Tag: air force

Redhorse Corp. awarded $32M contract for an innovative methodology for Enhanced Reliability Centered Maintenance

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Redhorse Corp., San Diego, California, has been awarded a $32,711,285 firm-fixed-price contract for an innovative methodology for Enhanced Reliability Centered Maintenance/Long Range Supply Forecast for the Air Force. Work will be performed in Rosslyn, Virginia, and s expected to be complete by July 21, 2023. Fiscal 2022 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,486,784 are being obligated at the time of award. Eight solicitations were mailed and eight offers were received. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Rapid Sustainment Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA868422CB008).

Redhorse Corporation is a business incorporated with Washington State Secretary of State. The Unified Business Identifier (UBI) is #603059550. The business address is 1370 India St Ste 200, San Diego, CA 92101-3432, USA. The business type is FOREIGN PROFIT CORPORATION. (www.opengovus.com) 

Amentum Services Inc. awarded $45M contract for executive airlift aircraft maintenance and back shop support services

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Amentum Services Inc., Germantown, Maryland, has been awarded a $45,966,308 contract modification (P00031) to previously awarded contract FA7014-18-F-5045 for executive airlift aircraft maintenance and back shop support services. This contract provides for maintenance and support of aircraft assigned to the 316th Wing and 89th Wing at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility, Washington, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2023. The cumulative face value of the contract is $197,332,680.  The 316th Contracting Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity (FA7014-18-F-5045).

Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC is located in Germantown, MD, United States and is part of the Office Administrative Services Industry. Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC has 37,000 total employees across all of its locations and generates $5.31 billion in sales (USD). (Sales figure is modelled). There are 349 companies in the Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC corporate family. (www.dnb.com) 

SOURCES SOUGHT: Enterprise Cyber Capabilities

Posted on by Eric Coffie

The United States Air Force cyber mission seeks to preserve freedom of maneuver in/from/through Cyberspace while denying our adversaries the same, as well as to generate required effects in support of our Combatant Commanders missions.  The objective of the EC2 contract is to provide a flexible and responsive contract vehicle to support the need for the demanding and rapidly evolving cyberspace contract services support.  Emphasis will be placed on those services that enable the execution of the Air Force cyber mission through the provision of contracted Professional Services in order to support the Air Force achievement, maintenance, and assertion of Cyberspace Superiority.

  • Original Set Aside:
  • Product Service Code: R425 – SUPPORT- PROFESSIONAL: ENGINEERING/TECHNICAL
  • NAICS Code: 541512 – Computer Systems Design Services
  • Place of Performance: Various San Antonio, TX 78226 USA
  • Feb 26, 2021 04:00 PM CST

Full details via beta.sam.gov

GovCon Logo Check out our RESOURCES page for a sample letter that we use in response to government market research.

Dr. Krystal Nerio: From Air Force to President of Prosperitus Solutions

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Learn from Dr. Krystal Nerio as she shares her journey that led to building of President of Prosperitus Solutions, as well as her advice for small businesses, especially women-owned.

BACKGROUND

After graduating high school, Dr. Krystal Nerio’s older sister urged her to join the U.S. Air Force. During these years of being a full time logistician, she also went to night school to pursue her education. 

Then, after spending six years serving the nation, she returned to the US and began working at different small and large businesses. She had also managed and oversaw the Air Force Mentor Protege Program. 

It was then Ted Terrazas, the former owner of TerraHealth Inc., who encouraged her to take the leap and start her own business, after he sold his company and she’s left to start the next chapter of her life. 

Currently, Dr. Nerio is the President of Prosperitus Solutions, her successful medical logistics staffing firm that provides innovative manpower and project management solutions in the government space. 

Apart from that, she is also the Senior Managing Partner at Nerio Enterprises, where they provide strategic leadership and management of existing real estate portfolios, and the Chairwoman of Global Chamber San Antonio, an international trade and development organization. 

Above all of these, Dr. Krystal Nerio is a proud Hispanic woman who sets an example for all women in the minorities. 

