 projectiles (120 projectiles under the option four Excalibur 155mm Increment Ib production option and 96 projectiles under the option five Excalibur 155mm Increment Ib production option) and 14 palletized containers for the Army.  Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $14,775,335 were obligated at the time of the award.  Estimated completion date is Feb. 28, 2015.  One bid was solicited with one received.  Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz.; McAlester, Okla.; Farmington, N.M.; East Camden, Ark.; Healdsburg, Calif.; Anniston, Ala.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Joplin, Mo.; Lowell, Mass.; Corona, Calif.; Inglewood, Calif.; Chino, Calif.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Santa Ana, Calif.; McKinney, Texas; Phoenix, Ariz.; Woodridge, Ill.; Valencia, Calif.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Congers, N.Y.; United Kingdom; Sweden.  Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal Picatinny, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-08-C-0530).

NAVY

SEDNA Digital Solutions LLC*, Manassas, Va., is being awarded an $11,797,558 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-13-C-6272) for engineering and technical services for High Fidelity Simulation/Simulation and Common Processing System software development.  This effort is the result of Small Business Innovation Research topic number N05-059, "High Fidelity Front End Simulation for complex Physics Based Processing System."  It is inclusive of engineering services and support for the development integration, test, demonstration and certification of a High Fidelity Sensor Level Stimulation and Common Processing System.  Work will be performed in Manassas, Va. (87 percent); Red Lodge, Mont. (9 percent); Jefferson, Md. (3 percent); and Rogersville, Mo. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2017.  Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation and fiscal 2012 and 2013 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy contract funds in the amount of $2,441,994 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Sea Systems command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-13-C-6272).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Va., is being awarded a $7,603,043 cost-plus-fixed-fee term-type contract for JPEO-Chem-Bio Defense, Joint Program Manager, Information Systems, Joint Warning and Reporting Network (JWARN) software development and maintenance.  This contract will provide various updates to support modernization efforts of the currently fielded JWARN product baseline, carry forward existing functionality and develop new capabilities that will provide joint automated chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warning and reporting capability across the services.  This contract contains options, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $31,498,929.  Work will be performed in Herndon, Va., and is expected to be completed in December 2014.  If options are exercised, work could continue until December 2018.  Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds and fiscal 2014 procurement funds in the amount of $1,323,000 will be obligated at the time of award.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This requirement was solicited using full and open competition via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command E-Commerce Central website and the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received.  On behalf of its organizational partner, Joint Program Executive Office Chem-Bio Defense, Joint Program Manager, Information Systems, JWARN, the Space and Naval Warfare System Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-14-C-0027).

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif., has been awarded an $11,652,825 modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.  The purpose of this modification is to equitably adjust the value of the contract and its options to reflect the reduction in scope under the Broad Operational Language Technology (BOLT) program.  The goal of this program is to create technology capable of translating multiple foreign languages in all genres, retrieving information from the translated material, and enabling bilingual communication via speech or text.  Specifically, SRI will continue to expand on their speech-to-speech bilingual research.  The previous estimated value of Phases 1 and 2 was $15,917,367 and the cumulative total of the contract was $41,536,592.  Work will be performed in Menlo Park, Calif. (58.63 percent); Tucson, Ariz. (4.03 percent); New York, N.Y. (8.53 percent); Rochester, N.Y. (5.63 percent); Seattle, Wash. (6.8 percent); Marseille, France (4.95 percent); Flushing, N.Y. (1.11 percent); Hong Kong (1.03 percent); Portland, Ore. (0.41 percent); Edinburgh, United Kingdom (0.98 percent); Amherst, Mass. (4.43 percent); Richardson, Texas (0.53 percent) and Sunnyvale, Calif. (2.94 percent).  The estimated completion date is Sept. 30, 2016.  No funds are being obligated at time of award.  The contracting activity is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., (HR0011-12-C-0016).

