Austal delivers EPF 12 to Navy

MOBILE, Ala. - Austal USA delivered the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship USNS Newport (EPF 12) to the Navy here at the company’s HQ on Sept. 2. Newport is the 22nd surface ship Austal USA has delivered to the Navy in seven years, including three in 2020. The Spearhead-class EPF, a 338-foot high-speed catamaran, provides high-payload transport capability to U.S. combatant commanders around the world and adds speed and versatility to the fleet. Two more Spearhead-class EPFs are under contract at Austal USA. Modules for Apalachicola (EPF 13) are being constructed in the firm's state-of-the-art module manufacturing facility and construction will begin on Cody (EPF 14) before the end of 2020. In addition to the EPF program, Austal is under contract to build Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). Twelve LCS have been delivered, while an additional five are in various stages of construction. (Source: Austal USA 09/03/20)

DDG 119 sails from HII-Pascagoula

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - The destroyer Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) departed from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division Sept. 4, sailing to its homeport in Mayport, Fla. HII has delivered 32 destroyers to the Navy and currently has four more under construction, including Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) and Ted Stevens (DDG 128). In June, Ingalls was awarded a $936Mn contract for the construction of an additional Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Huntington Ingalls Industries is America’s largest military shipbuilding company. (Source: HII-Pascagoula 09/04/20)

CG rescues pilot of downed plane

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard rescued a pilot of a downed aircraft in the evening of Sept. 3 in St. John the Baptist Parish, La. Rescued was Calvin King, who was transported to University Medical Center in New Orleans with a reportedly broken arm, but no other reported injuries. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report around 9 p.m. from the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office that a single engine plane had crashed in a swampy area north of Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional Airport, with one person aboard. CG Air Station New Orleans sent an MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter aircrew to the vicinity, where the aircrew recovered the pilot from the wreckage. (Source: Coast Guard 09/04/20)

$17.6M Space Force pact to Airgas

Airgas Nitrogen Services, Abita Springs, La., has been awarded a maximum $17,649,805 firm-fixed-price, requirements type contract for gaseous nitrogen. This was a restricted acquisition using justification (under) 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(2), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-2. This is a five-month contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Louisiana and California, with a Jan. 31, 2021, performance completion date. Using customer is Space Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. Contracting agency is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy-Aerospace Energy, San Antonio, Texas. (Source: DoD 09/04/20)

Pascagoula part of Aegis pact

 Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, N.J., is awarded a $12,529,557 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N64267-18-C-0132) to exercise options for Aegis design agent field engineering services. The services include test and evaluation, engineering change development, ordnance and ship alterations, modernization engineering, logistics and technical support, ordnance alterations kit development, integration and test support, AN/SPY-1 series radar antenna refurbishment and Coast Guard deep-water program design agent field engineering support. These services are in support of Aegis-equipped guided missile cruisers and destroyers, allied Aegis-equipped ships and Coast Guard Aegis-configured ships. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Via. (30%); San Diego (30%); Yokosuka, Japan (17%); Wallops Island, Va. (6%); Pearl Harbor (5%); Pascagoula, Miss. (4%); Port Hueneme, Calif. (4%); and Rota, Spain (4%). It is expected to be completed by September 2021. Fiscal 2020 other Navy procurement funds in the amount of $1,566,205 (75%); and fiscal 2020 Navy operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $272,303 (25%), will be obligated at time of award. $272,303 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, Calif., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 09/04/20)

HII, Austal, Bollinger LUSV pacts

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), Pascagoula, Miss. (N00024-20-C-6319); Lockheed Martin Corp., Baltimore, Md. (N00024-20-C-6320); Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport La. (N00024-20-C-6316); Marinette (Wis.) Marine (N00024-20-C-6317); Gibbs & Cox Inc., Arlington, Va. (N0002420C6318); and Austal USA, Mobile, Ala. (N00024-20-C-6315), are each being awarded a firm-fixed price contract for studies of a Large Unmanned Surface Vessel with a combined value across all awards of $41,985,112. Each contract includes an option for engineering support, that if exercised, would bring the cumulative value for all awards to $59,476,146. The contract awarded to HII-Pascagoula is $7M; the contract awarded to Lockheed Martin is $6,999,978; the contract awarded to Bollinger is $6,996,832; the contract awarded to Marinette Marine is $6,999,783; the contract awarded to Gibbs & Cox is $6,989,499; and the contract awarded to Austal USA is $6,999,020. Work will be performed in various locations in the contiguous U.S. in accordance with each contract and is expected to be complete by August 2021, and if option(s) are exercised, work is expected to be complete by May 2022. Fiscal 2020 Navy research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount $41,985,112 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. These contracts were competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities (now beta.SAM.gov) with eight offers received. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 09/04/20)

