U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

Booz Allen Hamilton, of McLean, Virginia, is being awarded a $95,500,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide support services for countering weapons of mass destruction situational awareness, intelligence, operations, and data visualization support that enables the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to monitor global situational awareness of WMD threats and activities. Work will be performed at Fort Belvoir, and is expected to be completed in September 2022. Fiscal 2013 research and development funds in the amount of $1,690,000 are being obligated on the first task order. This contract was a competitive acquisition, with three bids received. The contracting activity is Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (DTRA1-14-D-0016).

NAVY

Granite Construction Company Guam, Watsonville, California, is being awarded a maximum amount $75,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for paving construction services at U.S. government shore-based facilities in Guam. The work to be performed provides for the construction, alteration, repair, and/or maintenance of asphalt concrete roads, streets, highways, alleys, parking areas, and their associated facility, such as but not limited to concrete sidewalks, curbs and gutters, guardrails, U-ditch, drainage pipe, traffic striping, pavement marking, and related work. Work will include cold milling, excavation, embankment grading or subbase and base course, compaction, density test, bituminous surface treatment, seal coating, asphalt concrete paving, adjustment of existing utilities and structures and other related work. Work will be performed in Guam, and is expected to be completed by September 2019. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $25,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Marianas, Guam, is the contracting activity (N40192-14-D-2830).
AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland, is being awarded a $27,316,800 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to produce AN/GLM -11 (V) 1 and (V) 2 universal test sets and provide engineering services and program and configuration management in support of the AN/GLM-11 series. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by September 2017. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $3,092,939 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00174-14-D-0002).
A&D GC, Inc.,* Santee, California, is being awarded $13,525,000 for firm-fixed-price task order 0014 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-09-D-1658) to repair and restore Bachelor Enlisted Quarters 520420 at the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton. Work includes, but is not limited to, analysis and updates to bring the building up to current seismic requirements; removal and disposal of hazardous materials including asbestos, lead, and mold; replace damaged wall, floor, double hung windows, and ceilings finishes. Areas affected by repair shall be in compliance with anti-terrorism/force protection, fire suppression, seismic, accessibility, and leadership in energy and environmental design requirements. The task order also contains one planned modification, which if exercised, would increase cumulative task order value to $15,325,000. Work will be performed in Oceanside, California, and is expected to be completed by March 2016. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance (Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $13,525,000 are being obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.

RQ-BERG JV, Carlsbad, California, is being awarded a maximum amount $9,653,651 to increase the dollar value of task order 0007 under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N62473-10-D-5482) for the complete restoration and repairs to fire damaged electrical and communication distribution systems on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Seal Beach Detachment Fallbrook. The work to be performed includes replacement of fire damaged poles, wire and equipment to restore power and communication services to: Area 33; Ranges 102 and 103 (Wilcox Range Area); Area 32 (including but not limited to the 320937 Reservoir Lift Station); Area 43 (including but not limited to Sewage Treatment Plant 3 at Sewer Treatment Facility, fire station, pistol range, Basilone Road, the chlorination station and the Waste Disposal Facility); the Northern Area Range Control Communications Tower and Range 314 south/east of Area 62; NWS Seal Beach Detachment, Fallbrook (including but not limited to Romeo Magazine, Building 350, old housing area, sewer lift station at Building 332, Building 336, Building 301 and Building 231). After award of this modification, the total cumulative task order value will be $9,653,651. Work will be performed in Oceanside, California, and is expected to be completed by May 2015. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance (Marine Corps) contract funds in the amount of $5,623,767 are being obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.

ARMY

Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Virginia, was awarded a $43,293,745 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for services to support the Royal Saudi Land Forces. Services in the contract include consulting, intensive management, logistics support, and contracting support within the United States, for the Royal Saudi Land Forces. In addition, an office will be established in Saudi Arabia for local purchasing and local hires to sustain the fleet of Abrams tanks purchased and sustained through the foreign military sales program. Fiscal 2014 other funds in the amount of $15,000,000 were obligated at the time of award. Work will be performed in Saudi Arabia with an estimated completion date of Sept. 8, 2017. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with one received. This contract involves foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-14-C-0048).
Carnegie Robotics LLC,* Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $22,783,433 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for an autonomous mine detection system that is being developed to provide the war fighter with capability to detect, mark and neutralize explosive hazards in support of the full spectrum of military operations. Fiscal 2013 and 2014 research, development, test and evaluation (Army) funds in the amount of $14,638,737 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed in Woburn, Massachusetts ($3,236,616; 14 percent); King of Prussia, Pennsylvania ($4,113,115; 18 percent); and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ($15,433,702; 68 percent), with an estimated completion date of March 1, 2018. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with three received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-14-C-0075).

KRSW Joint Venture*, Boise, Idaho, was awarded a $22,469,577 firm-fixed-price contract for repairs and improvement to Mountain Home Air Force Base Runway 12/30, Taxiway Alpha and connector taxiways, due to deteriorating pavement conditions identified in the airfield pavement evaluation. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $22,469,577 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed in Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, with estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with four received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle, Washington, is the contracting activity (W912DW-14-C-0022).

Birdon America, Inc.*, Denver, Colorado, was awarded a $9,679,841 modification (P00005) to firm-fixed-price contract W56HZV-14-C-0015 to exercise the government format technical data package option with additional rights for the bridge erection boats. Fiscal 2014 other funds in the amount of $9,679,841 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed in Denver, Colorado, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 23, 2016. U.S. Army Contracting Command – Tank and Automotive, Warren, Michigan is the contracting activity.

Highland Engineering,* Inc., Howell, Michigan, was awarded an $8,500,000 indefinite- delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production and delivery of military working dogs worldwide deployable kennel systems and logistics support documentation. Work and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 7, 2017. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with three received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Alexandria, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W909MY-14-D-0012).
*Small business

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR AUGUST 12, 2014

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Golden Manufacturing Company Inc.,* Golden, Mississippi, has been awarded a maximum $36,716,648 modification (P00104) exercising the first option period on a one-year base contract (SPM1C1-13-D-1063) with four one-year option periods. This is a firm-fixed-price contract for various types of Permethrin Army combat uniform coats. Locations of performance are Mississippi and Georgia, with an Aug. 14, 2015, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Puerto Rico Apparel Manufacturing Corp.(PRAMA),* Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $15,938,573 modification (P00104) exercising the first option period on a one-year base contract (SPM1C1-13-D-1065) with four one-year option periods. This is a firm-fixed-price contract for various types of Permethrin Army combat uniform coats. Locations of performance are Puerto Rico and Mississippi, with an Aug. 14, 2015, performance completion date. Using service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

CORRECTION: The contract announced on Aug. 5, 2014, for Parker Hannifin Corp., Irvine, California (SPE4AX-14-D-9413), for a $238,050,000 firm-fixed-price contract in support of multiple aviation weapon systems, was announced with an incorrect award date. The correct award date is Aug. 11, 2014.