*Small Business
**Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR NOVEMBER 6, 2013

 FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
CONTRACTS

AIR FORCE
 
Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., has been awarded up to $169,726,427 not-to-exceed firm-fixed-price contract for advance procurement funding for long lead efforts associated with 18 C-130J aircraft. Work will be performed at Marietta, Ga., and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2016. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2013 advance procurement funds in the amount of $169,726,427 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WLNNC, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8625-14-C-6450).

Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Va., has been awarded an $18,062,895 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00047) under an existing contract (FA8811-10-C-0006) for systems engineering and integration support to the Launch and Test Range System . The contract modification extends the existing contract for one year. Work will be performed at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 7, 2014. Fiscal 2014 other procurement and research and development funds in the amounf of $3,665,819 are being obligated at time of award. Range and Network Division, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Oasis Systems LLC, Lexington, Mass., was awarded an $11,918,862 modification (P00005) on an existing cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable contract (FA8721-13-C-0025) for professional acquisition support services. This contract modification provides the exercise of an option for an additional six months of professional acquisition support services under the basic contract. Work will be performed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., and Langley Air Force Base, Va., and is expected to be completed by April 17, 2014. This modification provides professional acquisition support services in support of Air Force Life Cycle Management Center divisions. Fiscal 2012 procurement and fiscal 2013 research and development and procurement funds in the amount of $420,420 were obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Enterprise Acquisition Division/PZM, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (Awarded Sept. 10, 2013).

Quantech Services Inc., Lexington, Mass., was awarded a $10,074,671 modification (P00006) on an existing cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable contract (FA8721-13-C-0016) for professional acquisition support services. This contract modification provides the exercise of an option for an additional six months of professional acquisition support services under the basic contract. Work will be performed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. and Langley Air Force Base, Va., and is expected to be completed by April 17, 2014. This modification provides professional acquisition support services in support of Air Force Life Cycle Management Center divisions, including classified foreign military sales. FMS support accounts for approximately 46 percent of the stated modification and includes Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Oman. Fiscal 2013 research and development, procurement and FMS funds in the amount of $2,016,142 were obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Enterprise Acquisition Division/PZM, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (Awarded Sept. 10, 2013).

Global Defense Systems LP, Warner Robins, Ga., has been awarded a $9,624,302, firm-fixed-price contract for 480 C-130 Loadmaster Crashworthy seats. The Crashworthy seat will provide lifesaving capabilities during hard landings. Work will be performed at Albertville, Ala., and is expected to be completed June 30, 2016. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition via the internet, and five offers were received. Fiscal 2011 and 2012 procurement funds in the amount of $9,624,302 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WLKCA, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8504-14-C-0002).

P E Systems Inc., Fairfax, Va., was awarded an $8,968,305 modification (P00005) on an existing cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable contract (FA8721-13-C-0029) for professional acquisition support services. This contract modification provides the exercise of an option for an additional six months of professional acquisition support services under the basic contract. Work will be performed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., Langley Air Force Base, Va., Washington, D.C., and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by April 17, 2014. This modification provides professional acquisition support services in support of Air Force Life Cycle Management Center divisions, including classified foreign military sales. FMS support accounts for approximately 1 percent of the stated modification and includes the countries of Germany, Greece, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Thailand. Fiscal 2012 procurement and fiscal 2013 operations and maintenance, research and development, procurement and FMS funds in the amount of $621,641 were obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Enterprise Acquisition Division/PZM, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (Awarded Sept. 19, 2013).

NAVY

Lockheed Martin, Mission Systems & Training, Mitchel Field, N.Y., is being awarded a $58,785,716 cost-plus-incentive fee, cost-plus-fixed fee contract for United States and United Kingdom D-5 navigation subsystem engineering support services. This contract provides for U.S. and U.K. fleet support, U.S. and U.K. trainer systems support, Ohio-class SSBN engineered refueling overhauls, U.S. and U.K. SSI4 trainer system, SSBN-R strategic weapon training system and training system development, U.K. successor support, software modernization and Linked Autonomous Programmed Navigational Operational Trainer modernization. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and one option-year if exercised, is $114,236,770. The work will be performed in Mitchel Field, N.Y. (97 percent), Clearwater/Oldsmar, Fla. (2 percent) and Manassas, Va. (1 percent), with an expected completion date of April 2017. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy contract funds in the amount of $36,042,285; fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation contract funds in the amount of $12,382,648; fiscal 2014 United Kingdom contract funds in the amount of $6,912,487; and fiscal 2014 other procurement, Navy contract funds in the amount of $3,448,296 are being obligated at time of award. Contract funds in the amount of $36,042,285 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source acquisition in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00030-14-C-0002).

