DTN News: Pentagon Offers EADS 60-Day Tanker Bid Extension

DTN News: Pentagon Offers EADS 60-Day Tanker Bid Extension Source: DTN News / Reuters (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, U.S. - April 1, 2010: The Pentagon said it would extend the deadline for bidding on a huge U.S. refueling plane contract by 60-days if European aerospace giant EADS (EAD.PA) formally advises that it plans to bid. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters on Wednesday that a decision was expected from EADS within the next several weeks. Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell briefs the Pentagon media on the status of the KC-X tanker program. *EADS quickly responded that it had told U.S. officials that it needed a 90-day extension to the May 10 deadline, the minimum time needed to prepare a bid. Nevertheless, it would consider the 60-day extension. EADS is deciding whether to bid against Boeing (BA.N) for the multibillion-dollar tanker contract after its U.S. partner, Northrop Grumman (NOC.N), pulled out of the race. EADS and Northrop won the previous U.S. Air Force tanker contest in February 2008, but the Pentagon canceled that deal after government auditors upheld a Boeing protest. Northrop withdrew from the latest competition saying the terms of the contest clearly favored the smaller 767-based tanker being offered by Boeing over the A330-based tanker being offered by Northrop and EADS. Guy Hicks, spokesman for EADS North America, said the company has carefully assessed the many requirements necessary to participate in the tanker contest. "We have firmly indicated that a 90-day extension would be the minimum time necessary to prepare a responsible proposal for this $40 billion program. We will consider the Department's decision to offer a 60-day extension."

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 31, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 31, 2010 Source: U.S. DoD issued March 31, 2010 (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 31, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued March 31, 2010 are undermentioned;

U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contract

On the Web: http://www.defense.gov/Contracts/Contract.aspx?ContractID=4249 Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131/697-5132 Public contact: http://www.defense.gov/landing/comment.aspx or +1 (703) 428-0711 +1

FOR RELEASE AT 5 p.m. ET No. 251-10 March 31, 2010

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Cardinal Health, Inc., Dublin, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum $315,552,575 firm-fixed-price, prime vendor contract for pharmaceuticals. Other locations of performance are Missouri, California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Washington. Using services are Army, Navy and Air Force. The original proposal was Web solicited with four responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the second option year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2012. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM200-05-D-3000).

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Malvern, Pa., is being awarded a maximum $267,000,000 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for radiology systems, components, upgrades, accessories, and installation. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was Web solicited with 48 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the forth option year. The date of performance completion is March 30, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2D1-09-D-8314).

DMS Pharmaceutical Group, Inc.*, Park Ridge, Ill., is being awarded a maximum $35,137,641 firm-fixed-price, total set-aside, prime vendor secondary contract for pharmaceuticals. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy and Air Force. The original proposal was Web solicited with four responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the second option year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2012. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM200-05-D-0901).

DMS Pharmaceutical Group, Inc.*, Park Ridge, Ill., is being awarded a maximum $34,101,402 firm-fixed-price, total set-aside, prime vendor secondary contract for pharmaceuticals. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy and Air Force. The original proposal was Web solicited with four responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the second option year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2012. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM200-05-D-0900).

Cardinal Health, Inc., Dublin, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum $20,056,210 firm-fixed-price, prime vendor contract for pharmaceutical items. Other location of performance is North Carolina. Using service is the Department of Defense. The original proposal was Web solicited with three responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is May 31, 2010. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM200-01-D-1606).

AmerisourceBergen Drug Co., Wayne, Pa., is being awarded a maximum $20,049,630 firm-fixed-price, prime vendor contract for pharmaceuticals. Other location of performance is Hawaii. Using services are Army, Navy and Air Force. The original proposal was Web solicited with four responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the second option year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2012. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM200-05-D-3500).

Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems, Akron, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum $19,179,356 firm-fixed, sole-source, requirements-type contract modification. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy and Air Force. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is Aug. 31, 2010. The Defense Supply Center Richmond, Richmond, Va., is the contracting activity (SPM4AX-07-D-9006).

Dakota Drug, Inc.*, Minot, N.D., is being awarded a maximum $17,892,000 firm-fixed-price, prime vendor contract for pharmaceuticals. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Air Force. The original proposal was Web solicited with four responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the second option year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2012. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM200-05-D-0976).

General Electric, Cincinnati, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum $8,830,188 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, sole-source contract for aircraft turbine frame and tracking. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Air Force. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Jan. 31, 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency (DSCR-ZBAB), Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8122-09-G-0001-UN44).

The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, Ga., is being awarded a maximum $8,216,225 firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for beverages. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 26, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM300-10-D-9100).

PepsiCo, Purchase, N.Y., is being awarded a maximum $7,349,463 firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for beverages. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 26, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM300-10-D-9200).

American Fuel Cells & Coated, Magnolia, Ark., is being awarded a maximum $6,722,740 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for aircraft fuel tanks. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Air Force. The original proposal was solicited via the Defense Logistics Agency Internet Bid Board System with two responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 29, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Richmond, Richmond, Va., is the contracting activity (SPM4A7-10-D-0144).

AmerisourceBergen Drug Co., Wayne, Pa., is being awarded a maximum $4,431,229 firm-fixed-price, prime vendor contract for pharmaceutical items. Other location of performance is Hawaii. Using service is the Department of Defense. The original proposal was Web solicited with three responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is May 31, 2010. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM200-01-D-1604).

