U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR JUNE 27, 2014

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

CONTRACTS

NAVY

Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $275,434,620 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-13-C-5407) for fiscal 2014 Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) all-up rounds, and SM-6 and Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) spares and containers. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, (33.7 percent); Camden, Arkansas (28 percent); Wolverhampton, United Kingdom (11.6 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (8.6 percent); Middletown, Ohio (2.7 percent); San Jose, California (2.6 percent); Huntsville, Alabama (2.3 percent); Dallas, Texas (2.1 percent); Anniston, Alabama (1.4 percent); Clarkston, Georgia (1 percent); San Diego, California (1 percent); Warrington, Pennsylvania (1 percent); Wichita, Kansas (1 percent); Middletown, Connecticut (1 percent); Thousand Oaks, California (1 percent); and Anaheim, California (1 percent); work is expected to be completed by March 2017. Fiscal 2014 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $260,548,374 (94.8 percent), fiscal 2012 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,852,887 (2.9 percent), and fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,437,000 (2.3 percent) will be obligated at the time of award. Contract funds in the amount of $14,289,887 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Co. Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is being awarded a $33,176,807 modification to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00024-12-C-4223 for research and development activities associated with integrated power systems power load modules to be used for electromagnetic railgun pulse power containers design, and for the fabrication and testing of prototypes. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by December 2016. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation contract funding in the amount of $8,503,020 will be obligated at 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.
Serco Inc., Reston, Virginia, is being awarded a $31,244,653 cost-plus-fixed-fee/firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) waterfront installation support. This contract will provide support in performing the functions of an Alteration Installation Team with the installation of Ship Alterations, Ship Change Documents, and Ordnance Alterations as related to the CIWS on U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard vessels. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (41 percent); San Diego, California (30 percent); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (5 percent); Everett, Washington (6 percent); Mayport, Florida (6 percent); and various overseas ports (12 percent); work is expected to be completed in June 2017. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $114,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00174-14-D-0028).

Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is being awarded a $19,679,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00164-12-G-JQ66) for Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems (MTS-C) and provision item order spares for Navy special projects aircraft. The MTS-C is an airborne, electro-optic, forward-looking, infra-red, turreted sensor system which provides long-range surveillance. This requirement supports Naval Air Systems Command PMA 290 Special Projects Aircraft. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed by May 2016. Fiscal 2013 and 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $19,679,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity.

Exelis Inc., Clifton, New Jersey, is being awarded a $15,262,451 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the design, engineering analysis, program, manufacture and test of the universal exciter upgrade (shop replaceable assembly redesign) to support the AN/ALQ 99 tactical jamming system used on the EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G aircraft. This procurement is to design and manufacture three components of the universal exciter: the modulation direct digital synthesizer, the direct digital synthesizer and the oscillator switch to eliminate the use of obsolete parts. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy (10 percent), and the government of Australia (90 percent), under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Amityville, New York (97 percent), and Clifton, New Jersey (3 percent), and is expected to be completed by June 2017. FMS and fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $15,262,451 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 the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-13-G-WM01).

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, Moorestown, New Jersey, is being awarded a $13,561,788 modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide training material, development and maintenance, instructor services, program management, administration and training systems in support of the Center for Surface Combat Systems. This contract modification involves foreign military sales to Australia. Work will be performed in Dahlgren, Virginia (50 percent), and Moorestown, New Jersey (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2016. FMS funding in the amount of $3,412,547 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with FAR 6.302-4 and DFARS 206.302-4. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-13-C-1022).
BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is being awarded a $10,737,652 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the design, development, integration, test and evaluation, installation, fielding, certification, maintenance and logistics support of the cooperative identification, non-cooperative target recognition, air traffic control equipment, systems and subsystems. These efforts are in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Identification Systems Division. Work will be performed in St. Inigoes, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in April 2015. Fiscal 2014 Navy working capital funds in the amount of $7,281,808 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-14-C-0040).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Sector, San Diego, California, is being awarded an $8,465,734 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-12-C-0126) for the extension of engineering and software sustainment services in support of the Vertical Take-off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Fire Scout MQ-8B. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed in November 2014. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,465,734 are being obligated on this award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Maersk Line, Ltd., Norfolk, Virginia, is being awarded a $7,103,568 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00033-13-C-2505) to exercise a 92-day option for the operation and maintenance of five U.S. Navy ocean surveillance ships and one U.S. Navy missile range instrumentation ship. Work will be performed worldwide and is expected to be completed by September 2014. Working capital funds in the amount of $7,103,568 are obligated for fiscal 2014 and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

ARMY

CUBIC APPLICATIONS, INC., San Diego, California, was awarded a $78,197,073 modification (P00158) to a cost-plus-award-fee contract (W911S0-07-C-0007) supporting the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, providing theatre specific combat training, mission rehearsal training, foreign security training team training and other combat forces training to prepare units for combat operations or deployment to combat theatre of operations, as determined by the U.S. Army and Department of Defense. Operations and maintenance (Army) fiscal 2014 funds in the amount of $44,043,547 and fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $5,928,009 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed Fort Polk, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2015. Army Contracting Command, Fort Polk, Louisiana, is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Company, Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $51,787,884 modification (P00056) to a firm-fixed-price contract (W15QKN-08-C-0530) to acquire a total of 757 projectiles under the Option 5 Excalibur 155mm increment lb production option for the U.S. Army. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $50,898,528 and fiscal 2013 other procurement funds of $889,356 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed at Anniston, Alabama( 2.87 percent); Tucson, Arizona (15.15 percent); Phoenix, Arizona, (.05 percent); East Camden, Arkansas (7.34 percent); Chino, California (.01 percent); Corona, California (.01 percent); Healdsburg, California (19.19 percent); Inglewood, California (.01 percent); Santa Ana, California (1.1 percent); Valencia, California (.04 percent); Woodridge, Illinois (.54 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (8.27 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (6.37 percent); Lowell, Massachusetts (3.37 percent); Minneapolis, Minnesota (.02 percent); Joplin, Missouri (2.60 percent); Farmington, New Mexico (1.42 percent); McAlester, Oklahoma (1.14 percent); McKinney, Texas (.47 percent); Kariskoga, Sweden (15.84 percent); United Kingdom (7.82 percent); Glenrothes, Scotland (6.01 percent), with an estimated completion date of Feb. 29, 2016. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, LLC, Oak Brook, Illinois, was awarded a $19,914,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the North Carolina Highway 12 Protection Project, Dare County, North Carolina. Work will be performed in Ocracoke, North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2014. Bids were solicited via the Internet with three received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $19,914,000 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Wilmington District, Wilmington, North Carolina, is the contracting activity (W912PM-14-C-0009).

