NASA Ames' Yuri's Night Landing in the Bay Area April 9 and 10

Featuring Exhibits, Speakers and Performances by the Black Keys, Common, Les Claypool, N.E.R.D. and More

Defense News: SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - 03/30/10) - Ankh Marketing, Symbiosis Events and Lumatech Lighting, in association with NASA Ames Research Center, are proud to announce the return of Yuri's Night, an event celebrating humankind's curiosity with space and technology. The two-day event will be held at Moffett Field in Mountain View, California, Friday, April 9 and Saturday, April 10. Over 10,000 people are anticipated to join astronauts, installation artists, musicians, scientists and engineers for two days of learning, exploring and honoring the stellar achievements in space exploration over the last 50 years. Tickets for the April 10th festival are now on sale at http://www.ynba.org.

The first of the two-day extravaganza is an education day free to all Bay Area elementary, high school and college students. With a variety of interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and guest speakers, the education day boasts a full day of nonstop action and fun, to explore art, space, and the future of the world being built in Silicon Valley.

"This year's free education day is the realization of a vision we've held since the first Bay Area Yuri's Night event at NASA Ames in 2007," noted Karen KoChen of Symbiosis Events. "Our team has brought together some of the Bay Area's leading minds for this unique opportunity to engage and inspire the next generation of scientists."

Day two brings together some of the biggest acts in music to the festival on April 10th. With highly anticipated performances by blues rock duo the Black Keys, hip-hop legend and actor Common, musical visionary Les Claypool (of Primus), chart-topping super group N.E.R.D., along with a host of other live performers, the festival will feature dynamic art installations, flying demonstrations, special guest speakers from NASA and more.

"We're thrilled to be a part of such a progressive and important event that bridges education, entertainment and exploration," said Ankh Marketing's Kamel Jacot-Bell. "We are really excited about the activities and talent lined up for both days and can't wait for people to experience what's in store."

For a complete listing of activities, performers, education day registration, festival tickets and more, please visit www.ynba.org. Additional press information: Yuri's Night SMR (http://pitch.pe/53153).

Contact:

Press Inquiries:
Diane Payes
(510)282-6369
Email Contact
Jen Zariat
(415)787-4686
Email Contact 

The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex) Releases NUMMI Supplier Viability Assessment Report

Manex Report to Alameda County Workforce Investment Board (ACWIB) Indicates Most Suppliers’ Prospects Are Slim Without Immediate Identification and Pursuit of Alternative Markets; Many Lack Resources To Do So

Defense News: SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex) today released its NUMMI supplier viability assessment report, which recently was undertaken at the request of the Alameda County Workforce Investment Board (ACWIB). ACWIB engaged Manex to assess the continuing viability – in the absence of NUMMI - of a selected group of the County’s 31 manufacturing suppliers to the auto manufacturer scheduled to shut its doors on April 1.

The results of Manex’s assessments, which incorporated strategic, marketing, operational and financial reviews (including benchmarking performance against peer organizations nationwide), revealed that despite high levels of operational excellence in the top 5%-10% of manufacturers nationwide, the majority will not survive the loss of NUMMI’s business that in many cases represents all – or almost all – of the firms’ revenue.

Without any action taken by these companies, the report projects losses of $160 million in revenue, 917 jobs, and $64 million in wages. The result is 75% unemployment among the companies participating in the study.

While the report identified several alternative revenue and market opportunities for many of the suppliers, including aerospace, medical devices, emerging clean tech, alternative energy and high-speed rail initiatives, it also noted that the short-term loss of NUMMI revenue is not the only pressing issue facing many of them.

“Many of the suppliers have had the luxury of significant and recurring revenue from NUMMI, but also succumbed to the resultant risk of being a captive supplier. Despite operational excellence and skilled workforces, several no longer have the innovation, strategy development, marketing or sales skills required to design new marketable products or to identify or penetrate new markets,” said Brent Meyers, President and CEO of Manex. “In many ways, the lack of revenue generation capability is a greater barrier to survival and success than the sudden loss of NUMMI orders,” he continued.

