Navy-funded small biz research

CORONA, Calif. - In the next round of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) funding, the Navy will be accepting proposals from innovative startups and small businesses beginning June 3. The 20.2 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) details millions of dollars available for businesses that can provide innovative solutions responsive to any of 55 Navy-specific topics while meeting unmet market demands. Pre-release for 20.2 opened May 6 and is ongoing until proposal acceptance begins. The latest announcement introduces new opportunities beyond those offered in the previous 20.4 announcement, which closes May 28. (Source NSWC Corona 05/15/20) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=112968

New CAFB boss to arrive in July

The 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus AFB, Miss., will live stream its virtual change of command at 11:14 a.m. on Monday, May 18, via the base’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusAFB/?ref=page_internal. Colonel Samantha Weeks has been the wing’s commander since August 2018. The 14th FTW conducts Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training for U.S. Air Force and allied officers, as well as tactical training for Afghan and Lebanese pilots and aircraft maintainers in the A-29 Super Tucano at Moody AFB, Ga. The wing is composed of 244 aircraft and trains more than 400 pilots and combat system operators annually. UPDATE: The 14th FTW change of command took place May 18. Colonel Seth Graham became the commanding officer. He comes to CAFB from duty as vice commander of the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. Col. Graham received his commission from Oregon State University ROTC in 1998. Following graduation, he attended Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB, Texas, and served multiple flying assignments in the B-1. Col. Graham is a command pilot with more than 2,600 flying hours. Following the change of command ceremony, Weeks retired after 23 years of service to the Air Force. UPDATE2: Graham won't actually assume his duties until July. The wing will be under the command of Vice Wing Commander Col. Dave Fazenbaker until Graham's arrival.

Space Command looking for an HQ

WASHINGTON – U.S. Space Command is looking for a permanent home. The Air Force, in coordination with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is announcing a revised approach for determining the permanent location of the command’s headquarters. This revised approach considers the newly established organizational structure and analyzes its effects on the limited number of highly specialized personnel and infrastructure required to support both the Space Force and Space Command. Additionally, the approach expands the number of locations eligible for consideration to host the permanent Space Command HQ, and provides a comprehensive and transparent analysis before selecting a final location. The AF released screening and evaluation criteria, which will increase the number of locations eligible for consideration. The AF is providing communities that meet the criteria an opportunity to nominate themselves as potential candidate-locations by following the process outlined in a letter from the AF to the nation’s governors, which includes a nomination form and screening and evaluation criteria. Colorado Springs, Colo., remains the provisional HQ. (Source: Secretary of the Air Force 05/15/20) https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2188428/department-of-the-air-force-expands-potential-basing-locations-for-us-space-com.

GC squad earns ‘Grampaw’ award

NORFOLK, Va. - Training Squadron (VT) 10 of NAS Pensacola, Fla., was chosen as the organization winner and Lt. Katherine Smisson of Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 121 the individual winner of the 2019 Grampaw Pettibone Award. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that contribute the most toward aviation safety through publications and media resources. VT-10 had innovative communications within the student Naval Flight Officers (NFO) it trains. Through required reading, crew resource management (CRM) training and its internal newsletter, the “Scratching Post,” show that is filled with lessons learned from activities on the ground and air. “It’s a kind of a ‘there I was, I was wrong and how I got it right’ later,” said VT-10 Safety Officer Lt. John Montana. “It’s how we overcome them and learn from them that’s important.” The squadron wants student-NFOs to understand the importance of safety. “We want them taking the lead in safety, so we bring them into safety decisions early on instead of holding their hands.” VT-10’s aviation safety officer said that communicating openly with student NFOs encourages them to speak up when they see something wrong. Smisson received the individual award for her article, “Pressurized into an Early Recovery,” describing a May 2019 over-pressurization event aboard an E-2D Hawkeye. Her narrative recounted a rare event during a flight in which a crew experienced over-pressurization, and how teamwork brought the five-person crew safely back aboard ship. The outcome of the article was a new Naval Aviation Training and Operating Procedures Standardization Manual (NATOPS) procedure to more quickly identify and respond to over-pressurization. The article will appear in the spring 2020 issue of Approach magazine. (Source: Naval Safety Center 05/15/20) https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=112973

