L-3 earns Air Force helo modification contract

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison Miss., was awarded an $11,094,779 Air Force existing contract modification for helicopter maintenance at Kirtland (NM) AFB. The work is tentatively scheduled to be completed by Sept. 30, 2014. Source: Defense Department, Sept. 30, 2013.

L-3 lands another major Navy contract

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison, Miss., was being awarded a $64,982,586 modification to a previously awarded Navy contract – on the final day of the government’s FY-13 - to provide additional logistics services and materials for depot level maintenance support work for 36 T-45A and 168 T-45C aircraft based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Miss.; NAS Kingsville, Texas; NAS Pensacola, Fla., and Patuxent River, Md. The award also includes maintenance work on the aircrafts’ engines. Meridian will conduct 36 percent and Pensacola 6 percent of the contract. The work is tentatively scheduled to be completed in March 2014. It is the sixth Navy contract award – totaling $273 million - for the Mississippi firm since Sept. 25. Source: Defense Department, Sept. 30, 2013.

GDT set to announced $20M initiative on Thursday

The Golden Triangle Development LINK, a north-central Mississippi regional group representing the economic development interests within a 15-mile triangular radius of the cities of Columbus, Starkville and West Point, is tentatively scheduled to make a major announcement Thursday regarding a $20 million technology initiative for the region. The announcement will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Thad Cochran Research Park in Starkville. GDT LINK officials say the initiative will boost the region’s business technology infrastructure and bring new investments and expansion opportunities. Among those scheduled to attend the announcement are Joe Max Higgins, CEO of Golden Triangle Development LINK; Dr. Mark Keenum, president of Mississippi State University; and Jack Wallace, executive director of Oktibbeha County’s Economic Development Agency. Source: Business Wire media release, Sept. 30, 2013.

Contract: Gulf Coast Arch., $30M

Gulf Coast Architectural Group Inc., Pensacola, Fla., is being awarded a maximum amount $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract for complete architect and engineering services in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast area of responsibility. Task order 0001 is being awarded at $117,879 for full design specification for the demolition of four buildings at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by March 2014. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Southeast AOR including, but not limited to Texas (50 percent), Louisiana (25 percent), and Mississippi (25 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2018. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-13-D-0012). (Source: DoD, 09/27/13)

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $55.6M

L-3 Communications Systems Field Support, Vertex Aerospace, LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $55,627,456 firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursable modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity requirements contract (N00019-11-D-0010) to exercise an option for aircraft maintenance and logistical life cycle support for 54 C-12 aircraft for the U.S. Navy (48) and the U.S. Marine Corps (6). Work will be performed in Corpus Christi, Texas (46 percent); Patuxent River, Md. (8 percent); Manama, Bahrain (5.5 percent); Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (5.5 percent); Atsugi, Japan (5.5 percent); New Orleans, La. (4 percent); Kadena, Japan ( 3.7 percent); Yuma, Ariz.(3.7 percent); Iwakuni, Japan (3.7 percent); Beaufort, S.C. (3.5 percent); New River, N.C. (3.5 percent); Manassas, Va. (2 percent); Miramar, Calif. (1.8 percent); Futenma, Japan (1.8 percent); and Misawa, Japan (1.8 percent). Work is expected to be completed in September 2014. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activities. (Source: DoD, 09/27/13)

GAO criticizes Navy UCLASS program

The Government Accountability Office has issued a report to Congress criticizing the Navy’s plan to design, build and deploy its $3.7 billion Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) aircraft in 2020 without ever conducting a “Milestone B” review. The criticism of that strategy indicates that Congress would not have the ability to oversee the program, schedules, cost or performance of the UCLASS. Major program-buys require the Defense Department to undergo comprehensive reviews after the initial design. During a "Milestone B" review, officials look at the military requirements and cost estimates; and then sign-off on reasonable estimates. The Navy argues that the plane is a technology-development project and not a major program acquisition. Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing and General Atomics are expressing interest in bidding on UCLASS. Source: Reuters, Sept. 26, 2013.