BAE Systems Technology Solutions Inc., Rockville, Md., is being awarded a $56,517,376 cost-plus-fixed fee, cost-plus-incentive fee contract for the United States and United Kingdom D5 strategic weapons systems programs, U.S. guided missile submarine attack weapons systems programs, Nuclear Weapons Security, and future concepts. These services will include: weapon system coordination, safety class engineering, conduct of installation test programs, direct logistics support of deployed forces, and support of logistics management programs. This contract provides for coordination documentation; electrical diagrams; systems publications; shipyard installation test support; test equipment and test data analysis; support for re-engineering the SWS as appropriate in response to guidelines resulting from continuous improvement initiatives, configuration management through SSP Alterations program, logistics engineering, Preventive Maintenance Management Plan, Standard Maintenance Procedures; systems level documentation and training curriculum support; logistics planning; logistics engineering; field logistics services; network development and maintenance. In addition, BAE Systems will provide the following products for the Common Missile Compartment (CMC) concept development effort to ensure that the existing TRIDENT II (D5) SWS is compatible with the Concept Development efforts being pursued for the CMC Program: weapon system coordination, class engineering, configuration management, logistics engineering, systems-level documentation, network development and maintenance and facility engineering and design support. They will also provide technical and engineering support to the CMC concept development efforts for SWS life cycle cost control evaluations. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and two option years, is $171,358,761. Work will be performed at Rockville, Md. (73 percent); Washington, D.C. (13 percent ); Silverdale, Wash. (5 percent); St. Mary’s, Ga. (4 percent); Portsmouth, Va. (3 percent); San Diego, Calif. (1 percent); the United Kingdom (.6 percent) , and Mechanicsburg, Pa. (.3 percent), with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2014. Fiscal 2014operations and maintenance, Navy funds in the amount of $33,679,376; fiscal 2014 United Kingdom contract funds in the amount of $10,268,000; fiscal 2013 and 2014 research, development, test and evaluation contract funds in the amounts of $488,000 and $6,783,000 respectively; fiscal 2012, 2013, and 2014 other procurement, Navy contract funds in the amounts of $173,000, $513,000, and $4,418,000 respectively; and fiscal 2014 weapons, Navy contract funds in the amount of $195,000 are being obligated at time of award. Contract funds in the amount of $34,340,376 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole source acquisition in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00030-14-C-0009).

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Pascagoula, Miss., is being awarded a $39,051,995 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-2203) for life cycle engineering and support services on the Amphibious Transport Dock Ship Program LPD 17 class. Services to be provided include post-delivery planning and engineering, homeport technical support, Class Integrated Product Data Environment, data maintenance and equipment management, systems integration and engineering support, LPD 17 class design services, research engineering, obsolescence management, material support, emergent repair provision (including warranty enforcement), training and logistics support; LPD 17 Integrated Planning Yard support including ship alteration development and installation, material management, Fleet Modernization Program planning, availability planning, configuration data management, research engineering, logistics documentation, and other logistics and executing activity coordination, and management of all related data within the Configuration Data Manager’s Database-Open Architecture. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Miss., and is expected to be completed by December 2014. Fiscal 2005 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy funds in the amount of $5, 045,557, fiscal 2012 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy funds in the amount of $2,373,000, fiscal 2014 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy funds in the amount of $1,727,500, and fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy funds in the amount of $50,000 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds in the amount of $2,423,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $15,597,818 firm-fixed-price delivery order (0075) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-12-G-0006) in support of the V-22 aircraft. This order provides for additional nonrecurring engineering and technical support to forward fit/retrofit engineering change proposal #1007 into the aircraft. This effort will also provide for the delivery of eight helmet mounted display retrofit kits, spares, support equipment, tooling and training devices. Work will be performed at Ridley Park, Pa. (99.9 percent), and Fort Worth, Texas (.1 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2015. Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement, U.S. Special Operations Command funding in the amount of $15,597,818 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, Md., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Atlantic Diving Supply Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va., has been awarded a maximum $84,063,089 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for various commercial fasteners. This contract is a competitive acquisition, and seven offers were received. Location of performance is Virginia with a Dec. 5, 2016 performance completion date. This is a three-year base contract with one two-year option periods. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM5EN-14-D-0001).