NAVY

RQ/FILANC I, JV, Carlsbad, Calif. (N62473-10-D-5414); EPC Corp.*, Glendale, Ariz. (N62473-10-D-5415); Hal Hays Construction, Inc.*, Riverside, Calif. (N62473-10-D-5416); Reyes Construction, Inc.*, Pomona, Calif. (N62473-10-D-5417); Watts Constructors, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii (N62473-10-D-5418); Orion Construction Corp.*, Vista, Calif. (N62473-10-D-5419); and Tetra Tech/Pascal & Ludwig, JV, Irvine, Calif. (N62473-10-D-5425), are each being awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract for wet utilities construction at various locations predominantly within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of responsibility (AOR) including, but not limited to, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and four option years, for all seven contracts combined is $300,000,000. Work provides for wet utilities construction including new work, additions, alteration, and repair. Projects may include water, steam, sewer, and storm sewer lines; wells, mains, pumping stations, treatment plants, storage tanks and facilities; and related work. All structures that are integral parts of the water, steam, and sewer networks are included. This contract will not include waterfront related construction, or oil and gas pipeline construction. Work will be performed at various federal sites within the NAVFAC Southwest AOR including, but not limited to, California (83 percent), Arizona (12 percent), Nevada (2 percent), Utah (1 percent), Colorado (1 percent), and New Mexico (1 percent). The term of the contracts are not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of March 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site, with 30 proposals received. These seven contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contracts. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $204,000,000 not-to-exceed contract for MK15 Phalanx Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) upgrades and conversions, system overhauls, and associated hardware. Phalanx CIWS is a fast-reaction terminal defense against low- and high-flying, high-speed maneuvering anti-ship missile threats that have penetrated all other defenses. Work will be performed in Louisville, Ky. (30 percent); Andover, Mass. (19 percent); Tucson, Ariz. (16 percent); Syracuse, N.Y. (7 percent); Long Beach, Calif. (6 percent); Radford, Va. (6 percent); Burlington, Vt. (6 percent); Palm Bay, Fla. (2 percent); Pittsburgh, Pa. (2 percent); Bloomington, Minn. (2 percent); Salt Lake City, Utah (2 percent); Norcross, Ga. (1 percent ); and New Albany, Ind. (1 percent). Work is expected to be completed by September 2014. Contract funds in the amount of $51,274,626 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-10-C-5427).

Accenture National Security Services, Reston, Va. (N00189-10-D-Z026); Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Va. (N00189-10-D-Z027); and KPMG, Washington, D.C. (N00189-10-D-Z028), are each being awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple-award contract to provide accounting and financial management service to support the Navy Office of Financial Operations for the implementation of the Department of the Navy's financial improvement program. This contract includes a base ordering period with four one-year option periods. For Accenture national security services, the base amount is $40,675,073 and the contract’s estimated value, if all options are exercised, is $181,867,958. For Booz Allen Hamilton, the base amount is $41,201,274 and the contract’s estimated value, if all options are exercised, is $187,298,288. For KPMG, the base amount is $43,975,895 and the contracts estimated value, if all options are exercised, is $199,926,881. Work is to be performed in Washington, D.C., and is expected to be complete March 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This requirement was awarded through full and open competition, with 11 offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Philadelphia Office, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $55,151,902 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-08-C-0025) for non-recurring efforts associated with Increment III of the CV-22 aircraft Block 20 upgrade program. Efforts to be provided include concept definition, non-recurring engineering, drawings, and installation/integration of brake performance enhancements and the helmet mounted display upgrade. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pa. (91 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (5 percent); and Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2015. Contract funds in the amount of $6,495,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Systems, Inc., Garden City, N.Y., is being awarded a $41,454,003 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-5343) for the delivery of AN/SPQ-9B radar sets and combat interface kits for use on U. S. Navy ships. The AN/SPQ-9B radar system provides the capability to detect and track low-flying, high-speed, small radar cross section anti-ship missile targets in heavy clutter environments. Work will be performed in Melville, N.Y. (91.2 percent); Norwalk, Conn. (5.5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (3.3 percent), and is expected to be completed by April 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Computer Sciences Corp., Falls Church, Va., is being awarded a $31,547,535 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for information technology support services to sustain the Naval Education Technology and Professional Development Training Command, Pensacola, Fla.; Naval Education and Training Command; and Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education Command. This contract includes four option terms which, if exercised, bring the total estimated value of the contract to $220,842,902. Work will be performed in Pensacola, Fla. (57 percent); Great Lakes, Ill. (10 percent); Norfolk, Va. (8 percent); and various locations inside and outside the continental United States (25 percent). Work is expected to be completed by March 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively awarded through the Electronic Commerce Online Web site, with eight offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (N00189-10-R-Z014).

BAE Systems Land & Armaments, LP, Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., is being awarded a $20,654,852 firm-fixed-priced modification to previously awarded delivery order #0011 under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5025) for integrated logistics support (ILS) and sustainment. The ILS sustainment will consist of spare parts for U.S. Special Operations Command variant vehicles. Work will be performed in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by January 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Hourigan Construction Corp., Virginia Beach, Va., is being awarded $15,218,200 for firm-fixed price task order #0003 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N40085-07-D-7022) for the design and construction of a C-40 aircraft maintenance hangar at Naval Air Station Oceana. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction of a new aircraft hangar and associated support infrastructure, and will also include the demolition of two existing buildings. The task order also contains two unexercised options which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative task order value to $15,418,400. Work will be performed in Virginia Beach, Va., and is expected to be completed by March 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity.

Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif., is being awarded a $14,893,509 cost-type contract under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Broad Agency Announcement No. BAA-09-27 to provide research and development for “Brain Reorganization and Plasticity to Accelerate Injury: Multi-scale and Multi-modal Models Enabled by Next Generation Neurotechnolgoy.” This two-year contract includes a two-year option period which, if exercised, would bring the potential value of this contract to $28,806,629. Work will be performed at Stanford University (34 percent) with subcontractor support at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (44 percent), the University of California, San Francisco, Calif. (15 percent), and the University College of London in the United Kingdom (7 percent). Work is expected to be completed March 30, 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities and SPAWAR e-Commerce Central Web sites. One offer was received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, is the contracting activity (N66001-10-C-2010).