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

Quanterion Solutions Inc.,* Utica, New York, is being awarded a $25,370,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide services for the operations of the Defense Threat Reduction Information Analysis Center (DTRIAC), located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and the support office at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Services include conducting analytical activities, preserving and expanding the knowledge base, providing research related to DTRA mission areas, conducting outreach to the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive community on combating weapons of mass destruction topics, and maintaining the information technology readiness and innovation potential to further advance information sharing. The DTRIAC manages a vast collection of unclassified and classified knowledge bases. The DTRIAC acquires digests, analyzes, evaluates, synthesizes stores, publishes, and disseminates scientific and technical information related to all DTRA mission areas. This procurement was posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website and five offers were received. Funding and work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 11, 2019.Work will be performed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and Utica, New York. The contracting activity is the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (HDTRA1-14-D-0009).

ARMY

Fraser Volpe*, Warminster, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $16,000,000 modification (P00003) to contract W15QKN-13-D-0041 to acquire 1,306 M25E1 stabilized binoculars. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is Feb. 26, 2018. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.

NI Industries Inc., Rock Island, Illinois, was awarded a $6,711,000 firm-fixed-price contract for ammunition cartridge case manufacturing intellectual property, tooling, gages, miscellaneous inventory items and cartridge cases. Work will be performed in Rock Island, Illinois, with an
estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2014. One bid was solicited with one received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $6,711,000 are being obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity
(W52P1J-14-C-0059). (NOTE: This contract was awarded on July 31, 2014; it was not announced until now due to extenuating circumstances.)

NAVY

Watts Constructors, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded $14,500,000 for firm-fixed-price task order 0010 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N44255-10-D-5021) to construct a railcar complex at Dry Dock Five, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. The work to be performed provides for all labor, materials and equipment to demolish existing structures, utilities, and paving; construction of a concrete foundation slab supported on drilled shafts and includes replacement/redirection of existing utilities, re-grading/paving around the foundation slab; construction of the Dry Dock Five railcar complex which includes two railcar enclosures, one storage enclosure, three weather enclosures, two stair towers, one vent platform and one vent skid roof. This is a design-bid-build contract. Work will be performed in Bremerton, Washington, and is expected to be completed by October 2015. Fiscal 2013 other procurement (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $14,500,000 are being obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, Bremerton, Washington, is the contracting activity.

United States Technologies Inc.*, Fair Lawn, New Jersey, is being awarded a $13,825,350 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to procure up to 5,270 of the various types of AN/ULQ-21technique control modulator circuit card assemblies in support of the Airborne Threat Simulation Organization (ATSO). ATSO develops, integrates, and operationally supports countermeasures and emitter threat simulation systems. Work will be performed in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed in August 2019. Fiscal 2014 weapons procurement (Navy); fiscal 2013 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force and Navy); and fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $109,935 are being obligated at time of award, $19,960 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via 100 percent Small Business set-aside electronic request for proposals; two offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity (N68936-14-D-0023).

*Small business

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

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

Cubic Applications, Inc., San Diego, California, was awarded a maximum $500,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for J3/7 chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive (CBRNE) exercise, training, capability assessment and capacity development support services. This contract provides for support services to DTRA's Building Partnerships Divisions and functions in the daily performance and execution of the Building Partnership mission. Work will be performed at various locations, with an expected completion date of July 2024. Funding will be obligated at the task order level. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and five offers were received. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HDTRA1-14-D-0013).

NAVY

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, Moorestown, New Jersey, is being awarded a $40,662,000 not-to-exceed contract for the production of one multi-mission signal processor equipment set, ballistic missile defense 4.0.2 equipment, and Aegis Weapon System upgraded equipment to support fielding Aegis modernization capabilities to the fleet. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (57.8 percent); Clearwater, Florida (41.5 percent); and Owego, New York (0.7 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2016. Fiscal 2014 other procurement (Navy) and fiscal 2014 defense procurement contract funds in the amount of $20,331,000 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 pursuant to 10 U.S. C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-14-C-5106).

Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc., Monroeville, Pennsylvania, is being awarded a $39,437,949 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-12-C-2106) for naval nuclear propulsion components. Work will be performed in Monroeville, Pennsylvania (99 percent), and Schenectady, New York (1 percent). No completion date or additional information is provided on Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program contracts. Fiscal 2014 other procurement (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $39,437,949 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, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
L-3 Communications Corp., Arlington, Texas, is being awarded a $14,089,284 modification to a firm-fixed-price delivery order issued previously against Basic Ordering Agreement N61340-12-G-0001. This modification provides for footprint reduction/storage area network to update existing architecture for the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft. The update reduces Tactical Operational Flight Trainer (TOFT) host/instructor operator station hardware, centralizes software storage, provides expandable software storage for future TOFT enhancements, allows for multiple software configurations, and updates all analog Mission Management System (MMS) video output to digital supporting future improvements to MMS displays. Work will be performed in Lemoore, California (20 percent); Miramar, California (20 percent); Whidbey, Washington (15 percent); Oceana, Virginia (15 percent); China Lake, California (10 percent); Arlington, Texas (10 percent); and Atsugi, Japan (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2016. Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $14,089,284 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., Jacksonville, Florida, is being awarded a $7,695,945 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-14-D-0001) for additional fiscal 2014 depot-level service life extension/remanufacturing activities, including associated maintenance support and sustainment capabilities, in support of the F/A18 A-F aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (61 percent), and Jacksonville, Florida (39 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2015. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

ARMY

Southeastern Archaeological Research Inc.,* Newberry, Florida (W9126G-14-D-0036); R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc.,* New Orleans, Louisiana (W9126G-14-D-0037); and Panamerican Consultants, Inc.,* Tuscaloosa, Alabama (W9126G-14-D-0038), were awarded a $20,000,000 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award task order contract for military and civil works cultural resources compliance programs in the United States and territories with an estimated completion date of July 22, 2017. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 12 received. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity.

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Kongsberg, Norway was awarded a $10,680,000 modification (P00114) to contract W15QKN-12-C-0103 to exercise an option on contract W15QKN-12-C-0103 for depot support of the Commonly Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS). Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $10,680,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Aug. 16, 2017. Work will be performed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

McRae Industries, Inc., ** Mount Gilead, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $14,393,768 modification (P00103) exercising the second option period on a one-year base contract (SPM1C1-12-D-1057), with four one-year option periods. This is a firm-fixed-price contract for Army hot weather combat boots. Location of performance is North Carolina with a July 28, 2015, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

AIR FORCE

Telephonics Corp., Communications & Integrated Systems Division, Farmingdale, New York, has been awarded a $13,254,403 firm-fixed-price contract for the Enhanced Mode S-FAA Radar, Enhanced Mode 5 Radar, and procurement of long lead material and all other hardware support activities. Work will be performed primarily at Farmingdale, New York, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 20, 2017. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition and one offer was received. NATO agency funds in the amount of $13,254,403 will be obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/HBSKI, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-14-C-0014).
*Small business

**In-HUBZone business

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR JULY 23, 2014

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DEFENSE 

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

Cubic Applications, Inc., San Diego, California, was awarded a maximum $500,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for J3/7 chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive (CBRNE) exercise, training, capability assessment and capacity development support services. This contract provides for support services to DTRA's Building Partnerships Divisions and functions in the daily performance and execution of the Building Partnership mission. Work will be performed at various locations, with an expected completion date of July 2024. Funding will be obligated at the task order level. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and five offers were received. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HDTRA1-14-D-0013).