[Gulf Coast/Golden Triangle Note: Mississippi's aerospace-aviation related facilities include Lockheed Martin at Stennis and Meridian, Miss.; Northrop at Moss Point; Boeing at Flowood; and General Atomics at Tupelo.]

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $102.6M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., has been awarded a $102,586,003 modification to an existing firm-fixed-price contract (FA8106-09-C-0001) for logistics support of the T-1A aircraft at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., Vance AFB, Okla., Randolph AFB, Texas, and Laughlin AFB, Texas. The contract modification is for the exercise of an option for an additional year of services under the basic contract. Work will be performed at Madison and is expected to be completed by Oct. 1, 2014. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WLKLA, Tinker AFB, Okla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/26/13)

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $8.3M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded an $8,271,023 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-13-D-4001) for contractor logistics services in support of T-39N and T-39G aircraft and associated equipment used in student naval flight officer training. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., and is expected to be completed in March 2014. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/25/13)

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $11M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $10,956,633 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-12-D-0016) to exercise an option for logistics support services in support of the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., and NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. Half the work will be done in Pensacola and half in Corpus Christi, and is expected to be completed in September 2014. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/25/13)

Contract: Rolls-Royce, $50.7M

Rolls-Royce Defense Services Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $50,728,950 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-09-D-0002) to exercise an option for intermediate and depot level maintenance and related logistics support for about 223 in-service T-45 F405-RR-401 Adour engines. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Miss. (47 percent); NAS Kingsville, Texas (46 percent), NAS Pensacola, Fla. (6 percent), and NAS Patuxent River, Md. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2014. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/25/13)

Columbus airport upgrades

Columbus’ Golden Triangle Regional Airport is getting a $3.4 million grant for its runways and taxiways; and the widening of on- and off-ramps that will allow the hub to handle larger aircraft. The airport can already handle the Airbus A320 commercial jetliner. Airbus is to start turning out A320s at its new assembly plant in Mobile, Ala., by 2016. Work at the Columbus airport is tentatively scheduled to start in October and will take about 90 days. The Federal Aviation Administration will fund 90 percent of the cost; and the remainder will come from the Mississippi Department of Transportation and airport. Source: Jackson Clarion Ledger, Sept. 24, 2013.

Contract: Raytheon, $39M

Raytheon Co., El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded $39,000,000 for firm-fixed-price delivery order 0048 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement for the procurement of 15 AN/APG-79 AESA radar systems for the F/A-18 E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in Forest, Miss. (80 percent), and El Segundo, Calif. (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2015. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/23/13)

USM-Long Beach offering biz research program

The University of Southern Mississippi at Long Beach - in an attempt to find, develop and train workers for the state’s business communities – has launched a new multi-degree and certification program in Human Capital Development, which has been identified as the No. 1 challenge for CEOs worldwide. The academic programs in the Department of Human Capital Development provide students with opportunities to conduct research with experienced scholars; and earn a doctorate in HCD; a master’s in workforce training; a bachelor’s in applied technology; or a training and development certification. The department also has conducted more than $5 million in applied research from sponsors that include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Labor. Source: Mississippi Business Journal blog, Sept. 19, 2013.

EMS helo damaged in hard landing near Canton

A Winona, Miss.-based MedStat EMS medical helicopter, en route to a Jackson hospital with a patient, was damaged – and pilot injured – in a hard emergency landing east of Canton on Sept. 19. A second MedStat helicopter transported the patient to Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. The pilot was flown to the University of Mississippi Medical Center along with two additional helicopter crewmen. The patient was not injured further as a result of the crash, according to WLBT-TV’s interview with Madison County’s Emergency Management Director Butch Hammock. The pilot's skillful landing "saved everyone's life," he said. MedStat operates helicopters in Winona and near Columbus. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. Source: The Associated Press, Sept. 22, 2013.