“When I saw that Hispanic women didn’t even make a mark in higher education, it was like, okay, this is not about me anymore. It’s about, you know, my future didn’t, you know, the future generations to come. It’s about making that example for them. So, that’s when I was like, ‘Okay, I gotta do this now.’ So, I changed my mindset on why I was there and that’s how I finished my PhD.”

TRANSITIONING FROM THE AIR FORCE

Dr. Nerio returned to the US when she was 23 years old but in transitioning to being a civilian, she found that her NCO logistics background doesn’t equate much, so once Home Depot decided to hire her, she accepted the job. 

“So, I was getting adjusted to life on US soil and also trying to figure out, ‘Okay, what am I going to do now?’ ‘Cause I was told what to do for six years. So I was told what to wear. I was told where to go. So, it was, truly, I’m having to adjust to civilian life and also adjust to who I am, finding myself.”

Meanwhile, she then got a call from General Dynamics for a logistics job and this was where she learned how to really get in front of the door and learn writing resumes.

“Probably the only difference was, is what? Our war.”

STARTING AND MANAGING PROSPERITUS SOLUTIONS

In starting her business, Dr. Nerio found it easier as Mr. Terrazas, her mentor, had already helped her build relationships and to work in the same environment.

“I was fortunate and blessed that I had been working in those environments for my mentor. I had been doing that for the last three years. You know, hitting the pavement, shaking those hands, getting those contracting officers day in and day out, and so when I switched hats, it was a little easier for me because they knew me.”

The only thing that she did to separate herself from her old employer, TerraHealth Inc., was rebranding and showing that she can do it, even with a different role as an owner.

Then, as part of her company’s growth, they started to provide administrative and medical services aside from logistics, as well as, build their past performance through teaming and partnerships. 

“I had been working with a lot of different prime contractors and it’s a very small world. You just pick up the phone to, to do a reference check real quick, you know… And you, you have to say what you do and do what you say. You have to be a person of your word because in this business, I mean, we’re all at the end of the day, we’re here to, you know, help each other and help each other grow.”

Aside from building her company’s success, Dr. Nerio also aims to help other veterans, in their transitions to the civilian world. The ultimate goal is to put the veterans back in an environment that they’re familiar with: civil service or permanency.

“I knew the struggle of what it was when I got in the military and not knowing what I was going to do or what was next. And so and I say their dependence as well because they’ve been along for the ride and sometimes after retirement, now it’s their time to, it’s a shine or maybe it’s now it’s their time that they want to pursue what they’ve been wanting to do for a while, but they couldn’t do to military life.”

When asked about the story behind Prosperitus Solutions’ logo, she revealed that it is like an ancient culture symbol where it starts small and continues growing. 

“I think as just people in general, we need to be constantly growing and seeking knowledge to be better. Not only for our family but, you know, for others.”

ADVICE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

In their third year in business, Dr. Nerio thought that building a business might not be for her. However, that next day, someone called to give them an opportunity. If she decided to give up early, what do you think will happen to that opportunity? 

“Don’t give up. You’re going to have those sleepless nights. You’re gonna have those stressful, most stressful moments. But just keep at it every day. If it’s something that you truly are passionate about and that, you know, you want it more than anything in this world, just keep going after it. You’re going to have a struggle in the beginning, but it won’t be for long. You know, it will not be for longer. You’ll have that one moment, that right when you’re about to give up, that next door just opens up.”

ADVICE FOR WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS

In building her business, Dr. Nerio found quite a few women in business and when she found one, she tried to really hold on to their relationship. 

“You know what advice I would give is to be a good mentor to another women-owned business. Because there were so few of us that I struggle finding a female mentor, believe it or not. And my mentors have been men… And so my advice is, you know, once you do become established and you do have wisdom and knowledge to share, definitely embrace another woman-owned small business.”

RESOURCES

If you want to learn more on how Dr. Krystal Nerio built and expanded Prosperitus Solutions, then be sure to click the resources below.

