Contract: L-3 Vertex, $45.2M

L-3 Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $45,202,205 firm-fixed-price contract modification to extend FA8I06-IO-C-0012 for 12 months for contractor logistic support for the Iraqi Air Force C208 and C172 aircraft and for maintenance students training on both aircraft without a break in service. Work will be performed at Tikrit Air Base, Iraq, and work is expected to be completed by April 20, 2014. The contract involves foreign military sales. The contracting activity is Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WLKLC, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (Source: DoD, 04/19/13)

Small biz opportunity conference May 8-9 in Vicksburg

The Mississippi Development Authority is hosting a small businesses ‘Government Procurement Opportunities’ conference in Vicksburg on May 8-9 with a focus on doing business with the Defense Department contractors such as Northrop Grumman, Eaton Aerospace and Lockheed Martin. Source: Mississippi Development Authority, April 9, 2013. For more information go to http://mississippi.cvent.com/2013Opportunities.

Magnolia YPs to host biz summit in Meridian

Young business professionals are being invited to join The Mississippi Young Professionals (MSYP) organization for its “Rethink Mississippi: No Suits, No PowerPoints, No Bull” summit April 26-27 in Meridian at Mississippi State University’s Riley Center. It’s a first-time, state-wide event for the non-profit group. Among some of the state-wide YPs include groups at Columbus, Corinth, Greenwood, Meridian, Pascagoula, Starkville and Tupelo. Info: www.msyoungprof.org

State hoping to be drone-testing site

The Mississippi Development Authority is attempting to leverage the state’s major defense-contracting footprint in preparation of the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision for selection-sites for testing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The state is vying with 37 other states. Stark Aerospace of Columbus manufactures drones, and is FAA-authorized to fly the Heron UAS within the traffic control region of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The state’s next submission for FAA consideration is May 6. Source: Mississippi Development Authority, April 16, 2013.

Army proposes to downsize Columbus helo order

After the U.S. Army proposed reducing its UH-72A Lakoda program from 41 to 10 EADS North America helicopters, the firm’s CEO Sean O'Keefe said the last thing the Army should be thinking about cutting is the low-cost and on-time delivery of the Columbus, Miss.-built helicopter. Source: Market Wire, April 11, 2013.

Contract: Raytheon, $35.1M

Raytheon Co., Goleta, Calif. is being awarded a $35,166,810 firm-fixed delivery order for AN/ALE-50 towed decoys. Work will be performed at Forest, Miss., and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2015. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. AFLCMC/WNKCB, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/09/12)

Air ambulance for Columbus

A 75-mile swath of the Golden Triangle region in East Mississippi will now be served by the expansion of an air ambulance hub in Columbus. MedStat EMS, which serves 15 counties in central and north Mississippi, made the announcement to locate the helicopter base at the GTR Airport. Source: WVTA (Tupelo-Columbus, Miss.), April 4, 2013.

Contract: EADS NA, $21M

EADS North America of Herndon, Va., was awarded a $20,994,308 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for security and support mission equipment package production cut-in services. The cumulative total face value of this contract is now $2,260,811,397. Work will be performed in Columbus, Miss. Fiscal 2013 Other Procurement, Army contract funds are being obligated on this award. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/04/13)

Communities earn MDA grants

The cities of Natchez, Ocean Springs, Starkville and Pascagoula were among seven Mississippi communities recently awarded Asset Development Grants from the Mississippi Development Authority’s division of creative economy grant program. The MDA grants give state communities matching financial aid toward developing long-range economies through strategic planning. The grants were awarded competitively at a maximum of $10,000 each. The other three recipients were DeKalb and Wilkinson counties, Rolling Fort and Woodville. Source: WJTV Jackson, Miss., April 1, 2013.

STEM Bowl produces scholarship dollars

Lockheed-Martin’s 5^th annual Mississippi IT Days’ STEM Bowl competition in Jackson produced thousands of scholarship dollars to seven teams of high school students over the weekend at Jackson State University. The project-scholarship fund is designed to show the 700 attending students the impact science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) has on people’s lives and the environment. Source: Mississippi Business Journal blog, April 1, 2013.

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $10.6M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC., Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $10,606,604 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for maintenance and logistics services, including labor, services, facilities, equipment, tools, direct and indirect material, and related support equipment required to support and maintain the T-39N and T-39G aircraft. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., and is expected to be completed in September 2014. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/29/13)

Bank MDA partner for business loan pool

The Tupelo-based BancorpSouth announced Thursday a half-billion-dollar loan pool, called Grow Mississippi, that would target future and current businesses looking to expand in Mississippi. The bank will work with the Mississippi Development Authority to identify businesses that may qualify which would also be combined with MDA incentives. In February, Regions Bank announced a similar partnership with Alabama’s state government. Jackson (Miss.) Clarion Ledger, March 28, 2013.