Blog: Mississippi’s economy, poverty growing

Mississippi’s economic growth is out-performing the national level by 3 decimal points right of a full percent; and has created 4,827 jobs this year - most of which were on the lower end of the pay scale. It also lost 11,000 jobs in July and August; and has the lowest median income in the nation. In 2012, the Magnolia State was one of three states to see a growth in its poverty rates. Gov. Phil Bryant gives credit to the state’s GOP and its economic development organization (MDA). However, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves had MDA’s director on the carpet this past week in budget hearings over travel expenses in FY-13 and its request for more money in FY-14. Still, Mississippi had 20,400 more jobs in August than a year ago. Source: Clarion Ledger blog, Sept. 21, 2013.

Contract: L3 Vertex, $11.8M

L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison Miss., has been awarded an $11,781,299 modification to previously awarded FA3002-11-C-0001 for trainer maintenance services. Work will be performed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2014. The 82nd Contracting Squadron, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/20/13)

MSU welcomes aerospace Fulbright Scholar to campus

Mississippi State University is welcoming a new class of international exchange program scholars to campus this semester. MSU Provost and Executive VP Jerry Gilbert said the Fulbright Scholars have gone through a competitive selection process and are excellent students in their respective fields. Among the scholars arriving to Starkville is aerospace engineering master’s degree candidate Maximilian Roethig of Germany. In addition to encouraging foreign nationals to study and conduct research in the United States, the program also enables Americans to engage in similar activities abroad. Sources: WCBI TV, Columbus, Miss., Sept. 13, 2013.

AE to become assembly plant for AS350 helos

Eurocopter will install upgraded industrial capabilities to its American Eurocopter plant in Columbus, Miss., to turn the Golden Triangle facility into a final assembly and test site for Eurocopter AS350 helicopters, the top-selling civilian helicopter on the American market. The plan, tentatively scheduled to be realized in 2014, has two major objectives that include a way to offset the likely reduction in U.S. Army contract orders for the UH-72A Lakota helicopters; and to provide a sales boost – within the largest light helicopter market in the world - to government and law enforcement agencies within the American market. The Columbus plant will become the final assembly facility for the AS350, and test site for Eurocopter and its supplier-produced parts, and the retrofit of Lakotas for federal agency and foreign military buyers. Source: PR Web, Sept. 20, 2013.

Dozen-plus firms considering Golden Triangle area

East Mississippi Business Development Corporation’s president reported at Wednesday’s board meeting that it is working to land at least one or more of at least a dozen companies to the Meridian area – three on which are in the aerospace industry. Most of the projects are in manufacturing. EMBDC President Wade Jones would not elaborate on what industries are considering the Golden Triangle region. Source: WTOK TV, Meridian, Sept. 18, 2013.

MDA’s pitch for SK satellite biz office draws questioning

The Mississippi Development Authority floated - in front of Monday’s Joint Legislative Budget Committee - a proposal to establish an overseas business satellite office in South Korea. MDA already has overseas satellite offices in Chile, China, Japan and the UK promoting trade and economic investment. The SK “idea” came up in MDA’s pitch for an additional $646K in funding. The request drew tough questions from Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, who took issue with MDA’s FY-13 spending habits including the spending of $500K for out-of-state travels to NYC and South Korea. SK is not one of Mississippi’s traditionally strong export markets. But figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce show Mississippi’s largest export markets in 2012 was Panama, Canada, China and Honduras. Top-market exports were petroleum, coal products and chemicals. Source: Jackson, Miss., Clarion Ledger, Sept. 19, 2013.

SASC, Wicker deliver state-smoozey to AF nominee

Lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a set of personalized signals Thursday to Deborah Lee James, the nominee for Secretary of the Air Force. During the nomination hearing, committee members provided lots of parochial concerns over military bases in their home states. These are the same lawmakers who have battled the military over plans to cut Defense Department costs threatening to cancel programs, close bases; and balking at hikes in fees for military health care. Just not in their backyards. Oklahoma Republican Jim Inhofe was concerned about the possible retirements of multiple Boeing-built aircraft that have a major presence in his state. Oklahoma supports about 28,000 jobs through direct or indirect work through more than 100 subcontractors. Later, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) touted two drones built in part on the state’s Gulf Coast regional: Aurora Flight Sciences’ Orion and the Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4 Global Hawk. The AF had proposed mothballing its Global Hawk Block 30s because they couldn’t afford to fly them, under sequestration. But that plan was shot down when powerful congressmen objected. Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) expects the panel to vote next week on James’ nomination and is aiming for Senate confirmation by Oct. 14. Source: POLITICO, Sept. 19, 2013.