NAVY

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, Moorestown, New Jersey, is being awarded a $40,662,000 not-to-exceed contract for the production of one multi-mission signal processor equipment set, ballistic missile defense 4.0.2 equipment, and Aegis Weapon System upgraded equipment to support fielding Aegis modernization capabilities to the fleet. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (57.8 percent); Clearwater, Florida (41.5 percent); and Owego, New York (0.7 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2016. Fiscal 2014 other procurement (Navy) and fiscal 2014 defense procurement contract funds in the amount of $20,331,000 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 pursuant to 10 U.S. C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-14-C-5106).

Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc., Monroeville, Pennsylvania, is being awarded a $39,437,949 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-12-C-2106) for naval nuclear propulsion components. Work will be performed in Monroeville, Pennsylvania (99 percent), and Schenectady, New York (1 percent). No completion date or additional information is provided on Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program contracts. Fiscal 2014 other procurement (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $39,437,949 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, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
L-3 Communications Corp., Arlington, Texas, is being awarded a $14,089,284 modification to a firm-fixed-price delivery order issued previously against Basic Ordering Agreement N61340-12-G-0001. This modification provides for footprint reduction/storage area network to update existing architecture for the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft. The update reduces Tactical Operational Flight Trainer (TOFT) host/instructor operator station hardware, centralizes software storage, provides expandable software storage for future TOFT enhancements, allows for multiple software configurations, and updates all analog Mission Management System (MMS) video output to digital supporting future improvements to MMS displays. Work will be performed in Lemoore, California (20 percent); Miramar, California (20 percent); Whidbey, Washington (15 percent); Oceana, Virginia (15 percent); China Lake, California (10 percent); Arlington, Texas (10 percent); and Atsugi, Japan (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2016. Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $14,089,284 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., Jacksonville, Florida, is being awarded a $7,695,945 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-14-D-0001) for additional fiscal 2014 depot-level service life extension/remanufacturing activities, including associated maintenance support and sustainment capabilities, in support of the F/A18 A-F aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (61 percent), and Jacksonville, Florida (39 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2015. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

ARMY

Southeastern Archaeological Research Inc.,* Newberry, Florida (W9126G-14-D-0036); R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc.,* New Orleans, Louisiana (W9126G-14-D-0037); and Panamerican Consultants, Inc.,* Tuscaloosa, Alabama (W9126G-14-D-0038), were awarded a $20,000,000 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award task order contract for military and civil works cultural resources compliance programs in the United States and territories with an estimated completion date of July 22, 2017. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 12 received. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity.

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Kongsberg, Norway was awarded a $10,680,000 modification (P00114) to contract W15QKN-12-C-0103 to exercise an option on contract W15QKN-12-C-0103 for depot support of the Commonly Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS). Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $10,680,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Aug. 16, 2017. Work will be performed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

McRae Industries, Inc., ** Mount Gilead, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $14,393,768 modification (P00103) exercising the second option period on a one-year base contract (SPM1C1-12-D-1057), with four one-year option periods. This is a firm-fixed-price contract for Army hot weather combat boots. Location of performance is North Carolina with a July 28, 2015, performance completion date. Using military services are Army and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

AIR FORCE

Telephonics Corp., Communications & Integrated Systems Division, Farmingdale, New York, has been awarded a $13,254,403 firm-fixed-price contract for the Enhanced Mode S-FAA Radar, Enhanced Mode 5 Radar, and procurement of long lead material and all other hardware support activities. Work will be performed primarily at Farmingdale, New York, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 20, 2017. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition and one offer was received. NATO agency funds in the amount of $13,254,403 will be obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/HBSKI, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-14-C-0014).
*Small business

**In-HUBZone business

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR JULY 9, 2914

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

CONTRACTS

ARMY

Alliant Techsystems Operations, LLC, Plymouth, Minnesota (W15QKN-14-D-0061); Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio (W15QKN-14-D-0062); Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia (W15QKN-14-D-0063); Concurrent Technologies Corp., Johnstown, Pennsylvania (W15QKN-14-D-0064); General Dynamics Ordinance Tactical Systems, St. Petersburg, Florida (W15QKN-14-D-0065); and Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia (W15QKN-14-D-0066), were awarded a $300,000,000 multiple award order dependent contract to obtain materials and services to meet the Armament, Research, Development, and Engineering Center's mission requirements with an estimated completion date of July 9, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with nine received. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.

R. J. Zaval & Sons Inc.*, East Grand Forks, Minnesota, was awarded a $12,272,783 firm-fixed-price contract for the Roseau Flood Risk Management Project to construct a 6,500 foot diversion channel, a channel inlet structure, a concrete restriction structure and drainage system. Work will be performed in Roseau, Minnesota, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 12, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with five received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $12,272,783 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul, Minnesota, is the contracting activity (W912ES-14-C-0011).

NAVY

Spry Methods Inc.,* Arlington, Virginia (N65236-14-D-4158); Gateway Ventures Inc.,* Norfolk, Virginia (N65236-14-D-4159); Gemini Industries Inc.,* Burlington, Massachusetts (N65236-14-D-4160); and MH Harbor, LLC,* North Charleston, South Carolina (N65236-14-D-4161), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price, with provisions for cost-plus-fixed-fee task orders, performance based multiple award contract for the procurement of Information Dominance Program and financial management support services. The cumulative, estimated value (ceiling) of the base year combined is $33,326,967. The contracts include options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value (ceiling) of these contracts to an estimated $99,980,901. Work will be performed worldwide. Work is expected to be completed by July 2015. If all options are exercised, work could continue until July 2017. SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic Navy working capital funds in the amount of $10,000 will be obligated at the time of award as the minimum guarantee and will be split among the four awardees; these funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract action establishes a potential ceiling value, in which funds are obligated on individual task orders. The multiple award contracts were competitively procured by full and open competition after exclusion of sources under small business set-aside provisions (10 U.S.C. 2304(b)(2)) via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center e-Commerce Central website and the Federal Business Opportunities website, with 13 offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, South Carolina, is the contracting activity.

