Astronaut says sky not the limit

NEW ORLEANS -- Joan Higginbotham wanted to be an engineer, and thought she might work for IBM. What she didn’t expect was to travel in space. "Always have a plan, but don’t be afraid to alter that plan for the right opportunity,” Higginbotham told University of New Orleans graduates at their recent commencement. She shared her journey from a college graduate with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering to one of only three African-American women to travel into space. She tried first tried to become an astronaut in 1995 at the urging of a co-worker when she worked at Kennedy Space Center. She was one of 122 out of 3,000 qualified applicants invited back for an interview, but she was ultimately cut. She got an additional degree and tried again, becoming an astronaut in 1996. She traveled on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station in 2006. “The sky is absolutely no longer the limit,” Higginbotham told graduates. “I am challenging you to aim high.” (Source: The Advocate, 12/18/17)

Contract: Infinite, $9.2M

Infinite Energy Construction Inc., Kansas City, Mo., has been awarded a $9,200,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for simplified acquisition of base engineering requirements. The scope of work covered consists of furnishing all plant, labor, materials and equipment, to complete minor construction projects. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., with an expected completion date of Jan. 1, 2023. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,000 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and 15 offers were received. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA2823-18-D-4000). (Source: DoD, 12/19/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $110M

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Dallas, Texas, has been awarded an $110,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the gray wolf science and technology demonstration effort. The contract provides for the design, development, manufacture, and testing of prototype-affordable cruise missiles to advance networked collaborative operations technologies for defeat of enemy integrated air defense systems. Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas, with an expected completion date of Dec. 17, 2022. Fiscal 2018 research and development funds in the amount of $2,814,490 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and seven offers were received. Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8651-18-D-0002). (Source: DoD, 12/18/17)

Contract: Boeing, $18.1M

The Boeing Co., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., has been awarded an $18,100,000 modification (P00010) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (FA8509-16-C-0001) for the integrated sustainment support of the AC-130U gunships. This modification provides for the continuation of services for the development, modification, sustainment and maintenance of the AC-130U gunship. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $55,097,463. Work will be performed in Fort Walton Beach; Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan; and Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2018. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,900,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/15/17) (Note: DoD on 12/19/17 noted the contract was awarded 12/18/17)

50th Mobile-built jet delivered

MOBILE, Ala. -- Less than two years after Airbus delivered the first A320 family aircraft from its Airbus A320 Family U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, the company today delivered its 50th aircraft. The A321, designated MSN 7943, was delivered to Delta Air Lines. The milestone was celebrated by the facility’s employees, as well as Airbus Americas Chairman Allan McArtor and members of the Delta Air Lines delivery team. (Source: Airbus, 12/15/17)

Delta orders 100 A321neos

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines today placed an order with Airbus for 100 of the A321neo aircraft, most of which will be built at the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Ala. The planes, powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1133G-JM geared turbofan engines, will be ACF (Airbus Cabin Flex configuration) versions. The A321neo ACF introduces new door and fuselage enhancements allows airlines to make best use of the cabin space with a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles. Delta’s announcement on the A321neo ACF follows several orders in recent years for the current engine option (ceo) version of the A321. Delta has ordered a total of 117 A321ceos, each powered by CFM56 engines from CFM International. The A321 is the largest member of the A320 family, seating up to 240 passengers. With more than 5,300 orders received from 96 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo family has captured some 60 percent share of the market. The Delta has taken delivery of 13 U.S.-manufactured Airbus aircraft since last year. In addition, the 50th aircraft to be produced by the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility will be delivered to Delta later this week. The Mobile factory produces four aircraft per month for delivery to Airbus’ U.S. customers. Plans for further production ramp up are currently being discussed. (Source: Airbus, 12/14/17)