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $12,600,563 firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-08-G-0010) to complete active vibration control and downed aviator locator system retrofit upgrades to the MH-60S helicopter. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn. (60 percent); Norfolk, Va. (30 percent); and San Diego (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Wyle Laboratories, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded an $11,380,330 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-08-C-0025) to exercise an option for aircrew, engineering, operations, and scheduling services in support of the Naval Test Wing Atlantic and Naval Test Wing Pacific. The estimated level of effort for this option is 18,757 man-hours. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md., and is expected to be completed in March 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

LCC/MZT Team II, JV*, Homedale, Wash., is being awarded an $11,109,000 firm-fixed price contract for design and construction of two new stand-alone training buildings and an addition to an existing building at the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Training Facility. Work will be performed in Spokane, Wash., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site, with nine proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, Silverdale, Wash., is the contracting activity (N44255-10-C-8000).

Branscome, Inc., Williamsburg, Va., is being awarded a $10,797,396 firm-fixed-price contract for repairs to the existing landing plane area taxiways at Chambers Field. The work to be performed provides for the repairs to the existing taxiways consisting of bituminous pavement; overlay and patches; crack repairs; concrete pavement; storm drainage system; pavement markings; taxiway lighting; and incidental related work. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 2011. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site, with five bids received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N40085-10-C-3004).

Nammo Talley, Inc., Mesa, Ariz., is being awarded a $10,222,340 modification to previously awarded contract (M67854-08-C-1123) under contracting line item number 0001 for system development and demonstration of the next generation Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW II) program. The SMAW II system is the predecessor to the SMAW system and is intended to consist of an encased fire-from-enclosure assault round and the next generation SMAW launcher. This modification is for the contractor to implement additional efforts required to design, develop, integrate, test, produce and prepare associated documentation; provide logistical support; provide technical support; and deliver the SMAW II system. Work will be performed in Mesa, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 5, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, Mass., is being awarded a $9,828,388 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5346) for CVN 78 dual-band radar common array power system and common array cooling system long-lead time materials and associated efforts. These materials, and associated engineering and management efforts, are required to be procured now in order to meet the CVN 78 ship construction in-yard-need-dates at the receiving shipyard to ensure that critical production schedules are maintained for the CVN 78 program. Work will be performed in Andover, Mass. (87.8 percent); Sudbury, Mass. (10.4 percent); Tewksbury, Mass. (0.9 percent); and Portsmouth, R.I. (0.9 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Stauder Technologies, St. Peters, Mo., is being awarded $9,041,508 for modification P00041 to a previously awarded contract (M67854-07-C-2062) for additional StrikeLink Systems software development, mobilized rugged tablets with accessories, tripod encoders, and associated travel costs for the tactical location designation hand-off system program. Work will be performed in St. Peters, Mo., and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Technical Services Co., LLC, Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $7,273,925 modification to a previously issued basic order agreement (N00019-05-G-0008) to exercise an option for the depot level rework of 142 LAU-115 guided missile launchers for the F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Ind., and is expected to be completed in March 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $2,285,230 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

The Research Foundation of the State University of New York (SUNY), Albany, N.Y., is being awarded a $6,814,557 cost-no-fee-contract under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Broad Agency Announcement No. BAA 09-27 “Reorganization and Plasticity to Accelerate Injury Recovery.” This work is expected to result in new methods for analysis and decoding of neural signals in order to understand how neural-based sensory stimulation could be applied to accelerate recovery from brain injury. This work will develop models of neural codes and temporal patterns that can provide an ability to interpret and predict changes in neural organization through plasticity at multiple scales of measurement. This two-year contract includes a two-year option period which, if exercised, would bring the potential value of this contract to $12,877,705. Work will be performed at SUNY in Brooklyn, New York; the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.; the University of California, Berkeley, Calif.; Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; and NIRX Medical Technologies, Glen Head, N.Y., and work is expected to be completed March 30, 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site, with five offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, is the contracting activity (N66001-10-C-2008).

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Inc., Austin, Texas, is being awarded a $6,669,583 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for non-recurring engineering associated with the production and integration of 600 new CPU/circuit card assembly (CCA) to replace the current AN/ALE-47 dispenser programmer CPU/CCA for various aircraft. The work will be performed in Austin, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $6,669,583 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0008).

Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $6,599,740 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced contract (N00019-09-C-0069) to exercise an option for the procurement of AN/ARC-210(V) electronic radio and ancillary equipment for the H-1 Helicopter. Equipment being procured includes 88 ARC-210 receiver transmitters; 22 radio set controls; 66 mounting bases; 22 amplifier mounts; 22 high power amplifiers, 22 LNA diplexers; 50 nine- inch tunable antennas and 48 digital converters. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed in May 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Advex Corp.*, Hampton, Va. (N68335-09-D-0097); Dataline, LLC*, Norfolk, Va. (N68335-09-D-0098); Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc.*, Portsmouth, Va. (N68335-09-D-0099); Ki, LLC*, Colorado Springs, Colo. (N68335-09-D-0100); Plexus Installations, Inc.*, Baltimore, Md. (N68335-09-D-0102); and Prism Maritime, LLC*, Chesapeake, Va. (N68335-09-D-0103), are each being awarded modifications to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) multiple-award contracts to exercise options for installation and alteration support services for common aviation support equipment and aircraft launch and recovery equipment. These modifications will increase the ceiling for each of the current IDIQ holders as follows: Advex Corp. to $8,167,103; Dataline, LLC, to $7,120,600; Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc., to $6,649,677; Ki, LLC, to $7,986,723; Plexus Installations, Inc., to $7,131,933; and Prism Maritime, LLC, to $6,825,482. Work will be performed at various shipboard and shore site locations and is expected to be completed in April 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

Wyle Laboratories, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $23,799,062 contract which provides for the Reliability Information Analysis Center to research, test, develop, and deliver operations manuals, change proposals, system assessments/capabilities guides, software version description documents, data procedures documents software user’s manuals, and wiring diagrams. At this time, $345,893 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (HC1047-05-D-4005).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Santa Maria, Calif., was awarded a $20,599,510 contract which provides support to complete the Mission Flight Control Center. At this time, no money has been obligated. SMC/ LRSW, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (F04701-95-C-0029).

