C2 PC to support COP

Northrop Grumman has been awarded a contract modification to transform the company's Command and Control Personal Computer (C2PC) into a core component of the Joint Tactical Common Operating Picture (COP) Workstation (JTCW).

Under the 18-month $30 million contract modification awarded by U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., Northrop Grumman will begin migrating C2PC to an open, services-oriented architecture required for it to be transformed into the JTCW Client and Gateway.

The Marine Corps expects to begin fielding JTCW in 2010. It will provide ground forces units above battalion level with consistent situational awareness, complementing Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below, which provides friendly forces situational awareness at company-level and below for platform-based and handheld systems.

Northrop Grumman's Windows-based C2PC is a mobile, interoperable system capable of operating in a low-bandwidth, intermittent communications environment. It displays the military's common operating picture from a Global Command and Control System-based server or tactical data from other C2PC workstations. Initially developed for the U.S. Marine Corps, C2PC has been adopted by all U.S. military services, U.S. Coast Guard and the Defense Information Systems Agency and has been fielded to military bases around the world.

Source: Northrop Grumman

Vehicle miscellany

Ibis Tek* of Butler, Pa. and LOM* of Chicago are both being awarded indefinite-delivery / indefinite-quantity contracts for MRAP 360 Degree Lighting Kits.

The Ibis Tek contract has a ceiling amount $158,075,500 with options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative ceiling value to $474,226,500. The LOM ceiling is $149,730,000 with options totalling $449,190,000. The work on both contracts is expected to be completed by May 2011. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Stewart & Stevenson TVS, LP, Sealy, Texas, has been awarded a $37,356,777 firm-fixed price contract for low signature armor cabs in a box. Work will be performed in Texas and is expected to be completed by Feb. 19, 2009. U.S. Army TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity.

* DoD indicates these as "Small Business"

Source: DoD
Image: Ibis Tek

Vehicle command and control transformation

Eagan, McAllister Associates, Inc., has been awarded a $22,071,517 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity performance-based contract with hybrid pricing arrangements to provide production engineering, integration product improvement, test and evaluation, and maintenance support as well as the capacity to modernize or introduce transformational technologies into systems and technical support services of various C5ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cryptology, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) programs for fielding on platforms such as: Marine Corps Up-Armored HMMWV, Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Rapid Responded Vehicle, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, other Department of Defense vehicle platforms, Navy C5ISR tactical vehicles, and Marine Corps C5ISR tactical vehicles, in addition to other tactical vehicles.

This contract includes four one-year options and three-award terms, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $221,972,342. Work will be performed in Charleston, S.C., and is expected to be completed by May 2009 (May 2016 with all options and award terms exercised). The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity.

Source: DoD

Editor's Note: Eagan, McAllister Associates is wholly owned by SAIC

More "7-tons" to roll out

MRAP and JLTVs may grab the headlines but the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement has been a staple since it started to replace Marine and Navy M900s in the late nineties.

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh has been awarded $11,214,202 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of 37 MTVR variants and 28 weapons mount kits for MTVR vehicles.

Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., and work for this delivery order is expected to be completed by Dec. 2008. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Source: DoD

UK to get more MRAPS

Force Protection Industries has been awarded a $91,549,216 contract modification under previously awarded contract for 151 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and associated spares. This action fulfils a requirement under a foreign military sales order with the United Kingdom, Ministry of Defence.

Work will be performed in Ladson, S.C., with the first vehicle deliveries scheduled to begin in July 2008, and completed by July 2009. Funds for this action are provided by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and do not expire. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Source: DoD
Photo: Force Protection

Force Protection gets logistics support work

Force Protection Industries has been awarded a $15,279,151 modification tunder a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) sustainment parts.

Work will be performed in Ladson, S.C., and work is expected to be completed Oct. 2008.

Source: DoD
Photo: Force Protection

General Dynamics gets MRAP work

Canadian Commercial Corp. (CCC), General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, is being awarded a $28,585,655 firm-fixed-priced delivery order modification under a previously awarded contract for the purchase of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle tranportation to Durbin, South Africa, battle damage assessment repair list, removal of gun ports in the ballistic windows, revised statement of work and related contract data requirements list.