ADK to cut jobs at North Mississippi plant

Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ADK), an aerospace company which operates a 320,000 square foot machining and testing equipment operation in North Mississippi at Iuka, announced Thursday that it is laying off 150 workers at its plants in Mississippi, Ohio and Utah. Ninety of those personnel, at a Utah plant, accepted retirement. No Mississippi job-loss numbers were provided. ATK officials said layoffs were the result of changes in the business climate, funding and program cutbacks, and reorganization. Also on Thursday, ATK successful tested its CASTOR 30XL upper stage solid rocket motor for the Air Force in Tennessee. Source: Salt Lake City, Utah, Tribune, March 28, 2013.

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $12.9M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC., Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $12,946,025 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for logistics services support of the TH-57 aircraft fleet. Services to be provided include repair and/or overhaul of aircraft, engines, avionics and related components. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station, Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., and is expected to be completed in June 2013. Funds are not being obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/25/13)

Columbus, Key airports exempt from shutdown

Columbus’ Golden Triangle Regional and Meridian’s Key Field commercial airports’ control towers have been exempted from sequestration-related closure by the Federal Aviation Administration because of their ties to military operations at Naval Air Station Meridian and Columbus Air Force Base, the federal agency announced based on a national security waiver. Five other contract towers in Mississippi - Tupelo, Greenville, Olive Branch, Jackson, and Bay St. Louis - failed to gain exemptions. Tom Williams, president of the Meridian Airport Authority, attributed the exemption based on support from the Air National Guard at Key Field, NAS Meridian and Columbus AFB. Key Field’s tower is among five nationally supporting training towers for ANG air controllers. Source: Mississippi Business, March 22, 2013.

Senators challenge FAA airport cuts

A group of U.S. senators is backing legislation that would block the Federal Aviation Administration from eliminating funding for 189 air traffic control towers and make available $50 million to limit some of FAA’s portion of $85 billion in federal sequestration spending reductions. The lawmakers’ measure also subjects FAA to apply only a 5 percent budget cut instead of the agency seeking a 75 percent slice to the tower program. FAA has stated in it is offering sponsors of affected airports to provide reasonings why the sites should not be closed based on national interests. The FAA will delay until Friday its final decision. Source: Washington Post, March 18, 2013.
[Gulf Coast note: Eight airports on the list in Mississippi include Stennis International Airport at Kiln, Tupelo Regional, Golden Triangle in Columbus, Mid-Delta in Greenville, Hawkins Field at Jackson, Key Field in Meridian and Olive Branch Regional.]

Contract: Eaton, $9.3M

Eaton Aerospace, Jackson, Miss., was awarded a $9,336,811 firm-fixed-price, incrementally-funded contract. This increment is worth $394,680. The award will provide for the procurement of axial pistons that support the CH-47. Work will be performed in Jackson, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 8, 2014. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/12/13)

GTRA only regional airport in Mississippi to see passenger increases

The Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTRA) at Columbus, Miss., was at one of its lowest points in 2006, the current executive director says, when the commercial air carrier Northwest Airlines pulled its three flights a day. It was a common tale of diminishing profits. But, today, GTRA is the only regional airport in the Magnolia State to see an increase in passengers in 2012. Source: The Associated Press, March 10, 2013.

MSU on leading cusp of UAV industry

Mississippi State University has been on the research and engineering cusp of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle industry that may be on the verge of exploding within the Magnolia State. MSU is on the U.S. government’s list of entities with UAV licenses; and over the past few years, the Starkville campus has provided research and engineering for the 26 UAV industries in Mississippi – including Stark Aerospace and Aurora Flight Sciences, both located at Columbus, and GE Aviation with plants in Ellisville and Batesville. Jackson Clarion-Ledger, March 8, 2013.

Jackson’s Blue Angels air show canceled

The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels air show scheduled for May 11-12 in Jackson, Miss., was canceled March 6 by officials of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority through a media release. JMAA stated that uncertainty related to impacts of the federal budget sequestration requirements, support from the various local participants, and other funding, were the reasons for JMAA’s action to cancel the show. The Navy had canceled four Blue Angels shows for the month of April. Source, Pensacola News Journal, March 7, 2013.