*Small business

DTN News: EADS Silent After Sarkozy Hints Tanker Bid / Sarkozy Says EADS Will Bid For US Tanker If Fair / Obama Says Tanker Bidding Process Be Free

DTN News: EADS Silent After Sarkozy Hints At Tanker Bid / Sarkozy Says EADS Will Bid For US Tanker If Fair / Obama Says Tanker Bidding Process To Be Free, Fair Source: DTN News / Reuters By Tim Hepher NSI News Source Info) MUNICH, Germany - March 31, 2010: Airbus parent EADS declined to comment on Wednesday after French President Nicolas Sarkozy stoked expectations that it would re-enter a competition to supply aerial tankers to the U.S. Air Force. Speaking during a visit to Washington on Tuesday, Sarkozy said Europe's EADS would bid for the $35 billion contract if the terms of the competition were fair and open as President Barack Obama had promised. "I said to him (Obama), I trust you; if you tell me that the tender will be fair and transparent, then EADS will bid and we trust you," Sarkozy told a joint press conference with Obama. France holds a 15 percent stake in the French-German company, but has no formal say over its strategy. An EADS spokesman declined to comment. EADS shares rose 0.81 percent by 1005 GMT, outperforming France's CAC 40, buoyed by a Malaysian order for 17 Airbus A330 planes worth $3.6 billion at list prices. Obama told reporters at a joint news conference he had told Sarkozy the process would be fair and that the French leaders's trust was justified. French and German officials reacted angrily earlier this month when EADS' former partner, Northrop Grumman Corp, withdrew from the competition after concluding its terms favored the smaller 767 plane offered by Boeing Co. Pentagon officials then told EADS they would consider the company as a prime contractor if it wanted to bid on its own. EADS requested several changes, including a 90-day extension to the May 10 bid deadline. Sources on both sides of the Atlantic told Reuters last week that EADS was gravitating toward mounting a solo bid after facing an internal split over the move, but had not yet finalized its decision. Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders remained skeptical about the merits of a bid, not wanting to embark on another "adventure" without knowing the risk, after a cost debacle on the A400M transporter, sources familiar with the matter said. Talk of extending the bid deadline has drawn the ire of Boeing's supporters in Congress, who are also incensed by a World Trade Organization ruling against Airbus funding. (Editing by Sharon Lindores)

Sarkozy Says EADS Will Bid If Process Is Fair Obama assures Sarkozy his trust is justified * Air Force chief says Pentagon and EADS in discussions (Adds link to analysis regarding EADS nearing decision to bid) By Andrea Shalal-Esa WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Tuesday Europe's EADS would bid for a huge U.S. refueling plane contract if the terms of the competition were fair and open as President Barack Obama has promised. "I said to him (Obama), I trust you; if you tell me that the tender will be fair and transparent, then EADS will bid and we trust you," Sarkozy told a joint press conference with Obama. France holds a 15 percent stake in the French-German company, but has no say over its strategy. Obama told reporters he had assured Sarkozy the process would be fair and that his trust was justified. He added that U.S. weapons purchases were handled by the Pentagon and presidents did not meddle in these matters. "So I maintain an arm's length approach, but I have assurances from Secretary of Defense (Robert) Gates that in fact the rebidding process is going to be completely transparent, completely open, and a fair competition," he said. Obama lauded Gates for reforming other Pentagon programs that were never expected to succeed in Washington: "He's somebody who's willing to call it like it is and make difficult decisions, and he will do so in this situation as well." French and German officials reacted angrily earlier this month when EADS' former partner, Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N), withdrew from the competition after concluding its terms favored the smaller 767 plane offered by Boeing Co (BA.N). Pentagon officials then told EADS they would consider the company as a prime contractor if it wanted to bid on its own. EADS requested several changes, including a 90-day extension to the May 10 bid deadline so it could examine material previously only seen by Northrop. That process began on Friday. [ID:nN26145632] PENTAGON NEEDS TO KNOW EADS IS "SERIOUS" Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz said the Pentagon needs to know if EADS is serious about bidding to build 179 aerial refueling tankers before granting an extension to the May 10 deadline for bids. "They have to say they're serious and then the department will decide how much time to allow," Schwartz told Reuters after his remarks at an event hosted by Air Force Association. Thomas Enders, head of EADS' Airbus unit, told a German newspaper on Monday the company could decide within the next two to three weeks whether it will mount a solo bid. Schwartz said the requested deadline extension had not been decided and gave no timetable for a possible decision. He said talks with EADS were continuing. EADS is considering offering its A330-based tanker against the smaller 767-based tanker built by Boeing. Guy Hicks, a spokesman for EADS' North American unit, had no immediate comment on the Sarkozy-Obama news conference, but said earlier the company was still weighing its options. "Though there has been no decision by EADS to bid, we appreciate the Department of Defense's expressed commitment to competition," Hicks said. "We are continuing to evaluate our options. An extension of the RFP deadline is essential, but not the only factor in making our decision." EADS and Northrop won the previous tanker contract from the Air Force in February 2008, but Gates canceled that deal after government auditors faulted the Air Force's procurement process and upheld a Boeing protest. Northrop announced earlier this month that it would not bid for the work this time around after concluding that revamped rules for the competition favored Boeing's smaller tanker. Schwartz defended the revised acquisition plan as fairly executed and said he was personally "comfortable that the competition is fundamentally driven by sound and irreducible customer requirements in an equitable and open process."