RS-25 has final test of 2017

RS-25 test Wednesday. NASA photo

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- NASA engineers capped a year of Space Launch System testing with a final RS-25 rocket engine hot fire on Dec. 13 at Stennis Space Center in South Mississippi. The 400-second test on the A-1 Test Stand was a “green run” test of an RS-25 flight controller. It marked the eighth RS-25 test of the year and the sixth flight controller to be tested for use on NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS) vehicle. The engine tested also included a large 3D-printed part scheduled for use on future RS-25 flight engines. The part, a beach ball-sized pogo accumulator assembly, is a complex piece of hardware that acts as a shock absorber to dampen vibrations, or oscillations, caused by propellants as they flow between the vehicle and the engine. Initial reports show the 3D-printed hardware performed as expected, opening the door for more components scheduled for future tests. (Source: NASA/SSC, 12/13/17)

Contract: Raytheon, $8.5M

Raytheon Missile Co., Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded an $8,526,153 fixed-price-incentive-firm target and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00069) to a previously awarded contract (FA8675-15-C-0022) to provide form-fit-function replace hardware assets to include guidance sections and integrated test vehicles under the advanced medium-range air-to-air missile lots 28-30 production. Work will be performed in Tucson with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2019. This contract involves foreign military sales to Japan, Norway, Romania, Turkey and Australia. Fiscal 2017 production funds in the amount of $2,888,509; and fiscal 2017 research and development funds in the amount of $3,813,044 are being obligated at time of award, all remaining funding is from foreign military sales. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/06/17)

Contract: UTC, $6.7M

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford, Conn., has been awarded a ceiling $6,700,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for F119 engine sustainment. Work will be performed at East Hartford, Conn.; Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.; Langley Air Force Base, Va.; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.; and Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2025. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8611-18-D-2850). (Source: 12/14/17)

Contract: L3 Vertex, $79.4M

L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., has been awarded a $79,387,452 firm-fixed-price contract for contractor operated and maintained base supply of the Air Education and Training Command fleet of 178 T-1A trainer aircraft. Work will be performed at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas; Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas; Vance Air Force Base, Okla.; Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; and Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla., with an expected completion date of June 7, 2018. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and three offers were received. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,502,988 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker AFB, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8106-18-C-0001). (Source: DoD, 12/08/17)

Contract: L3 Vertex, $10.3M

L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., has been awarded a $10,253,906 firm-fixed-price modification (P00168) to a previously awarded contract (FA8106-09-C-0001) for logistics support of the T-1A aircraft. Services include contractor-operated maintained supply, over and above, on-equipment maintenance, data and field service representatives. Work will be performed at Vance Air Force Base, Okla.; Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas; Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas; and Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla.; with an expected completion date of March 31, 2018. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,253,906 are being obligated at time of award. Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/06/17)

Contract: Boeing, $10.5M

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., has been awarded a $10,521,827 firm-fixed-price contract for laser small diameter bombs. Work will be performed in St. Louis with an expected completion date of March 6, 2019. Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $10,521,827 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8656-18-D-0130). (Source: DoD, 12/07/17)

96th Cyberspace Group activated

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — The U.S. Air Force’s first and only group dedicated to assessing and addressing digital systems’ operation and security was activated Monday at Eglin Air Force Base. The new 96th Cyberspace Test Group, now part of Eglin’s 96th Test Wing, was formed from the 46th Test Squadron, already at Eglin, along with the 45th Test Squadron, the 47th Cyberspace Test Squadron and a handful of other, smaller units at Air Force bases around the country. Col. Bryan Choi, who has served in a variety of intelligence, test and acquisition assignments, formally took command of the new group. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 12/04/17) Previous

Contract: Lockheed, $23M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $22,999,282 modification (P000012) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-17-C-0045) to procure 53,164 level-of-effort hours to support air system software integration and 53,122 level-of-effort hours to support flight test operations in support of the F-35 aircraft platform for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (40 percent); Palmdale, Calif. (30 percent); and Patuxent River, Md. (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in in February 2018. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps); and non-U.S. DoD participant funds in the amount of $22,999,282 will be obligated at time of award, $18,392,066 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force (40 percent); U.S. Navy; (20 percent); the Marine Corps (20 percent); and non-U.S. DoD participants (20 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/04/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: L3 Vertex, $37.6M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $37,606,934 not-to-exceed modification (P00022) to a previously awarded firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery, requirements contract (N00019-14-D-0011). This modification provides for additional organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance, logistics, and engineering services to support and maintain approximately 200 Navy T-45 Goshawk aircraft, aircraft systems, and related support equipment to support flight and test and evaluation operations. In addition, this modification provides for equipment, tools, direct material, and indirect material in support of Navy T-45 aircraft, aircraft systems, and related support equipment. Work will be performed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville, Texas (45.7 percent); NAS Meridian, Miss. (41.7 percent); NAS Pensacola, Fla. (10.1 percent); and NAS Patuxent River, Md. (2.5 percent), and is expected to be completed September 2018. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training System Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/04/17)