KPMG LLP, McLean, Va., has been awarded a maximum $12,834,740 firm-fixed-price contract for all necessary management services, personnel and documentation required for Defense Logistics Agency audit readiness review. This contract is a competitive acquisition, and six offers were received. Location of performance is Virginia with a Dec. 5, 2014 performance completion date. This is a one-year base contract. Using service is federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Contracting Services Office, Richmond, Va., (SP4703-11-A-0017-0034).

ARMY

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, Calif., was awarded a $40,253,105 modification (P0003) to contract W58RGZ-13-C-0109 for the Gray Eagle full rate production option exercise applicable to the Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System. Fiscal 2014 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $40,253,105 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Sept. 30, 2016. One bid was solicited with one received. Work will be performed at Poway, Calif. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.

EADS North America, Herndon, Va. was awarded a $33,217,089 firm-fixed-price contract with options for the purchase of six UH72A Lakota aircraft and six airborne radio communication 231 radios. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $33,217,089 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 31, 2014. Five bids were solicited with three received. Work will be performed in Herndon, Va. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

Dutra Dredging Co., San Rafael, Calif., was awarded a $19,869,500 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging the Thimble Shoal Federal Navigation Channel and the Cape Henry Federal Navigation Channel. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $8,231,200 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Sept 1, 2014. Bids were solicited via the Internet with three received. Work will be performed at Newport News, Va. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (W91236-14-C-0014).

BAE Systems Information & Electronic Systems Integration, Greenlawn, N.Y., was awarded an $11,527,257 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to acquire engineering services, a technical data package and technical training required to develop organic depot activation repair capability of the AN/APX-124 Mode S/5 Identification Friend or Foe Transponder System at Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pa. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $3,562,257 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is June 6, 2016. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Work will be performed at Greenlawn, N.Y. Army Contracting Command, Tobyhanna, Pa., is the contracting activity (W25G1V-14-C-0003).

Jorge Scientific Corp., Arlington, Va., was awarded a $7,309,301 firm-fixed-price contract for Counterinsurgency (COIN) Advisory and Assistance Team services in Afghanistan regarding a new COIN concept without a break in service. This assistance entails training U.S. forces on how to train Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF) on functions critical to ANSF sustainment. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $5,755,730 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is March 15, 2014. This was a sole-source acquisition. Work will be performed in Afghanistan. CENTCOM Joint Theater Support Contracting Command – Phoenix APO, AE is the contracting activity (W56SGK-14-C-0003).

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Koniag Information Security Systems, Chantilly, Va., has been awarded a $6,600,688 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This award is for contractor support services for the DARPA Security and Intelligence Directorate. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va. The estimated completion date is Dec. 31, 2014. Fiscal 2013 research and development funds are being obligated at time of award. The contracting activity is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., (HR0011-14-C-0048).

*Small Business

U.S. DEFENSE CONTRACTS FOR NOVEMBER 4, 2013

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
CONTRACTS

ARMY

Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Va., (W91CRB-11-D-0001) (P00010); Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, (W91CRB-11-D-0002) (P00005); Booz Allen Hamilton, Mc Lean, Va., (W91CRB-11-D-0003) (P00007); Exelis Inc., Alexandria, Va., (W91CRB-11-D-0004) (P00010); Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Va., (W91CRB-11-D-0005) (P00007); Wintec Arrowmaker, Inc.*, Fort Washington, Md., (W91CRB-11-D-0006) (P00006); Technical and Project Engineering LLC.*, Alexandria, Va. (W91CRB-11-D-0007) (P00005) were awarded an $80,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract modification.  The modification increases the award ceiling from $400,000,000 to $480,000,000 in order to support the Army Research Laboratory’s increased unique mission cell requirements.  Funding and location will be determined with each order.  Bids were solicited via the Internet with seven received.  Army Contracting Command, Research Triangle Park, N.C., is the contracting activity.