La. firm earns ship separators pact

Maritime International Inc., a small business firm in Broussard, La., was awarded a $47,502,090 fixed-price Navy contract Thursday for the procurement of triangular and cylindrical fender separators, guided missile destroyer (DDG) ship separators, Kevlar straps, and contract support services for mooring equipment of U.S. ships at stateside and foreign ports. FY-13 procurement, and operations and maintenance funding of $643,000 was to be obligated upon awarding of the contract. Contract funds expire Sept. 30. Work will be performed in Broussard and is expected to be completed by September 2018. Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity. Source: Defense Department, Sept. 20, 2013.

Oxford firm to build commissary for Army helo base

Carothers Construction of Oxford, Miss., was awarded a $16,930,000 fixed-price Defense Commissary Agency contract Thursday to construct a new commissary building at the Army’s helicopter base at Fort Rucker, Ala. The 520-day contract is expected to begin in November. The Defense Commissary Agency, Enterprise Acquisition Division, Construction Design Branch, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, is the contracting agency. Source: Defense Department, Sept. 19, 2013.

Airbus highlights Columbus-built Lakota at AF expo

Airbus’ multi-national, 4-engine turboprop military transport aircraft (A400M) and UH-72A Lakota helicopter – built at Columbus, Miss. - are highlighted at this week’s Air Force Association’s Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition at National Harbor, Md. The A400M debuted at the Paris Air Show earlier this year. The Lakota was recently used by the Colorado National Guard to extricate flood victims from their homes. Watch this video, and catch up with the latest from Airbus. Source: Military.com, Sept. 17, 2013.

Panda poop has MSU researchers hopping

Biochemical researchers at Mississippi State University, seeking alternatives in the production of bio-fuels from food crops, are turning their attention to feces coming out of Memphis. MSU researchers have found that the Memphis Zoo’s pandas produce more than 40 microbes in their stomachs that can efficiently turn their waste into bio-fuel. Researcher Ashli Brown is hoping the find will help pioneer better sources of ethanol. Source: Oil Price.com, Sept. 16, 2013.

Madison firm awarded Keesler food contract

The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services of Madison, Miss., was the recipient of a $6,827,220 Air Force modification contract to provide full food services at Keesler AFB, Miss., through Sept. 30, 2017. The 81st Contracting Squadron at Keesler AFB is the contracting activity. Source: Defense Department, Sept. 16, 2013.

Robotic research at MSU

A new breed of humanoid-like robotic research and technology development are on the cusp of ushering in a revolution. Robots can collaborate with humans at home, work or in space. Some have human traits. But one approach involves sensors to foster “social bonding.” In experiments carried out at Yale University, children were as willing to share secrets with a biped humanoid as with adults. Yale researcher Cindy Bethel, who not conducts robotic-children interaction research at Mississippi State University, has found that kids who’ve seen crimes are more likely not to be misled in a robot-led forensic testimony interview than they might be by trained humans. Starkville Police Department’s Mark Ballard, who is working with Dr. Bethel, says child-friendly, robotic-led forensic interviews may be possible by 2020. Source: The Economist, Sept. 7, 2013.

Gov. Bryant heads biz junket to Brazil

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is in Brazil this week on an economic development junket to the state’s eighth largest exporter. Along with the governor are a slew of state-wide entities including Pascagoula’s Ingalls Shipyard, the Port of Gulfport, Tupelo electronic engineer designer Hyperion Technologies, and Alcorn and Jackson State universities. The trip is designed to connect state firms wanting to expand trade and create new business relationships in Brazil. In 2012, Mississippi’s top 10 exports to Brazil had a combined value of nearly $348 million. Source: Special to the Hattiesburg American, Sept. 9, 2013.