Meyers also stated that the companies with some level of customer and revenue diversification outside of NUMMI, and those that undertook initiatives and made at least some progress towards that goal since the shutdown became likely nine months ago – and certain six months ago – are significantly more likely to survive than others who have not.

According to the study, only two or three of the 13 suppliers are likely to remain viable without taking immediate action to identify and obtain new markets and customers. Six or seven additional suppliers would have a reasonable chance of business continuity if immediate assistance in the areas of strategy, marketing and sales were provided to them, and if they were able to sustain that progress through training and development – or augmentation – of their staff.

Upon receiving the report, the ACWIB indicated it would quickly explore how to move forward with the immediate advisory, training and development assistance for the businesses identified as having a reasonable chance of continued viability.

About Manex

Founded in 1995, The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex) provides a broad array of proven advisory and implementation solutions exclusively to manufacturers, distributors and their supply chains, enabling them to increase growth, productivity, quality and profitability. Manex delivers high-impact solutions in four key areas: strategy, people, process and performance. Meaningful, rapid impact and ROI are achieved through a modular-yet-holistic approach encompassing corporate strategy and planning, marketing strategy, training and development, Lean manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, Six Sigma, ISO and performance management systems. Manex is the Northern California affiliate of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership. For more information, visit www.manexconsulting.com.

Contact:

Manex
Brent Meyers, 925-807-5111

Sarkozy says EADS will bid for US tanker if fair

* 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

Defense News: 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 classified 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)

US report says arms programs face overruns, delays

* Most programs facing changing requirements

* Overall affordability must be addressed

By Andrea Shalal-Esa

Defense News: WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - The Pentagon and Congress have taken meaningful steps to reform chronic cost overruns and schedule delays on big weapons programs, but the government still needs to downsize existing weapons programs, eliminate them, or both, a new congressional report said on Tuesday.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), the research arm of Congress, said 42 programs it assessed in depth had shown continued improvement in terms of technology, design, and manufacturing processes, but most programs still lacked the levels of knowledge needed for best management practices.

That put them at higher risk for cost growth and schedule delays, the report concluded.

A majority of programs had also seen changes in military requirements, software development challenges, or workforce issues, or a combination -- all factors that could affect program stability and execution.

GAO lauded Defense Secretary Robert Gates for proposing to terminate all or part of seven major acquisition programs with a combined projected cost of at least $126 billion.

But it said pressures on the defense budget continued to build, given the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, rising health care costs and initiatives to modernize military equipment.

"The department must still address the overall affordability of its weapon system investments," GAO said, noting that the number of major weapons programs actually grew by six to 102 last year, despite Gates' cuts.

Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter struck a similar theme in a speech to industry executives on Monday, saying he planned to use more independent cost estimates and step up oversight to identify problems with arms programs sooner.

Using such tools had helped bring to light issues with the Lockheed Martin Corp's (LMT.N) F-35 fighter jet program, and allowed a major restructuring to put the program on a more realistic footing for success, Carter said.

The GAO said it was unable to analyze the overall performance of the Pentagon's weapons portfolio because the department had not issued complete reports on the costs of major acquisition programs for fiscal year 2009.

In previous years, GAO reported cumulative cost growth on weapons programs of $300 billion in fiscal year 2010 dollars. It said it expected to resume that analysis next year.

The GAO report included details on dozens of specific programs, including the F-35, the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship program, several satellites and the Army's canceled Future Combat Systems modernization program. [ID:nN30162613]

GAO warned that even some of the early spinouts from the FCS program, which were supposed to be more advanced than other technologies, faced reliability and performance issues.

For instance, a small unmanned ground vehicle was unable to provide the infrared imagery needed to recognize a person at required distances. And an unattended ground sensor that was supposed to run for 127 hours only ran for five.

It warned that problems that arose during testing could require costly redesigns and retrofits of Northrop Grumman Corp's (NOC.N) Global Hawk unmanned plane, which could lead to further delays in a program that is already more than 3 years behind schedule.