Choctaw Transportation Company Inc., Dyersburg, Tenn., (W912EQ-14-D-0001); Luhr Bros., Inc., Columbia, Ill., (W912EQ-14-D-0002); Patton-Tully Marine LLC.*, Memphis, Tenn., (W912EQ-14-D-0003); Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel Co., White Hall, Ark., (W912EQ-14-D-0004), were awarded a $48,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of various types of stone navigation structures to include all types of dikes, chevrons, bend-way weirs, hardpoints, and other river training structures in the Mississippi River between river miles 954.0 to 320.  Funds and location will be determined with each order.  Estimated completion date is Dec. 3, 2016.  Bids were solicited via the Internet with four received.  Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis, Tenn., is the contracting activity.

Northrop-Grumman, Huntsville, Ala. was awarded a $19,800,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for research and development of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense and Battle Command System. Work will be performed in Huntsville, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2015.  Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of a $19,800,000 were obligated at the time of the award.  Two bids were solicited, with two received.  Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-08-C-0418). (Awarded Dec 3, 2013)

Oshkosh Corp, Oshkosh, Wisc., was awarded a $9,500,000 contract modification (P00029) to contract W56HZV-09-D-0159 to extend the vehicle ordering year for the family of medium tactical vehicles to cover Jan. 1 to May 15, 2014.  This extension is based on lost ordering time due to a protest that occurred within ten days of this contract's award, Aug. 26, 2009, that lasted 131 days.  Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds will be determined by each order. Work will be performed in Oshkosh. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with three received.  Army Contracting Command, Tank and Automotive, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Dec. 3, 2013)


NAVY

Maersk Line Ltd., Norfolk, Va., is being awarded a $14,223,440 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00033-11-C-5400) to exercise option period two for the worldwide charter of one U.S.-flagged, Ice-class certified, double-hulled product tanker.  The vessel provides worldwide bulk fuel support to the Department of Defense, including a delivery each year to Antarctica for the National Science Foundation and a delivery each year to Greenland for the Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency-Energy.  Work will be performed worldwide, and is expected to be completed December 2014.  If all option periods are exercised, work will continue through November 2016.  Fiscal 2014 working capital contract funds in the amount of $11,495,657 are obligated on this award, and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year.  Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