Dynamic Technology Systems, Inc.*, Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded a $14,337,620 modification (P00012) to firm-fixed-price contract (W91WAW-12-C-0018) to extend information technology related operations and maintenance tasks under the current contract for a period of 12 months. Services include software and hardware support, application programming support, and custom application configuration support for the entire Enterprise Content Management System. Work will be performed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of June 28, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $14,337,620 are being obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command – Tank and Automotive (Warren), Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems Land and Armaments, York, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $10,783,000 modification (P00007) to a firm-fixed-price contract (W56HZV-13-C-0103) for 61 fire support sensor systems and seven authorized stock-age list spares sets. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amounts of $10,783,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed at York, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of May 22, 2015. Army Contracting Command – Tank and Automotive – Warren, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.

Johnson Construction Co.*, Dover, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $9,599,509 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a modern wastewater treatment plant to replace the existing wastewater treatment plant, and construct an influent screening building, two sequencing batch reactors for wastewater treatment, an aeration sludge holding tank, ultraviolet disinfection system, chemical storage, and a water pumping system. Work will be performed in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 8, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with four received. Military construction funds in the amount of $3,784,295 from fiscal 2010; $946,073 from fiscal 2011; and $4,869,140 from fiscal 2013, are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Baltimore District, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-14-C-0029).

Cayo, LLC*, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $9,359,797 firm-fixed-price contract for the Lake Borgne Basin Levee District, STPBS-07 Saint Bernard Parish Pump Stations, number 2 and 3 seepage repairs, Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Work will be performed in Chalmette, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 25, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 10 received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $9,359,797 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – New Orleans District, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity (W912P8-14-C-0042).

RAYTHEON IDS, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, was awarded an $8,335,410 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile Systems sustainment and maintenance, for the base year with option up to four years. This is a new follow-on service contract for the missile system, an interim air defense capability deployed in the Homeland Defense Area 1. Work will be performed at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of June 27, 2014. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $8,335,410 are being obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal – Missile, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-14-C-0114).

Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, Kongsberg, Norway, was awarded a $7,898,000 modification (P00103) to contract (W15QKN-12-C-0103) to exercise contract line number 0100 on the base contract for depot support for the Common Remotely Operated Weapon System. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $7,898,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 16, 2017. Army Contracting Command – Picatinny Arsenal, Pennsylvania is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

BAE Systems, Phoenix, Arizona, has been awarded a maximum $89,460,000 modification (P00103) exercising the second option period on a one-year base contract (SPM1C1-12-D-1025), with two one-year option periods. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for enhanced small arms protective inserts. Location of performance is Arizona with a July 1, 2015, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

TW Metals, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $15,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, prime vendor bridge contract for various types of metals, metal products, and related services in the North East region of the United States. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Locations of performance are Illinois and New Jersey. Period of performance is June 30, 2014 through Oct. 29, 2014. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2009 through fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPM8EG-09-D-0009/P00068).

Federal Resources Supply Company,* Stevensville, Maryland, has been awarded a maximum $9,900,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for respirator air filters, mask harness assemblies, respirator cartridges, breathing face-pieces and other replacement parts. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods. Location of performance is Maryland with a June 26, 2015, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force 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 (SPM8EH-14-D-0008).

Sysco Hampton Roads, Suffolk, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $9,750,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, prime vendor bridge contract for food and beverage support. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Location of performance is Virginia. The period of performance is June 30, 2014 through Sept. 30, 2014. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force 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 (SPE300-14-D-3023).

Wolverine Services, LLC,* Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded a maximum $8,237,534 modification (P00035) exercising the second option period on a one-year base contract (SP3300-12-C-5001) with four one-year option periods. This is a fixed-price-incentive-firm with cost-reimbursement and labor-hour line items contract for warehouse and distribution support services. Location of performance is Colorado and California with a June 30, 2015, performance completion date. Using service is Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, Barstow, California. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania.

UPDATE: Wright & Wright Machinery Company Incorporated,* Monticello, Kentucky (SPE8EC-14-D-0024), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract issued against solicitation #SPM8EC-11-R-0001 announced Aug. 1, 2011.

AIR FORCE

Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded an $80,768,012 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Lot 7 Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer (MALD-J) missile (200 each) to include: data, mission planning, process verification program, and operational flight software. Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2016. This award is a result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2012, 2013 and 2014 procurement and operations and maintenance funds are being obligated in the amount of $79,112,476 at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/EBJM, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8682-14-C-0004).

LinQuest Corp., Los Angeles, California, has been awarded a $29,164,259 cost-plus-incentive- fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00014) on FA8808-13-C-0009 for additional System Engineering & Integration Support Services (SE&I) to increase the face value of the contract to $154,820,575. The contractor will provide and maintain enterprise SE&I services for the current MILSATCOM Systems Directorate, execute and evolve standardized enterprise processes, control and manage the technical baseline and interface(s), perform system integration across the enterprise and within identified programs, develop and implement key systems engineering processes, developing tools and techniques (as necessary) to predict issues and enable timely action, and develop and maintain performance metrics. Work will be performed at Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, California, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2019. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. No funds will be obligated at the time this modification is executed. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, California, is the contracting activity.
Alion Science and Technology Corp., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a $19,623,009 delivery order (0070) on the Advanced Materials, Manufacturing and Testing Information Analysis Center (AMMTIAC) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity cost-plus-fixed-fee sole-source contract (FA4600-06-D-0003) for Advanced Materials, Redesign and Testing for Support Equipment and Vehicles. AMMTIAC's objective is to analyze and assess fundamental material, manufacturing, and testing requirements to support extension of the operational life of the support equipment and vehicle fleet. The work will be performed at Rome, New York, and various Air Force locations, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 29, 2016. Fiscal 2014 Air Force operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $104,934 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Installation Contracting Agency/KD, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is the contracting activity.

Alion Science and Technology Corp., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded an $18,009,823 delivery order (0071) on the Advanced Materials, Manufacturing and Testing Information Analysis Center (AMMTIAC) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity cost-plus-fixed-fee sole-source contract (FA4600-06-D-0003) for Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel recovery aircraft materials, manufacturing and testing. AMMTIAC's objective is to extend the operational life of Air Force SOF and personnel recovery aircraft. The work will be performed at McLean, Virginia, and various Air Force locations, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 29, 2016. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $405,138 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Installation Contracting Agency/KD, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is the contracting activity.