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle; editing by Dave Zimmerman and Andre Grenon)

Obama Says Tanker Bidding Process To Be Free, Fair

WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday bidding on a contract to build aerial refueling tankers will be free and fair. "What I said to President Sarkozy is that the process will be free and fair and that the trust is justified," Obama said at a news conference with his French counterpart. "Here the secretary of defense makes procurement decisions. The president does not meddle in these issues and that's a long-standing policy," Obama said. Obama said he had assurances from Robert Gates, the secretary of defense, that the rebidding process is going to be completely transparent, open and fair. Europe's EADS (EAD.PA) and Northrop (NOC.N) won the previous tanker contract from the U.S. Air Force in 2008, but Gates canceled that deal after government auditors faulted the Air Force's procurement process and uphold a protest by Boeing. Sarkozy said EADS would bid if the process is fair and said he trusted Obama's assurances. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Editing by Sandra Maler)

DTN News: Northrop Grumman Laboratory-Based Prototype Advances U.S. Army Training On Integrated Battle Command System Contract

DTN News: Northrop Grumman Laboratory-Based Prototype Advances U.S. Army Training On Integrated Battle Command System Contract Source: DTN News / Northrop Grumman (NSI News Source Info) HUNTSVILLE, Ala., March - 31, 2010: Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC - News) Virtual, Interactive, Collaborative, Training, Resource/Environment (VICTR/E) laboratory is revolutionizing U.S. Army training with its innovative use of avatars. The company created the lab, located in Huntsville, Ala., as part of its pursuit of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) contract. Northrop Grumman developed the VICTR/E lab using the Army's capability development document for IAMD, which follows the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System procedure and ensures the implementation of capabilities-based requirements defined by combatant commanders. The VICTR/E lab was designed to not only address contract requirements; it also saves the Army time and money by replicating a fully operational system. The lab simulates air battle scenarios for warfighter training. The lab also uses avatars, or three-dimensional computer representations of humans, to train soldiers. The avatars -- which move and talk -- interact with the soldiers in a scripted, life-like battle or air battle environment. The virtual reality realm allows one or two soldiers to train with an entire battle staff. While the lab started with only scripted scenarios, the Northrop Grumman team has since developed "live" avatars that allow for unscripted training exercises. "This type of immersive training will have great benefit for the warfighter," said Karen Williams, vice president of Air and Missile Defense Systems for Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector. "It will keep them trained and ready in the valuable skills needed to prosecute an air battle." Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.-

DTN News: Putin Orders Russia To Hunt Down Bombing Militants

DTN News: Putin Orders Russia To Hunt Down Bombing Militants Source: DTN News / AFP (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - March 31, 2010: Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered security forces to snare the masterminds of the metro bombings that killed 39, saying they should be "scraped out" from the bottom of sewers.

The strongman premier's comments came as Moscow marked a day of mourning for Monday's double blasts carried out by female suicide bombers at two busy metro stations at the height of the early morning rush.

Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on packed metro trains in Moscow on Monday, killing dozens near the ex-KGB headquarters and Gorky Park, in attacks blamed on Islamists. Authorities point the finger at militants from the Northern Caucasus for the deadliest attack in Moscow for half a decade. Duration: 02:08

Grieving Muscovites added to heaps of flowers and placed photographs of the dead under memorial plaques at the stations. Flags at government buildings flew at half mast and television channels cancelled entertainment programmes.

Tears and rage as bombers strike heart of Russia

"We know that they (the organisers) are lying low," Putin said in comments broadcast on state television.

"But it is now a matter of honour for the security forces to scrape them out from the bottom of the sewers and bring them out into the light of day.

"This will be done," he added.

Major attacks in Russia: a timeline

Putin's language was strikingly reminiscent of his famous promise in 1999 to strike at rebels even in the "outhouse" which heralded the adoption of tougher tactics by the authorities against Chechen militants.

Those comments, made while Putin was prime minister under then president Boris Yeltsin, were seen as instrumental in projecting a tough-guy image that would catapult him to become Russia's number one.

While the two female bombers blew themselves up in the attacks -- with their body fragments scattered across the two stations -- the authorities have linked the attacks to militant groups in Russia's largely Muslim North Caucasus.

'Black Widows' snare Russia in new web of fear

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said new laws were needed to combat militant attacks.

"We need to focus our attention on certain aspects of improving legislation aimed at preventing terrorist acts," a grim-faced Medvedev said in televised remarks.

Medvedev urged steps to make law-enforcement agencies work more efficiently, to increase the safety of transport systems and public places and to improve the implementation of Russia's anti-terrorism statutes.

Influential daily newspaper Vedomosti had earlier sharply criticised the authorities for failing to prevent the bombings, Moscow's worst attacks in six years.

"In recent years, the authorities and state television have been singing a lullaby to Russians with the thought that terrorism is localised in the North Caucasus and does not threaten ordinary people," it wrote.

Russian state TV slammed for tardy coverage of blasts

Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of the troubled North Caucasus region of Chechnya, joined the call for a crackdown on extremists, saying "terrorists... must be poisoned like rats".

With the atomosphere in Moscow still tense, 100 people were evacuated from the gigantic Christ the Saviour Cathedral in the late afternoon after a telephoned bomb threat, police said. A search uncovered nothing however.

Police were searching for two women seen with the bombers as well as a possible male accomplice, after identifying them and the bombers through surveillance footage, Russian media reported, citing security sources.

They said photographs of the three accomplices taken from the surveillance cameras had been distributed to police.

The Life.ru news website published graphic photographs of what it said were the severed heads of the two bombers.

Officials said the death toll rose to 39 -- not including the two bombers -- after a woman died in hospital overnight. The emergency situations ministry said 83 people had been wounded in the attacks.

Western leaders condemned the attacks and sent messages of solidarity to Russia, which has often been criticised in the West for using brutal counter-insurgency tactics in the North Caucasus.

US President Barack Obama called Medvedev and pledged Washington would "help bring to justice those who undertook this attack."

West pledges help after 'hateful' Moscow attacks

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the "Caucasus Emirate" group led by Chechen Islamist chief Doku Umarov, said to be behind a November train bombing that killed 28 people, had recently threatened to attack Moscow.

Chechnya, a predominantly Muslim region of the North Caucasus that was the site of two bloody separatist wars after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, has seen rising violence in recent months.