Lockheed's Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellite also faced software development issues and hardware defects that could add to cost overruns and schedule delays, it said. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa)

SAIC results disappoint, shares off

* Q4 net 31 cents vs. estimate 32 cents

* Contract delays cited

* Company to focus on higher-growth defense sectors

* Shares fall after bell

Defense News: ATLANTA, March 30 (Reuters) - SAIC Inc (SAI.N), a provider of technical services for defense and homeland security, posted fourth-quarter results that missed Wall Street estimates on Tuesday and said delays in federal contracts in a tough defense spending environment would weigh on performance over the next year, sending its shares down after the bell.

Walt Havenstein, the former BAE Systems Plc executive who was named SAIC chief executive last year, said the company would boost investment in higher growth areas such as cyber security and energy efficiency, as its core federal services business was expected to see flat or declining growth.

He also said SAIC, which noted stiffer competition for federal contracts, would pursue acquisitions that expand its capabilities in sectors that are growing.

"The industry can no longer rely on a rising tide to lift all boats." Havenstein said during a conference call.

Defense companies are looking to focus on in-demand niche technologies as the Obama administration scales back traditional weapons programs and focuses more intensely on containing costs.

A longer federal decision-making process has constrained contract awards in recent quarters. For example, SAIC said decision delays and award protests put off nearly $1 billion of planned bookings it expected to win in the fourth quarter.

SAIC, which provides consulting and technical support for intelligence gathering, homeland security and defense systems, expects diluted per-share profit from continuing operations to rise 8 percent to 14 percent over the next year, while revenue growth excluding acquisitions grows 3 percent to 6 percent.

On Tuesday, the company said its previous long-term performance goals, which called for annual diluted per share earnings growth of 11 percent to 18 percent and internal revenue growth of 6 percent to 9 percent, were no longer appropriate.

Pacific Crest Securities analyst Erik Olbeter said new business awards in the fourth quarter, which totaled $1.6 billion, was short of his expectations and showed the slowdown in government spending in intelligence was "far more acute than anyone expected."

"Clearly 2011 is a reset year for the company," Olbeter said. "They need to make significant reinvestments in a number of business lines" to restart growth in 2012.

Net income was $123 million, or 31 cents a share, for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, up from $120 million, or 29 cents a share, a year earlier.

Analysts expected profit of 32 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue rose 7 percent to $2.68 billion, compared with $2.69 billion expected by analysts.

The company posted results after markets closed. SAIC shares fell as much as 6 percent after hours from their close of $18.98 on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Karen Jacobs; editing by Andre Grenon)

Congressional report cites problems with LCS ships

* Launch and recovery of smaller boats seen as major risk

* Neither shipyard meeting management system standards

* General Dynamics ship headed for dry dock repairs (Adds responses from General Dynamics, Lockheed)

By Andrea Shalal-Esa

Defense News: WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy sees the launch and recovery of smaller boats as a "major risk" to both competing designs for its new Littoral Combat Ship program, a congressional watchdog agency said on Tuesday.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), the research arm of Congress, said the Navy's risk assessment was troubling, given that watercraft launch and recovery are "essential to complete the LCS antisubmarine warfare and mine countermeasures missions" for the new class of warships.

The systems for launching and recovering smaller ships had not been fully demonstrated for either of the rival designs by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and General Dynamics Corp (GD.N), the GAO said in its annual report on major weapons systems.

It also cited other problems with both ships designs, including one that will send the General Dynamics ship to dry dock repairs, and noted that neither of the shipyards had met earned value management systems (EVMS) standards set by the Pentagon's Defense Contract Management Agency.

Until they meet those requirements, the companies' cost and schedule data "cannot be considered fully reliable," GAO said.

Lockheed won a contract for LCS-3 based on its steel single hull design on March 23, 2009. General Dynamics won a contract for LCS-4, based on an aluminum trimarin design by Austal (ASB.AX) on May 1, 2009, or 10 months ago.

Austal and General Dynamics have split up for the next competition, with Austal planning to submit a prime bid that includes General Dynamics as a subcontractor for the ship combat system. General Dynamics's shipyards hope to bid separately for follow-on orders in 2012.