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES

Aecom-Parsons JV, Arlington, Virginia, is being awarded a $7,848,425 task order (0023) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (HQ0034-12-D-0007) to provide construction management technical support services for the Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate, Facilities Services Directorate. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, with an expected completion date of June 30, 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,848,425 are being obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured, with five proposals received. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nevada is being awarded a maximum $10,500,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a four-year ordering period in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. The results of this contract will allow ground-based forces to digitally provide overhead aircraft with Personal Location Information and designate targets digitally to on-board aircraft computer systems allowing pilots to see where friendly forces are located on the aircraft Common Operating Picture as well as the GPS location of the target. Work will be performed in Sparks, Nevada and other locations on an as needed basis as determined by the government. This was a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,984,252 are being obligated at time of award. U.S. SOCOM/Directorate of Procurement, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (H92222-14-D-0023).

*Small business

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR APRIL 30, 2014

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

CONTRACTS

ARMY

TMG Services*, Cleveland, Ohio (W9127S-14-D-6000); Aerostar SES LLC*, Oak Ridge, Tenn. (W9127S-14-D-6001); Zieson Construction Co., LLC*, Topeka, Kan. (W9127S-14-D-6002) were awarded a $200,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award task order contract for designing and building repairs to the infrastructure for U.S. Air Force Medical Service healthcare facilities nationwide. Funding and work performance location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is April 29, 2017. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 25 received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock, Ark., is the contracting activity.

JCB Inc., Pooler, Ga., was awarded a $39,446,851 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for procurement of an estimated 90 High Mobility Engineer Excavators-Type-I (HMEE-I) and vehicle attachments. Funding and work performance location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is Dec. 29, 2017. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-14-D-0066).

Columbia Helicopters Inc.*, Aurora, Ore., was awarded a $30,552,180 firm-fixed-price contract for the after rotor head and the forward rotor head for the Chinook weapons system. The minimum quantity (combined for the rotor heads) is ten and the maximum quantity is 198. Funding and performance location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is April 24, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-14-D-0078).
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Kongsberg, Norway, was awarded a $29,702,000 modification (P00079) to contract W15QKN-12-C-0103 for depot support for the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $29,702,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed at in Johnstown, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 16, 2017. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity.

Hellfire Systems LLC, Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $28,408,525 modification (P00083) to foreign military sales contract (Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Jordan) W31P4Q-11-C-0242 for 372 Hellfire II air-to-ground tactical containerized models: AGM-114R, AGM-114R-3, and AGM-114P-4A. Fiscal 2012, 2013 and 2014 other procurement funds in amount of $28,408,525 are being obligated at award. Work will be performed at Orlando, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2016. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.

Longbow LLC, Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $25,197,219 modification (P00006) to contract W58RGZ-12-C-0049 for the production of seventeen radar electronics units and unmanned aerial system tactical common data link assemblies, a P4.00 software upgrade, and associated gold standard hardware for production testing. Fiscal 2013 other procurement funds in the amount of $25,197,239 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2015. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla. Army Contracting Command, Redstone, Ala., is the contracting activity.

L-3 Communications Corp., Muskegon, Mich., was awarded a $10,533,875 modification (P00122) to contract W56HZV-09-C-0098 for 26,752 hours for systems technical support for the Bradley transmission. Fiscal 2014 research, development, technology, and evaluation funds in the amount of $10,408,156 and fiscal 2010 other procurement funds in the amount of $125,719 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2015. Work will be performed Muskegon, Mich. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity.

ARMTEC, Coachella, Calif., was awarded a $9,900,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, sole-source contract to design, develop, maintain and manufacture systems using combustible and consumable type products technology for the Army Research, Development and Engineering Command. Funding and work performance location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is May 1, 2019. One bid was solicited and one received. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-14-D-0004).

Value Management Strategies Inc.*, Escondido, Calif. (W912DR-14-D-0001); Strategic Value Solutions Inc.* Independence, Mo. (W912DR-14-D-0002) were awarded a $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for architectural and engineering management service for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District Military, Environmental and Civil Works programs throughout the North Atlantic Division. Funding and work performance location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is April 29, 2019. Two bids were solicited and two received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

SupplyCore*, Rockford, Ill., has been awarded a maximum $200,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for maintenance, repair, and operations tailored logistics support prime vendor programs. This is a competitive acquisition, and seven offers were received. This is a five-year base contract with no options. Location of performance is Illinois with a May 1, 2019 performance completion date. Using 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., (SPM8EG-14-D-0002).

Signature Flight Support Corp., Newport News, Va., has been awarded a maximum $15,088,634 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for fuel. This is a competitive acquisition, and two offers were received. This is a four-year base contract with no options. Locations of performance are Virginia and California with a March 31, 2018 performance completion date. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2017 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-14-D-0017).

NAVY

Contracting Solutions International LLC,* Tulsa, Okla. (N62645-14-D-5023); Distinctive Spectrum Healthcare Joint Venture,* Largo, Md. (N62645-14-D-5024); Protégé Health Services LLC,* Newington, Va. (N62645-14-D-5025); Saratoga Medical Center Inc.,* Fairfax, Va. (N62645-14-D-5026); TIST Corp., Inc.,* San Antonio, Texas (N62645-14-D-5027), are each being awarded a 36-month, firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award task order contract for various nursing services that include the labor bands of advanced practice nurse and nursing. The aggregate not-to-exceed amount for these multiple award contracts combined is $27,693,133. The five contractors will have the opportunity to bid on each individual task order. Work will be performed at military treatment facilities in the Southeast region of the United States to include: Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Fla. (25 percent); Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi, Texas (25 percent); Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla. (25 percent); Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, N.C. (10 percent); Naval Hospital Beaufort, S.C. (3 percent); Naval Hospital Cherry Point, N.C. (3 percent); Naval Health Clinic Charleston, S.C. (3 percent); Navy Medicine Operational Training Center Pensacola, Fla. (3 percent); and any associated branch clinics (3 percent). Work performed under these contracts is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2017. Fiscal 2015 defense health program funds in the amount of $1,999,801 will be obligated at the time of award and the funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Funding is predominantly from the Defense Health Program; however, other funding initiatives such as psychological health/traumatic brain injury, overseas contingency operations and wounded, ill, and injured may be used. These are all one-year funding types. These contracts were solicited via a multiple award electronic request for proposals as a 100 percent small business set-aside; 55 offers were received. The Naval Medical Logistics Command, Fort Detrick, Md., is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded $26,725,000 for cost-plus-incentive-fee delivery order 0080 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-11-G-0001) to provide seven flight critical engineering changes proposals for fracture and maintenance critical areas of the F/A-18 A-D airframe under the Service Life Extension Program Phase C1 effort. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo. (55 percent) and El Segundo, Calif. (45 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2015. Fiscal 2013 and 2014 aircraft procurement, Navy funds in the amount of $13,095,250 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.
COLSA Corp., Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a potential $25,607,908 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to support the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) Integrated Voice Networks Branch to provide telephony network support. This is one of two contracts awarded: both awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract including two, one-year option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the potential ceiling value of this award to an estimated $43,071,400. Work will be performed at SSC Pacific facilities, on Navy ships, and at other government sites in San Diego, and work is expected to be completed April 29, 2017. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy and other procurement, Navy funds in the amount of $25,000 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 full and open solicitation and publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website. Three proposals were received and two were selected for award. SSC Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-14-D-0100).