Chechen separatism turns into Russian holy war

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY March 31, 2010 ~ Kandahar Offensive To Begin In June, Senior Officials Say

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY March 31, 2010 ~ Kandahar Offensive To Begin In June, Senior Officials Say

*The new strategy focuses on clearing Taliban strongholds while protecting the local populations and establishing Afghan control. Source: DTN News / Fox News (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 31, 2010: NATO forces will launch a major offensive in the Afghanistan city of Kandahar in June, sources told Fox News, part of a new war strategy that began earlier this year with the offensive in Marjah.A Canadian Chinook helicopter lands in Camp Nathan Smith in the town of Kandahar, southern Afghanistan March 29, 2010. The new strategy focuses on clearing Taliban strongholds while protecting the local populations and establishing Afghan control. Part of the objective in Kandahar is to be done with the "clearing phase" of operations by the beginning of August, before Ramadan, two senior U.S. officials told Fox News. The U.S. and its allies already are laying the groundwork for the offensive by removing corrupt politicians from power to make way for new leaders. The intent with Kandahar, officials tell Fox, is to rely as little as possible on major military offensives and firefights. Also unlike Marjah, the city of Kandahar is densely populated, so coalition troops are not encouraging the town to evacuate.Afghan security forces with the German NATO-led International Security Assistant Force (ISAF) are seen during a joint operation Baghlan, north of Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, March 29, 2010. Thousands of Afghan and International forces are involved in the clearing the area from the enemy and bringing peace and stability in the province Zalmai Mangal provincial deputy police chief of Baghlan province said. They hope to bring large numbers of U.S. and Afghan troops into the city at the height of the Afghan surge this summer, and to support the Afghan led effort to rebuild its critical infrastructure and governmental governmental institutions while inflicting as little collateral damage as possible, military officials tell Fox News. Kandahar is considered the spiritual heartland of the Taliban and a stubborn holdout of insurgent fighters. The southern city was the seat of government for the Taliban when it ruled Afghanistan prior to the U.S. led invasion of the country in 2001. Fox News' Justin Fishel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 30, 2010

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 30, 2010 Source: U.S. DoD issued March 29, 2010 (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 31, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued March 30, 2010 are undermentioned; CONTRACTS NAVY ~PAE Government Services, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., is being awarded an $83,868,260 cost-plus-award-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) modification under a previously awarded cost reimbursement and IDIQ contract (N33191-07-D-0207) to exercise Option 3 for base operating support services at Camp Lemonier and forward operating location Manda Bay. The work to be performed provides for, but is not limited to, comprehensive support functions in the following annexes: general information at Annex 1; management and administration at Annex 2; public safety at Annex 4; air operations at Annex 5; ordnance at Annex 7; supply at Annex 10; laundry services at Annex 11; morale, welfare, and recreation at Annex 12; galley at Annex 13; housing at Annex 14; facilities support at Annex 15; utilities at Annex 16; base support vehicles and equipment at Annex 17; and environmental at Annex 18. The total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $295,243,649. Work will be performed in Djibouti, Africa, and Kenya, Africa, and is expected to be completed by April 2011. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Europe and Southwest Asia, Naples, Italy, is the contracting activity. ~Raytheon Technical Services Co., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded $49,912,663 for delivery order #7130 under a Basic Ordering Agreement contract (N00383-07-G-008D) to repair components for the APG 65/73 radar systems used in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Ind. (55 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (30 percent); Forest, Miss. (12 percent); and Andover, Mass. (3 percent). Work is expected to be completed by December 2012. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity. ~TEC-AECOM, JV, Charlottesville, Va., was awarded a maximum amount $40,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract on March 29 for environmental planning and engineering services for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Executive Order (EO) 12114, “Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions - Ship Homeporting Issues,” at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities worldwide. The work to be performed provides for the preparation of various documents to support the proposed infrastructure-related actions with respect to ship homeporting issues. The preponderance of documents to be prepared under this contract are NEPA documents including the following: categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, and environmental impact statements, as well as environmental reviews and environmental studies under EO 12114. Examples of tasking may also include homeporting of ships, new construction, renovation, base realignment and closure actions, proposed operational actions, and demolitions. Work will predominantly be performed in Virginia (20 percent), Florida (20 percent), California (20 percent), and Washington (20 percent). Work may also be performed within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic area of responsibility and the adjacent waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, including the continental United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and North Africa (20 percent). Tasks associated with this contract may be assigned anywhere in the world. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of March 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site, with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N62470-10-D-3008). ~BAE Systems, Inc., Nashua, N.H., is being awarded a $9,233,109 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00039-09-C-0129) for the production of the first optional compact low frequency active transmit system and spares. This contract includes additional options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $29,709,200. Work will be performed in Hudson, N.H., and is expected to be completed by September 2011; if all options are exercised, work will be completed by December 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-09-C-0129). ~Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $6,395,328 firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-05-G-0026) for 144 retrofit kits under the Engineering Change Proposal 6240R1, “FT 50 18K Main Landing Gear Sidebrace Fitting Failure - Revision for Retrofit” for the F/A-18E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in El Segundo, Calif., and is expected to be completed in October 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. ~Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Inc., Newport News, Va., is being awarded a $13,200,000 modification for planned and growth supplemental work under a previously awarded contract (N00024-08-C-2100) for the accomplishment of the fiscal 2008 Extended Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA) of USS Enterprise (CVN 65). As a result of this contract modification, the total estimated amount of this contract will be $654,854,987. This contract modification is in accordance with the overall program plan for the CVN 65 EDSRA. EDSRAs are similar to overhauls in that they restore the ship, including all subsystems that affect combat capability and safety, to established performance standards. Additionally, an EDSRA provides an opportunity to perform hull inspections, recoating, and other maintenance related evolutions below the waterline that cannot be accomplished while the ship is waterborne. The EDSRA provides sufficient time to perform more extensive repairs and testing than are possible during an extended selected restricted availability. Work that results from subsystem open and inspects is added to the contract as it is identified. Work will be performed in Newport News, Va., and is expected to be completed in April 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $13,200,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity. ~Raytheon Co., El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a $6,223,862 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0310) for integrated logistics support of the advanced targeting/forward looking infrared pods for the F/A-18C/D and F/A-18E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas (98 percent), and El Segundo, Calif. (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND ~L-3 Communications Corp., EOS Division, Garland, Texas, is being awarded a two-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of MX 10160 image intensifier assemblies in support of U.S. Special Operations Command Headquarters Procurement Division. The work will be performed in Tempe, Ariz., and is expected to be completed in 2012. The estimated value of the contract is $30,000,000. The contract number is H92222-10-D-0012. ~L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace, LLC, Madison, Miss., is receiving a firm-fixed-price modification of $6,260,514 for exercise of option periods one and two, providing an additional six months of lease services of four helicopters for pilot training in support of U.S. Special Operations Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, beginning on April 1, 2010, and ending Sept. 30, 2010. Work will be performed at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The contract modification number is H92222-09-C-0048-P00005. AIR FORCE ~Wyle Laboratories, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $23,847,566 contract which provides for the Reliability Information Analysis Center to research, test, develop, and deliver concept recommendations, architecture analysis, ontological models, alternatives analysis, life-cycle costs estimates, prototype development assessments, and prototype tools. At this time, $797,000 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (HC1047-05-D-4005).

