Contract: Lockheed, $38.3M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $38,348,155 cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-fee, cost reimbursable modification (P00021) to a previously awarded contract (N0001921C0020). This modification exercises options to provide logistics support for the repair and replenishment of parts and consumables for the F-35 aircraft in support of the Marines, Navy, and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth (57%); Orlando, Fla. (26%); Greenville, S.C. (11%); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (4%); and El Segundo, Calif. (2%), and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $23,903,316; fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,291,481; and non-U.S. DOD participant funds in the amount of $4,153,358 will be obligated at time of award, $34,194,797 which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/29/21) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center and reprogramming labs.

Contract: Lockheed, $30.4M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $30,439,628 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification (P00018) to a previously awarded contract (N0001920C0037). This modification exercises options to provide operation and maintenance support of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter development labs in support of testing developed configurations across the F-35 platform for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $12,472,427; fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $12,472,427; and non-U.S. DOD participant funds in the amount of $5,494,774 will be obligated at time of award, $24,944,854 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/29/21) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center and reprogramming labs.

Contract: Serco-IPS, $$24.9M

Serco - IPS Corp., Herndon, Va., is awarded a $24,903,276, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to previously awarded contract N00174-18-C-0015 to procure professional support services for the Naval Sea System Command’s deputy commander for surface warfare (SEA 21). Work will be performed in Washington, D.C. (55%); Norfolk, Va. (19%); San Diego, Calif. (18%); Mayport, Fla. (2%); Yokosuka, Japan (2%); Sasebo, Japan (1%); Manama, Bahrain (1%); Pascagoula, Miss. (1%); and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (1%), and is expected to complete October 2021. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $810,855; fiscal 2022 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,845,992; and fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,246,052 will be obligated at time of award, of which $17,056,907 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/27/21)

Contract: General Dynamics, $40M

General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Falls Church, Va., is awarded a $39,959,262 modification (P00029) to a previously awarded, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite
-quantity contract (W15QKN15D0001). This modification exercises an option to provide integrated logistics support services for Foreign Military Sales customers using Navy procured defense articles including weapon systems, various aircrafts, and other components in support of the International Sustainment Department and the Naval Air Systems Command. Work will be performed in California, Md. (28%); Mechanicsburg, Pa. (21%); Arlington, Va. (6%); Patuxent River, Md. (5%); Jacksonville, Fla. (5%); Lexington Park, Md. (4%); Fredericksburg, Va. (3%); Fairfax, Va. (2%); Philadelphia, Pa. (2%); San Diego, Calif. (2%); Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2%); Lemoore, Calif. (1%); King George, Va. (1%); Warrenton, Va. (1%); Cherry Point, N.C. (1%); Charlotte, N.C. (1%); Jacksonville, N.C. (1%); New Bern, N.C. (1%); Pensacola, Fla. (1%); Tucson, Ariz. (1%); Washington, D.C. (1%); Jackson, La. (1%); Glassboro, N.J. (1%); Dover, Del., (1%); Houston, Texas (1%); Seattle, Wash. (1%); Kuwait City, Kuwait (1%); Tokyo, Japan (1%); Cairo, Egypt (1%); Cours, France (1%); and Taipei, Taiwan (1%), and is  expected to be completed October 2022. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/26/21)

Contract: Lockheed, $206.8M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a not-to-exceed $206,832,036 undefinitized modification (P00012) to a cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee order (0097) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001914G0020). This modification adds scope to provide non-recurring engineering, detailed aircraft modification execution planning and technical data packages in support of modifications to the F-35 developmental test fleet aircraft. These modifications are necessary to support flight tests for the F-35 developmental test fleet and for the capabilities delivered under the F-35 Block 4 modernization in support of the Joint Strike Fighter Program for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth (60%); Patuxent River, Md. (20%); and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (20%), and is expected to be completed in December 2025. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $5,000,001; fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,000,001; and non-U.S. DOD participant funds in the amount of $2,202,771 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, 10/20/21) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center and reprogramming labs.

Contract: Leebor Services, $10M

Leebor Services LLC, Williamsburg, Va., is awarded a $10,027,337 firm-fixed-price modification to a task order (N6945021F0726) under previously-awarded multiple award construction contract N69450-17-D
-0508 to exercise Options One through Four, which provide for design-build Hurricane Sally recovery work at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Exercising these options brings the total cumulative task order value to $16,780,462. Work will be performed in Pensacola and is expected to be completed by September 2023. Fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,027,337 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/20/21)

October newsletter published

The latest issue of the Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor Newsletter is now available to download. The cover story focuses on the expensive hypersonic space race, and Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is an important player. There's also an article on Stennis Space Center, Miss., and its importance to the nation's commercial space activities, and a column highlighting some of the key aerospace stories since the August newsletter. The latest version of the newsletter can be downloaded by visiting the Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor website. (Source: GCAC, 10/19/21)