Engineering Services Network Inc., Arlington, Va., is being awarded a potential $24,530,896 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to support the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) Integrated Voice Networks Branch to provide telephony network support. This is one of two contracts awarded: both awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract including two, one-year option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the potential ceiling value of this award to an estimated $41,213,375. Work will be performed at SSC Pacific facilities, on Navy ships, and at other government sites in San Diego, and work is expected to be completed April 29, 2017. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy and other procurement, Navy funds in the amount of $25,000 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 full and open solicitation and publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website. Three proposals were received and two were selected for award. SSC Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-14-D-0101).

Ball Aerospace Technologies Inc., Boulder, Colo., is being awarded a $23,933,170 firm-fixed-price contract for “Stalker” or long range electro-optical/infrared/laser range finder (SLREOSS) production. SLREOSS is used with the NATO Seasparrow Missile System MK 57 on the MK 9 Tracker Illuminator System. Work will be performed in Broomfield, Colo., and is expected to be completed by April 2016. Fiscal 2014 other procurement, Navy and fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $13,419,877 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-14-C-5412).

Logos Technologies Inc.*, Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $23,648,907 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for field service representatives, operators, and analysts required to support Persistent Ground Surveillance Systems Kestrel systems deployed outside of the continental United States for the U.S. Army. Work will be performed in Fairfax, Va. (68 percent); Afghanistan (28 percent); and Raleigh, N.C. (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2014. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $1,500,000 are being obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-14-C-0196).

Brady GCE II*, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a maximum amount $20,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering (A-E) contract for A-E services for comprehensive environmental response, Compensation Liability Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, underground storage tank studies and environmental engineering support services at Navy and Marine Corps installations in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest (NAVFAC SW) area of responsibility (AOR). No task orders are being issued at this time. All work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps installations in California (90 percent); Arizona (3 percent); Nevada (3 percent); Colorado (2 percent); Utah (1 percent), and other Department of Defense installations in the NAVFAC SW AOR (1 percent). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of April 2019. Fiscal 2014 environmental restoration, Navy contract funds in the amount of $5,000 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 eight proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-14-D-1405).

Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $6,553,058 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for calendar years 2014-2016 Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) depot and intermediate level maintenance, all-up-round recertifications, and special maintenance tasks. This contract will provide for the repair, maintenance and recertification of ESSM Missiles, sections, assemblies, subassemblies, components and test or support equipment. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $15,007,740. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (89 percent), Camden, Ark. (8 percent), Huntsville, Ala. (2 percent), and Andover, Mass. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2016. Fiscal 2014 other procurement, Navy and fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy funding in the amount of $4,379,678 is being obligated at time of award. Contract funds in the amount of $500,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-14-C-5411).

AIR FORCE

Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp., Atlanta, Ga., has been awarded a $19,999,676 delivery order (0269) on the SENSIAC indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, sole source (HC1047-05-D-4000) for Systems Engineering, Modeling & Simulation, and Scientific Studies & Analysis Support on Emerging Threats Affecting National Security and DoD Acquisition Process. SENSIAC will provide recommendations for specified areas of study, United States/allies capability gaps concerning the threats, and how the U.S. should posture itself to counter these threats in order to favorably shape the battlespace. The work will be performed in Atlanta, Ga., and work is expected to be complete by Dec. 6, 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance and research and development funds in the amount of $2,384,604 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Installation Contracting Agency/KD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity.

Alion Science and Technology Corp., McLean, Va., has been awarded a $14,138,642 delivery order (0063) on the AMMTIAC indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, sole-source contract (FA4600-06-D-0003) for operational safety, suitability and effectiveness materials improvement program. AMMTIAC's goal is to increase C-5 aircraft safety and mission readiness while reducing maintenance requirements and cost. The work will be performed at Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., various U.S. Air Force locations, and at the AMMTIAC contractor facilities, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 29, 2016. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance and defense working capital funds funds in the amount of $2,075,098 are being obligated at time of award. AFICA/KD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity.

Flight Safety Services Corp., Centennial, Colo., has been awarded an $11,787,928 firm-fixed-price modification (P00071) to FA8223-11-C-0003 for student aircrew training. The contract modification provides instructors to teach aircrew initial qualification courses, refresher courses, upgrade courses and others to fully qualify C-5 aircrews in all mission design series versions. This affects five training locations: Dover Air Force Base (AFB), Del., Travis AFB, Calif., Lackland AFB, Texas, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., and Martinsburg Air National Guard Base, W.Va., and the work is expected to be completed March 31, 2015 This effort also provides new student aircrew training pricing matrices for the remainder of the contract. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,860,395 are being obligated at time of award. Agile Combat Support, Simulators Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

Qinetiq North America Inc., Waltham, Mass., has been awarded a maximum $7,750,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Battlefield Air Targeting Man-Aided Knowledge II (BATMAN II)-Advanced Technology Demonstration Program, and a $218,128 cost-plus-fixed-fee task order for BATMAN II. The BATMAN II program is designed to focus on advancing technologies relevant to the special operators of the Air Force. The complex nature of the ground operations conducted by Battlefield Airmen require advanced technologies to reduce fatigue and workload in austere environments, increase mission effectiveness, reduce tactical decision making time and errors, and enhance situational awareness. The technologies developed under the BATMAN II program will focus on accelerating the development, demonstration, and assessment timeline of critical, mission capabilities. Work will be performed in Waltham, Mass., and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2020. Task order 0001 is expected to be completed by April 30, 2015. The award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and five offers were received. Fiscal 2014 research and development funds in the amount of $218,128 are to be obligated at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Human Effectiveness-Biosciences Protection Contracting, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-14-D-6529 and Task Order 0001).