Keesler graduates first BMT det

KEESLER AFB, Miss. - For the first time since 1968, a flight of Airmen have graduated from Air Force basic military training (BMT) outside of Lackland AFB, Texas. Nearly 60 Airmen from the 37th Training Wing Detachment 5 marched across the Levitow Training Support Facility drill pad at Keesler AFB on May 15 signifying their completion of an historic training evolution. Due to safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, the AF sent new recruits to Keesler to demonstrate a proof of concept to generate the force at multiple locations during contingencies. “We are deliberately developing options to disperse the delivery of BMT during contingencies to provide surge capacity and introduce agility into the training pipeline construct,” said Maj. Gen. Andrea Tullos, 2nd Air Force commander, when explaining the purpose of the changes back in March. “This will also help provide relief to the military training instructor staff and ease the strain on our BMT infrastructure.” (Source: Keesler AFB 05/15/20)

Armed Forces Day, May 16

The White House has issued a proclamation honoring current and former members of the military for Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 16. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-armed-forces-day-2020/

Keesler base ops contract

Vectrus Systems Corp., Colorado Springs, Colo., has been awarded a $17,382,577 firm-fixed-price modification (A00072) to contract FA3002-17-C-0001 for base operations support services at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. Work will be performed at Keesler AFB and is expected to be completed May 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $17,365,577 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $78,311,850. The 81st Contracting Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 05/15/20)

Regional roofing firms land AF pact

Chatmon-VJR JV LLC, LaPlace, Louisiana, FA8003-20-D-0017); RYCARS Construction LLC,* Kenner, Louisiana (FA8003-20-D-0039); Inland Construction and Engineering,* Panama City, Florida (FA8003-20-D-0067); and Yerkes South-Advanced Roofing Inc., Crestview, Florida (FA8003-20-D-0060) and several dozen other companies have been awarded a not-to-exceed $325,000,000 (all-inclusive/program wide) firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to 43 contract holders with 66 contracts for roofing repair, replacement and maintenance. Work will be performed at various Air Force contiguous U.S. installations and installations in Alaska, with work expected to be completed by May 14, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 69 offers were received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $66,000 ($1,000 to each contract) are being obligated at the time of award. The 771st Enterprise Sourcing Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Ohio, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 05/15/20) https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2188998/

GAO rejects Airbus helo protest

WASHINGTON - Leonardo has restarted work on the U.S. Navy’s new training helicopter after its competitor’s protest of the contract was rejected May 12 by the Government Accountability Office. Airbus, which lost the competition in January, protested the award. The Navy chose Leonardo’s TH-119, a military derivative of the civilian AW-119, for its next training helicopter – the TH-73A - in an open competition called Advanced Helicopter Training System. The Navy ordered 32 helicopters with the total procurement expected to reach 130. The next pilot-training helo is scheduled to replace the TH-57 Sea Ranger fleet, which is primarily used for pilot training at NAS Whiting Field, Fla. After GAO rejected the protest, Leonardo - HQ’d in Italy but produces helicopters out of Philadelphia - Leonardo released a statement: “As a result, Leonardo has immediately resumed work on AHTS in Philadelphia, readying the next generation of U.S. Naval Aviators.” The contract, which is going through Leonardo’s Philadelphia-based AugustaWestland facility, is valued at about $648M. The initial part of the contract was for $176.5M for 32 helos. (Source: Defense News 05/14/20) https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/05/14/government-watchdog-rejects-airbus-protest-over-us-navy-training-helicopter-contract/

CAFB grad pilot's nom to NGB

Secretary of Defense (Dr.) Mark T. Esper announced May 15 that the president has nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc H. Sasseville for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Lt. Gen. Sasseville is currently serving as the commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region; and commander, First Air Force (Northern) at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Lt. Gen. Sasseville has been commander of 1st AF (Northern) since June 2019. At the beginning of his aviation career, he completed Student Undergraduate Pilot Training at the 14th Flying Wing at Columbus AFB, Miss., in June 1986. (Source: DoD 05/15/20)