PNS sees positive signs

PENSACOLA, Fla. - During one of the busiest summers on record, Pensacola International Airport (PNS) saw a 156 percent increase in June to September 2021 passengers, compared to the same time period in 2020. It grew from 396,258 passengers to 1,014,569. This year's record was a nearly 22 percent increase from its most recent peak of 833,076 passengers in 2019. The airport also surveyed passengers in its "Let Your Comments Fly campaign," designed to gather consumer insights. More than 1,000 participated in the campaign and rated the airport. Final numbers are still being compiled, but 79 percent rated their airport experience positively, with 32 percent giving the airport the highest rating of “impressive.” Through the course of the summer, passengers gave the airport a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 92 out of 100. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 10/18/21)

UPS, ST Engineering training pact

PENSACOLA, Fla. - With maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) jobs in Pensacola expected to increase, ST Engineering and UPS announced a joint training program. The contract signed Thursday provides for a Pensacola-based program for employment, advancement opportunities and advanced training to mechanics who would live and work in Pensacola while completing the three-year program. The Aircraft Maintenance Pathways Training Program is expected to begin this year with its first 30 students, according to Stephen Lim, president of ST Engineering Aerospace America. To be eligible a person already must be an FAA-certified aviation maintenance technician and hold an Airframe and Powerplant Certificate. That means the students will have already completed an 18-month program at an FAA-accredited school. UPS agreed to send company representatives to headhunt at FAA-accredited schools, Lim said, looking for recent graduates who could be considered top candidates to fill the ranks of the new Pensacola-based training program. ST Engineering has a separate contract with UPS to perform maintenance on the shipping company's planes. Project Titan is the city's project to add three new hangars to the current one-hangar ST Engineering MRO  campus at Pensacola International Airport. It's projected to create 1,325 new jobs at the complex. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 10/14/21)

Contract: Kratos, $53M

Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc., Sacramento, Calif., has been awarded a $53,003,839 firm-fixed-price modification (P00001) for spares to previously awarded contract FA8678-21-D-0001. The contract modification provides for the purchase of spare parts under the basic indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, along with correcting the contract’s ceiling amount. Work will be performed in Sacramento and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2027. No funds are being obligated at the time of award, and the total cumulative face value of the contract is $374,043,801. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/13/21)

Test management now test evaluation

Following the inactivation of the 53rd Test Management Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., the Air Force activated the 753rd Test and Evaluation Group Oct. 1, 2021. The transition from a “test management” to “test and evaluation” organization is in recognition of the group’s active mission of combined test management and execution. The now-753rd Test and Evaluation Group, headquartered at Eglin, directly supports Air Force Global Strike Command as the premier operational test organization for the B-1, B-2, B-52, and B-21, as well as Air Combat Command ISR platforms to include the U-2, RQ-4 and RQ-170. Additionally, the 753rd TEG certifies all flight simulators and training systems and enables full classified network communication services across the joint enterprise. The 753rd Test and Evaluation Group is comprised of nine squadrons and one detachment: 15th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev., 29th Training Systems Squadron and 53rd Computer Systems Squadron at Eglin, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron and 417th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Edwards AFB, Calif., 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Barksdale AFB, La., 72nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Whiteman AFB, Mo., 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Dyess AFB, Texas, 410th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Beale AFB, Calif., and the 753rd TEG, Detachment 1 at Creech AFB, Nev. (Source: Aerotech News, 10/07/21)

Mobile gets grant or hangar

MOBILE, Ala. - A $5.1 million federal grant will be used to build a multi-cargo warehouse and hangar facility at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley, in close proximity to a future commercial aviation terminal near downtown Mobile. The announcement was in a news release from the Mobile Airport Authority. The grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) will be matched with $747,275 in local funds and is expected to leverage $1.5 million in private investment. The project, according to the Airport Authority, will create 50 jobs. The facility will include a cold-storage area that is capable of holding COVID-19 related materials. It will also allow for quick distribution and shipment of food products to any location in the country. (Source: Mobile Press Register, WKRG-TV, 10/05/21)

Airports get federal grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration awarded more than $479 million in airport infrastructure grants to 123 projects at airports across all 50 states, American Samoa and Puerto Rico. The grants included four in the Gulf Coast region. Stennis International Airport, Bay St. Louis, Miss., was awarded $3.1 million to expand an apron to meet growing demand for aircraft parking and to support third party investment in hangar development. These new facilities will accommodate aircraft maintenance activity. New Orleans Lakefront Airport, New Orleans, La., was awarded $543,056 to protect the airfield from floods due to high water level events of Lake Pontchartrain. South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field in Andalusia, Ala., was awarded $2.3 million for to improve safety, and Jeremiah Denton Airport at Dauphin Island, Ala., was awarded $2 million to improve safety. (Source: Security Magazine, 10/08/21)

