Contract: General Dynamics, $27.6M

General Dynamics, Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Niceville, Fla., has been awarded a $27,600,096 firm-fixed-price modification (P00012) to previously awarded contract FA8681-16-C-0002 for the BLU-134/B Improved Lethality Warhead. This modification provides for the exercise of an option for a quantity of BLU-134/B warheads produced under the basic development contract. Work will be performed in Niceville, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2020. Fiscal year 2019 procurement funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/22/19)

Contract: Lockheed, $9.1M

Lockheed Martin Corp. Rotary and Mission Systems, King of Prussia, Pa., been awarded a $9,127,496 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) Enterprise Management System 8.0. This contract provides for enhancements to the software package known as the JASSM Enterprise Management System. Work will be performed in King of Prussia, and is expected to be complete by March 21, 2020. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,950,826 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin, Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8682-19-C-0012). (Source: DoD, 03/22/19)

Contract: General Atomics, $8.9M

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, Calif., has been awarded a not-to-exceed $8,925,748 undefinitized contract action for the France MQ-9 Block 1 Weapons integration effort. This contract provides for the production and integration of weapons kits onto the French Air Force MQ-9 Block 1 aircraft. Work will be performed in Poway, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2020. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to France. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $4,373,617 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-19-F-2388). (Source: DoD, 03/22/19) Gulf Coast note: Hurlburt Field, Fla., is getting an MQ-9 squadron in late 2019.

Contract: Whitesell-Green, $26.4M

Whitesell-Green Inc., Pensacola, Fla., was awarded a $26,376,465 firm-fixed-price contract to design and build student dorms. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., with an estimated completion date of March 21, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $26,376,465 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-19-C-0012). (Source: DoD, 03/21/19)

Contract: MAG Aerospace, $11.4M

MAG Aerospace, Newport News, Va., has been awarded an $11,386,672 predominantly firm-fixed-price contract for the UK MQ-9 Reaper Operations Center. This contract provides for ongoing sustainment, management, development and network administration of the United Kingdom MQ-9 Reaper Operations Centers. Work will be performed at Creech Air Force Base, Nev.; and Royal Air Force Waddington, United Kingdom, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition and involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the government of the United Kingdom. Air Force Life Cycle Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-19-C-2002). (Source: DoD, 03/21/19) Gulf Coast note: Hurlburt Field, Fla., is getting an MQ-9 squadron in late 2019.

Contract: General Atomics, $123.3M

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, Calif., has been awarded a not-to-exceed $123,293,911 undefinitized contract action for MQ-9 Block 5 procurement. This contract provides for four MQ-9 unmanned air vehicles, four Mobile Ground Control Stations, spares, and support equipment. Work will be performed predominately in Poway, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the Netherlands. Foreign military sales funds in amount of $38,928,607 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-19-F-2310). (Source: DoD, 03/21/19) Gulf Coast note: Hurlburt Field, Fla., is getting an MQ-9 squadron in late 2019.

Contract: UTC, $18.4M

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Engines, Hartford, Conn., is awarded $18,434,122 for modification P00003 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-18-C-1021). This modification provides additional funding for F-135 long lead items in support of non-U.S. Department of Defense (U.S. DoD) participants. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Conn. (67 percent); Indianapolis, Ind. (26.5 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2022. Non-U.S. DoD participant funds in the amount of $18,434,122 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, 03/21/19) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Eglin requests B-1B pod testing

It had been nearly 20 years since a test involving the B-1B Lancer aircraft was conducted by Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. The absence ended earlier this year as a 10 percent model of the bomber, known as “The Bone,” began a series of store separation tests in the 16-foot transonic wind tunnel at Arnold. The tests were requested by AEDC testing partner, the Air Force SEEK EAGLE Office (AFSEO) of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. A new targeting pod design has been introduced for the aircraft, and officials in the SEEK EAGLE Office will examine the effects of the new pod on the B-1B Lancer. Tests will be conducted on five store models at Arnold to determine whether the full-size munitions will cleanly release from the bomber in flight. (Source: AeroTechNews, 03/20/19)