Columbus AFB runway completed

Columbus (Miss.) Air Force Base has completed its $32 million center-runway project – which had about 20 percent pavement-life remaining from the original build in 1959 – and has been reopened to military Air Force and foreign-nation pilot training at the East Mississippi facility. The 12,000-feet long, 10-inch thick concrete runway has seen more than 12,000 pilots from more than 50 nations use the Columbus landing facility. Source: The Associated Press, Sept. 9, 2013.

Eaton exec to be deposed

A Hinds County (Miss.) Circuit Court Judge ruled last Friday that Eaton Corp. CEO Alexander Cutler is scheduled to be deposed Sept. 13 in Cleveland, Ohio, headquarters for the firm, by attorneys for Frisby Aerospace. Frisby accuses Eaton of fraud and conspiracy involving its Jackson, Miss., aerospace enterprise. Eaton attempted to block the deposition from the CEO because he lacked personal knowledge about Frisby's deposition topics. But Judge Jeff Weill Sr. ruled that executives’ testimony is relevant. Frisby alleges Eaton executives withheld critical information in the alleged fraud suit. Source: Cleveland.com, Sept. 4, 2013.

Miss. earns entrepreneurial accolades

With low startup costs and expenses, Mississippi has been ranked as one of the most entrepreneurial states in the country, according to a recent report. Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal, Sept. 4, 2013.

MSU, Auburn chosen for cyber disciplines

Mississippi State and Auburn (Ala.) universities were among four new educational institutions selected for the 2013-14 school year to join a National Security Agency academic excellence program in cyber operations. The program is designed to cultivate American cyber professionals in a technical, inter-disciplinary that is grounded in computer science and engineering disciplines with extensive opportunities for hands-on labs and exercises. The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations designation now has eight total schools participating in research and information assurance education - jointly overseen by NSA and the Department of Homeland Security. The other schools chosen this year include the Air Force Institute of Technology in Ohio; and Carnegie Mellon University of Pennsylvania. School participants, both student and faculty, do not engage in real-life government intelligence activities. Designations are for five year. Auburn’s senior counsel for national security programs says the CAE-Cyber project has merit and that the east-central Alabama university is devoting “significant resources and interdisciplinary rigor” to expand the new initiatives and collaborations across the nation. Source: National Security Agency, Sept. 4, 2013.

Florida-based F-22s engaged Louisiana guard in combat ops

With training dollars on the sequestration down-low, and in the face of high demand, F-22 Raptor student-pilots from Tyndall (Fla.) Air Force Base's 43rd Fighter Squadron formed combat training exercises with the Louisiana Air National Guard’s “Bayou Militia” over the Gulf of Mexico. LANG pilots from the 159th Fighter Wing - playing the adversarial role in their F-15C Eagles – helped six F-22 Raptor student-pilots, through the end of August, continue their AF-based training with one of the service’s most sophisticated aircraft. Tyndall’s 43rd is the primary F-22 Raptor training unit for the Air Force. Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune, Aug. 20, 2013.

Eurocopter: Confident in Columbus helo plant

Eurocopter’s CEO pronounced a solid confidence in its helicopter-building plant in Mississippi despite the American government’s uncertainty to develop new reconnaissance helicopters for the Army. In 2006, American Eurocopter landed a $3 billion contract from the U.S. Army to build 352 UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters that tripled the size of the Columbus, Miss., plant. CEO Guilaume Faury says the company is “optimistic” about its American facility and the ability to win new Defense Department contracts despite sequestration cuts in 2014. Eurocopter, a subsidiary of EADS, and Lockheed have partnered to offer a new 'armed aerial scout' variant of the Mississippi-built Lakota; but due to budget pressures, weapons programs have repeatedly been delayed. However, the Army issued a "request for information" about the program which is seen as a sign that DoD officials were hoping to start funding the new variant. Source: Reuters, Sept. 3, 2013.
[Gulf Coast/Golden Triangle Note: An EADS North America official is optimistic that U.S. lawmakers will reinstate funding to extend the UH-72 through 2014, which would be the Columbus plant's 10th anniversary.]