Contract: Hologic, $119.3M

Hologic Inc., Marlborough, Mass., has been awarded a $119,285,089 firm-fixed-price contract for SARS-CoV-2 molecular test production and capacity expansion. This contract provides for the expansion of manufacturing capabilities through additional equipment, material/supplies and facility infrastructure. Work will be performed in Somerset, Wisc.; Hudson, Wisc.; Menomonie, Wisc.; Anaheim, Calif.; Baldwin, Wisc.; Guilford, Maine; and San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by January 2022. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition. Funding is authorized through Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266) from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in the full amount which is being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8656-21-C-0002). (Source: DoD, 10/30/20)

Contract: Tyonek, $92.8M

Tyonek Services Overhaul Facility – Stennis LLC, Kiln, Miss., has been awarded a $92,800,000 contract for C‐5M sustainment. This contract provides for alternative modification installation services. Work will be performed in Waco, Texas, and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2030. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. A combination of fiscal 2020 transportation working capital funds and fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,577,182 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8525‐21‐D‐0001). (Source: DoD, 10/30/20)

Contract: InBios, $12.7M

InBios International Inc., Seattle, Wash., has been awarded a $12,670,301 firm-fixed-price contract for expansion of production capability for COVID-19 Rapid test. This contract provides for expansion of production capability for the SCoV-2 IgG/IgM Detect and SCoV-2 Ag Detect tests. Work will be performed in Seattle and is expected to be completed by April 2021. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition. Funding is authorized through Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266) from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and funds in the full amount will be obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8656-21-C-8877). (Source: DoD, 10/30/20)

Contract: Raytheon, $192M

The Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded a $192,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) field team and lab support. This contract provides support for the AMRAAM system development test activities to include laboratory management, field-team test support, testing and analysis. Work will be performed in Tucson; Fort Worth, Texas; St. Louis, Mo.; Seattle, Wash.; Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.; Hill AFB, Utah; and Eglin AFB, Fla., and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2030. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) funds in the amount of $479,372; and fiscal 2021 RDT&E funds in the amount of $800,000 are being obligated at the time of award.   The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin AFB, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA86785-21-D-0030). (Source: DoD, 10/29/20)

Contract: Sikorsky, $550.4M

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin company, Stratford, Conn., is awarded a $550,372,323 modification (P00043) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive (firm target), firm-fixed-price contract N00019-16-C-0048. This modification is for Lot IV low rate initial production and delivery of six CH-53K aircraft and associated aircraft, programmatic and logistics support, rate tooling and physical configuration audits. Work will be performed in Stratford (33.17%); Wichita, Kan. (11.51%); Salt Lake City, Utah (7.18%); Hazelwood, Mo. (6.28%); Bridgeport, W.V. (3.22%); Redmond, Wash. (2.12%); Windsor Lock, Conn. (1.84%); Kent, Wash. (1.54%); Fort Worth, Texas (1.44%); Quebec, Canada (1.35%); Cudahy, Wisc. (1.29%); Rochester, United Kingdom (1.27%); Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (1.11%); various locations within the continental U.S. (24.68%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (2%), and is expected to be completed in July 2024. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $519,899,846; and fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $30,472,477 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. (Source: DoD, 10/26/20)

Navy identifies crash victims

A Navy flying instructor and Coast Guard student were identified Sunday as the service members killed in a military plane crash in Alabama on Friday. Navy instructor pilot Lt. Rhiannon Ross, 30, of Wixom, Mich., was on a routine training flight out of Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla., with her student, Coast Guard Ensign Morgan Garrett, 24, of Weddington, N.C., when their Navy T-6B Texan II trainer aircraft crashed in a residential area of Foley, Ala., according to Navy officials. (Sources: multiple, including ABCNews, CNN, 10/25.20) Previous

Two die in Navy trainer crash

FOLEY, Ala. - A Navy T-6B Texan II trainer from Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla., crashed Friday in an Alabama residential neighborhood, killing both people in the plane. Zach Harrell, a spokesperson for Commander, Naval Air Forces, said both people in the training plane died. The names were not released pending notification of relatives. No injuries were reported on the ground. The turboprop plane, which seats a pilot and student in tandem, went down southeast of Mobile near Foley and the town of Magnolia Springs. NAS Whiting Field is near Milton, Fla., some 30 miles northest of Pensacola. (Source: multiple, including AP, CNN, 10/23/20)

Airbus delivers A220 to Delta

MOBILE, Ala. - The Airbus manufacturing facility in Mobile delivered the first U.S.-made A220 passenger jet Thursday to Delta Air Lines. The carrier took delivery of the A220-300 in a milestone for Delta. Its the first A220-300 type aircraft. It currently has 31 A220-100. Airbus builds both the A320 and the A220 in Mobile. It's only the second site where A220s are built. The other site is in MIrabel, Quebec, Canada. “The delivery of the first U.S.-built A220-300 is a historic moment that highlights Airbus’ growing industrial footprint in North America and makes us all extremely proud,” said C. Jeffrey Knittel, Chairman & CEO Airbus Americas, Inc. “We look forward to seeing passengers delighted by the experience of travelling on board this brand new A220-300 proudly built in Mobile, Ala.” Ground was broken for the A220 assembly line in January 2019 and production of the A220 started in August of the same year. (Source: Airbus, 10/22/20)

Contract: Lockheed, $138.8M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $138,769,282 modification (P00027) to previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract N00019-19-C-0010. This modification adds scope to continue the development of pilot training device software to align the F-35 air system with continued capability development. Additionally, this modification provides for testing and continuous re-certification activities for dual capable F-35 aircraft as Block 4 capabilities are developed, matured and fielded in support of the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla. (51%); and Fort Worth (49%), and is expected to be completed in June 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $4,623,119; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,325,900; and non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $1,071,980 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. (Source: DoD, 10/210/20) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center and reprogramming labs.