Atlas Executive Consulting,** Charleston, South Carolina (N65236-14-D-4162); CBAIA Logistics,** Fredericksburg, Virginia (N65236-14-D-4163); and Compendium Federal Technology,** Lexington Park, Maryland (N65236-14-D-4164), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price, with provisions for cost-plus-fixed-fee task orders, performance based multiple award contract for the procurement of program management and financial management support services including non-inherently governmental services to perform analyses and research. The cumulative, estimated value (ceiling) of the base year combined is $33,326,967. These contracts include options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of these contracts to an estimated $99,980,901. Work will be performed worldwide. Work is expected to be completed by July 2015. If all options are exercised, work could continue until July 2017. SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic Navy working capital funds in the amount of $10,000 will be obligated at the time of award as the minimum guarantee and will be split among the three awardees; these funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract action establishes a potential ceiling value, in which funds are obligated on individual task orders. The multiple award contracts were competitively procured by full and open competition after exclusion of sources (100% service disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside) via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center e-Commerce Central website and the Federal Business Opportunities website, with 12 offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, South Carolina, is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California, is being awarded a $15,866,612 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-11-C-4408) for USS Decatur (DDG 73) fiscal 2014 Dry-Docking Selected Restricted Availability. A Dry-Docking Selected Restricted Availability includes the planning and execution of depot-level maintenance, alterations and modifications that will update and improve the ship's military and technical capabilities. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by February 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation; fiscal 2014 working capital funds (Navy); and fiscal 2014 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $15,866,612 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds in the amount of $12,035,470 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.
Atlantic Diving Supply Inc.,* Virginia Beach, Virginia, is being awarded $9,695,389 for firm-fixed-price Blanket Purchase Agreement call 0001 for the procurement of 2,136 advanced integrated solar power case assemblies in support of the Marine Corps Ground Renewable Expeditionary Energy System program under the Program Manager for Expeditionary Power Systems. Work will be performed in Lafayette, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by August 2015. Fiscal 2014 procurement funding (Marine Corps) in the amount of $9,695,389 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the General Services Administration eBuy website, with two offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-14-A-5019).

AIR FORCE

The Boeing Company, St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded an estimated $10,111,976 (P00005) modification to the firm-fixed-price contract (FA8119-12-D-0009) to extend the ordering period of a requirements contract for the repair of 23 B-1B Aircraft Secondary Structural Components. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $30,003,960. The contract modification is for the exercise of Option 1, a two-year option. Work will be performed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and completed by July 9, 2016, with delivery to be cited on each individual order. No working capital funds are being obligated at time of award. This is not a multiyear contract. Air Force Sustainment Center/PZABC, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity.

Kaman Precision Products, Inc., Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $8,475,368.48 firm-fixed-price modification (P00016) to FA8681-13-C-0029 for Lot 11 Production of Joint Programmable Fuze systems. The contract modification provides for the exercise of an option for an additional quantity of 3,069 state-of-the-art fuze systems being produced under the basic contract. Work will be performed at Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by September 2016. This contract is 8 percent foreign military sales for Morocco and Singapore. Fiscal 2012, 2013 and 2014 ammunition procurement funds in the amount of $8,475,368 will be obligated at time of award. This is not a multiyear contract. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/EBDK, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Marietta, Georgia, has been awarded a $8,074,584 firm-fixed-price modification (P00293) to FA8625-07-C-6471 for the C-5 Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program (RERP) Production. The modification provides additional funding for Over and Above legacy work associated with Lot 5 aircraft. This Over and Above work allows Lockheed Martin Aero to complete necessary repairs related to legacy issues found during the course of the C-5 RERP aircraft modification. All work will be performed at Marietta, Georgia, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 15, 2015. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $8,074,584 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WLSK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Custom Manufacturing & Engineering,*** Pinellas Park, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $7,085,250 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for purchase of power supplies for various weapons systems. This contract was a competitive acquisition and nine offers were received. Location of performance is Florida, with a July 8, 2015 performance completion date. This is a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2015 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland (SPRBL1-14-D-0018).

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

InfoReliance Corporation, Fairfax, Virginia, has been awarded a time-and-materials and firm- fixed-price contract (HDTRA1-14-F-0017) with an estimated maximum amount of $8,932,350 for Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS) in support of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency Directorate of Information Operations (J6). The contract award was made off the GSA schedule. There are only six vendors who are licensed to provide MCS; Defense Threat Reduction Agency solicited all six vendors, and received two quotes and one no bid. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 research and development and operations and maintenance funds. Work will be performed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, at the DTRA facility with a July 8, 2016, completion date. The contracting activity is Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

*Small business
**Service disabled veteran-owned small business
***Woman-owned small disadvantaged business

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR JUNE 12, 2014

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

City Light & Power, Inc.,* Long Beach, California, has been awarded a maximum $281,622,253 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for assumption of ownership, operation and maintenance of the electrical distribution system, and will furnish all necessary labor, management, supervision, permits, equipment, supplies, materials, transportation and any other incidental services for the complete ownership, operation, maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and improvements to the utility system. This contract was a competitive acquisition with one offer received. This is a 50-year base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California and Utah, with a December 2064 performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SP0600-14-C-8291).
American Medical Depot,* Miramar, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $60,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for distribution of medical surgical items to all contiguous United States and Outside Contiguous United States facilities that participate in the electronic catalog program. This contract was a competitive acquisition with six offers received. This is an 18-month base contract with three 1-year option periods and one 7-month option period. Location of performance is Florida with an Oct. 31, 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, Pennsylvania (SPM2DE-14-D-7603).

Crown Clothing Co.,* Vineland, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $7,709,253 modification (P00102) exercising the first option period on a 1-year base contract (SPM1C1-13-D-1059) with four 1-year option periods. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for various types of men’s coats. Location of performance is New Jersey with a June 23, 2015, performance completion date. Using military service is Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

CORRECTION: The contract announced on June 3, 2014, for Sysco Seattle, Kent, Washington (SPE300-14-D-3009), for $173,507,460, was announced with an incorrect award date. The correct award date is June 9, 2014.

CORRECTION: The contract announced on June 3, 2014, for Sysco Seattle, Kent, Washington (SPE300-14-D-3010), for $110,818,565, was announced with an incorrect award date. The correct award date is June 9, 2014.

CORRECTION: The contract announced on June 3, 2014, for ScImage, Inc.,* Los Altos, California (SPE2D1-14-D-8302), for $45,000,000, was announced with an incorrect award date. The correct award date is June 4, 2014.