Update: F-22 jet not part of flyover

EGLIN AFB, Fla. - An F-22 Raptor, assigned to the 43rd Fighter Squadron and part of the 325th Fighter Wing currently based at Eglin AFB, crashed at around 9:15 a.m. Friday (May15) some 12 miles northeast of the main base within its test and training range. The pilot ejected safely was transported to the 96th Medical Group hospital on base for evaluation and observation. He is reportedly in stable condition. The pilot’s name has not been released at this time. There were no other individuals on the aircraft. There also was no loss of life or civilian property damage. First responders from the 96th Test Wing were on scene. The F-22's mission was a routine training flight with the 33rd Fighter Wing. A board of officers will investigate the accident. (Source: Eglin AFB 05/15/20) The Lockheed Martin-built Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather fifth-generation stealth tactical fighter. UPDATE: The crash happened shortly before a flyover of military aircraft to salute first responders and healthcare workers concluded. The flyover had passed Panama City Beach, Panama City and Lynn Haven. It was supposed to include Mexico Beach and Gulf County. but Tyndall AFB officials said on Facebook that portion of the flyover was canceled. UPDATE2: Follow-up information indicated that the F-22 was NOT part of the flyover salutes, according to WMBB.

Miss., La. food economy assistance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, announced assistance May 15 to 16 communities in order to boost economic opportunities for local farmers, while promoting clean air, safe water, open space, and healthy food choices. Among the recipients are the Southwest Louisiana Center for Health Services in North Lake Charles and the Opelousas General Health System Foundation both in Louisiana; and Shape Up Mississippi in Vicksburg. The Southwest Louisiana Center is launching a community food policy work-group to build a vision for the local food system to include community gardens, outreach to schools, pocket gardens, and education on the value of planting fruit trees, especially in unused blighted neighborhoods. The Opelousas foundation will build upon a recent brownfields assessment of downtown to explore how a cultural tourism hub can bridge gaps between revitalization and healthier cultural eating alternatives. Shape Up Mississippi wants to create an educational and economical food hub combining a farmers’ market, community garden, demonstration kitchen, educational center, and the Catfish Row Museum that explains the local culture and its relationship to the Mississippi River. Nearly all communities selected include Opportunity Zones. The selected communities will get access to a team of federal, state, and regional agricultural, environmental, public health, architectural and economic development experts to help develop plans, goals, and identify local assets to support the local food economy and contribute to downtown and neighborhood revitalization. For more information on LFLP 2020 communities: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/local-foods-local-places#2020 (Source: EPA 05/15/20)

Tricare expands cancer screenings

Starting May 29, Tricare will cover Digital Breast Tomosynthesis - 3D mammography or DBT - under its provisional coverage program, according to U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.). “This is a major victory for our female service members and veterans covered under Tricare,” McSally, a former A-10 pilot, said in a statement May 12. “I’m glad the Defense Department heard our repeated calls for change and implemented this commonsense policy.” All women over 40 are eligible for coverage. Annual coverage will also be available to women 30 and older, who are deemed a high risk for developing breast cancer. That means women who have a history of breast cancer have at least a 15 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer based on risk assessment tools, or have extremely dense breasts, among several other identified risk factors. Although other national payers including the Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicare already cover 3D mammograms, Tricare has historically only covered the procedure following the detection of a lump during two-dimensional imaging. (Source: Military Times 05/12/20) https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/military-benefits/2020/05/12/3d-mammograms-will-be-covered-by-tricare-starting-this-month/

Eglin cuts COVID-19 testing to 70m

EGLIN AFB, Fla. - The 96th Medical Group has obtained the ability to test for COVID-19 in house at its laboratory at Eglin in early April. Lab tech brought the novel coronavirus test kits on-line April 10 to begin in-house testing for area Defense Department beneficiaries. With this newly acquired capability, the laboratory has cut two-day processing time results to about 70 minutes. Prior to early April, COVID-19 tests were sent to Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio, and it took 48 to 72 hours to get results. The Eglin lab only tests COVID-19 samples of patients being admitted to the local base hospital. All other coronavirus tests for symptomatic patients are still sent to the Wright Patterson. To date, lab techs have tested about 2 percent of the area’s military population to include dependents and retirees. Testing is vital to contact tracing, isolation and quarantine to protect the community. (Source: Eglin AFB 05/11/20) https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2180410/eglin-lab-begins-covid-19-testing/