Northrop Grumman Corp., Aerospace Systems, El Segundo, Calif., has been awarded a $6,567,841 modification (P00264) to F19628-00-C-0100 for radar system development and demonstration schedule extension. The contract modification is for Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) radar system development and demonstration alignment with the Global Hawk Block 40 program schedule. Work will be performed at El Segundo, Calif., and is expected to be completed on Aug. 31, 20 14. Fiscal 2013 research and development funds in the amount of $3,843,413 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Lockheed Martin Advanced Technologies Lab, Cherry Hill, N.J., has been awarded a $13,362,252 modification (P00016) to previously awarded contract (HR0011-11-C-0033) to incorporate new add work, Phase 3, to the DARPA Behavioral Learning for Adaptive Electronic Warfare (BLADE) program. The modification brings the estimated face value of the contract to $29,367,326 from $16,005,074. The objectives of the Phase 3 BLADE program are to refine and technically mature algorithms and software developed during Phase 2 of the program and to apply them in tactically relevant environments and timeframes on tactical military electronic attack platforms. The program will culminate in over-the-air and on-the-move testing and valuation of the BLADE system in an operationally representative environment. Work will be performed in Cherry Hill, N.J. (64.2 percent), Blacksburg, Va. (3.3 percent), Fort Wayne, Ind. (28.7 percent), and California, Md. (3.8 percent), and is expected to be completed by October 2015. Fiscal 2014 research and development funds in the amount of $8,000,000 will be obligated at the time of the award. The contracting activity is DARPA, Arlington, Va.

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

Cyberspace Solutions of Reston, Va., is being awarded a $35,556,730 firm-fixed-price contract for intelligence analyst support, in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. The work will be conducted at multiple locations in the United States and overseas and is expected to be completed May 1, 2015. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,000,000 are being obligated at time of award. This contract was awarded through a competitive Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business set-aside with 15 proposals received. U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Fla., is the contracting activity (H92222-14-C-0019).

*Small Business

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2014

FROM:  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
CONTRACTORS
CONTRACTS
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Vermilion Valley Produce Company Inc.*, Danville, Ill., has been awarded a maximum $12,937,595 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for fresh fruit and vegetable support.  This contract is a competitive acquisition, and four offers were received.  This is an 18-month base contract with two 18-month option periods.  Locations of performance are throughout Illinois with an Aug. 9, 2018 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Department of Agriculture schools.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPE300-14-D-P246).

Racoe, Inc.**, Celina, Tenn., has been awarded a maximum $8,709,452 modification (P00009) exercising the first option year on a one-year base contract (SPM1C1-13-D-1022) with four one-year option periods for Marine Corps combat utility uniform trousers.  This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract.  Locations of performance are Tennessee and Mississippi with a Feb. 13, 2015 performance completion date.  Using military service is Marine Corps.  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.

AIR FORCE

Alion Science and Technology Corp., McLean, Va., has been awarded a $12,851,147 modification (P00116) on an existing cost-plus-award-fee and cost-reimbursable contract (FA7014-07-C-0009) value estimated at $970,000,000 for technical and analytical support.  This contract provides the following acquisition support services:  programmatic analyses; policy analyses; budget analyses; administrative technical support; facilities engineering services; business reengineering analyses; database development; internet/intranet development; software application development; legislative analyses; engineering/technical consulting support; and acquisition consulting services.  Government customers include the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, SAF/FML (Congressional), Air Force Program Executive Office, Aircraft & Space Launch, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and other Headquarters Air Force organizations.  This modification rebaselines the current program for the last option period four (Jan. 1 2013 through July 31, 2015) and reinstitutes the original, intended period of performance to Jan. 1, 2001 through Dec. 31, 2015, increasing the estimate.  Option period four was exercised and announced in 2012; however, due to the period of performance extension as a result of the rebaselining effort, this announcement is reporting new work.  Work will be performed at Arlington, Va., and Washington, D.C., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2015.  The following fund types will be incrementally funded onto this contract:  Air Force research and development, procurement, operations and maintenance and foreign military sales to Israel, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Spain.  The Air Force District of Washington Contracting Directorate, Strategic Sourcing Division, Joint Base Andrews, Md., is the contracting activity.

ARMY

HELLFIRE SYSTEMS, LLC, Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $157,362,903 modification (P00068) to firm-fixed-price contract W31P4Q-11-C-2042, to exercise option for fiscal 2014 Hellfire II missile production requirements.  This contract involves foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Indonesia.  Fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014 funds in the amount of $157,362,903 are being obligated on award.  The performance location is Orlando, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2016.  The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (Missile), Redstone, Ala., is the contracting activity.

Weeks Marine, Inc., Covington, La., was awarded a $9,570,000 firm-fixed-price contract for work consisting of furnishing one fully crewed and equipped ‘cutterhead’ dredge, with a dredge discharge size of 30-inches inside diameter complete in all respects, including all attendant plant and crew.  Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $9,570,000 are being obligated on award.  The contract was solicited via the Web with two bids received.  The performance location is Pilottown, La., with an estimated completion date of July 25, 2014.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – New Orleans District, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-14-C-0023).

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

Oregon Iron Works, Inc., of Clackamas, Oregon was one of two companies previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract H92222-11-D-0080 in September 2011 in support of the Combatant Craft Medium Mark One (CCM Mk1). The CCM Mk I Program is an  acquisition program to develop, test, produce, field, and sustain a modern, clandestine, agile, adaptive, technically relevant, reliable, and operationally capable combatant craft system in support of U.S. Special Operations Command.  The government has tested and evaluated the test articles provided by the two Phase II CCM Mk 1 awardees during Phase III of this evaluation, evaluated final proposal revisions and has made a final down select decision awarded to Oregon Iron Works, Inc.  The total IDIQ contract ceiling, previously announced, remains $400,000,000, and the period of performance inclusive of all options and ordering periods is through December 2021.  Funds in the amount of $17,500,290 will be obligated at this time for test article refurbishment as well as support the purchase of long lead items and low rate initial production  units.  The majority of the work will be performed in Clackamas, Oregon.  This contract was originally solicited through the Web as a 100 percent set aside for small business in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 19.502-2 with six proposals received.  U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Fla., is the contracting activity.

*Small Business
** Small Business, In HubZone, Woman Owned

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONTRACTS FOR OCTOBER 31, 2013

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
CONTRACTS
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Atlantic Diving Supply Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va., (SPM8EH-14-D-0001); W.S. Darley Inc.*, Itasca, Ill., (SPM8EH-14-D-0002); Unifire*, Spokane, Wash., (SPM8EH-14-D-0003); The Mallory Co.*, Longview, Wash., (SPM8EH-14-D-0004); Federal Resources*, Stevensville, Md., (SPM8EH-14-D-0005); and L.N. Curtis & Sons*, Oakland, Calif., (SPM8EH-14-D-0006) have been awarded a maximum $872,000,000 firm-fixed-price, tailored logistics support program contract for fire and emergency services equipment. This is a two-year base contract with three one-year option periods. This contract is a competitive acquisition, and eight offers were received. Locations of performance are Virginia, Illinois, Washington, Maryland, and California with an Oct. 30, 2015, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense capital revolving funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

Valero Marketing and Supply Co., San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $330,851,251 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, foreign military sales contract for aviation turbine fuel. This is a one-year base contract plus a thirty-day carryover. This contract is a competitive acquisition, and four offers were received. Location of performance is Texas with a Nov. 30, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Israel. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 foreign military sales funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-14-D-0452).