ARMY

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Inc., Nashua, New Hampshire, was awarded a sole source $70,100,000 firm-fixed-price contract for systems procurement with services on a cost-plus-fixed- fee basis for the low rate initial production for up to 30 tactical signals intelligence payload systems and engineering support services. The estimated completion date is June 11, 2016. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W15P7T-14-D-C015).
AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland, was awarded a $22,474,050 modification (P00011) to contract W58RGZ-13-C-0108 to acquire Sub-ESM 411 Shadow Reliability Technology Refreshments and Changes II to cover efforts to incorporate the following reliability improvements and technology insertions: Air Vehicle (AV) fuel system improvements; Engine Control Unit communications failure correction; Universal Ground Data Terminal reliability improvements; Tactical Automatic Landing System multipath fixes; AV Global Positioning System card initialization correction; Manned-to-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) technology insertions; Automated/electronic operator checklists implementation; and 2kW generator replacement. This Sub-ESM covers the effort required to investigate, integrate, test and field these Shadow improvements. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $22,474,050 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is June 12, 2015. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Kisaq, LLC.,* Carlsbad, California, was awarded an $18,197,353 firm-fixed-price contract with options, for construction of an Army Reserve Center at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 19, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Fiscal 2010 military construction funds in the amount of $17,889,479 and fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $307,874 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-14-C-0022).
Bryan Construction, Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado, was awarded a $9,832,807 firm-fixed-price contract with options, for work on Butts Army Airfield runway, Fort Carson, Colorado, with an estimated completion date of July 1, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with six received. Fiscal 2014 military construction funds in the amount of $9,832,807 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska, is the contracting activity (W9128F-14-C-0012).

NIITEK, Dulles, Virginia, was awarded a $7,347,924 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract with options, to develop enhanced downward-looking ground penetrating radar technology for real time detection of buried high and low metal antitank landmines and improvised explosive devices. Work will be performed in Dulles, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of June 11, 2018. Fiscal 2014 research, development, testing and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,272,048 are being obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Alexandria, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W909MY-14-C-0021).

NAVY

Armtec Countermeasures Co., Coachella, California, is being awarded a three- year $20,928,143 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the manufacture of chaff cartridges in support of the airborne chaff countermeasures. This contract combines purchases for the Navy, Marine Corps (60 percent), Air Force (38 percent), and the governments of Australia (1.8 percent) and United Arab Emirates (.2 percent), under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Lillington, North Carolina, and work is expected to be completed by June 2017. Fiscal 2014 procurement of ammunition (Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force) funding and FMS funding in the amount of $4,694,307 will be obligated at the time of award, and will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with one offer received in response to the solicitation. NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00104-14-D-K084).

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded $10,236,136 for cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order 0200 against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-11-G-0001) to conduct an engineering change proposal for the 5th and 6th Receiver Channel Wiring in support of the AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array Radio Detection and Ranging. Work will be performed in Andover, Massachusetts (40 percent); Forest, Mississippi (30 percent); El Segundo, California (20 percent); and St. Louis, Missouri (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2016. Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,236,136 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Form Fit and Function, LLC,* Patterson, New Jersey, is being awarded a $9,809,330 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the manufacture of peculiar support equipment for the V-22 aircraft, to include hub and blade stands, blade trailer adapters, restraint tools, and actuators. Work will be performed in Patterson, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed in June 2017. Fiscal 2012 aircraft procurement (Navy and Air Force) and 2013 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,774,585 are being obligated at time of award, $855,861 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via HUB Zone set-aside electronic request for proposals; four offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (N68335-14-D-0024).

AIR FORCE

L-3 Communications Display Systems, Alpharetta, Georgia, has been awarded an $8,137,400 firm-fixed-price contract for ALR-69 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) legacy system improvement program (LSIP) kits. The contractor will provide 110 LSIP kits for the Royal Netherlands Air Force and 90 LSIP kits for the Royal Norwegian Air Force. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales. Work will be performed at Alpharetta, Georgia, with an expected completion date of Nov. 30, 2016. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8540-14-C-0010).

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc, San Diego, California, is being awarded an $8,152,103 cost- plus-fixed-fee contract for the development of a broad-spectrum monoclonal cocktail for prevention of VEEV, WEEV and EEEV, in support of the research and development enterprise. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and various subcontractor locations; work is expected to be completed May 2017. Bids were solicited and nine were received. The contracting activity is Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (HDTRA1-14-C-0115).

*Small business

LANL SUGGESTS NEW HUMAN SURROGATE MIGHT REDUCE NEED FOR ANIMAL TESTING

Right: ATHENAmodel.jpg: The ATHENA organ project combines heart, liver, kidney and lung features in a desktop toxicity testing platform. Artists conception courtesy Los Alamos National Laboratory.

FROM:  LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY 
ATHENA Desktop Human “Body” Could Reduce Need for Animal Drug Tests
Surrogate Organ System Developed for Toxicity Testing

LOS ALAMOS, N.M., March 26, 2014—Creating surrogate human organs, coupled with insights from highly sensitive mass spectrometry technologies, a new project is on the brink of revolutionizing the way we screen new drugs and toxic agents.

ATHENA, the Advanced Tissue-engineered Human Ectypal Network Analyzer project team, is developing four human organ constructs – liver, heart, lung and kidney – that are based on a significantly miniaturized platform. Each organ component will be about the size of a smartphone screen, and the whole ATHENA “body” of interconnected organs would fit neatly on a desk.

“By developing this ‘homo minutus,’ we are stepping beyond the need for animal or Petri dish testing: There are huge benefits in developing drug and toxicity analysis systems that can mimic the response of actual human organs,” said Rashi Iyer, a senior scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the lead laboratory on the five-year, $19 million multi-institutional effort. The project is supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

“By creating a holistic dynamic system that more realistically mimics the human physiological environment than static human cells in a dish, we can understand chemical effects on human organs as never before,” she said. “The ultimate goal is to build a lung that breathes, a heart that pumps, a liver that metabolizes and a kidney that excretes -– all connected by a tubing infrastructure much akin to the way blood vessels connect our organs. While some skeptics might believe that this is a utopian dream,” she said, “the team is confident that this is indeed achievable.”

Some 40 percent of pharmaceuticals fail their clinical trials, Iyer noted, and there are thousands of chemicals whose effects on humans are simply unknown. Providing a realistic, cost-effective and rapid screening system such as ATHENA with high-throughput capabilities could provide major benefits to the medical field, screening more accurately and offering a greater chance of clinical trial success.

Results from the project’s Vanderbilt University effort on the ATHENA perfusion system will be presented at the Society of Toxicology meeting this week in Phoenix by co-principal investigator John Wikswo. Successful development and analysis of a human liver organ construct -- that responds to exposure to a toxic chemical much like a real liver – is described in a presentation reported by the Gordon A. Cain University Professor and Director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education (VIIBRE) at Vanderbilt University.

“We spent a bit of time analyzing the challenges in building miniature human organ constructs, and we believe we’ve figured out how to capture the key features we need,” said Wikswo. “There are a lot of trade-offs, and we’re not trying to build an exact replica of a human liver, but an in vitro model that allows us to measure human liver responses to drugs and toxins that cannot be replicated by a layer of cells growing on plastic.”

The ATHENA project brings together top capabilities and researchers in this pioneering field of research. The project components are divided as follows:

 In addition to leading and coordinating the project, Iyer is directing work on the lung and kidney organ as well as step-wise integration and validation of all of the organs in the ATHENA perfusion platform – all of which will be executed at LANL.
 Wikswo and his VIIBRE group are building the hardware platform that ‘runs’ and monitors the health of the entire system, while the first organ, the liver construct, which was recently tested in the ATHENA platform at VIIBRE, is being developed by Katrin Zeilinger, head of the Bioreactor Group, Experimental Surgery, and colleagues at Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
 Kevin Kit Parker, Tarr Family Professor of Bioengineering and Applied Physics at Harvard University, is leading the heart effort.