Eaton $7M hydraulic pump pact

Eaton Aerospace of Jackson, Miss., has been awarded a maximum $7,301,825 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for hydraulic pump assemblies. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods.  Location of performance is Mississippi, with a Sept. 30, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is FY 2020 through FY-25 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. (Source: DoD 09/03/20)

Tricare (T-5) contracts up for grabs

The race has started for contractors envisioning to snag two of the Defense Department's most lucrative military contracts: Tricare East and Tricare West, which provides health services to more than nine million service members, retirees and their families. DoD released a draft request for proposal (RFP) on Aug. 28 for Tricare's fifth generation (T-5) of contracts, which combined may be worth up to more than $58B. The contracts are expected to be awarded in 2021. Currently, the Tricare East Region is held by Humana Military Healthcare Services. Tricare West contract is managed by Health Net Federal Services. Those were awarded in July 2016 - worth up to $57.7B combined. Humana's contract ends in April 2022. Health Net's contract ends in December 2023. The contract timing is off-kilter because of a disastrous contract turnover in 2017 between the company that previously managed the Tricare West region, UnitedHealthcare and Health Net and Humana, which shared parts of the region before it was reconfigured to its current area. Pentagon officials have said they have implemented changes, including updating policy manuals and streamlining processes to ensure a smooth transition for the T-5 contracts. As part of the bidding process, companies will be allowed to bid for both regions, but can only win one contract. The contracts are expected to begin in January 2024, and, if all options are executed, will end December 2031. According to Bloomberg Government, DoD will hold industry days for interested bidders Sept. 14-15. Responses to the draft RFP are due by Sept. 18. (Military.com 09/02/20) https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/09/02/two-of-dods-biggest-military-contracts-are-now-grabs.html

Vertex $114M RESET contract

The Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Vertex Aerospace a five-year, $111.4M Contracted Maintenance, Modification, Aircrew and Related Services (CMMARS) task order for the RESET of the U.S. Marine Corps' CH-53E Super Stallion fleet, the company reported on Sept. 1. "Vertex has been privileged to hold prime seats on contract vehicles and managed complex aircraft modification task orders for over 50 years," said Ed Boyington, Vertex's president and CEO. "We're honored to continue this opportunity to support the improvement of our nation's defense capabilities while alleviating pressure on the Fleet Squadrons. The task order has expanded Vertex Aerospace Defense Services (ADS) division’s has support of the CH-53E RESET program. Vertex ADS has provided work efforts under the program since April 2016 when it held a prime seat on the Regional Aviation Sustainment Manager – East contract. Vertex has previously delivered 23 RESET CH-53E aircraft, accounting for 16 percent of the current Super Stallion fleet. The company’s RESET efforts have enabled the defense division to reduce operating costs of those aircraft by 45.73 percent, with an additional 39 percent reduction in Direct Maintenance Man-hours (DMMH). Under the new task order, Vertex will continue to support the RESET effort at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, MCAS Miramar in San Diego, California, and MCAS Kaneohe Bay in Kaneohe, Hawaii. (Source: Vertex 09/01/20) Vertex Aerospace is headquartered in Madison, Miss.

Safran advancing aero education

The Safran Group is helping advance aerospace education in Mobile, Ala., through its sponsorship of Flight Works Alabama – a new aviation experience center at Airbus' U.S. jets final assembly facility. An electrical wiring board donated to Flight Works Alabama highlights Safran's leadership role in aircraft electrical systems. In addition, the Group is donating aircraft equipment produced by several of its business units, which will be displayed at this instructional facility. Safran's relationship with (FWA) enables us to partner in serving the local community and educating its youth on the opportunities in our industry," said Peter Lengyel, President/CEO of Safran USA. "We are very excited to see Safran technologies showcased in this new, innovative center, which is aligned with our role as a major investor in aerospace research and development – as well as an active corporate citizen in the U.S." The equipment donated by Safran to the aviation experience center includes a carbon brake for the A320neo jetliner. Safran is the world leader in manufacturing wheels and carbon brakes for commercial jets. (Source: Safran 09/03/20) Mississippi Note: Safran has two aerospace system units in Mississippi at Columbia and Liberty. https://www.safran-usa.com/media/aerospace-education-takes-flight-mobile-alabama-safrans-support-20200804