RFPs for NASP area paving projects

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast has been tasked to develop, solicit, and award a and Design-Bid-Build (DBB) Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) Paving Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Single Award Construction Contract for paving projects primarily in the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Area of Responsibility (AOR). A sources sought notice for this requirement was posted under solicitation N6945020RPAVE on March 9, 2020, requesting responses from interested prime contractors capable of performing general asphalt/concrete paving projects including airfield, roadway, and parking area pavement resurfacing, isolated repair and full-depth reconstruction projects, including U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) certified 8(a), HUBZone Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Women Owned Small Business and/or Small Business sources with current relevant qualifications, experience, personnel, security approvals, equipment and bonding capacity to perform. Based on the responses from the notice, it was determined that the requirement should be issued unrestricted inviting full and open competition. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued on an unrestricted basis, inviting full and open competition. This solicitation will result in a single award with a total aggregate value not-to-exceed (NTE) $20M over a 5-year period. Task orders will be firm-fixed-priced with a minimum value of $15,000 and a maximum value of $1M per order. However, task orders under or over these amounts may be considered if deemed to be in the government’s best interest. The contractor may be asked to respond to multiple RFPs in a short timeframe. (Source: Government Tribe 05/11/20) https://govtribe.com/opportunity/federal-contract-opportunity/design-bid-build-paving-indefinite-deliveryindefinite-quantity-firm-fixed-price-single-award-construction-contract-for-the-nas-pensacola-area-of-responsibility-n6945020r0078.

Gov. IDs 7 hotspot Miss. counties

JACKSON, Miss. - Gov. Tate Reeves announced additional social distancing measures for seven counties identified as hotspots to limit transmission around the communities and protect the health of all Mississippians against the coronavirus. Consulting with state health officials, seven counties were identified as localized regions at a higher risk for transmission: Attala, Leake, Scott, Jasper, Neshoba, Newton, and Lauderdale counties. Gov. Reeves signed a new executive order May 12 establishing additional restrictions for those counties to slow the spread of COVID-19. (Source: WTOK 95/12/20) Naval Air Station Meridian is located in Lauderdale County. https://www.wtok.com/content/news/Restrictions-announced-for-Lauderdale-Newton-and-Neshoba-counties-570410941.html?fbclid=IwAR0VIeS7UPNvXCEpiq_jzJj_y5rR9oJGX53ZDB39zABPyUeY7OsKW8_lOyg

South La., Miss. COVID-19 maps

Mississippi counties' interactive COVID-19

https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/2020/04/05/coronavirus-mississippi-latest-map-and-case-count-county-covid-19-outbreak/2950467001/ 

Plaquemines Parish, La., interactive COVID-19 map includes NAS/JRB Belle Chasse. https://www.facebook.com/plaqueminesgovernment/?__tn__=kCH-R&eid=ARCY4zWLRLdVAjjCiNOfIZBRrj6PfSa3cnEVC9__WUVBpP7gFuMoIhUHB_EZcz899Txr31OQpXOzk_pz&hc_ref=ARRl0shHz7VNOE-U6yWz2DYxlcunZxQ1cnApVFXaVGpsESLpKKlHd-huiYvajg-xWAs&__xts__[0]=68.ARDDvat86lPc5QKuzFjJI8j7bWDhzDbQykxXjN2yFc9ddnLFqFV5Vqfp7y1wXBcYXHN4JGxaqNlSAE90Ut50fFTGI7DirlwlBt_f7JCTcaAol7I8nn6mmPjqybp6woq9EUsmBovjXlDGRUp31QhOm6wcRUKV-h3RpdORFUtTt7TOxQ06hHld228qDR67hY12cG1852SrfuzkJyD8Tmbuv0hMOfyDoY8hAjAowzEkqxcHGpRpPJ8k9omh0ctRYMwyG_AtT4tQNkDFPiEw8hESfYhzArgJLs41TPCTOGaffMgJELvzCBEtMsLvs0hIk9l-F7XrLFaJYRefpK0Z82jflWjE7Si4m_HRyi6csMrT5aI9u3BXbe96b1ATnfMnrRwdU-R9a8WjLGzDQD7wCrfQtnVhP1btYb0qZ-HlqDIYU_Rlh1pOFHCoEikjTWImg-keAijkAQbFzYybjj_ZRk0KruoiSUHwxtNXdQfiP0dVAUqU-7Q