Grant will support STEM education

The Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering and researchers and engineers from Eglin Air Force Base have begun a new partnership to train graduate and undergraduate students in areas critical to the Air Force. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Eglin will fund a $400,000 grant to create the Air Force Research Laboratory Scholars program at the College of Engineering. The summer STEM-related intern program will bring students into the laboratory environment where they can directly benefit from working with faculty researchers on Air Force-related research. (Source: Florida State University, 03/19/19)

Contract: URS, $9.8M

URS Group Inc., Morrisville, N.C., is awarded a $9,800,000 modification on a firm-fixed-price task order under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62470-13-D-6022) for phase one of Hurricane Michael repairs for stabilization and repairs to multiple buildings at Naval Support Activity Panama City. The work to be performed provides for removal of carpet, walls, windows and other unsalvageable items due to water penetration, clean-up of roofing materials and tarping of rooftops to mitigate further water intrusion. Repairs include roof replacement, roof decking, and sealing roof penetrations. The repairs also include correction of architectural, structural, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, fire protection, electrical deficiencies and any other incidental related work as found due to the hurricane. After award of this modification, the total task order value will be $52,795,320. Work will be performed in Panama City, Fla., and is expected to be completed by September 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $9,800,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/19/19)

Contract: Lockheed, $264.7M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $264,655,025 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-15-C-0003). This modification provides for additional operation and technical services in support of the government of Korea’s F-35 Lightning II program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in June 2020. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $264,655,025 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, 03/19/19) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Scientific Aplctns, $100M

Scientific Applications Research Associates Inc., Cypress, Calif., has been awarded a $100,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Golden Horde Science and Technology demonstration effort. This contract provides for support research and development of emerging munition technologies, as well as integrated weapon demonstrations. The effort is conceptualized as a fast-paced Air Force Research Laboratory-led demonstration project executed under the auspices of the Team Eglin Weapon Consortium. Work will be performed in Cypress, and is expected to be complete by December 2021. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition under the Small Business Innovation Research Program. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $15,000,000 are being obligated on the first task order at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8651-19-D-0072). (Source: DoD, 03/18/19)

Contract: Lockheed, $14.6M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $14,587,657 for modification P00003 to a previously issued firm-fixed-price delivery order (N0001918F2048) placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This order procures 62 low-rate initial production Organic Light Emitting Diode Helmet Display Units and spares in support of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Aircraft for the Navy and Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, and is expected to be completed in February 2020. Fiscal 2017 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $14,587,657 will be obligated at time of award, $11,764,239 of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Navy ($7,293,829; 50 percent) and Marine Corps ($7,293,828; 50 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/18/19) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Hensel Phelps, $59.5M

Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $59,456,363 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of Advanced Munitions Technology complex. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 11, 2021. Fiscal 2017 military construction funds in the amount of $59,456,363 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-19-C-0006). (Source: DoD, 03/15/19)

AF plans small A-29, AT-6 buys

The Air Force will buy a handful of A-29 Super Tucano and AT-6 Wolverines aircraft, Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein told lawmakers Wednesday at a a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. While small, the purchases would be a show of confidence for Sierra Nevada and Textron that have made internal funding investments toward the Air Force's light-attack experiment. The Air Force plans to put mini-detachments of AT-6 and A-29 turboprops at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Goldfein told lawmakers that the exact numbers would depend on the costs of the planes, but an Air Force spokeswoman put the number at two or three of each type. Funding is to come from previous years’ budgets. Most of the light-attack experiment is centered on turboprops, but the Air Force is also interested in expanding that to include drones and rotorcraft. FY-20’s budget request calls for $35M to continue the experiment. (Source: Defense News, 03/13/19)