CNP noms sought for HR JOoY

The Chief of Naval Personnel is seeking nominations for the fiscal year 2020 Human Resources Junior Officer of the Year (JOoY) Award. The annual award was established to recognize Navy Human Resources junior officers, O-4 and below, who have made significant contributions to Navy's manpower and personnel readiness during the past fiscal year. Any Human Resources junior officer (1200, 1207 and 1205) may be nominated for the award through their commanding officer (CO) or officer in charge (OIC). Nominations must be submitted by October 16, 2020 to the Director, Human Resources Center of Excellence (HRCOE). (Source: Chief of Naval Personnel 09/03/20) https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/2335185/nominations-open-for-human-resources-junior-officer-of-the-year/

Seemann expanding for Navy pact

GULFPORT, Miss. - Seemann Composites, a Gulfport, Miss.-based company will soon begin a $2.1M expansion project to fulfill a contract with the Navy. Seemann Composites, which developed its own vacuum-infusion technology, expects to create 35 jobs over the next three years, according to a statement from the Mississippi Development Authority. The company is set to build a 16,000 square-foot addition onto its existing 160,000 square-foot facility to produce composite components for the Navy. (Source: The AP 09/03/20)

HII foremen's safety record

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced that six foremen from its Ingalls Shipbuilding division have been recognized for leading their crews to achieve accident-free safety records for more than five consecutive years. Ingalls foremen honored included Robert Stringfellow, Hull; Lisa Avery, Electrical, DDG 123; William Daniel, Electrical, LPD 29; Calvin Lewis, Electrical, LPD 28; David Welsford, Electrical, LPD 28; and Tim Carpenter, Maintenance & Facilities. Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said: “These foremen and their crews have continuously demonstrated their commitment to maintaining a safety-focused culture at Ingalls, and this recognition is well-deserved.” Shipbuilders receive extensive safety training and are instructed to begin each task with a proactive mindset to mitigate potential safety hazards. (Source: HII 09/03/20)

CG suspends search for woman

 NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is searching for a person in the water near Pilottown in Plaquemines Parish, La., in the evening of Sept. 2. Missing is Missing is Cristina Castro, 38, from Modesto, Calif. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report around 9 p.m. Wednesday evening of a 34-foot catamaran taking on water near West Delta Block 109, about six nautical miles southwest of Southwest Pass, near Pilottown, with three people aboard. A CG Station Venice 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew and a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter aircrew were dispatched to the vicinity. Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast, which a good Samaritan responded. The Offshore Supply Vessel, Mr. Jake, was able to recover two people from the water, who were reported to be wearing life jackets and in stable condition. (Source: Coast Guard 09/03/20) UPDATE: The Coast Guard suspended its search Sept. 4 for Castro. CG crews searched about 1,518 square miles continuously for 24 hours.

Taking Huey pilots under its wing

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Two 23rd Flying Training Squadron TH-1H Hueys from Fort Rucker, Ala., and 14 personnel, traveled to Columbus Air Force Base for training as part of the Undergraduate Helicopter Training Next (UHTN) program. CAFB answered a support request to provide physiology training for eight student pilots. “This training was required to execute AETC's Undergraduate Helicopter Training Next program,” said Maj. Jarrod Huffman, 23rd FTS innovation flight commander and instructor pilot. “AETC is testing a way for the pilots assigned to helicopters to skip the fixed-wing portion of pilot training and go straight to helicopter training. By having separate training for helicopter-student pilots and fixed-wing student pilots, pilot training will be more efficient.” While completing the Initial Physiological Training course, led by CAFB’s Aerospace and Operational Physiology flight, the student pilots learned about human factors, altitude threats, spatial disorientation, performance threats, egress, airfield flight equipment and vision, noise and aircraft vibration. During their hands-on training, the student pilots completed a night-vison lab, a Barany chair demonstration and a chamber flight for hypoxia familiarization. All student pilots normally go through the first stages of training together with helicopter student pilots selecting and transitioning to "helos" partway through the program. “There are many different factors to do helicopter-only training,” Huffman said. “So much of the training ... occurs at a pilot training base. You’ve got the physiology and you’ve got a numerous amount of academics here, so now we’re trying to figure out how we’re going accommodate for that at the 23rd FTS.” Each student pilot is assigned to various aircraft after a portion of training, one of those craft being helicopters. By skipping training done at other pilot training bases, helicopter student pilots will get through the courses quicker and it in turn will save money. Ultimately, Huffman believes that similar training such as IPTC can be accomplished at Ft. Rucker and will help pave a new way for AETC to conduct helicopter-only pilot training. (Source: Columbus AFB 09/02/20) https://www.columbus.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2334164/aetc-tests-new-innovative-way-of-helicopter-pilot-training/