Contract: Lockheed, $12.7M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $12,663,878 modification (P00088) to previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-16-C-0033. This modification adds scope in support of the F-35 Lightning II Lot 11 diminishing manufacturing sources redesign of the Electrical Optical Targeting System, 270V Battery Cell Separator and a component for the Helmet Mounted Display System for Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in January 2024. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,198,654; fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $5,198,654; and non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $2,266,570 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. (Source: DoD, 10/20/20) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center and reprogramming labs.

JetBlue A220 leaves paint shop

New "Hops" design. Jet Blue photo

MOBILE, Ala. - JetBlue's first A220 aircraft rolled out of the paint shop at the Airbus manufacturing campus at the Mobile Aeroplex Monday morning. It features JetBlue's latest aircraft  tail design, “Hops,” which will be featured on its A220-300 aircraft. Travelers will spot the new design in 2021 after the first aircraft is delivered in December. The “Hops” design was created by JetBlue’s in-house designers, and is a nod to the idea of connecting many short trips together as part of a larger journey, commonly referred to in travel as hopping. (Source: JetBlue, 10/19/20)

Contract: CH2M, $8.4M

CH2M Hill Constructors Inc., Englewood, Colo., is awarded an $8,388,171 firm-fixed-price modification to task order N69450-20-F-0078 under previously-awarded multiple-award construction contract N62470-19-D-8024 for Hurricane Sally recovery at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. The work to be performed provides for immediate restoration/sustainment and clean-up recovery actions due to damage caused by Hurricane Sally. Specific elements of work include roofing/seal building envelope; rip-out/tear-out; mold remediation; vegetation/tree clearing/chipping; waste/debris collection, removal and disposal; traffic management; and security fencing.  This award brings the total cumulative value to $22,635,705. Work will be performed in Pensacola and is expected to be completed by November 2020. Fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance (Navy); and fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance (Air Force) funding in the amount of $8,388,171 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/15/20)

Contract: Raytheon, $239.1M

 Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded a $239,113,565 definitization modification (PZ0001) to contract FA8672-20-C-0005 for StormBreaker (SDBII, GBU-53/B) production Lot 6. Work will be performed in Tucson and is expected to be completed Nov. 28, 2023. The current action relates to classified Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and 6.3% of contract value supports FMS. Fiscal 2020 production funding in the amount of $265,281,689 is being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $271,894,434. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/15/20)

Whiting and Fleet Fly In

 NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD, Fla. - Training Air Wing Five at Naval Air Station Whiting Field will host portions of the Naval Helicopter Association Gulf Coast 2020 Fleet Fly In Oct. 19-23. The Fleet Fly In is designed to provide a week of training and knowledge sharing with student aviators so they can make informed decisions as they move forward in their aviation careers. Due to the pandemic, much of the event will be conducted virtually, but there will still be fleet helicopters on the flight line for the students to see. (Source: NAS Whiting Field, 10/15/20)

Communities get state defense funds

Northwest Florida communities have been awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in the latest outlay of state defense-related grants. The Defense Reinvestment Grant Progrm and the Defense Infrastructure Grant Program provide funding to communities heavily reliant on the military. The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce was awarded $80,000 to expand and create higher skilled jobs in the military community as former military transistion to non-defense jobs. Pensacola is home of Naval Air Station Pensacola. Santa Rosa County was awrded $62,500 to support activities surrounding Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The Bay Defense Alliance was awarded $90,000 to continue rebuilding efforts from Hurricane Michael, which hit Tyndall Air Force Base. The Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County was awarded $85,000 to continue efforts to encourage economic diversification. The grant also will be used to help facilitate STEM cluster development. Infrastructure grants were awarded to Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, $200,000 and $282,000, respectively, for the purchase of easements around Naval Air Station Whiting Field and outlying fields. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 10/14/20)

Contract: Arete, $18M

Arete Associates, Northridge, Calif., is awarded a $17,976,258 firm-fixed-price modification to exercise Option Three of previously awarded contract N61331-18-D-0012 to provide Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis Block I systems. This option is for additional Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) Block 1 production systems. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (35%); Destin, Fla. (35%); and Santa Rosa, Calif. (30%), and is expected to be completed by September 2021. No funding will be obligated at time of award and will be obligated at the time a delivery order is issued. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/08/20)