CDM Federal Programs Corp., Fairfax, Va., is being awarded $10,730,846 for firm-fixed-price task order 0012 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N62470-09-D-9037) for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command utility inventory and risk assessment pilot.  The work to be performed is to migrate existing AutoCAD (computer aided design) data and/or version 2.6 geographic information system data for the water, wastewater, thermal, gas, compressed air, saltwater and electrical commodities into the latest respective version of the utilities geographic information systems models.  The work to be performed is to also combine geographic information systems data with existing MAXIMO data, asset data in spreadsheets and other databases.  Work will be performed at several Naval Facility Engineering Commands located at Jacksonville, Fla., San Diego, Calif., and Washington, D.C.  Work is expected to be completed by September 2015.  Fiscal 2014 Navy working capital funds in the amount of $10,730,846 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  One proposal was received for this task order.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded $8,481,104 for firm-fixed-price delivery order 2035 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-11-G-0001) for follow-on integrated logistics support/engineering services for Harpoon/SLAM-ER Missile System and Harpoon Launch Systems for the U.S. Navy and various foreign military sales customers.  Work will be performed in St. Charles, Mo. (91.17 percent); St. Louis, Mo. (5.43 percent); Yorktown, Va. (2.64 percent); Pt. Mugu, Calif. (.71 percent); and Oklahoma City, Okla. (.05 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2014.  This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($3,122,737; 36.82 percent); the governments of Korea ($759,253; 8.95 percent); Taiwan ($715,517; 8.43 percent); Turkey ($632,914; 7.46 percent); Egypt ($421,912; 4.97 percent); United Kingdom ($317,393; 3.74 percent); Japan ($302,563; 3.57 percent); Pakistan ($283,035; 3.34 percent); Australia ($260,331; 3.07 percent); Chile ($223,047; 2.63 percent); Saudi Arabia ($223,212; 2.63 percent); Canada ($204,204; 2.41 percent); Israel ($165,053; 1.95 percent); Bahrain ($109,006; 1.29 percent); United Arab Emirates ($106,102; 1.25 percent); the Netherlands ($83,584; .99 percent); Germany ($83,582; .99 percent); Kuwait ($77,246; .91 percent); Singapore ($75,386; .89 percent); Oman ($71,439; .84 percent); India ($64,462; .76 percent); Portugal ($62,687; .74 percent); Thailand ($45,825; .54 percent); Denmark ($41,791; .49 percent); and Malaysia ($28,823; .34 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program.  Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy and FMS contract funds in the amount $8,481,104 will be obligated at time of award; $3,122,737 of which expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Pfizer, Inc., has been awarded a $7,670,632 technology investment agreement.  Pfizer shall perform a research and development program designed to develop a technology platform to identify and subsequently induce the production of protective antibodies to an emerging pathogen directly in an infected or exposed individual.  Work will be performed in Cambridge, Mass. The estimated completion date is Dec. 8, 2016.  Fiscal 2013 research and development funds are being obligated at time of award. The contracting activity is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., (HR0011-14-3-0001).


*Small Business

DARPA AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL FRONTIER

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DARPA Reaches Beyond Technological Frontiers for Warfighters
By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2013 – In 1957, the entire world was surprised by the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite.

In response, President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded the Advanced Research Projects Agency -- now called the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency -- the following year, and he directed it to prevent further technological surprises by reaching beyond the frontiers of technology and science and immediate military requirements.

In the 55 years since DARPA was founded, it has succeeded in preventing technological surprise -- and has created surprise of its own, DARPA Director Arati Prabhakar told reporters at the Pentagon yesterday.

"Today, if you look at how we fight, you will find in our military capabilities really critical systems and capabilities like precision guidance and navigation, like stealth technologies, like [unmanned aerial vehicles], communications and networking, night-vision systems," she said, all developed, in part, due to pivotal early investments by DARPA.

"And our warfighters have taken this suite of capabilities and turned it into a way to change the face of war," Prabhakar said.

In making those investments, DARPA paved the way for leaps forward in capability, she said. "That's really our role," she added. "That's what our function is. That's what we've done for many generations and that's what we're going to be doing again for the next generation."

DARPA is a small agency, Prabhakar said. About half of its roughly 200 employees are experts from throughout the technical and military communities who serve as program managers for short terms of about three to five years. The rotational nature of the program manager positions allows the agency to tap into a broad technical community, she said, a tactic that gives DARPA influence that far outweighs its size.

"The job for the rest of us [at DARPA] is to recruit these stellar individuals, to construct a balanced portfolio of programs from the ideas that they generate, and ultimately … enable these program managers to take the kind of risk that is inherent in reaching for high payoff," she said. "And all of that is really what keeps the DARPA engine humming," Prabhakar added.

Incoming program managers listen to what is happening in the technical community to learn where the breakthrough opportunities are, Prabhakar said, and learn from the military community what they see as their future needs.

"From all of those inputs, our program managers create DARPA programs that they think really have the potential to change the world," she said. "When they start building these programs, of course, they build these new technology capabilities [and] … technical communities that really can move our abilities forward in a really powerful way."

While DARPA’s mission hasn’t changed in 55 years, the same can’t be said of the world in which it operates, Prabhakar said. Now is a good time for DARPA to step back and assess its view of future missions, she added, particularly in the context of today’s realities.

The agency identified three major trends that it views as critical in shaping DARPA’s effort to build "radical new solutions," Prabhakar said.