Petromax LLC*, Bay City, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $42,782,189 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for automotive gasoline. This a one-year base contract plus a thirty-day carryover. This contract is a competitive acquisition and four offers were received. Location of performance is Texas with a Nov. 30, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Israel. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 foreign military sales funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-14-D-0451).

Chevron Americas Product, Houston, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $29,754,648 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for aviation turbine fuel. This is a two-month base contract plus a thirty-day carryover. This contract is a competitive acquisition and twenty-seven offers were received. Locations of performance are Texas and Mississippi with a Dec. 31, 2013 performance completion date. Using military service is DLA Energy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-14-D-0450).

Pall Aeropower, New Port Richey, Fla., has been awarded a maximum $16,904,640 firm-fixed-price contract for particle separators. This contract is a sole source acquisition. Location of performance is Florida with an Oct. 31, 2017 performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. (SPRRA1-14-D-0003/0001).

X-Gen Pharmaceuticals*, Horseheads, N.Y., has been awarded a maximum $9,520,795 modification (P00024) exercising the fourth one-year option period on a one-year base contract (SPM2D0-09-D-0010) with seven one-year option periods for various pharmaceutical products. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is New York with a Nov. 2, 2014 performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 warstopper funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

ARMY

Xerox Corp., Lewisville, Texas; Canon USA Inc., Arlington, Va.; Cartridge Technologies Inc., Rockville, Md.; Ricoh USA Inc., Malvern, Pa.; Konica Minolta Business Solutions Inc., Vienna, Va.; Lexmark International Inc.; Lexington, Ky.; KST Data Inc.; Los Angeles, Calif., were awarded a $498,000,000 firm-fixed-price, multiple award task order contract to provide the Army with commercial-off-the-shelf multi-functional devices, and related services that will integrate, modernize and refresh the Army’s base architecture while providing standardized interfaces. Equipment under this program will be available for lease or purchase, and shall be compliant with current Army security standards. This acquisition includes accessories, associated consumable supplies, maintenance, and repair services. Work location and funding will be determined by each order. Bids were solicited via the Internet with seven received. Army Contracting Command, Fort Huachuca, Ariz., is the contracting activity (W9124A-14-D-0001-0006).

General Dynamics C4 Systems Inc., Taunton, Mass., was awarded a $475,000,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for research and development requirements to support the Warfighter Information Network- Tactical Increment 3. Requirements include the fabrication, assembly, and coding of the configuration items necessary to complete the research and development phase for transition to the production and deployment phase. Support includes evolutionary product integration, testing, and evaluation. Work location and funding will be determined by each order. One offer was solicited and one bid received. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-14-D-0002).

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Comapny LLC, Oak Brook, Ill., was awarded a maximum $30,700,221 firm-fixed-price contract for folly beach shore protection for dredging beach fill from borrow areas and placing material on the beach. Work will be performed at Folly Beach, S.C. Funding will be determined with each order. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with two bids received. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston, S.C, is the contracting activity (W912HP-14-C-0002).

Honeywell International Inc., Tempe, Ariz., was awarded a $19,100,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for technical, engineering, logistical support services and 100 percent materials in support of the overhaul and repair of the T-55 family of engines at Corpus Christi Army Depot. Work will be performed in Corpus Christi, Texas. One bid was solicited and one received. Army Contracting Command Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-11-C-0039).

Medico Industries Inc., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., was awarded a maximum $19,100,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for Projectile Gun Unit (PGU)-45/B metal parts. Work location and funding will be determined by each order. Bids were solicited via the Internet with three received. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-14-D-0007).

Secure Communication Systems Inc., Santa Ana, Calif., was awarded a $17,434,072 firm-fixed-price contract for integrated soldier power and data systems and defense advanced global positioning system adapters. Work location and funding will be determined by each order. Bids were solicited via the Internet with eight received. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-14-D-0002).

MARSTEL-DAY LLC, Fredericksburg, Va., was awarded a maximum $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect and engineering services for the Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide environmental, planning and encroachment management support to the U.S. Air Force, Office of the Civil Engineer Headquarters. Work location and funding will be determined by each order. Bids were solicited via the Internet with five received. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-14-D-0002).

W. M. Schlosser Company Inc., Hyattsville, Md., was awarded a $8,933,000 firm-fixed-price contract for first high reservoir improvements, Washington Aqueduct Division, Washington D.C. Bids were solicited via the Internet with five received. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-14-C-0002).

Navistar Defense, Lisle, Ill., was awarded a maximum $7,260,077 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for program and logistics support management for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) MaxxPro M1235A3 Dash with MaxxPro Survivability Upgrade (MSU). The contractor shall include MSU content as well as variation in vehicle content for both the objective gunner protection kit and Common Remotely Operated Weapon System. Work will be performed in Lisle, Ill. One bid was solicited and one received. Army Contracting Command (Tank and Automotive) Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-10-C-0011).

NAVY

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $422,063,723 modification with cost-plus-incentive-fee line items to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-12-C-0004) for recurring sustainment support for F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. Sustainment support to be provided includes ground maintenance activities, action request resolution, depot activation activities, Automatic Logistics Information System operations and maintenance, reliability, maintainability, and health management implementation and support, supply chain management, and activities to provide and support pilot and maintainer initial training. Work will be performed in Ft. Worth, Texas (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2014. Fiscal 2012 operations and maintenance, Navy; fiscal 2013 operations and maintenance, Air Force; fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement, Navy; fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement, Air Force; and international partner funds in the amount of $369,304,921 are being obligated on this award, $22,055,168 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force ($188,287,831; 44.6 percent), U.S. Marine Corps ($125,641,895; 29.7 percent), the U.S. Navy ($66,558,160; 15.8 percent); and the governments of the United Kingdom ($18,291,583; 4.3 percent); the Netherlands ($8,392,726; 2 percent); Australia ($4,856,254; 1.2 percent); Turkey ($2,975,016; .7 percent); Italy ($2,676,868; .6 percent); Canada ($1,933,807; .5 percent); Norway ($1,556,986; .4 percent); and Denmark ($892,597; .2 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Sauer Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded $27,406,000 for firm-fixed-price task order 0005 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N40085-09-D-5026) for the design and construction of an A School Barracks at Naval Air Station Oceana, Dam Neck Annex. The task order also contains three planned modifications, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $31,910,953. Work will be performed in Virginia Beach, Va., and is expected to be completed by December 2015. Fiscal 2014 military construction, Navy contract funds in the amount of $27,406,000 are being obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Six proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity.