You can also visit the GovCon Giant website or the new GovCon Edu where you learn everything about government contracting!

From Air Force to President of Prosperitus Solutions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psgh_MmT6M4&list=PL6-jBNNcc98vTBvNhFYfUTeH0k-Vx2VBH&index=15

024: Dr. Krystal Nerio – From Air Force to President of Prosperitus Solutions, a Multi-National Medical & Logistics Staffing Firm

https://govcongiants1.wpengine.com/podcast/024-2/

AIR FORCE Awards $379.7M To NetCentric Technology LLC For Engineering & Operations Services For Kirtland Air Force Base

Posted on by Eric Coffie

NetCentric Technology LLC, Wall, New Jersey, has been awarded a $379,785,967 cost-plus-fixed-fee, fixed-price and cost-reimbursement contract for engineering and operations services for all of Kirtland Air Force Base’s civil engineer services. This includes general management, engineering, emergency management, operations, and installation management. These services compromise the day-to-day base operations and maintenance functions. Work will be performed at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, and is expected to be completed by May 31, 2029. This award is the result of a competitive fair opportunity selection with four offers received. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,000,000 are being obligated at the time of the award. The Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, is the contracting activity.

Netcentric Technology, Inc. provides engineering services in the State of New Jersey. (www.bloomberg.com)

 

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. Awarded $81.8M Contract Modification or the U.K. MQ-9B Protector Program

Posted on by Eric Coffie

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded an $81,866,402 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price modification (P00014) to contract FA8620-18-C-2009 for the U.K. MQ-9B Protector program. This modification provides for the design, development, integration, and component-level testing of additional capabilities being added to the baseline program. Work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be completed on Aug. 31, 2021. The total cumulative face value of the contract is not-to-exceed $174,889,865. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $71,563,692 are being obligated at the time of the award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. provides aircraft parts. The Company manufactures remotely piloted aircraft systems, radars, electro-optic, and related mission systems, as well as offers training and support services. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems serves clients in the United States. (www.bloomberg.com)

AIR FORCE Awards $49.1M IDIQ Contract To Gryphon Technologies

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Gryphon Technologies L.C., Washington, D.C., has been awarded a $49,149,327 hybrid firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee with a cost reimbursable line item, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the processing, analysis and quantitative evaluation of environmental samples and other associated services in support of the Air Force Technical Applications Center’s (AFTAC) mission. This contract also analyzes calibration samples and conducts studies on analytical techniques, instrumentation and data handling advancements. Work will be performed in Sunol, California, and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2028. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2021 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $4,119,773 are being obligated at the time of award. Headquarters Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA7022-21-D-0001).

Gryphon Technologies, LC offers engineering and technical services. The Company provides systems and combat systems engineering, test and evaluation, war fighter integration and operations, life cycle support analysis, management, strategic communications, and information technology services. Gryphon delivers support to national security and coalition forces.(Bloomberg.com)

AIR FORCE Awards L3Harris Technologies Inc $119M Contract Modification

Posted on by Eric Coffie

L3Harris Technologies Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded a $119,172,657 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification (P00007) to contract FA8823-20-C-0004 for the Ground-Based Electro Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) System upgrade on Ground-Based Optical Sensor System (GBOSS) engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) pre-priced option. This modification provides for the exercise of an option for the GBOSS EMD Phase to complete the design for the integrated system; develop and/or modify software required to support the system; design and build new European and Pacific sites and add an additional sensor tower enclosure to the GEODSS White Sands Missile Range site; upgrade and/or acquire, integrate, test and field the 12 GEODSS Enhanced Technology sensor towers; and design, develop and/or acquire, integrate, test and field the three Advanced Technology Sensor towers. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by June 27, 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $12,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $218,167,008. The Space and Missile Systems Center Directorate of Contracting, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, is the contracting activity.