Leadership changes at bases

There were two change of command ceremonies in Northwest Florida Thursday. In Pensacola, Capt. Christopher Martin turned over his command of Naval Air Station Pensacola in a change of command and retirement ceremony at the National Naval Avition Museum. Taking over is Capt. Timothy Kinsella, a pilot who has been in the Navy 30 years. Martin, commanding officer of NAS Pensaacola for three years, also retired from the U.S. Navy after 35 years of service. (Source: WEAR-TV, 03/14/19) Meanwhile, in Milton, Navy Capt. Doug Rosa took command of Training Air Wing Five in a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. He assumed the title of commodore for the Navy’s largest aviation training wing. Marine Corps Col. Dave Morris relinquished command at the event after 18 months as commodore. He will move onto another assignment at the Pentagon. (Source: NAS Whiting Field, 03/14/19) Previous

Contract: NCS/EML, $12M

NCS/EML SB JV LLC, Louisville, Ky., is awarded an $11,981,174 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operations support services at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla., and outlying areas. The work to be performed to include facility investment, pest control, other (swimming pools), grounds maintenance and landscaping, pavement clearance, utilities management, electrical, wastewater, water, base support vehicles and equipment, and other related services. The maximum dollar value including the base period and seven option years is $96,721,878. Work will be performed in Milton, Fla. (67 percent); and outlying areas (33 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2020. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2019 working capital funds (Navy); fiscal 2019 Defense Health Program; and fiscal 2019 family housing operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $8,359,610 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the base period. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with eight proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-19-D-1740). (Source: DoD, 03/12/19)

Contract: Northrop, $89.5M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is awarded an $89,534,733 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide sustainment and engineering services in support of the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System. Additionally, this contract procures the technical expertise of field service representatives, logisticians and test support to ensure MQ-4C air vehicles and mission control and operator training systems are fully sustained and mission capable. Work will be performed at Patuxent River, Md. (45 percent); Jacksonville, Fla. (25 percent); Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (20 percent); and Point Mugu, Calif. (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2020. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $69,309,254 will be obligated at time of award, $4,000,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-1020). (Source: DoD, 03/11/19) Gulf Coast note: Northrop Grumman Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss., performs fuselage work on the Triton.

Contract: Jacobs, $38.3M

Jacobs Technology Inc., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded a $38,253,942 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for testing for evaluation of various interactions of chemical and biological agents. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, with an estimated completion date of June 23, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $8,392,148 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Dugway Proving Ground, is the contracting activity (W911S6-19-C-0002). (Source: DoD, 03/11/19)

Lafayette to assemble SHO9

Prototypes of SHO9, seen in Switzerland.
Kopter Group photo

LAFAYETTE, La. — A ribbon-cutting was held Saturday at Lafayette Regional Airport for the Kopter Group's new SHO9 helicopter assembly facility. Gov. John Bel Edwards joined CEO Andreas Löwenstein of Kopter Group AG, Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux, Secretary Don Pierson of Louisiana Economic Development, and other state, regional and local officials at the ribbon-cutting. The selection of Lafayette was announced early last week at the world’s largest helicopter trade show in Atlanta. Kopter’s manufacturing site will create 120 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of more than $55,000, plus benefits. Activities at the 14.7-acre site will include production, customization, assembly and customer service. Suppliers include Kaman (composite parts), Garmin (avionics), Parker Aerospace (hydraulic pumps), Collins Aerospace (external lighting) and Honeywell (turboshaft engine). The helicopters ultimately will be assembled in Lafayette with U.S.-sourced components representing at least 50 percent of the aircraft value. In addition, the company will make a $4.2 million capital investment to modify and equip a state-of-the-art, 84,700-square-foot helicopter assembly building at the airport. the former Bell Helicopter facility. LED estimates the project will result in an additional 157 new indirect jobs, for a total or more than 275 new jobs in Acadiana and surrounding regions. Switzerland-based Kopter Group has designed, engineered and tested a series of prototype helicopters that lay the foundation for production helicopters to be assembled in Lafayette. Kopter will lease the state-funded facility from the Lafayette Airport Commissions. Kopter will begin hiring later this year, with formal helicopter assembly activity and deliveries scheduled to begin in 2021. Production will ramp up to an anticipated annual volume of 100 helicopters by 2025. (Source: LED, 03/09/19) Lafayette is two hours west of New Orleans along Interstate 10. Previous related