DTN News: Russia Set To Float Out 2nd Stealth Corvette

DTN News: Russia Set To Float Out 2nd Stealth Corvette Source: DTN News / RIA Novosti (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - March 31, 2010: St. Petersburg's Severnaya Verf shipyard will float out on Wednesday a new corvette featuring stealth technology, a Russian Navy spokesman said. The Soobrazitelny is the second Project 20380 corvette designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau. "The corvette features innovative solutions regarding hull design, armament, communications and electronics," the spokesman said. The first Project 20380 corvette, the Steregushchy, was put into service with Russia's Baltic Fleet in October 2008, and two other ships of the same series, the Boyky and the Stoyky, are under construction. The Project 20380 corvette can be deployed to destroy enemy surface ships, submarines and aircraft, and to provide artillery support for beach landings. It uses stealth technology to reduce the ship's secondary radar field, as well as its acoustic, infrared, magnetic and visual signatures. Russia plans to have up to 30 vessels of this class to ensure the protection of its coastal waters, as well as its oil and gas transportation routes, especially in the Black and the Baltic seas. Each corvette has a displacement of 2,000 metric tons, maximum speed of 27 knots, and a crew of 100. Related News Russia's Navy to build up Baltic Fleet over Polish missile plans Russian Navy could be in dire straits by 2015 - expert Russian Navy to receive two new stealth warships in 2010-11 Russia to float out new missile frigate in 2011

DTN News: Big Bang Machine Sets Collision Record

DTN News: Big Bang Machine Sets Collision Record Source: DTN News / By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS, Associated Press Writer (NSI News Source Info) GENEVA - March 31, 2010: The world's largest atom smasher conducted its first experiments at conditions nearing those after the Big Bang, breaking its own record for high-energy collisions with proton beams crashing into each other Tuesday at three times more force than ever before.An event display shows activity during a high-energy collision at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, CERN, outside Geneva. The $10 billion Large Hadron Collider directed two proton beams into each other at three times more force than ever before as part of its ambitious bid to reveal details about theoretical particles and microforces. In a milestone for the $10 billion Large Hadron Collider's ambitious bid to reveal details about theoretical particles and microforces, scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, took high-tech photographs so they could study the disintegrating protons after they collided at a combined energy level of 7 trillion electron volts. The collisions herald a new era for researchers working on the machine in a 17-mile (27-kilometer) tunnel below the Swiss-French border at Geneva. "That's it! They've had a collision," said Oliver Buchmueller from Imperial College in London as people closely watched monitors. In a control room, scientists erupted with applause when the first successful collisions were confirmed. Their colleagues from around the world were tuning in by remote links to witness the new record, which surpasses the 2.36 TeV CERN recorded last year. Dubbed the world's largest scientific experiment, researchers hope the machine can approach on a tiny scale what happened in the first split seconds after the Big Bang, which they theorize was the creation of the universe some 14 billion years ago. The extra energy in Geneva is expected to reveal even more about the unanswered questions of particle physics, such as the existence of antimatter and the search for the Higgs boson, a hypothetical particle that scientists theorize gives mass to other particles and thus to other objects and creatures in the universe. Tuesday's initial attempts at collisions were unsuccessful because problems developed with the beams, said scientists working on the massive machine. That meant the protons had to be "dumped" from the collider and new beams had to be injected. The atmosphere at CERN was tense considering the collider's launch with great fanfare on Sept. 10, 2008. Nine days later, the project was sidetracked when a badly soldered electrical splice overheated, causing extensive damage to the massive magnets and other parts of the collider some 300 feet (100 meters) below the ground. It cost $40 million to repair and improve the machine. Since its restart in November 2009, the collider has performed almost flawlessly and given scientists valuable data. It quickly eclipsed the next largest accelerator — the Tevatron at Fermilab near Chicago. Two beams of protons began 10 days ago to speed at high energy in opposite directions around the tunnel, the coldest place in the universe, at a couple of degrees above absolute zero. CERN used powerful superconducting magnets to force the two beams to cross, creating collisions and showers of particles. "Experiments are collecting their first physics data — historic moment here!" a scientist tweeted on CERN's official Twitter account. "Nature does it all the time with cosmic rays (and with higher energy) but this is the first time this is done in Laboratory!" said another tweet. When collisions become routine, the beams will be packed with hundreds of billions of protons, but the particles are so tiny that few will collide at each crossing. The experiments will come over the objections of some people who fear they could eventually imperil Earth by creating micro black holes — subatomic versions of collapsed stars whose gravity is so strong they can suck in planets and other stars. CERN and many scientists dismiss any threat to Earth or people on it, saying that any such holes would be so weak that they would vanish almost instantly without causing any damage. Bivek Sharma, a professor at the University of California at San Diego, said the images of the first crashed proton beams were beautiful. "It's taken us 25 years to build," he said. "This is what it's for. Finally the baby is delivered. Now it has to grow."