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. is an aerospace and defense technology innovator. The company designs, develops, and manufactures radio communications products and systems, including single channel ground and airborne radio systems. L3Harris Technologies provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.(bloomberg.com)

Boeing is No Boy Scout!

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Let’s practice fiscal responsibility and consider that Boeing, like any other huge corporations, Boeing are no boy scouts!

THE CONTROVERSY BEHIND TRUMP’S TWEET

Donald Trump’s December 2016 tweet saying that, “Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!” became massive controversy.

Donald Trump Tweet

Is he attempting to reel in costs to US taxpayers or just making another outrageous outburst, spewing a narrow opinion on such a complex topic?

I read the twitter replies and watched CNN, MSNBC, and other sources that offer up their take on the matter. It seems that everyone is touting Boeing as the backbone of America, when in fact they are the fox guarding the henhouse.

“Boeing are no boy scouts.”

Having dabbled in the world of federal contracting since 2007, three words come to my mind: fraud, waste, and abuse. These are common languages for anyone working in the federal arena. I would even compare them to the mafia and gang because of the way they tout our government officials and the U.S. system.

Besides, the government’s wasteful spending is not new news. Policies like “use it or lose it” are not effective ways to curtail egregious spending for a country drowning in a mountain of debt.

Just Google the terms ‘use it or lose it government spending,’ and you’ll find no advocates of how these policies benefit U.S. taxpayers or better yet, how this is an efficient responsible manner for handling the largest budget in the world.

Just take a look at the 2015 article and testimony by Jason J. Fichtner before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs wherein he reports how to curb wasteful year-end federal government spending and reforms the “use it or lose it” rules.

Also, consider the report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that in 2014, alone, the government wasted $125 billion, citing duplicate spending as the primary driver.

You see, this stuff is not new and Boeing, the #2 U.S government contractor, with its over 50 DUNS numbers is at the top of the list of benefactors.

“They have been abusing US taxpayers for decades with their ‘too big to fail mentality’ and backbone of America slogan.”

LET’S DIG INTO THEIR HISTORY A LITTLE BIT…

In a lawsuit filed by SpaceX against the US government, the company contends that they only wanted the opportunity to compete for a slice of the government’s $11 billion evolved expendable launch vehicle (EELV) contract award. 

The California-based firm even offers a low cost alternative that could save taxpayers’ billions of dollars. This alternative was the Falcon 9 rocket which Elon Musk claims can fly the same payload into space for 25% of the cost.  

Fact: The SpaceX Falcon 9 engine and the majority of its components are made in the USA, while Boeing Atlas 5 rocket relies on the Russian RD-180 first-stage engine to launch the U.S. national security payloads.

You see, unlike their counterparts at Boeing, SpaceX’ suit was an attempt to level the playing field and eliminate exclusive non-compete sole source contract awards that are “fiscally irresponsible and offensive to American values of fairness and competition.”

However, they were sidestepped by the Washington beltway machine. The sole source contract, aimed to build 27 rockets for U.S. taxpayers, was given to the United Launch Alliance (ULA).

ULA is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, currently #2 and #1, respectively, of the top 100 government contractors for 2018.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. You don’t have to go that far to find proof of the multi-billion dollar conglomerate abusing U.S. taxpayers. Here are two examples:

  1. Boeing paid $18 million amid overcharging the government for lunch breaks while maintaining Air Force’s C-17 aircraft. Read the article here. 
  2. Boeing and ULA sued the Air Force for $385 million over Delta 4 costs. Read the article here.

LET’S CLARIFY THINGS UP!

To add clarity to the matter, I do support the government spending measures, but I object how it is done.

“It is my belief that we can accomplish more with the money that we spend.”

There is no need to replace supplies and equipment that are in working order and that have not exceeded their useful life, just to satisfy some wacky budget policy.

Besides, better planning must take place and remove the figure heads from Washington that want to keep the establishment in place and not question decisions or practice fiscal responsibility so Boeing are no Boy scouts.

Note: This article was written way back in December 2016, however it wasn’t until now that I had the courage to share it with the world.