I.E.-Pacific Inc.*, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $12,612,000 for firm-fixed-price task order 0007 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-09-D-1657) for design and construction of a security operations complex and military working dog facility at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The task order also contains a planned modification and one unexercised option item, which if issued would increase the cumulative task order value to $12,797,000. Work will be performed in Yuma, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by July 2015. Fiscal 2013 military construction, Navy contract funds in the amount of $12,612,000 are being obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

The DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $76,577,468 modification (P00016) on an existing firm-fixed-price contract (FA8617-12-C-6208) for contractor operated and maintained base supply (COMBS) non-personnell services for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System T-6A/B Texan II aircraft. The contract modification exercises an option for fiscal 2014 COMBS services being procured under the basic contract. Work will be performed at Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2014. This is not a multiyear contract. Fiscal 2014 Air Force operations and maintenance funds and fiscal 2014 Navy operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,028,671 are being obligated at time of award. The Joint Primary Aircraft Training System, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WLZJC, Training Aircraft Division, Mobility Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

Exelis Systems Corp., Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., has been awarded a $23,275,661 modification (P00900) on an existing cost-plus-award-fee contract (F04701-01-C-0001) for Launch and Test Range System support functions to the Eastern and Western Range: range sustainment, external user support, projects and engineering services, systems engineering and interim supply support spares for the sustainment period. This modification extends the basic contract with a maximum period of performance of three months. Work will be performed at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and will be completed by Jan. 31, 2014. Fiscal 2014 procurement, operations and maintenance ($21,369,330), research and development ($1,157,438) and other procurement funds ($748,893) in the amount of $23,275,661 are being obligated at time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center/PKL, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity.

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

United States Marine Inc., Gulfport, Miss., is being awarded a $15,827,132 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for post-production and contractor logistical support services for the combatant craft assault. The work will be performed in Gulfport, Miss., and is expected to be completed by November 2017. Fiscal 2012 procurement funds in the amount of $3,017,352 are being obligated at time of award. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Fla., is the contracting activity (H92222-14-D-0001).

SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND EMPHASIZES BUILDING SPECIAL OPERATIONS CAPACITY

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
Special Operations Officials Emphasize Capacity Building
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2013 - Building on the lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Special Operations Command is refocusing on helping partner militaries across the geographic commands build special operations capacity, Socom's commander reported.

The drawdown in Afghanistan will free up more special operators to support other theaters, Navy Adm. William H. McRaven said during a July 19 panel discussion at the 2013 Aspen Security Forum in Aspen, Colo.

McRaven reported that he already has sat down with all of the geographic combatant commanders to discuss their objectives and determine how more special operations forces can support them.

Toward that goal, Socom is returning to its pre-9/11 concept of aligning forces to specific geographic areas and providing them cultural and language training for that region, he said.

By necessity, special operators shifted their focus to Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 12 years, McRaven said, and fluency in languages other than Arabic, Dari and Pashto suffered. To rebuild lost skill sets, the command is reinvigorating its language and cultural awareness program and aligning it to the theaters "so that the right people speak the right languages and understand the right cultures in the right regions," the admiral added.

One of the big takeaways from Afghanistan has been the effectiveness of the command structure provided through the Special Operations Joint Task Force Afghanistan, he reported. It aligns all special operations missions across Afghanistan, to make them more coordinated and effective.

The task force has provided "effects that we hadn't seen in the previous decade," McRaven said. The challenge now, he told the forum, is to take the lessons learned and export them to other special operations missions around the world.

Special operators "will always be able to do the kinetic piece ... better than anyone else in the world," he said. "When somebody needs to rescue Americans or when someone needs to capture or kill the enemy, I think we have the best force in the world and will for a long time."

McRaven acknowledged, however, that "that's a small part of what we do in the special operations community."

Building partner capacity is the larger mission, he reported, and it currently involves about 3,000 special operations forces in about 84 countries outside Afghanistan. Working in small teams, they are helping partner-nation militaries build special operations capacity so their sovereign governments can deal with their own problems without the need for U.S. forces, he said.

These are core special operations capabilities that the special operations community has been conducting "for a very, very long time," McRaven said. "So any thought that this is a new idea is not correct," he added.

What has changed is the fiscal environment, he noted. "Now, we've got to do it in a little more structured fashion," McRaven said. "We have limited resources, [so] we've got to figure out where to apply those resources."

Michael A. Sheehan, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low intensity conflict, joined McRaven for the panel discussion. A former Green Beret, Sheehan recalled being among only about 12 special operations advisors in El Salvador during its civil war. "I think in many ways, we're going to go back to the future in terms of the SOF mission set," he said.

Counterterrorism is actually a two-part effort, both with a special operations forces component, Sheehan explained.

"One is [that] we have to deny sanctuary to terrorists. We can't let them sit and be comfortable, or they will be able to attack us strategically," he said. "And secondly, we need to pressure the network. We need to attack the leaders, safe houses, training sites, their assets, lines of communications, et cetera."

Typically, a special operations forces advisor works with a host-nation military to help train and equip the force and plan activities designed to deny space to the enemy, Sheehan said. "On the other side, we want to have a relationship, the training, advising, equipping for the host country's kinetic action for their direct action against the enemy," he explained.

The key, Sheehan said, is to identify the best way to train, equip and advise the host-nation forces so they can successfully conduct their own special operations missions.

"When we are successful in doing that, we have then pushed ourselves back into the secondary role and enabled host countries to defend their own country," Sheehan said. "And that's our goal for the next 10 years."

GETTING A READINESS BOOST AT SOCOM

An Air Force special operations pararescueman gets hoisted off a ship by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kurt Leisenring during the Emerald Warrior 2013 exercise off Florida's Gulf Coast, April 24, 2013. U.S. Special Operations Command's Preservation of the Force and Family Task Force is implementing a holistic program to promote operators' physical, psychological, spiritual and social performance to support mission readiness. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Quinton Russ

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Socom Strives to Boost Operators' Resilience, Readiness

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
TAMPA, Fla., June 14, 2013 - Maintainers across the military take pride in keeping aircraft, vehicles and weapons systems well-oiled and ready to go whenever the mission calls. A major initiative is underway at U.S. Special Operations Command here to better maintain what Navy Adm. William H. McRaven, the Socom commander, calls the most important system of all: the operator.


"Humans are more important than hardware" is the first of the "truths" McRaven espouses for the nation's special operations forces. This fundamental recognizes that what makes the "tip of the spear" so sharp is the education, rigorous training and experience of the operators themselves.