Keesler med among web upgrades

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The Defense Health Agency launched 74 new Air Force military hospital and clinic websites­ on Sept. 1, a milestone in the effort to modernize the web presence of all military medical treatment facilities. Each website transitioned to the TRICARE domain to provide a standardized patient experience across the Military Health System. The transition to the TRICARE.mil domain incorporates new layouts and adds helpful features to enhance the user experience and provide easier access to information about the local military hospital or clinic and the TRICARE benefit in one place. Upgrading the military’s online resources by improving these websites, and relying on user input for future enhancements, allows service members, retirees and their families worldwide to help drive future updates to ensure they get the web experience they want from the Military Health System. Keesler AFB, Miss., is among the new sites at https://keesler.tricare.mil/

EIS for $2B in MS river levees

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing a supplemental environmental impact state to address the impacts of an additional $2B in upgrades to the levee system along the Mississippi River - from Missouri to the Gulf of Mexico. The majority of the projects is aimed at shoring up protections for areas in Louisiana around New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The proposed work, still in the planning stages, would be divided into 143 individual projects in seven states, with the lion's share - 92 projects totaling $1.6 billion - in Louisiana. The draft report and appendices explaining all of the projects are available online at the Corps' Vicksburg District website at: http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/MRLSEIS/ Public meetings to provide information and collect comments on the final supplemental environmental statement will be held online because of the coronavirus pandemic. Dates and times have not yet been set. Comments can also be sent by email to MRL-SEIS-2@usace.army.mil or by mail to District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District, 4155 Clay St., Vicksburg, Mississippi 39138-3435. The official name of the levee system, that begins in Minnesota, is the Mississippi River and Tributaries system. (Source: NOLA.com 09/01/20) https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_911b938e-ec8f-11ea-a348-2b62cc2af287.html

Mississippi flower power

JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi could be getting a magnolia flag in November. A Mississippi commission chose the fragrant flower for its state flag on Sept. 2. Voters will decide in November whether to adopt that design. The Mississippi Flag Commission chose between the Magnolia Flag and the Great River flag, WJTV reported. The commission adopted the design by an 8-1 margin, according to Mississippi Today. Mississippi is known as the Magnolia State. (Source: Cox Media Group 09/02/20)

Farmer grants to protect waterways

GULFPORT, Miss. - The federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Gulf of Mexico Division announced Sept. 1 the availability of grant funding to improve water quality, habitat, resilience and environmental education through the demonstration of innovative practices on working lands. The project is designed to support farmer-led or farm focused organizations in the Gulf of Mexico watershed within the U.S. The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is about $10M. “EPA encourages innovative approaches that protect US waterways from non-point source pollution,” said EPA Region 4 Administrator Mary S. Walker. “Farmer to Farmer project grants allow recipients to incorporate best practices and techniques that provide meaningful assistance in protecting the Gulf of Mexico watershed.” Farmer to Farmer grants help them develop ways to manage water runoff and protect and improve water quality in the Gulf. Under the grant program, proposals will carry out project activities using one or more of the following methods – surveys, studies, research, investigation, experimentation, education, training, and/or demonstrations. The proposed project location(s) and activities should be consistent with state nutrient reduction strategies and/or other regional resource management documents. The proposed project location(s) must also be in the Gulf of Mexico watershed. Eligible applicants include state agencies, federally recognized tribes and tribal consortia, any agency or instrumentality of local governments, nonprofit organizations, interstate agencies, and colleges and universities. EPA anticipates awarding seven to twelve assistance agreements from this announcement. Awards will range from approximately $250,000 to $1,000,000 with a typical project period of three years. The GoM Division is a non-regulatory program to facilitate collaborative actions to protect, maintain, and restore the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico in ways consistent with the economic well-being of the region. (Source: EPA 09/01/20)

MHP gearing up for holiday

JACKSON, Miss. - The Mississippi Highway Patrol is gearing up for the Labor Day holiday enforcement period, which begins Friday, Sept. 4, and concluding Monday midnight, Sept.7. MHP will participate in Operation Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort (CARE) during this period. All available troopers will be assigned to saturation patrols to combat speeding and distracted driving issues. Drivers need to be mindful of the fact that bad decisions regarding impaired driving can result in serious consequences. (Source: Daily Journal 09/01/20)

In order to remove impaired drivers and promote seatbelt usage, safety checkpoints will be established throughout the holiday period.

"Working together, we can ensure all motorists and families will enjoy the last holiday weekend of the summer and arrive at their destinations safely," said MHP spokesman Capt. Johnny Poulos. During the 2019 Labor Day enforcement period, MHP investigated 131 crashes including three fatalities and made 216 DUI arrests. (Source: Daily Journal 09/01/20)