New hangars open

KILN, Miss. – Five hangars with over 66,000 square feet of space are now available at Stennis International Airport. Two new hangars were recently constructed, and three existing hangars were purchased by Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission, the owners of Stennis International (KHSA). Adjacent to the terminal, a 24,000 square foot hangar was completed in September. Opening directly to the main ramp, it features a hangar door that is 154 feet wide and 28 feet high. The location includes utility rooms, restrooms and a foam fire suppression system. In recent years, Hancock County has grown 230 new jobs and seen nearly $100 million in capital investment in aerospace development. Additionally, the next generation of aerospace workforce will be trained locally at Pearl River Community College’s planned $10 million workforce development center at the airport. (Source: Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission, 10/06/21)

Contract: Austal, $144.6M

Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., was awarded a $144,623,645 fixed-price incentive (firm target) modification to previously awarded contract N00024-21-C-2209 for the detail design and construction of two towing, salvage, and rescue ships (T-ATS 11 and 12). The contract modification establishes options for up to three additional ships, which, if exercised, will bring the total cumulative value of the contract to $385,084,067. Work will be performed in Mobile (54%); Chesapeake, Va. (20%); Jacksonville, Fla. (6%); Boca Raton, Fla. (4%); New Orleans, La. (3%); and suppliers each representing less than 1% of contract value (13%). Fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $144,623,645 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 30, 2021) (Source: DoD, 10/05/21)

Contract: Lockheed, $50M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $49,984,235 modification (P00011) to a cost-plus-fixed-fee order (0097) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001914G0020). This modification adds scope to procure long lead parts required to ensure F-35 developmental test aircraft maintain full mission capable status for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in July 2024. Fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $15,441,275; fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,941,275; and non-U.S. DOD participant funds in the amount of $2,617,450 will be obligated at time of award, $21,382,550 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, 10/05/21) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center and reprogramming labs.

Contract: United States Marine, $54.4M

United States Marine Inc., Gulfport, Miss., was awarded a $54,384,301 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for up to 35 11-meter Navy Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boats, trailers, accessories, spares, and other technical assistance. This contract combines purchases for the Coast Guard (23%) and foreign governments as assigned by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in accordance with Building Partnership Capacity and Foreign Military Sales programs. The location of the work to be performed will be determined by individual task orders. Work is anticipated to be performed in Gulfport (80%); and Corinth, Miss. (20%), and is expected to be completed by September 2026. No funding will be obligated at the time of contract award. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(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 (N00024-21-D-2220). (Awarded Sept. 28, 2021), (Source: DoD, 10/01/21)

Contract: Silver Ships, $8.2M

Silver Ships Inc., Theodore, Ala., was awarded an $8,239,095 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity single award contract (N00024-21-D-2205) for design and construction of up to 110 Navy 8-meter and 11-meter Surface Support Craft and Coast Guard Special Purpose Craft Law Enforcement Generation II (SPC-LE II). Work will be performed in Theodore and is expected to be completed in August 2023. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $51,663,787. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,242,628 (39%); fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,187,680 (39%); and fiscal 2021 other procurement (Coast Guard) funds in the amount of $1,808,787 (22%) will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is a small business set-aside. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website, with four offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 30, 2021) (Source: DoD, 10/01/21)

Contract: Amherst, $100M

Amherst Systems Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., has been awarded a $99,990,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (FA2487-21-D-0014) for Test Facilities Threat Simulators (TFTS) sustaining engineering services (SES) support; and a $530,744 task order (FA2487-21-F-1017) for the 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron TFTS SES support. The contract provides for the sustainment of Radio Frequency Threat Simulators in support of the Air Force Test Center electronic warfare mission. Work will be performed in Buffalo, New York, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2031. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation appropriations in the amount of $353,851; and fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance appropriations in the amount of $172,898 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Awarded Sept. 30, 2021)
 (Source: DoD, 10/01/21)

NASA completes test series

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA marked the completion of an RS-25 single-engine Retrofit-2 test series at Stennis Space Center Sept. 30. A full-duration hot fire of RS-25 developmental engine No. 0528 on the A-1 Test Stand culminated a seven-test series to support development and production of new engines for the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on future missions. Operators fired the engine for more than eight minutes (500 seconds), the same time required during an actual launch. The test series provided valuable information to Aerojet Rocketdyne, lead contractor for the SLS engines, as it produces engines for use after the Artemis IV mission to the Moon. Operators collected hot fire data to demonstrate and verify various engine capabilities, and to evaluate new engine components manufactured with cutting-edge and cost-saving technologies and reduce operational risk. (Source: NASA, 09/30/21) Previous