TOTAL COST OF PROGRAM TO DATE IS $5 BLN

The rival teams are due to submit their bids for 10 more ships by April 12, a deal valued at over $5 billion, with Navy officials eyeing a contract award in July. Over time, the Navy plans to buy 55 of the new smaller, more agile warships.

GAO said the total cost of the LCS program so far, including research and development as well as procurement funding, was $5.1 billion, nearly 300 percent more than the $1.3 billion cost projected in 2004.

It said the unit cost per ship was $730 million, up from $331 million in 2004, but analysts said that included the first ship of each design, which generally cost more to produce.

GAO said the Navy was conducting dynamic load testing of Lockheed's LCS-1 ship, but integration with the Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle was not due to happen before the ship's so-called shakedown cruise, although it is a "physically stressing system to launch and recover."

For LCS 2, testing of the crane used to launch and recover smaller boats "revealed performance and reliability concerns that were not fully addressed prior to installation."

Lockheed spokeswoman Kim Martinez said the company's first LCS ship, the USS Freedom, had successfully completed its small boat launch and recovery tests, and had used the capability during Freedom's current deployment to catch drug traffickers.

GAO said the main propulsion diesel engines on the General Dynamics ship had not completed a required endurance test due to corrosion in the engines' intake valves, which had to be replaced so the ship could complete acceptance trials.

The General Dynamics ship had also experienced pitting and corrosion in its waterjet tunnels, an issue that the Navy has temporarily fixed, but which will require welding work during a future dry dock availability, GAO said.

Design changes were also made to the General Dynamics ship to address the corrosion and pitting in its waterjet tunnels by isolating the propulsion shafts from the waterjets, GAO said.

General Dynamics spokesman Rob Doolittle said issues sometimes arose during construction of the first ship of any class, but the company and the Navy had already addressed the concerns raised in the GAO report.

He noted that LCS-2 had passed both builder's and Navy acceptance trials, and was now under way from the shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, headed toward the East Coast.

The GAO report also noted previously reported concerns about the stability of Lockheed's ship if critically damaged, but said the Navy had added external tanks to the rear of the ship to allow it to meet the damage stability requirement.

The design for Lockheed's second ship was also modified to lengthen its transom by four meters to improve stability.

Martinez said Freedom had proven to be very stable, and the tanks were only needed in a severely damaged condition. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Bernard Orr)

DTN News: U.S. Hopes To Give Pakistan Drones Within A Year

Defense News: DTN News: U.S. Hopes To Give Pakistan Drones Within A Year

Source: DTN News / Reuters By Phil Stewart
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 30, 2010: The Pentagon aims to deliver a fleet of surveillance drones to Pakistan within a year, but weaponised versions of the unmanned aircraft are still off-limits, a U.S. military official said on Monday.
U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates announced plans in January to provide Islamabad with what aides said at the time were 12 Shadow drones, aiming to boost its ability to track insurgents.
But a senior U.S. military official, briefing reporters at the Pentagon on the condition of anonymity, said Islamabad was still weighing whether Shadow drones were the model of unmanned aircraft best suited to its needs.
"We looked at Shadows. We looked at Scan Eagles and other tactical UAVs that are out and about and what we want to do is try to find out" which model is best, the official said, referring to drones as unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs.
Shadows are manufactured by AAI Corporation, a unit of Textron Systems, while Scan Eagles are manufactured by Boeing Co.
Islamabad has also pressed for weaponised drones, like the ones the CIA is covertly using in Pakistan to track and kill al Qaeda and Taliban insurgents.
The official, asked about that request, said general U.S. policy was not to export weaponised capabilities of any drone aircraft. Washington has been reluctant to share sensitive technology so far.
The number of surveillance drones that the United States would eventually provide to Pakistan depends on the cost of the model selected, the official said.
"A key factor will be how quickly we can get the capabilities to them," the official said.
Pressed on timing, the official said: "I would like to think that we would get them there within a year."
Pakistan is already using some non-U.S., imported drone technology and has modified a C-130 military transport aircraft to allow some surveillance activities, the official said.
Drones have proven to be a crucial technological advantage for the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq, allowing it to remotely track militants and giving commanders battleground imagery in real time.
Gates told a Senate hearing last week it was in the U.S. interest to try to help close allies get drone technology, despite limitations on exports imposed by an international pact, known as the Missile Technology Control Regime.
The MTCR is a pact among at least 34 countries aimed at curbing the spread of unmanned delivery systems that could be used for weapons of mass destruction.

DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 29, 2010

Defense News: DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated March 29, 2010

Source: U.S. DoD issued March 29, 2010
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 30, 2010: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued March 29, 2010 are undermentioned;
CONTRACTS
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
~Philips Medical Systems, Andover, Mass., is being awarded a maximum $77,172,660 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for patient monitoring systems, subsystems, accessories, consumables, spare/repair parts, and training. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 17 proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the first option year. The date of performance completion is March 29, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2D1-09-D-8349).
~Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc., Twinsburg, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum $12,000,000 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 fourth option year. The date of performance completion is March 29, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2D1-09-D-8331).
NAVY
~L-3 Services, Inc., Mount Laurel, N.J., is being awarded a $38,997,853 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for integrated systems engineering support services in support of C4ISR and C2. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated $268,986,110. Work will be performed in Charleston, S.C. (40 percent); Norfolk, Va. (40 percent); San Diego (10 percent); and Washington, D.C. (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Commerce Business Daily’s Federal Business Opportunities Web site and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center E-Commerce Central Web site, with seven offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-04-D-6842).
~Raytheon Technical Services Co., LLC, Customized Engineering and Depot Support, Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $32,398,357 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract to provide engineering and manufacturing development of a non-pyrotechnic multi-purpose bomb rack for carriage and release of weapons and stores employed on BRU-33, BRU-41, BRU-42, and BRU-55 bomb rack. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Ind., and is expected to be completed in September 2014. Contract funds in the amount of $5,168,598 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals, with three proposals received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0048).
~ADS, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va., is being awarded a $21,320,000 firm-fixed-price delivery order against General Services Administration (GSA) schedule contract (GS-07F-5965P) for the procurement and delivery of back up iron sights (BUIS) P/N: 25650-1. The BUIS is a single flip-up rear sight for use with the M4 carbine and M16 rifle. It is designed to occupy space behind the eyepiece of a day scope and has the capability of flipping up for use in the event of a primary sight failure. Work will be performed in Virginia Beach, Va., and is expected to be completed March 2015. Delivery order funds in the amount of $21,300,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This delivery order was competitively procured with quotes solicited via the GSA e-Buy Web site, with five offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity for delivery order M67854-10-F-1063.
~Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $17,709,161 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for a follow-on contract for the United Kingdom technical services in support of the TRIDENT Strategic Weapons System. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, Calif. (70.69 percent); Cape Canaveral, Fla. (12.54 percent); St. Marys, Ga. (2.58 percent); Bremerton, Wash. (0.81 percent); and other locations inside and outside the United States (13.38 percent). Work is expected to be completed March 31, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00030-10-C-0026).
~ArmorWorks Enterprise, LLC*, Chandler, Ariz. (N62583-10-D-0323);
~Southern California Gold Products, Inc.*, Oxnard, Calif. (N62583-10-D-0346); and
~American Defense Systems, Inc.*, Hicksville, N.Y. (N62583-10-D-0347), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price multiple award contract for up-armoring solutions of civil engineer support equipment for the Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center. The base year and each of the four option years have a not-to-exceed amount of $10,000,000. The maximum dollar value for all three contracts combined shall not exceed $50,000,000. The work to be performed includes all labor, materials, and services necessary to design, engineer, fabricate, integrate armor systems and sub-systems, and testing requirements. The contractor is responsible for shipping and transportation of all the equipment identified within each individual task order. Work will be performed at various contractor sites within the continental United States. The contract ordering period will be for a base year plus up to four option years, with an expected completion date of April 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 as a small business set-aside under the North American Industry Classification System 336992. There were seven proposals received as a result of this solicitation. These contractors will compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Specialty Center Acquisitions, Port Hueneme, Calif., is the contracting activity.
~Lockheed Martin Corp., Maritime Systems and Sensors, Manassas, Va., is being awarded a $9,517,017 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-6207). The modification is for the fiscal 2010 tactical local area network effort to support work to procure production for the Virginia Class submarine combat control three-bay structurally integrated enclosure. This option is to be used for shipsets seven through ten. Work will be performed in Manassas, Va., and is expected to be completed December of 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.
ARMY
~WRS Infrastructure & Environment, Inc., Tampa, Fla., was awarded on Mar. 22 a $30,224,400 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of westbank and vicinity, New Orleans, Louisiana hurricane storm damage risk reduction systems Lake Cataouatche, western tie-in WBV 72: east-west levee St. Charles Parish. Work is to be performed in St. Charles Parish, La., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 13, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with four bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-10-C-0062).
~Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Andover, Mass., was awarded on Mar. 23 a $20,476,695 firm-fixed-price contract to provide technical assistance in support of Foreign Military Sales case. Work is to be performed in Andover, Mass., with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Missile Logistics Division, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-08-C-0301).
~HX5, LLC, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded on March 25 an $18,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for research and development, science & engineering and related logistical and administrative support services for all engineering reach and development center laboratories and other local Corps entities. Work is to be performed in with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2014. Bids were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site with four bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ERDC Contracting Office, Vicksburg, Miss., is the contracting activity (W912HZ-09-D-0001).
~Raytheon Co., IDS, Huntsville, Ala., was awarded on March 25 a $12,985,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Plug-and-Fight (P&F) A-Kit design definition to develop an integrated set of components/platform end item preliminary engineering change proposals for the development of IAMD P&F A-kits that integrate government furnished equipment IAMD B-Kits. Work is to be performed in Huntsville, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. AMCOM Contracting Center, Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-10-C-0267).
~Walbridge, Detroit, Mich., was awarded on March 23 a $11,485,000 firm-fixed-price construction contract for a training support center at Fort Riley, Kansas. Work is to be performed in Fort Riley, Kan., with an estimated completion date of July 29, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with four bids received. U.S. Corps of Engineers, CECT-NWK-M, Kansas City, Mo., is the contracting activity (W912HN-09-D-0023).
~Evergreen Helicopter, Inc., McMinnville, Ore., was awarded on March 23 a $10,015,620 firm-fixed-price contract for helicopter support and services for U.S. Army Hawaii, islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Work is to be performed in the islands of Oahu (40 percent) and Hawaii (60 percent) with an estimated completion date of March 23. Twenty-five bids were solicited with two bids received. Regional Contracting Office, Hawaii Fort Shafter, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (W912CN-08-D-0013).
~Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, N.Y., was awarded on March 23 a $9,420,975 firm-fixed-price contract for an award undefinitized contractual action modification for the update and completion of the integrated logistics support effort for the light armored vehicle command and control variant upgrade program. Work is to be performed in Owego, N.Y., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. TACOM LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-05-C-0383).
~Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc., Columbia, Md., was awarded on March 23 a $7,990,190 time-and-material contract for service contract of Sustainment of the Mobile Parts Hospital (MPH) in Southwest Asia. The MPH is a self-contained, self-sustaining mobile manufacturing system that efficiently fabricates standards and unique parts at or near the point of need to enhance soldier readiness. Work is to be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich. (16.6 percent), and Southwest Asia (83.4 percent), with an estimated completion date of March 22, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. TACOM Rock Island, CCTA-AR-FB, Rock Island., Ill., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-10-C-0279).
~Caesar Rodney School District, Camden, Del., was awarded on March 25 a $7,803,955 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract modification is to exercise option period one for comprehensive education program, grades K-12, servicing eligible dependent children of Department of Defense personnel residing on Dover Air Force Base. Work is to be performed in Camden, Del., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2011. Bids were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site with one bid received. Department of Defense Education Activity, DDESS, Peachtree City, Ga., is the contracting activity (HEVAS6-09-C-0001).
~Trumbull Corp. and Brayman Construction Corp., JV, Pittsburg, Pa., was awarded on March 24 a $7,317,340 firm-fixed-price contract. The Pittsburg district is modifying the Charleroi River wall contract for producing and delivering concrete that meets the requirements of the Charleroi River wall contract for construction of another feature of the Charleroi locks and dam project. The work will be concurrent with construction of the river wall and extend beyond completion of construction of Charleroi River wall to completion of concrete placement of the upper and lower guard walls. This work includes continued operation and maintenance of the concrete batch plant and concrete conveyor system, and continuing environmental compliance measurements and environment control representative for the batch plant after completion of construction of Charleroi River. Work is to be performed in Charleroi locks and dam, Belle Vernon, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with three bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District, Pittsburg, Pa., is the contracting activity (W911WN-04-C-0003).
~Cares Environment Services, Brooklyn Park, Minn., was awarded on March 23 a $7,296,790 firm-fixed-price contract for Birdland Park levee system improvement project, Des Moines River. Work is to be performed in Polk City, Iowa, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 2, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with eight bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W912EK-10-C-0067).
~Vet Industrial, Inc., Bremerton, Wash., was awarded on March 24 a $7,219,300 firm-fixed-price construction contract. This contract is for the design and construction of approximately 16,900 square feet of additions to the existing fiscal 2008 Medical Dental Clinic. Work is to be performed in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2011. Bids were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site with three bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, Seattle, Wash., is the contracting activity (W912DW-10-C-0007).
~Alliant Ammunition and Powder Co., LLC, Radford, Va., was awarded on March 22 a $6,935,880 firm-fixed-price contract for 718,000 propulseur d’appoint a poudre (PAP) 7993 granular propellant. PAP is a single-base granular propellant used in the M231 and M232 modular artillery charge system. Work is to be performed in Radford, Va., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with three bids received. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Contracting Center, CCRC-AR, Rock Island., Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-09-G-0002).