SSC seeks partner to create park

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- NASA has opened a search for a non-federal partner to lead in development of a 1,100-acre technology corridor called Enterprise Park at Stennis Space Center (SSC) near Bay St. Louis, Miss. An official Notice of Availability has been posted at FedBizOpps.gov, with responses due on Jan. 12, 2018. SSC has scheduled an Industry Day on Feb. 7, 2018, where interested parties can learn more about the park. The objective is to find a private or public entity to enter into a partnership with NASA to lead in the multi-phased development and long-term operation of the park at the nation’s largest rocket engine test facility. The test facilities are used by both government and commercial operations. SSC is home to more than 40 federal, state, academic and commercial entities with a combined workforce of 5,000. The Enterprise Park is designed to enable private sector participation in space exploration, to support commercial space transportation activities, to promote commercial development of technologies for use in space and on Earth, and to provide opportunities for companies and other organizations to co-locate at Stennis to support the missions of existing federal city tenants at SSC. Recent master planning efforts identified a need for a technology park area at SSC, and the first phase of the Enterprise Park focuses on 1,100 acres identified as the most development-ready. The property is located on the northern edge of the 13,800-acre secured area and includes sites both inside and outside the security perimeter. (Source: NASA/SSC, 12/04/17)

Engine coating facility opened

ELLISVILLE, Miss. -- Praxair, Inc. and GE Aviation on Friday opened a new facility for their PG Technologies business, which specializes in advanced coatings that enable jet engines to withstand higher temperatures and stresses. PG Technologies is a joint venture between Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Praxair, Inc., and GE Aviation. The 300,000 square-foot facility is expected to employ at least 250 people to meet demand for the latest generation of jet engines, including the GE9X and the CFM LEAP. (Source: Praxair, GE Aviation, WDAM, 12/01/17) Ellisville is north of Hattiesburg, Miss.

Whiting leadership change

NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD, Fla. -- The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) Det. Whiting Field held a change of charge ceremony at the Naval Air Station Whiting Field atrium, Dec. 1. Cmdr. Steven Bryant turned over responsibilities of the detachment to Cmdr. Timothy Ryan during the event where Capt. Eric J. Simon, CNATT commanding officer served as the presiding officer. During Bryant's year-long tour, he oversaw the delivery of more than 5,000 hours of naval aviation maintenance, ordnance, and supply training for 400 graduating students. (Source: NNS, 12/01/17)

Contract: Bering Sea Env., $8.9M

Bering Sea Environmental LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, has been awarded an $8,942,370 modification (P00017) to a previously awarded contract (FA4890-16-C-00017), for Air Combat Command's air combat training system operations and maintenance. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Langley Air Force Base, Va.; Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.; Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.; Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.; Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; Royal Singaporean Air Force Mountain Home and Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England; Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; and Aviano Air Base, Italy, with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2020. This modification involves 2 percent foreign military sales to Singapore. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance funds are being obligated at the time of award. ACC, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Hampton, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 12/01/17)

Contract: Cubic, $14.8M

Cubic Defense Applications Inc., San Diego, Calif., has been awarded a $14,823,747 firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable multiyear contract for contractor logistics support. This contract provides for comprehensive, effective, and quality contractor logistics support for the Saudi Arabian P5 combat training system to sustain operational tempos currently located at several bases in Saudi. Work will be performed in Saudi Arabia, with an expected completion date of Feb 28, 2022. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $14,823,747 are being obligated at time of award. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8678-18-C-0009). (Source: DoD, 12/01/17)