DTN News: "Indian F-16 Deal Better Than Pakistan's"

DTN News: "Indian F-16 Deal Better Than Pakistan's" Source: DTN News / The Hindu

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 31, 2010: Lockheed Martin, the American aerospace specialist on Monday said the F-16 aircraft being offered India would be “much more advanced” than the fighters provided to Pakistan. An F-16 performs at the Aero India 2009 show. The aircraft's maker Lockheed Martin has assured India that the F-16s being offered to it would be better than the one provided to Pakistan. Speaking to visiting Indian journalists in Dallas, Texas, Orville Prins, Vice-President, Business Development (India) said, “I can assure you, the Super Viper is much more advanced in all aspects than the F-16s being given to Pakistan.” Mr. Prins' assurance comes in the wake of reports that India was concerned over the U.S. providing Pakistan with a new set of F-16 aircraft, a decision which could be a crucial geopolitical factor when the Indian Air Force (IAF) decides on the $10-billion Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender, described as “mother of all deals.” According to a statement by Lockheed Martin, the F-16IN Super Viper is the “ultimate fourth generation fighter” and is tailored exclusively to meet or exceed all of India's Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirements. The company said the aircraft is “the right choice for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and is ready for integration into India's infrastructure and operations now.” Evolutionary integration of fifth generation technologies makes the F-16IN the most advanced fourth generation fighter in the world today, said the company. However, Mr. Prins declined to discuss details regarding the company's dealings with Pakistan, adding that Lockheed Martin was not the firm that was selling anything to any country, but was simply partnering with the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Prins pointed out that it was not only Lockheed Martin that was supplying to Islamabad, but there were six other contenders in the MMRCA race, including the U.S.'s Boeing, the French D'Assault, the Swedish Gripen, the European consortium EADS, and the Russian MiG.

DTN News: Boeing Licenses XR700 Solar Power Technology To Stirling Energy Systems

DTN News: Boeing Licenses XR700 Solar Power Technology To Stirling Energy Systems

Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) SEAL BEACH, Calif.,- March 31, 2010: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Stirling Energy Systems (SES) have formed a strategic partnership to complete the commercialization and deployment of Boeing's XR700 high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) solar power technology. Through a licensing agreement with Boeing, SES has acquired the sole rights to develop, manufacture and deploy the HCPV product globally. SES will lead the commercialization process, with Boeing providing technical program development and engineering expertise under a contracting partnership. Tessera Solar, an SES affiliate, will be responsible for development, construction and operation of solar power facilities using the XR700. Boeing began developing the XR700 technology in 2007 in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Program. The technology development phase is expected to continue for the next two years before achieving commercial-scale deployment in 2012. "Boeing Defense, Space & Security's Energy Solutions business seeks to create new products and services in emerging energy-technology markets, including renewable energy and Smart Grid," said Tim Noonan, vice president, Boeing Advanced Global Services and Support. "Working with Stirling Energy Systems, an established leader in concentrating solar power generation, allows us to leverage Boeing's leadership in systems development, materials expertise, and reliability engineering to create jobs and to help America's vital energy infrastructure go green." The XR700 technology uses a non-imaging optical system to concentrate sunlight by a factor of 700 onto high-efficiency, triple-junction solar cells. The cells currently are supplied by Boeing subsidiary Spectrolab, which in 2009 achieved the world record for terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency, at 41.6 percent. Boeing is in the development and construction phase of a 100-kilowatt facility at California State University, Northridge, using the HCPV solar power technology. Boeing and its subcontractors also have completed the development of an automated 2-megawatt per year production factory in Detroit that is producing and assembling the solar arrays for the Northridge solar facility. Installation of the solar arrays at the Northridge facility is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2010, with the solar facility expected to be operational during the third quarter. "Boeing's selection of SES and Tessera Solar as strategic partners for their solar power technology demonstrates the strength of the businesses' technology and development expertise," said Jim Barry, CEO of NTR plc, majority shareholder of SES and Tessera Solar. "This agreement will complement SES and Tessera Solar's existing utility-scale offering and strengthen their position as solar energy leaders." The HCPV product will extend SES's solar energy portfolio and is expected to give Tessera Solar access to more project-development opportunities, especially in the distributed-generation (under 50-megawatt) sector. Tessera Solar will continue to deploy its SunCatcher -- a solar power system that uses an SES engine to convert the sun's heat to electricity -- for large-scale (greater than 50-megawatt) projects. Later this year, SES and Tessera expect to begin construction on three large SunCatcher power projects, totaling over 1,600 megawatts, in Texas and California. The XR700 HCPV technology will be aimed at smaller-scale projects of 50 megawatts and less. "This venture with Boeing represents an ideal opportunity for SES to extend our reach into the solar market for future technology deployments with a product that shares many of the SunCatcher's key differentiating features -- scalability, low water use and high efficiency," said SES CEO Steve Cowman. "We are pleased to obtain the rights to deploy a complementary technology to the SunCatcher and therefore offer an additional product to suit our potential customers that are interested in smaller-scale projects," said Tessera Solar North America CEO Bob Lukefahr. Stirling Energy Systems (SES) is the global supplier of the SunCatcher™ solar dish engine system, the latest innovation in modular Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), and next generation of grid-quality, solar-electric power generation. The SES SunCatcher™ combines a mirrored concentrator dish with a high-efficiency Stirling engine to track, collect and convert the sun's thermal energy to grid-quality electricity. The SunCatcher™ technology has significant advantages over other CSP technology, including zero water use for power production, minimal impact to the environment, the highest electric efficiency and cost competitiveness. Founded in 1996, the company maintains corporate headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz., and engineering and test site operations at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M. NTR owns a controlling stake in SES Inc. NTR plc, the international renewable energy group, builds and runs green energy and resource-sustaining businesses. Founded in 1978, NTR has evolved from being a developer and operator of infrastructure in Ireland to an international developer and operator of renewable energy (wind, solar and ethanol) and sustainable waste management businesses in the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland. The company employs more than 4,100 people. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.