Work will be performed both in a combat area of operations operating in an austere environment (35 percent); Lansing, Mich., (35 percent); and Texarkana, Texas, (30 percent), and work is expected to be completed by Apr. 2009. Contract funds will not expire by the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Editor's Note: "... Canada’s international contracting agency, CCC negotiates and executes bilateral government-to-government contracts to meet allied militaries’ defence requirements. ... For fifty years, CCC has been responsible for helping Canada meet its commitments under the Defence Production Sharing Agreement (DPSA), put in place to foster a strong and integrated North American defence industrial base."

Sources: DoD and CCC
Photo: GDLS

Navistar MRAPS to receive upgrade

The U.S. Navy has given Navistar division International Military and Government LLC (IMG), $261,373,172 a contract modification for engineering change proposals to upgrade Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) low rate initial production vehicles.

The government will procure several engineering changes which will provide additional armor protection to increase the survivability of the MRAP Category I (CAT I) vehicles. The order also includes ambulance kits. Work is expected to be completed Nov. 2008.

More Navistar stories here.

Source: DoD Photo: Navistar

More GPSs

The U.S. Air Force has exercised contract production options with Rockwell Collins for the purchase of 9,746 Defense Advanced GPS Receivers (DAGRs) and accessories.

The DAGR is the replacement for the Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver (PLGR) in integrated platforms as well as for the advanced and basic GPS user. It provides users, including Foreign Military Sales (FMS), with a GPS Precise Positioning System (PPS), hand-held, dual-frequency (L1/L2), lightweight receiver (less than one pound) with a built-in next generation, tamper-resistant GPS “SAASM” (Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module) Security module.

This is a modified firm fixed price contract for $21,765,082.

Source: DoD
Photo: Rockwell Collins

More CREW systems to Iraq

ITT Communications & Countermeasures Systems is being awarded a $45,194,148 modification to previously awarded contract for the production and support of 586 JCREW 2.1 Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (CREW) systems to meet urgent Department of Defense (DoD) requirements in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Vehicle mounted CREW systems are one element of the DoD’s Joint Counter RCIED Electronic Warfare program. Spiral 2.1 CREW systems are vehicle mounted electronic jammers designed to prevent the initiation of RCIED.

Source: DoD

It's in the numbers

The success of the U.S. Transportation Command is being heralded by the Armed Forces Press Agency. They certainly have been busy supplying troops in Iraq and Afghanistan along with their other tasks including humanitarian assistance.

One of the pressures on the system has been the delivery of MRAPs to theatre. Illustrating this point are the air and sea deliveries for this program which have now reached a confirmed total of 5,200 units.

Source: DoD

New biodetector for U.S.

The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a contract option worth approximately $43 million to produce and test Joint Biological Point Detection Systems (JBPDS). The contract terms also include field-support packages and user training for the technology. This award is a modification of a 2004 contract and brings the total value to date to more than $200 million.

The JBPDS is a self-contained instrument suite that rapidly detects and identifies biological warfare agents. Available in man-portable, shelter-based, ship-based and trailer-mounted variants, the JBPDS is a Joint Services program and is configured to meet the operational requirements of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.

Source: General Dynamics

More detection articles here.

Force Protection MRAPS for Marines

Force Protection Industries, Inc., Ladson, S.C., is being awarded $9,849,420 for delivery order under a previously awarded contract to acquire 12 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Category I vehicles and 6 MRAP Category II vehicles.

Force Protection has also been awarded $7,690,529 for the purchase of 11 Category III (Buffalo) Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.

Source: DoD
Photo: Force Protection

BAE gets more MRAP orders, too

Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle, Division of Armor Holdings, Sealy, Texas, is being awarded $481,835,008 for firm-fixed-priced delivery order under a previously awarded contract for the purchase of 1,024 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Category (CAT) II vehicles with CAT I seating configuration.

Note: Stewart and Stevenson were founded in 1902 in Houston, TX. They began as a carriage repair shop. In 2006 they were purchased by Amor Holdings. In 2007 BAE purchased Armor holdings.

BAE Systems Land & Armaments, LP. Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., is being awarded $234,043,500 for firm-fixed-priced delivery under a previously awarded contract for the purchase of 3 Special Operations Command variants, 51 Ambulance variants, and 393 Category II variants of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.