Monroe nurses on NYC's frontline

Three Monroe County, Miss., health care workers have been on the frontline in the epicenter of the world’s COVID-19 pandemic, New York City. Brooke Reeves and Lauren Sloan, both licensed nurse practitioners from Amory and Hatley respectively, were assigned to Metropolitan Hospital Center in Manhattan. Brianna Sloan of Amory, an intensive care unit nurse at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, was assigned to Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, NY. Reeves and Sloan were between jobs at the time the pandemic hit. “We applied and (in) less than two days, we were on a plane to New York,” Sloan said. “I thought my husband was going to freak … but this was a chance to be a part of something bigger than us.” Reeves and Sloan spent their first three weeks in the post-anesthesia care unit, which was turned into a unit for COVID-19 patients. Since then, they have been moved to the ICU working nights. One of the more difficult parts for front line workers dealing with COVID-19 patients is that family members are unable to be with them, even during their final days. Face-Timing with patients’ family members has become a norm, even in their final moments of life. “They die a lonely death, and that is something we have never encountered before,” Sloan lamented. Brianna Sloan also kept in close contact with patients’ families, and hopes it was a comfort to many that caregivers were with their loved ones when they passed. None of three had ever been to NYC before. They were shocked how empty the city was, compared to global images. “It’s like a ghost town,” Brianna Sloan said. The city has embraced frontline workers with signs in Times Square, salutes by police officers, and cheers and prayers from those quarantined at home. At 7 p.m. nightly, “they all get on their balconies and cheer for the frontline medical workers,” Brianna said. “It really does keep you going.” Reeves and Sloan have signed up for eight more weeks in NYC. “We can leave early, but I can’t imagine it,” Lauren said. "It’s been hard, and I have matured. Your perspective changes, and you realize that some things are not as important as others.” Brianna, who is home, plans on going back once her quarantine period has passed. (Source: Monroe Journal/Amory, Miss. 05/13/20) https://www.djournal.com/monroe/news/go-time-monroe-county-nurses-respond-to-new-york-city-s-covid-19-crisis/article_9a04fb40-beb2-547c-8d94-3ba4e19685bc.html

MSU scientists aiding health dept.

STARKVILLE, Miss.- Five research scientists from the Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Basic Sciences are assisting the Mississippi State Department of Health with efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Working at the MSDH Public Health Laboratory in Jackson on weekends in May to conduct COVID-19 human diagnostic testing, the scientists include CVM research associates Michelle Banes and Allen Shack; Dr. Wei Tan, director of the CVM flow cytometry facility; graduate student Liyuan Liu; and post-doctoral researcher Dr. Nogi Park, all of whom are skilled in molecular biology and currently work in areas conducting infectious disease research at CVM. The five scientists join Dr. Lifang Yan, a CVM faculty member at the Mississippi Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratory in Pearl, who was already assisting MSDH. When MSDH indicated they could use additional help, “we were glad to step in and assist,” said MSU CVM Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Dr. Steve Pruett. The research scientists are familiar with and have the skills to perform this type of testing. The MSU-MSDH partnership also serves to develop a group of trained workers, who stand ready to provide this vital service in the event there is a sudden need to do large numbers of tests in the state in the future, Pruett added. (Source: MSU 05/12/20) https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2020/05/scientists-msus-college-veterinary-medicine-assist-msdh-covid-19

eVTOL confidence booster

For a defense program with relatively little funding behind it ($25M), the Air Force’s Agility Prime comes with major expectations to assist in building a domestic electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) industrial base. It offers a lifeline for a market where private monies have dried up due to the coronavirus. For the AF, if it proves successful, Agility Prime could be a model of how defense procurement can work with commercial markets to compete with China’s national drive for technology supremacy. “For me, it’s a template for how to take the military market... and bring it to bear on an emerging commercial market … that accelerates it for all of us,” says AF Acquisition Chief Will Roper. Agility Prime aims to tap into existing commercial investment in eVTOL development and, through in-kind support … (to) help U.S. manufacturers along the way to FAA certification. At the same time, the program will seek out opportunities within government agencies for early purchases of eVTOLs to help ramp up production. The program has been conceived to avoid what happened in the small drone market, where the Pentagon failed to engage the emerging U.S. industry and the supply chain migrated overseas. (Source: Aviation Week 05/08/20) https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/urban-unmanned-aviation/usaf-agility-prime-aims-boost-investor-confidence-evtol-market?utm_rid=CPEN1000002255725&utm_campaign=24043&utm_medium=email&elq2=5de3801b2cce4528a52725f8a6bcc3d8