The U.S. Army is serious about the narrative that it is serious about cyber. The service has put its organizational architecture on the line by prioritizing the newest warfighting domain while converging it with long-extant but re-emerging combat disciplines, a senior leader says.
Army
July 21, 2017
eScience & Technology Solutions Inc.,* North Charleston, South Carolina (N0003917D0011); IDEAMATICS Inc.,* McLean, Virginia (N0003917D0012); and Rite-Solutions Inc.,* Pawcatuck, Connecticut (N0003917D0013), are being awarded a multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the rapid product development and sustainment contract vehicle to support the Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS) in the design, development, implementation and sustainment of information technology systems and software supporting enterprise business services, personnel and pay, position management, recruiting and accessions, workforce development and distance support. This multiple award contract has a base f
June 29, 2017
U.S. Army officials expect that by this fall, they will have formal approval of a rapid prototyping process for acquiring cyber and electronic warfare prototypes assessed during the just-completed Cyber Quest 2017 exercise at Fort Gordon, Georgia.
Army officials describe Cyber Quest as an annual cyber and electronic warfare exploration and collaboration event hosted by the Cyber Center of Excellence. This is the second year for the event.
June 28, 2017
U.S. Army leaders have not consistently evaluated the efficiency and effectiveness of the department’s contracting operations, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has concluded. To amend the situation, the office recommends developing metrics to assess contracting operations for timeliness, cost savings and contract quality; documenting rationales for key decisions; and establishing measurable objectives to assess the effects of organizational changes on contracting operations.
June 16, 2017
General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona, was awarded a $250,000,000 hybrid cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract to modify, test, train and sustain the Prophet System, a tactical signals intelligence and electronic warfare capability. One bid was solicited and one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 15, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56KGY-17-D-0006).
June 9, 2017
Raytheon Company has announced that it has been awarded a contract valued up to $600 million for software support and sustainment to modernize missile defense and other strategic systems. The work will be conducted at the Software Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center at Redstone Arsenal. Rapid prototyping, hardware development, testing and validation will support Raytheon's software engineering. Systems include: Strategic missiles and launchers; radars; data mining and visualization tools; condition-based maintenance; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; virtual operations centers; and cyber resiliency of fielded systems.
June 2, 2017
The U.S. Army is adjusting its cyber aperture a bit, refocusing attention from developing in-house talent to seeing what the commercial world has to offer. On Monday, an Army branch launches its annual Cyber Quest 2017 event, a multiweek exercise in cyber and electronic warfare (EW) exploration and collaboration hosted by the Army Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE) at Fort Gordon, Georgia.
The intent of this year’s event is to provide external vendors the opportunity to demonstrate innovative solutions and integrate capabilities within Army systems.
May 18, 2017
A new computer-controlled exoskeleton is now available to help warfighters carry heavy equipment in physically challenging environments. The FORTIS Knee Stress Release Device (K-SRD) features military-specification batteries approved for infantry use, improved control box ergonomics and faster actuators that generate more torque.
Using Dermoskeleton bionic augmentation technology developed by B-Temia Incorporated, the device increases leg capacity for tasks that require repetitive or continuous kneeling, squatting, lifting, dragging, carrying or climbing with heavy loads.
May 5, 2017
Zipping past a Plan B for cyber defense solutions to the end of the alphabet, the U.S. Defense Department's research arm launched Plan X and advanced platforms to conduct and assess cyber warfare like kinetic warfare.
After five years of development by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Plan X is scheduled to transition in September to the Army's Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS) Project Manager Installation Information Infrastructure–Communications and Capabilities (I3C2).
May 8, 2017
Yorktown Systems Group Inc.,* Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $22,469,405 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for operations support services, including conducting and providing predictive modeling and trend analyses concerning global asymmetric threats. Bids were solicited via the Internet with seven received. Work will be performed in Fort Meade, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of May 14, 2021. No funding will be obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W911S0-17-C-0007).