FLIR Systems Announces $13.5 Million Order From Naval Surface Warfare Center

Defense News: PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - 03/29/10) - FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLIR - News) announced today that it has received a $13.5 million order from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division for its BRITE Star® II multi-sensor target designation systems. The order was pursuant to a previously announced $125.3 million, five year requirements contract (Contract No. N00164-08-D-JQ40). The units delivered under this order will be used by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy for various missions.

Work on this order will be performed at FLIR's facilities in Wilsonville, OR. Deliveries are expected to begin and conclude in 2011.

"This new order under the existing contract further demonstrates FLIR's position as a leading, world-class supplier of sophisticated, EO/IR laser designation systems," said Earl R. Lewis, President and CEO of FLIR Systems, Inc. "We are pleased the Navy and Marine Corps have selected FLIR products for these critical missions."

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this release by Earl R. Lewis, and the other statements in this release about the order described above, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including the following: the ability to manufacture and deliver the systems referenced in this release, changes in demand for the Company's products, product mix, the timing of deliveries under the order discussed above, the impact of competitive products and pricing, constraints on supplies of critical components, excess or shortage of production capacity, the ability of the Company to manufacture and ship products in the time period required, actual purchases under agreements, the Company's continuing compliance with US export control laws and regulations, the timely receipt of export licenses for international shipments, the continuing eligibility of the Company to act as a federal contractor, and other risks discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general domestic and international economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release, or for changes made to this document by wire services or Internet service providers.

About FLIR Systems
FLIR Systems, Inc. is a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of thermal imaging and stabilized camera systems for a wide variety of thermography and imaging applications including condition monitoring, research and development, manufacturing process control, airborne observation and broadcast, search and rescue, drug interdiction, surveillance and reconnaissance, navigation safety, border and maritime patrol, environmental monitoring and ground-based security. Visit the Company's web site at www.FLIR.com.

Contact:

 
Company contact:
Tony Trunzo
FLIR Systems, Inc.
(503) 498-3547
www.flir.com 

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