"The first major factor that we see is we believe we're going to be in an extended period during which our national security will face a wide range of different types of threats from a wide range of different actors," she told reporters. Not just nation-states, but also terrorist and criminal organizations and even individuals, she said.

These actors now have access to a wide range of tools that can create effects once limited only to nations, she said -- weapons of mass destruction or mass terror and cyberattacks, for example. "So the No. 1 major factor that we really pay attention to is this complex, fluid, shifting national security environment that we think we will be facing for an extended period of time."

The second factor, she said, is the rapid advances in military technology made by other nations. This, combined with other factors, has led to a prevalence of obsolete and publicly available technology in U.S. military systems. "That's a trend that we expect will continue," Prabhakar said. "I think that's going to be a fact of life in the world that we're living in."

Fiscal constraints are the third trend shaping DARPA’s future, she said. "We believe we may be at the beginning of a fundamental shift in how our society allocates resources to the business of national security," she added.

Prabhakar said she’s not referring only to the immediate issues around sequestration spending cuts. "What I'm really talking about here are the fiscal pressures that could shape a different future over the coming years and decades," she explained, "and, if it turns out to be the case that we don't allocate this continuing level of support for national security as a society, it actually won't change the fact that our job will still be to keep the country as safe and secure as is humanly possible.

"So these three factors create a very challenging environment that we're going to be facing for an extended period of time," she continued. "I think these are factors that create an environment that calls for a DARPA and for the DARPA approaches to thinking outside the box more than ever before."

DARPA will continue to invest in "game-changers," Prabhakar said. "[Investing] in radical new systems concepts, in radical new technologies that can enable new capabilities, that's something that DARPA has done for 55 years, and we're going to do it today, and we'll hope we'll do it for the next 55 years at least."

The agency is also taking new approaches, she said. "We're thinking about how we can make the systems of the future more readily adaptable," she added, "so that they can be configured for whatever actual threat emerges in time, or can be reconfigured in real time in an engagement so that we can adapt more quickly than adversaries might in a battle environment."

The organization also seeks ideas that can "invert the cost equation," Prabhakar said. These types of approaches not only would reduce program costs, but also would force adversaries to spend more money to counter the technology than the technology cost to develop and implement, she explained.

"And then, finally, we're also thinking about the fact that DARPA's in the ‘silver bullet’ business, but in fact, even our most powerful capability will not single-handedly change the face of war for the next generation," she said.

One way to realize such a far-reaching change is by combining technologies, she said. "That's how I think we've created the last big shift in military capability," she added, "and we see how that could be possible looking forward."

DARPA's objective is a new generation of technology for national security, Prabhakar said.

"If we're successful, as I think we really must be in this DARPA endeavor, what that will mean for the future is that our future leaders and commanders will have real options, powerful options for all the range of threats that we face in the years and decades ahead," she said. "That's really how we will enable our nation to achieve its strategic objectives in a decisive fashion."

U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND: THE LAUNCH OF SPUTNIK

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND
The USSR launches Sputnik I, the world's first successful artificial satellite on 4 Oct 1957. Pictured here is a model of Sputnik I from the Missile & Space Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.


AFSPC Milestone: USSR launched Sputnik, starting the space race

8/26/2012 - Peterson AFB, Colo. -- As Air Force Space Command approaches its 30th Anniversary on 1 Sep, here is a significant milestone which led to the creation of a new command responsible for the space domain...

On 4 October 1957, the USSR launches Sputnik I, the world's first successful artificial satellite. The surprise success of the Russian's launch began the Space Age and triggered the Space Race, a part of the larger Col War. It also lead to the launch of Explorer I, the first US satellite to go into orbit, launched from then Cape Canaveral Missile Annex, Fla. approximately 4 months later. Mercury batteries powered the high-power transmitter on Explorer I for 31 days and the low-power transmitter for 105 days. Explorer 1 stopped transmission of data on May 23, 1958 when its batteries died, but remained in orbit for more than 12 years. It has been followed by more than 90 scientific spacecraft in the Explorer series.