But shortly after arriving at his headquarters in 2011, McRaven received sobering confirmation that the special operations community was in trouble. An extensive study directed by the previous commander, Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson, found "the SOF force as a whole was frayed," McRaven told a forum of defense industry representatives and special operators who gathered here last month.

The study revealed that the current operational environment has been more difficult than operators and their families expected, leaving little time for them to adjust to the daily strains of perpetual absences. The study noted troubling consequences, with increases in domestic and family problems, substance abuse and self-medication, risk-taking behaviors, post-traumatic stress, and even suicides.

With continued high operational demands, the fraying continues, McRaven lamented. "I would say, in the last 20 months, the force is fraying at a rate I am not comfortable with at all," he said at the SOF Industry Conference.

So as McRaven implements his Special Operations Forces 2020 vision to posture Socom for the future, he has made "preservation of the force and family" one of the key pillars.

"That is my No. 1 mission," he told the forum. "It is a moral imperative that we do all that we can to preserve the force and care for their families."

While seeking ways to increase predictability in special operations forces' schedules, McRaven has charged what he renamed the "Preservation of the Force and Family Task Force" to come up with innovative, holistic approaches to deal with the pressure on the special operations community.

The task force is working to build performance across four interconnecting domains: human, psychological, spiritual and social, explained Navy Capt. Thomas Chaby, the task force chief.
The idea is not to duplicate programs already being provided through Defense Department and military services, he emphasized. Rather, it builds on them, filling in gaps and increasing accessibility for operators and their families.

"If there was one word you would say the [task force] is all about, it is readiness," Chaby said. "It is all about being ready for our battlefield requirements, and taking care of our people helps them be as ready as possible."

Building resilience in the force helps to set operators up for success, Chaby said, adding, "It's all about building their capacity. It is readiness, readiness, readiness."

Yet the special operations community didn't always recognize that. Chaby remembered his first visit to SEAL Team 3's fitness center in 1990 after graduating from basic underwater demolition/SEAL training. Despite requirements to work in challenging and often unforgiving environments, the SEALs had limited fitness equipment and were basically on their own to figure out the best way to physically train for it.

As a result, many SEALs were injured during missions or while training for them. Chaby has had eight operations since becoming a SEAL, and considers himself fairly representative of his contemporaries.

"Is that the best way to prepare the primary weapon system? Probably not," he said. "There was no thought, science or planning put into [physical training]. The [Preservation of the Force and Family Task Force] is changing that."

Today, Socom has a human performance program designed to meet special operations forces' unique physical needs. It includes training that aims to prevent physical injuries through strength and conditioning, nutrition and physical therapy.

The program also looks at other ways to maintain the body: teaching operators how to mitigate the effects of operational demands through everything from hydration to psychological and social support.

"Putting some thought into it, applying some science, and backing it up with resources is just common sense," Chaby said. "This is a small investment that I believe will reap itself two-, three-, four-, who-knows-how-many-fold benefits."

While paying more attention to operators' bodies, the task force is committed to boosting their psychological strength and resilience, too.

Chaby noted the mental and emotional strain of more than a decade of continuous operations, and the need to do everything possible to mitigate the stressors. So in addition to helping operators develop positive ways to cope, Socom has joined the rest of the military in working to take the stigma out of seeking help.

Gone are the days when operators had to fear getting flagged or having their security clearance revoked if they sought out psychological help.

"It is not like that any more. Now, it's not help against you if you go seek help, and leadership is setting the example," Chaby said. "It's not a negative any more, like it used to be."

Ready access to mental health experts is particularly important in light of Socom's consistently high operating tempos, he noted. "We are so dynamic in our deployment cycles and our work-up cycles that by the time [a scheduled] appointment comes up, you could well find yourself back on the battlefield or training somewhere else and have to cancel it," he said.

So to make services more available and to encourage operators to take advantage of them, the command has started embedding mental health professionals attuned to the needs of the special operations community directly into its units. "The idea is, 'Let's give [the operator] somebody he trusts and feels he can talk to, and let's give him for better accessibility,'" Chaby said.

And to ease operator's transition from the battlefield to their homes and families, Socom now typically sends them to alternate sites so they can talk to a chaplain or psychologist and "decompress" before returning home.

Meanwhile, the Preservation of the Force and Family Task Force is helping operators get in touch with their spiritual sides as well.

Chaby emphasized that what Socom calls "spiritual performance" isn't necessarily about religion. "It could be for some, but that's not what it is about," he said. "It is about spirituality," which he defined as core spiritual beliefs, values, awareness, relationships and experiences.

These elements affect how operators live, the choices and decisions they make, the quality of their relationships and their overall ability to find meaning in life, Chaby said. All ultimately affect their mission performance and their ability to deal with the challenges of serving in special operations.

So the task force has turned to chaplains and the wealth of programs they lead or support to help special operations forces members address their spiritual needs. This, Chaby said, helps to round out a holistic program while directly supporting initiatives to build physical and psychological resilience.

Meanwhile, the task force is exploring ways to boost operators' "social performance" -- the ability to establish and maintain healthy, meaningful relationships, particularly within their families.

The typical special operator is 29 years old for enlisted members and 34 for officers, and is married with two children. Chaby remembered the days not so long ago when Socom gave little thought to family needs. "The mentality was obvious: 'If it's not in your sea bag, it's not our responsibility,'" he said.

That's changed 180 degrees, he reported. Socom now understands that family members have a big say in whether a highly trained, experienced operator will remain in the military. But even more importantly, command leaders recognize that problems at home can distract operators, potentially putting them and their buddies at increased risk and directly affecting the mission.

As a result, the Preservation of the Force and Family Task Force has made a concerted effort to help build "social performance" within special operations forces families. The goal, Chaby said, is to strengthen communication skills and overall resiliency to better deal with the challenges of multiple, extended separations, many that involve sensitive, high-risk and secretive missions.

"We are looking for opportunities to bring families into the equation, because we have found that the more you do that, the stronger they become," Chaby said. "This is empowering them to be part of the team, which in turn increases and improves the readiness of that soldier, sailor, airman or Marine."

Adding up these elements -- improving operators' physical, psychological, spiritual and social performance -- can only result in a better force, Chaby said.

"If each element gives a 1 percent advantage, you end up with a 4 or 5 or 10 percent better operator, capacity-wise, resiliency-wise, readiness-wise" he said. "You start adding these things together, and it makes such a difference."

It all comes back, he said, to the special operations forces truism that people -- operators who are ready to be effective and respond to the demands of the job -- are more important than hardware.

"If you take care of your people, that is the foundation of everything we do. Without them, the hardware doesn't matter and we are going to have mission failure," he said. "You have to have your people ready to go, for whatever the battlefield calls for."