 Shuvo Roy, Director of the Biomedical Microdevices Laboratory at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and Associate Professor of Medicine William Fissell of Vanderbilt are developing the kidney constructs.
 Andrzej Przekwas, CTO and Senior Vice President for Research of CFD Research Corporation (CFDRC), a technology company in Huntsville, AL, is building a mathematical model of ATHENA to facilitate system design and physiologically-based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PB-PK/PD) models to guide drug exposure studies and data extrapolation. “This component is unique and critical when building an integrated ex vivo system mimicking the human body,” said the DTRA program manager.

 LANL and Vanderbilt in collaboration with CFDRC will develop a blood mimic to sustain the four devices.

And as Iyer puts it “a system is only as good as its analytical strength. . . the ion mobility mass spectrometry capability being developed by VU’s John McLean with a parallel capability at Los Alamos, lead by Srinivas Iyer, ensures an unprecedented ability to interrogate the system and obtain valuable data.”

Successful integration of the Charité-developed liver organ construct into the VIIBRE built ATHENA perfusion system was demonstrated to DTRA recently. The team expects to connect the liver and the heart constructs this winter followed by the lung and finally the kidney.

The research is funded by Defense Threat Reduction Agency agreement # CBMXCEL-XL1-2-0001.

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR FEBRUARY 6, 2014

FROM:  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
CONTRACTS

ARMY

Sauer Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., was awarded a $56,038,640 contract to build an operational readiness training complex at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.  Fiscal 2014 military construction funds in the amount of $56,038,640 were obligated at the time of the award.  Estimated completion date is April 30, 2016.  Bids were solicited via the Internet with 22 received.  Work will be performed at Fort Hunter Liggett.  Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-14-C-0006).

Sundt Construction Inc., Tempe, Ariz., was awarded a $25,750,000 firm-fixed-price contract to design and construct a battalion headquarters complex.  Fiscal 2013 military construction funds in the amount of $25,750,000 were obligated at the time of the award.  Estimated completion date is Aug. 14, 2015.  Bids were solicited via the Internet with 22 received.  Work will be performed at Fort Campbell, Ky.  Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-14-C-0007).

Gearhart Brothers Services*, Lancaster, Pa, was awarded an $8,629,223 firm-fixed-price contract to provide sand, stone and gravel to Aberdeen Proving Ground.  Funds and work location will be determined with each order.  Estimated completion date is Feb. 9, 2017.  Bids were solicited via the Internet with seven received.  Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground Md., is the contracting activity (W56ZTN-14-D-0001).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Produce One Inc.*, Dayton, Ohio, has been awarded a maximum $36,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for fresh fruit and vegetable support.  This contract is a competitive acquisition and three offers were received.  This is an 18-month base contract with two 18-month option periods.  Location of performance is Ohio with an Aug. 5, 2015 performance completion date.  Using military services are non-Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture school customers.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.; (SPE300-14-D-S608).

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz, is being awarded a $6,988,284 cost-reimbursable contract for the characterization of antibody responses to melioidosis in humans and in animal models for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in support of the Research and Development Enterprise.  Bids were solicited and nine received.  Work will be performed in Flagstaff, Ariz., and Darwin, Australia, and is expected to be completed February 2019.  The contracting activity is Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va, (HDTRA1-14-C-0022).

*Small Business

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR DECEMBER 3, 2013

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
CONTRACTS

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

Alion Science and Technology Corp., Burr Ridge, Ill., (HDTRA1-14-D-0002); Applied Research Associates, Albuquerque, N.M., (HDTRA1-14-D-0003); Engility Corp., Chantilly, Va., (HDTRA1-14-D-0004); Exelis Inc., Herndon, Va., (HDTRA1-14-D-0005); Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Va., (HDTRA1-14-D-0006); Raytheon Co., Dulles, Va., (HDTRA1-14-D-0007); and Leidos, Inc., McLean Va., (HDTRA1-14-D-0008), were awarded a maximum $4,000,000,000 multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract titled Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction Research and Technology Development IDIQ.  This IDIQ provides for delivery/task orders to procure research and development, providing scientific and technological solutions to meet the DoD’s non-proliferation, counterproliferation, and consequence management objectives.  Work will be performed at contractor facilities as well as at Fort Belvoir, Va., with an expected completion date of Dec. 3, 2018 (base period) followed by a five-year option period that, if exercised, will extend the end date to Dec. 3, 2023, but would not increase the ceiling value.  The contract has a $100,000 minimum guarantee to each awardee.  This contract was a competitive acquisition, and eight offers were received.  The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Research and Development Contracting Office DTRA/J4CRB, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Solution Dynamics Inc.*, Brookfield, Wis. (SPE8EC-14-D-0003) and Atlantic Diving Supply*, Virginia Beach, Va. (SPE8EC-14-D-0005), have been awarded a maximum $633,000,000 multiple-award, fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract.  These are two of up to 22 total five-year contracts being issued against solicitation number SPM8EC-11-R-0001, and are for the procurement of commercial type material handling equipment.  This contract is a competitive acquisition, and thirty-one offers were received.  Locations of performance are Wisconsin, Virginia, and England with a Dec. 2, 2018 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  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.

MWI Veterinary Supply, Boise, Idaho, has been awarded a maximum $43,422,331 modification (P00102) exercising the second one-year option period on a one-year base contract (SPM2D0-11-D-0011) with four one-year option periods for veterinary pharmaceutical products.  This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.  Location of performance is Idaho, with a Dec. 5, 2014 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 warstopper funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

Dixon Shane, doing business as R&S Northeast LLC*, Philadelphia, Pa., has been awarded a maximum $18,360,764 modification (P00157) exercising the fifth one-year option period on a one-year base contract (SPM2D0-08-D-0252) with nine one-year option periods for various pharmaceutical products.  This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.  Location of performance is Pennsylvania with a Dec. 11, 2014 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 warstopper funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

AIR FORCE

Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., has been awarded a not-to-exceed $81,183,198 modification (P00231) to an existing contract (FA8625-11-C-6597 ) to fund one C-130J (aircraft #4), advance (long-lead) procurement of aircrafts five and six, and external fuel tank modification kits for Israel. Work will be performed at Marietta, Ga., and is expected to be completed by Jun. 30, 2016.  This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales for Israel.  Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WLNNC, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., has been awarded a $48,500,000 modification (P00230) to previously awarded FA8625-11-C-6597 for advance procurement funding of long lead efforts associated with five additional C-130J aircraft.  Work will be performed at Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2016.  Fiscal 2012 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $48,500,000 are being obligated at time of award.  Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

NAVY

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is being awarded $73,913,646 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-12-C-4311) for DDG 51 and FFG 7 class integrated planning yard services.  This effort will provide expert design, planning, and material support services for both maintenance and modernization.  Work will be performed in Bath, Maine, and is expected to complete by December 2016.  Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy contract funds in the amount of $1,000 will be obligated at time of contract award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity.