Additionally, the launch of Sputnik ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. The public reaction to the "Sputnik crisis" led to the creation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (renamed the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA in 1972), NASA, and an increase in U.S. government spending on scientific research and education.

WIN MILLIONS DESIGNING A DISASTER ROBOT

                                                                                        Mars Rover Self-Portrait  Photo:  NASA    
FROM:  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ARMED WITH SCIENCE
Written on APRIL 16, 2012 AT 7:40 AM by JTOZER
Wanted: Robot. Willing To Pay $2M
Written by Jessica L. Tozer
Hey you, robot enthusiast!
Do you want two million dollars?  Can you build amazing robots?  If so, have we got the most awesome contest FOR YOU!  No, seriously.  This isn’t the premise for a 1980's SciFi action flick.  This is for real, folks.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering millions to the person who creates a robot designed to handle disasters of epic proportion.  The kind humans can’t handle, no matter how noble or determined we are.  No, not the asteriod-hurling-to-Earth type (although truthfully that would currently fall into the things-we-can’t-handle-no-seriously-Bruce-Willis-isn’t-going-to-save-us category).

All epic movie montages aside, DARPA really is looking for robots that can handle things that are too dangerous for humans, like the meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi power plant last year.

This is more than just the work of a machine.  This robot has to go above and beyond the call of autonomous duty in order to handle the kind of crisis we’re talking about.  As awesome as that sounds, it’s not quite as unprecedented as you might think.

The truth is, the use of robots in serious situations is nothing new.
Robots are used by U.S. military forces as assistants for service members in diffusing improvised explosive devices.  That’s not to say that the current robot cavalcade can’t be improved upon, and I guess that concept is what brings us to this blog post today.

True innovation in robotics technology could result in much more effective robots that could better intervene in high-risk situations.  This could save human lives, and help contain the impact of natural and man-made disasters.  So, are we headed to a new age of human-robot coexistence?  The handy helper AIs who come at the touch of a button?  Possibly even reach new technological heights with our  new autonomous friends?
I immediately think “helpful robots in space” (Robby the Robot style), but maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.

s iconic symbols of the future, robots rank high with flying cars and starships, but basic robots are already in use in emergency response, industry, defense, healthcare and education. DARPA plans to offer a $2 million prize to whomever can help push the state-of-the-art in robotics beyond today’s capabilities in support of the DoD’s disaster recovery mission.

DARPA’s Robotics Challenge will launch in October 2012.  Teams are sought to compete in challenges involving staged disaster-response scenarios in which robots will have to successfully navigate a series of physical tasks corresponding to anticipated, real-world disaster-response requirements.

The DARPA Robotics Challenge consists of both robotics hardware and software development tasks. It is DARPA’s position that achieving true innovation in robotics – and thus success in this challenge – will require contributions from communities beyond traditional robotics developers.
The DARPA Robotics Challenge supports the National Robotics Initiative launched by President Barack Obama in June 2011.

To answer questions regarding the Robotics Challenge and provide an opportunity for interested parties to connect, DARPA will hold a virtual Proposers’ Day workshop today, April 16, 2012.

This online workshop will introduce interested communities to the effort, explain the mechanics of this DARPA challenge, and encourage collaborative arrangements among potential performers from a wide range of backgrounds.  More information on the BAA and Proposers’ Day is available here.

So whether you’re just looking for a reason to build the world’s next greatest robot (and really, who isn’t?), or you just want to make the world a safer place for us humans, I’d check out this challenge.  I look forward to seeing the innovation and creativity that can come from this.\

I’d also like to be the first blogger to officially request an interview with the two million dollar robot.  The robot, not the winner (although I *suppose* the winner can come, too).  I want to get on his/her good side.  You never know when your AI connections are going to come in handy, and if he/she is going to be saving humanity someday, I’d like to be on a first name basis.

Robby The Robot was featured at 2006 San Diego Comic Con in honor of the 50th anniversary of Forbidden Planet and the remastering of the film on DVD. Photograph by Patty Mooney, Crystal Pyramid Productions, San Diego, California.