satellite communications

Iridium Satellite LLC., Tempe, Arizona, was awarded a non-competitive, firm-fixed-price contract modification (P00013) for the extension of services on the current Airtime contract (HC104714C4000). The face value of this action is $8,836,000 funded by fiscal year 2019 defense working capital funds. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $478,194,000. Performance will be at the contractor's facility. The original solicitation was issued on the basis of other than full and open competition pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services would satisfy agency requirements. The period of performance is July 22, 2019, through August 21, 2019.

The Russian military has been using a clever—and lethal—propaganda technique against Ukrainian soldiers. They spam the soldiers’ cellphones with demoralizing messages and then take advantage of the resulting confusion to geolocate the soldiers’ cellphone signals and launch an attack.

Gen. Baker: You're never going to be able to emulate [in training] the gut-wrenching emotions of Russian-style messaging.#AFCEATechNet

— George Seffers (@gseffers) August 9, 2017

L-3 Communications Corp., Communication Systems West, Salt Lake City, Utah, was awarded a $499,987,656 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for common data link and satellite communications support services. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of October 31, 2021. The Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56KGY-17-D-0001).

The Boeing Co., Colorado Springs, Colorado, was awarded a $46,216,088 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to support the Wideband Satellite Communications Operational Management System. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of September 1, 2021. The Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-16-D-0079).

Harris Corp., Melbourne, Florida, is being awarded a $10,276,458 modification to a previously awarded, firm-fixed-price contract (N00039-13-C-0001) to exercise an option for Commercial Broadband Satellite Program systems, including two Force Level Variant (FLV) dynamic shipboard systems, three FLV dual antenna/dual channel systems and one FLV dynamic shipboard system with radar cross-section reduction. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida, and is expected to be completed by January 30, 2017.

The U.S. Navy’s fourth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS-4) satellite is talking from space to the satellite control team at the Naval Spacecraft Operations Control facility after its Florida launch this morning. MUOS-4 will enable near-global coverage for a new secure military communications network offering enhanced capabilities for mobile forces.

Boeing Service Co., Richardson, Texas, was awarded a $15,008,500 sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract to provide airborne broadband satellite communications enterprise service for U.S. senior leaders conducting official travel on Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command aircraft fleets. Work will be performed primarily at Boeing and their subcontractor's facilities worldwide with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2015, with six one-year option periods. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance funding is being obligated at award. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity (HC1013-15-C-0006).

AIS Engineering Incorporated (AIS) has announced it was awarded contract HC1013-14-F-0038 (CTC0195) for commercial satellite communications transponded capacity to provide bandwidth for the Joint Satellite Engineering Center for the project manager Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (PM WIN-T). AIS will be providing the satellite capacity together with SES Government Solutions. The task order is valued at more than $50 million over the life of the contract. The Future Commercial SATCOM Acquisition program is managed by the General Services Administration in partnership with the Defense Information Systems Agency. 

SES Government Solutions, McLean Virginia, has been awarded an $8,245,160 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of commercial on-orbit transponders to support Ku-band communications for U.S. Africa Command and operations and sustainment support for a base year and four one-year options. Work will be performed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany and the western portion of Africa, and is expected to be complete by Aug. 5, 2019. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is the contracting activity (FA8808-14-C-0001).