L-3 Communications, Communication Systems--West, Salt Lake City, Utah, is being awarded a $22,921,771 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-12-C-2024) to exercise an option for the manufacture, test, delivery and support of four AN/SRQ-4 and 31 AN/ARQ-59 Common Data Link Hawklink radio terminal sets in support of the MH-60R aircraft.  Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah (60 percent); Atlanta, Ga. (14 percent); Mountain View, Calif. (6 percent); Exeter, N.H. (2 percent); and Phoenix, Ariz.; El Cajon, Calif.; Oxnard, Calif.; Salinas, Calif.; Sunnyvale, Calif.; Boise, Idaho; Derby, Kan.; Littleton, Mass.; Stow, Mass.; Minnetonka, Minn.; Skokie, Ill.; Dover, N.H.; Bohemia, N.Y.; York Haven, Pa.; Providence, R.I.; Cedar Park, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; and Toronto, Canada (1 percent each), and is expected to be completed in September 2017.  Fiscal 2014 other procurement, Navy and fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement, Navy contract funds in the amount of $22,921,771 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

U.S. MILITARY FACILITIES IN NEW MEXICO GET VISITED BY NATO DELEGATION

Air Force Base, N.M. Sandia National Laboratories photo by Randy Montoya

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
NATO Delegation Visits New Mexico Facilities
By Sheryl Hingorani
Sandia National Laboratories

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., May 9, 2013 - A group of NATO officials are learning about work being done to support the extended nuclear deterrence mission and broader national security programs, ranging from homeland security to global nonproliferation efforts, during a three-day visit to Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

The group is touring Sandia National Laboratories and other facilities on the base in a visit that began May 8 and ends tomorrow. It includes more than 50 representatives from 23 European countries, along with officials from the Departments of Defense and State, the National Nuclear Security Administration, and other U.S. government agencies. The visitors are accompanied by Andrew Weber, assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical, and biological defense programs, and by Elaine Bunn, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy.

The visit allows the delegation to see the research and technology required to implement U.S. policies that support the NATO alliance. The agenda for the visit includes an overview of national security and nuclear weapons programs at Sandia, Los Alamos, and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories and the National Nuclear Security Administration's nuclear weapons enterprise, as well as mission briefings by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center.

Sandia President and Laboratories Director Paul Hommert presented an overview of the laboratories' history from their beginnings in the Manhattan Project, which built the first atomic bombs during World War II, to the nuclear weapons manufacturing focus of the Z Division that gave birth to Sandia as a separate laboratory in 1949. Hommert outlined Sandia's sole focus on nuclear weapons through the 1950s and its subsequent evolution into broader national security research, including energy and Department of Defense work outside the sphere of weapons. He emphasized, however, that Sandia is focused on its core responsibility—nuclear weapons life extension programs.

"We are in full gear to execute this mission" with the NATO alliance in mind, Hommert said.

Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry welcomed the group May 8 at a working lunch at Sandia National Laboratories' International Programs Building. Berry told the delegates he considers the city "the cradle of defense" and cited Sandia's "profound importance for our world and security for our all citizens."

Sandia officials, supported by the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Air Force, also demonstrated various capabilities associated with the labs' pivotal role in supporting the nation's nuclear deterrence and non-proliferation efforts. The delegates took a windshield tour of Sandia's large-scale experimental test areas, saw demonstrations of nuclear accident response equipment, and viewed exhibits related to both homeland and global security programs. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency provided briefings on how they support nuclear surety and inspections, as well as the on-site inspection program activities which support treaty verification activities.

Five members of the delegation will participate in a national security speakers series panel tomorrow, which will be moderated by Bunn and will address U.S. allies' views of extended deterrence, the role of NATO member states in the nuclear deterrent, and arms control negotiations.

DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY CARTER HONORS DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY WITH AWARD

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Carter Honors Defense Threat Reduction Agency
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2013 - In an auditorium filled with nearly 400 Defense Threat Reduction Agency employees and other defense officials, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter presented the Joint Meritorious Unit Award to agency representatives yesterday.

It was the fourth time DTRA received the award, and Carter called it a great testament to those who have served the organization, past and present.

"In all your work you have aggressively pursued the president's vision for countering [weapons of mass destruction] around the world," the deputy secretary told the audience.

"You've kept WMD out of the hands of terrorists by locking down dangerous nuclear and biological materials, destroying legacy weapons and developing technologies to prevent, defend against and counter a WMD attack," he added.

Joining Carter at the ceremony were Frank Kendall III, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics; Andrew C. Weber, assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs; and Kenneth A. Myers, director of DTRA and the U.S. Strategic Command Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction.

DTRA's mission is to safeguard the nation and its allies from chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive weapons of mass destruction by providing the capabilities needed to reduce, eliminate and counter the threat such weapons pose and to mitigate its effect.

The Joint Meritorious Unit Award, established in 1981, is the only ribbon award granted by the Defense Department and is the organizational equivalent of the Defense Superior Service Medal.

It's presented in the name of the defense secretary, and Leon E. Panetta signed a congratulatory statement that appeared on the award certificates.

"DTRA distinguished itself by exceptionally meritorious service from October 2009 thru September 2011," he wrote, "by their exemplary performance of duty, the members of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency have brought great credit upon themselves and the Department of Defense."

During the ceremony, Carter described the work performed around the world by DTRA scientists and specialists, and the kind of work the nation will need from the agency in the years ahead.

In March 2011 DTRA directly supported the crisis response in Libya through Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector, he said.

DTRA staff worked with U.S. Africa Command and the Joint Staff to generate more than 100 targeting support products to assess the effects of striking WMD targets in Libya.

The products were used to determine how WMD sites would be addressed during the crisis, the deputy secretary added, and now the United States is working with the Libyan authorities to secure and destroy chemical weapons.

In the same month, nearly 7,000 miles away in Japan, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake generated a 70-foot tsunami, devastating communities along Japan's coast and causing one of the world's worst nuclear disasters.

"You responded immediately from both the United States and Japan in Operation Tomodachi," Carter said.

"The United States has had a permanent presence at Yokota Air Base for arms control purposes, and that provided on-scene capability with all the backup consequence management capability of this great agency," he added, noting that a DTRA consequence management advisory team arrived in Japan within two days of the disaster.

There, DTRA experts provided technical assistance, modeling and simulation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with rotational liaison, planning and technical personnel on scene until the crisis was under control. They advised on radiation, monitoring and safety issues, and with Navy experts modified a software model to visualize the extent and trajectory of contaminated water around the damaged nuclear power plants in Japan.

"Your effective response was facilitated by the close relationships you had built with U.S. Forces Japan, with Japan's own Self Defense Forces, with our State Department colleagues prior to the disaster," Carter said.