Sources: DoD and various Photo: BAE

Marines to get more MRAPs from Interational

Under a previously awarded contract, International Military and Government LLC (a division of International/Navistar) of Warrenville, IL is to deliver 743 vehicles to the Marines. These are Category 1 MRAPs.

The total value of the contract is $410,730,320 and delivery is due by November 2008.

Update: On March 18th DoD published a correction to their contract notification. The actual amout is $405,963,830 vs $410,730,320.

Source: DoD
Photo: Navistar

ARVs to Army and Marines

BAE has been awarded a $185,983,972.00 firm fixed price contract for the production of 90 Army-configured M88A2 HERCULES recovery vehicles, four Marine Corps-configured M88A2 HERCULES recovery vehicles, and 7 sets of ASL Spares. The work will be performed in York, PA, (98 percent); and Aiken, SC., (2 percent) and is to be completed Sept. 30, 2011.

"The M88's primary role is to repair or replace damaged parts in fighting vehicles while under fire, as well as extricate vehicles that have become bogged down or entangled. The main winch on the M88A2 is capable of a 70 ton, single line recovery, and a 140 ton 2:1 recovery when used with the 140 ton pulley. The A-frame boom of the A2 can lift 35 tons when used in conjunction with the spade down. The spade can be used for light earth moving, and can be used to anchor the vehicle when using the main winch." The M88A2 has NBC defences, a smoke screen generator, 50 Cal machine gun, 432 mm ground clearance, 2.6m fording depth, 1.1m wall climb and 2.6 m trench crossing capabilities.

Sources: DoD, Wikipedia

Report: IED crisis avoidable

One of the best defense writers on the web is Sharon Weinberger. She may be known to some of you for her investigations of whacky weapons. In Danger Room, however, Ms Weinberger looks at the report of a Marine Corps insider that "recounts in painstaking detail the missteps that delayed the fielding of bomb-resistant vehicles to Iraq."

The problem? Well, simply put "a 'Byzantine' acquisition system that pushes bureaucrats to protect their own programs and priorities, rather than seeking out the best available option."

The brief article and report will be of interest to anyone involved with or interested in: policy, politics, purchasing, or armored vehicles.

Sources: As cited

Tech support and project management for MRAP program

EG&G Technical Services, Inc., Dumfries, Va., was awarded $11,267,986 ... to provide on-going acquisition and technical support to the Joint Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Program (JMVP). This includes contractor support directly to the Joint Program Manager (JPM), product and functional team leaders and their deputies.

This effort will include comprehensive Joint Program Management services for all MRAP vehicles and systems; systems engineering; production, test and evaluation, integration, transportation, logistics and acquisition management support. Key events include expedited testing, integration, fielding, and training for MRAP vehicles; concurrent integration of system and component improvements to both MRAP and related low density vehicles and comprehensive assessments, selection, and fielding of other Improvised Explosive Device countermeasure equipment, all in response to Urgent Universal Needs Statements (UUNS) generated by the Operating Forces (OPFORs).

Source: DoD
Photo: Marine Corps News

Editor's Note: EG&G is a division of URS Corporation.

Problems at Protected Vehicles deepen

MRAP builder Protected Vehicles Inc. of North Charleston, SC has filed for Chapter 11. Protected Vehicles was founded by Garth Barrett, a former Force Protection executive.

In July, Force Protection, of Ladson, SC, launched a suit claiming, among other things, computer fraud and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Of course the Marine Corps announced in December '07 that they were drastically cutting back on MRAP purchases and looking toward the JLTV.

Protected Vehicles and Rafael had developed the GOLAN MRAP platform.

Sources: Various
Photo: Protected Vehicles

Marine Corps buying fewer armored vehicles

As we noted last week, the Marine Corps is buying fewer MRAPs. Today MSNBC picked up on an AP story about this and it makes several good points.

• The number of IED attacks in Iraq are down.


• The Corps and the Army have different roles and requirements. The Army will continue to want lots of MRAPS.


• The Marines are very interested in getting some of that MRAP money and purchasing the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs).

The article goes on to speculate on the effects to industry. It's a good overview and nice to see in a very public domain.

Source: MSNBC