Air combat adversary picked

The Air Force has awarded ATAC, Textron Systems’ military airborne training unit, a contract to provide adversary air combat training to F-22 and F-35 pilots at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., the biggest winner in the initial round of the service’s effort to outsource pilot training that eventually could be worth billions. Under the new award, worth $94 million, ATAC will use its fleet of upgraded and refurbished Dassault Aviation Mirage F1 fighters to play adversaries in mock combat against Air Force pilots in more than 1,100 sorties per year for up to four-and-a-half years. The training is expected to begin in January 2021. The award is the last of six Red Air training tasking orders solicited this year under the the Air Force’s Combat Air Forces (CAF)/Contracted Air Support (CAS) program. The Air Force last October chose seven contractors to compete under an overarching indefinite delivery, indefinitely quantity (ID/IQ) contract, worth up to $6.4 billion, for both adversary air combat training and close air support training. (Sources: Breaking Defense, 09/29/20, The Aviationist, 10/04/20)

Contract: FlightSafety, $13.9M

FlightSafety Services Corp., Denver, Colo., is awarded a $13,906,642 modification (P00022) to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N61340-18-C-0019. This modification exercises an option to provide aircrew training services in support of the TH-57B/C community, including instruction, operation, and curriculum support. Work will be performed in Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla., and is expected to be completed in October 2021. No funds are being obligated at time of award. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/06/20)
 

Contract: CH2M, $8.2M

CH2M Hill Constructors Inc., Englewood, Colo., was awarded an $8,247,534 firm-fixed-price task order modification (N69450-20-F-0078) under previously-awarded multiple-award construction contract N62470-19-D-8024 for Hurricane Sally recovery at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Work will be performed in Pensacola and is expected to be completed by December 2020. This modification brings the total cumulative task order value to $14,247,534. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $7,998,716 (97%); and fiscal 2020 Defense Health Program funding in the amount of $248,818 (3%), was obligated at time of award and expired at the end of the fiscal 2020. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 30, 2020) (Source: DoD, 10/05/20)

Airbus tests threat detection system

MOBILE, Ala. - Airbus and Koniku Inc. have moved forward in the automated and contactless detection of chemical, biological and explosive threats for the aviation industry. Partnering with the Mobile police department, the canine squad from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and FBI bomb technicians, Airbus led a series of field tests evaluating the performance of the Konikore explosive detection device. The device was able to detect a widely used primary high explosive, frequently outperforming existing systems used in security threat detection. In these double blinded tests, the Konikore showed perfect score in sensitivity and specificity in detecting explosive ordinance. Airbus is preparing a series of additional tests with its airport partners, including Singapore Changi Airport and San Francisco International Airport, to validate the integration of this technology into existing airport security processes for unregulated areas. The Konicore technology uses genetically engineered odorant receptors that produce an alarm signal when they come into contact with the molecular compounds of the hazard or threat that they have been programmed to detect. Airbus and Koniku Inc. entered into a multi-year agreement in 2017 that leverages Airbus’ expertise in sensor integration and security operations with Koniku’s biotechnology know-how for automated and scalable volatile organic compound detection. (Source: Airbus, 10/02/20) Airbus assembles A320 and A220 jetliners in Mobile.

Contract: SES, $21.7M

SES Construction and Fuel Services LLC, Oak Ridge, Tenn., was awarded a $21,684,441 firm-fixed-price contract for two-phase design, construction and repair of Hangar Building 290 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Bids were solicited via the internet with 12 received. Work will be performed at Tyndall with an estimated completion date of Nov. 27, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Air Force funds in the amount of $21,684,441 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-20-C-0038). (Source: DoD, 09/30/20)

Contract: SES, $10.8M

SES Construction and Fuel Services LLC, Oak Ridge, Tenn., was awarded a $10,767,743 firm-fixed-price contract to repair Building 9310 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Bids were solicited via the internet with 15 received. Work will be performed at Tyndall with an estimated completion date of May 30, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance, Air Force funds in the amount of $10,767,743 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-20-C-0036). (Source: DoD, 09/30/20)

Contract: Speegle, $11.8M

Speegle Construction Inc., Niceville, Fla., was awarded an $11,836,700 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a 36,800 square-foot high bay facility. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work will be performed at Hurlburt Field, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2022. Fiscal 2024 military construction, defense-wide funds in the amount of $11,836,700 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-20-C-0026). (Source: DoD, 09/30/20)

Contract: Bell Boeing, $48.6M

Bell Boeing Joint Program Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded a $48,580,244 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-priced order (N61340-20-F-7002) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-17-G-0002. This order procures software and hardware upgrades for 24 V-22 flight training devices necessary to integrate V-22 aircraft Tactical Software Suite version 8.1 and 8.2 into 23 MV-22 training devices for the Marine Corps and one CV-22 training device for the Air Force. Work will be performed in Chantilly, Va. (26%); Broken Arrow, Okla. (21%); Fort Worth, Texas (20%); St. Louis, Mo. (9%); Philadelphia, Pa. (9%); Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (8%); Orlando, Fla. (4%); and Clifton, N.J. (3%), and is expected to be completed in August 2024. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $42,601,350; and fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $5,978,894 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 System Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/30/20)