Several DTRA personnel provided direct assistance at the U.S. Embassy and the Japanese Ministry of Defense, he said, and the work continues today, strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance and improving crisis response capability with U.S. partners and allies.

Describing other ways DTRA has fulfilled its core counter-WMD mission, Carter said the agency has become a premier government entity for research and a key partner for the Department of Homeland Security.

Specifically, he said, DTRA has continued to develop new capabilities to counter biological threats, including producing new candidate vaccines for deadly viral diseases like Ebola and Marburg.

DTRA personnel have played a technical role in New START Treaty negotiations, Carter added, and since the treaty entered into force DTRA teams have conducted 35 inspection missions at Russian strategic sites to verify weapon limits and locations.

"Going back all the way to the Manhattan Project, DTRA and its predecessors have performed a strong supporting role in preserving, protecting, understanding and advising the department on our overall nuclear stockpile and on the continuing need for a safe, secure and reliable nuclear deterrent for the United States," the deputy secretary said.

Today DTRA performs critical functions, among them helping the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Air Force and the Navy conduct nuclear safety and security inspections; providing people, procedures and tools to perform U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile accounting and tracking; and serving as the DOD executive agent for sustaining emphasis on nuclear weapons training expertise, and response protocols, procedures and practices for potential nuclear weapons accidents and incidents.

DTRA is also part of the 20-year-old Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program, Carter said, and its contributions to preventing the spread of loose nukes in the former Soviet Union.

"And in the past two decades ... DTRA personnel –- scientists, weapons specialists, inspectors, program managers, action officers, interpreters -- have assisted former Soviet states in deactivating and properly disposing of over 13,000 warheads," the deputy secretary said.

"Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus [are] all denuclearized," he added. "And DTRA assisted the Albanian government in becoming the first nation to completely eliminate a chemical weapons stockpile."

DTRA is an important protection against the increasing sophistication of terrorist organizations and leaps in technology that reduce barriers to WMD acquisition, Carter said. The agency also increasingly works with other government agencies and international partners to build capacity for among other things countering the threat of biological and chemical weapons.

"So we find ourselves today at an inflection point in our thinking and our strategy and wherever you look in that strategy you find a role for and a need for the work of DTRA," the deputy secretary said.

And as DOD resources and global security interests shift, Carter added, "the department will continue to depend on you for the core intellectual, technical and operational support to counter the threat of weapons of mass destruction."

NEW LIGHT UNIFORM BEING DEVELOPED FOR CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ATTACKS

Researchers at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Chemical and Biological Technologies Department are working on a new material that could protect the nation’s warfighters from a chemical and biological attack without having to change into bulky, cumbersome additional garments. (Photo by Jason Bortz)

FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 'ARMED WITH SCIENCE'December 21, 2012
by jtozer
Warfighters Getting a Second Skin
 
A new material could protect the nation’s warfighters from a chemical and biological attack without having to change into bulky, cumbersome additional garments.

Researchers at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Chemical and Biological Technologies Department are working on the dynamic multifunctional materials for a second skin, more commonly known as "Second Skin."

The goal is to develop dynamic multifunctional materials that are fully integrated at the molecular level to provide protection against chemical and biological threats upon entering a contaminated environment.
What makes Second Skin novel isn’t that it provides protection, but how it provides protection.
Second Skin could be manufactured into a garment worn as an everyday uniform, similar to the combat uniform worn by today’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, but it would have the unique ability to react to a chemical or biological threat almost instantly.

Current chem-bio protection measures require troops to add additional garments to their uniforms if threats are detected, which could take several minutes after the detection of the threat. Second Skin would sense the threat and respond in such a manner to specifically mitigate the threat at the appropriate level.

According to Tracee Harris, science and technology manager for Novel Materials, DTRA CB, the garment would also lower the thermal burden significantly over current chem-bio garments, which are cumbersome and provide limited breathability, especially when worn in high temperature environments.

This would increase the combat effectiveness of troops having to wear Second Skin in environments such as Iraq or Afghanistan where the temperatures routinely are over 100 degrees Fahrenheit or in jungle environments with high humidity.

Companies outside of the Department of Defense are also investing in novel garment material platforms for performance enhancement. Ski apparel companies are looking to develop next generation thermal garments, which have high moisture management capabilities and also provide protection from the cold.

Other athletic companies are actively investing in developing next generation garments that provide highly effective thermal management capabilities while providing comfort to the wearer in various climates.
"I am looking forward to the future impact that Dynamic Multifunctional Materials for a Second Skin Program will have; not only in providing an enhanced [chem-bio] capability to the warfighter, but in the day-to-day lives of civilians," said Harris. "This broadened scope is where the myriad of possible uses for this kind of fundamental technology developmental effort exist."
Second Skin is just one of many projects DTRA CB is currently researching as part of the Focused Innovative Technology (FIT) program. The FIT program looks for innovative ideas to create solutions for chem-bio threats against our warfighters and our Nation.

The program was created as a way for science and technology managers to propose new ideas for projects and then collaborate with the science community to include scientists from academia, industry and government research laboratories. Intramural service laboratories such as the Army, Navy and Air Force have also helped identify requirements or address future needs. The results of the program have been projects that are more focused and fill known or projected gaps in chem-bio defense.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Chemical and Biological Technologies Department (DTRA CB) also serves as the Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense. The department is committed to protecting warfighters and citizens from chemical and biological threats through the innovative application of science and technology research.

Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Chemical and Biological Technologies Department
Story by Jason Bortz

NEW SUPER SCIENCE RADIATION DETECTORS

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
SWORD model of helo based detector with source aboard a small vessel 
Software for the Optimization of Radiation Detectors (SWORDs)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is committed to securing the country against radiological and nuclear threats. To help further this mission, DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) is constantly working to develop smarter and more cost effective ways to address these security threats and maximize resources and expertise from across the federal government. The Software for the Optimization of Radiation Detectors (SWORDs) program enables faster development and evaluation of nuclear detection equipment at a lower cost.


The Technology
The DNDO-sponsored SWORDs program supports the development of software that simulates real-world operational environments. The easy-to-use interface, with flexible design and layout components, enables laboratories to evaluate and optimize the performance of radiation detectors without having to run multiple costly field tests. This software provides an environment for simulating gamma-ray background radiation, nuisance sources, and targets of interest. SWORDs can generate a large selection of source and background emission models, as well as object models including specific detectors, airborne detector platforms, and even advanced prototype stand-off imaging systems.


As a supplement to the program, DNDO began an initiative in early 2012 to produce validated simulation models of existing detection systems. DNDO is running comparisons between software test results and real-world studies, helping to build confidence in the accuracy of the computer models.


Current Status:
The Naval Research Laboratory has recently released the newest version of SWORDs through the Radiation Safety Information Computational Center (RSICC) for use by the nuclear detection modeling community. DNDO is also collaborating with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to integrate SWORDs, DTRA-sponsored operational models, and a Los Alamos National Lab software package for simulating nuclear processes.