*Small Business
May 5, 2017
A new U.S. Army cyber-based task force hit the ground running this week to do a deep-dive, Army-wide review and strategically assess the service’s cyber needs, strengths, weaknesses and assets, officials say. Task Force Cyber Strong is one tangible outcome from a new cyber directorate created in July to spearhead the convergence of cybersecurity and electronic warfare.
May 1, 2017
Lockheed Martin, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $332,136,017 firm-fixed-price foreign military sales (United Kingdom, Egypt, India, Korea, Republic of Indonesia, Taiwan, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Poland) contract for Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor System, subcomponent production, and technical services for the Apache attack helicopter. One bid was solicited and one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2018. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-17-D-0043).
April 17, 2017
Alutiiq Professional Training LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded a $7,487,108 time and materials contract for repair and maintenance of radio systems in support of the Afghan National Police on behalf of the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, and Hanahan, South Carolina, with an estimated completion date of April 13, 2020. Fiscal 2016 other funds in the amount of $7,487,108 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W91CRB-17-C-0010).
*Small Business
April 7, 2017
Leidos, Reston, Virginia (W911QY-17-D-0017); AASKI Technologies Inc., Tinton Falls, New Jersey (W911QY-17-D-0018); and AAI Corporation/Textron, Hunt Valley, Maryland, will share in a $900,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for technical services and field support in support of Product Office Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Bids were solicited via the Internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of April 5, 2022. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Natick, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity.
April 7, 2017
Atlantic CommTech Corp.*, Norfolk, Virginia (W912DY-17-D-0008); Evergreen Fire and Security*, Tacoma, Washington (W912DY-17-D-0009); Infotec Systems Corp.,* Summerville, South Carolina (W912DY-17-D-0010); Integrated Security Solutions,* Kalispell, Montana (W912DY-17-D-0011); Low Voltage Wiring (LVW), LTD,* Colorado Springs, Colorado (W912DY-17-D-0012); Signet Technologies Inc.,* Beltsville, Maryland (W912DY-17-D-0013); Kbrwyle Technology Solutions, LLC, Columbia, Maryland (W912DY-17-D-0014); Johnson Controls Building Automation Systems, LLC, Huntsville, Alabama (W912DY-17-D-0015); M.C.
April 6, 2017
Northrop Grumman Corp., Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $48,061,680 modification (P00144) to contract (W31P4Q-08-C-0418) to provide support to the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) development contract engineering and manufacturing development phase activities; and provide continuity during transition of the IBCS effort. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2017. Fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $20,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
April 5, 2017
Donald Reago Jr., director of the U.S. Army's Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, has stepped in as the center’s acting director following the retirement of Henry Muller Jr. after a nearly 33-year federal career.
Army officials began April 1 a search to permanently fill the position, a process that should take no more than 120 days, officials stated in a press release.
April 3, 2017
Vectrus Systems Corp., Colorado Springs, Colorado, was awarded a $17,468,173 firm-fixed-price contract for information technology support and services to support the mission of the 2nd Signal (Theater) Brigade within the U.S. Army Europe, U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Work will be performed in Germany, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Israel, Turkey, and Kosovo, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2017 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $6,455,776 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S.
April 3, 2017
Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $288,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Instrumentable Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System Vehicle Tactical Engagement Simulation System acquisition, which will complete the basis of issue and potentially replace older legacy systems. Bids were solicited via the Internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order; with an estimated completion date of March 30, 2024. Army Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-17-D-0003).
April 1, 2017
An offshoot of social media, crowdsourcing could hold solutions to some of the biggest cybersecurity problems the U.S. Defense Department faces. The burgeoning field could find fixes for thorny legacy problems as well as emerging cyberthreats. This is exactly what is taking root at the Joint Forces Staff College in a course offered to service members and their Defense Department civilian equivalents learning cyber concepts in joint, interagency and multinational environments.