Contract: Global Connect, $10.5M

Global Connections to Employment Inc., Pensacola, Fla., was awarded a $10,503,398 modification (P00008) to contract W911S8-15-D-0005 for dining facility and cooking support services for Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/30/17)

Contract: L3 Vertex, $83M

L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded an $83,050,682 modification (P00021) to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract activity (N00019-13-D-0007) to exercise an option for the organizational and depot level logistics services required to support and maintain the TH-57 fleet. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., and is expected to be completed in May 2018. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting. (Source: DoD, 05/30/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $19.8M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $19,846,828 for cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to delivery order N0001917F0108, issued previously against basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification procures work on the aircraft memory system and panoramic cockpit display in order to alleviate diminishing manufacturing sources constraints projected under F-35 production Lot 15 for the Air Force (40 percent); Navy (20 percent); Marine Corps (20 percent); and international partners (20 percent). Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in March 2019. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/26/17) Note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Trump proposes 2021 BRAC

The White House's proposed budget for 2018 released Tuesday calls for a new round of military base closures in 2021. Like many other proposals within the budget, it's likely to face numerous objections from a Congress that so far has rejected the Pentagon's calls to close bases because of a roughly 20 percent excess capacity. The last Base Realignment and Closure round was in 2005. (Sources: multiple, including The Hill, Military Times, 05/23/17) The Gulf Coast region has multiple bases, including in this immediate region Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Corry Station, Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field and Duke Field.

Contract: Lockheed, $137.8M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $137,834,819 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-14-C-0002) to provide additional funding for affordability-based cost reduction initiatives in support of low-rate initial production Lot 9 F-35 fighter. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (25 percent); Warton, U.K. (20 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); Nagoya, Japan (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2020. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force (80 percent); Marine Corps (16.4 percent); and the Navy (3.6 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/19/17) Note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Land swap costs up

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A deal that would swap a Navy helicopter landing field in Escambia County in exchange for land in neighboring Santa Rosa County is still in the works, but cost is becoming a factor. Escambia County wants the current landing field in Beulah to create a commerce park. In anticipation of the deal, Escambia County purchased some 600 acres in Santa Rosa County for $1.68 million. The agreement also states that Escambia County would fund improvements to the land to ready the land for Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton to use as a helicopter landing field. Escambia County approved $4.9 million for improvements, but the expected improvement costs have gone up. The final cost breakdown is expected within the month. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 05/15/17)

Fallen honored at memorial

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Airmen, Marines, sailors and soldiers came together May 6 to honor and remember their fallen explosive ordnance disposal brethren during the annual memorial ceremony at the Kauffman EOD Training Complex. About 500 people ventured to the EOD Memorial Wall this year, as six new names were added to the engraved lists that now contains 326 people. The 2017 event marked the ceremony's 48th year. Each year, a wreath is placed in front of each branch of service's list of names before they are read aloud. After each list is completed with the phrase "We remember," the names are saluted by an enlisted and officer EOD member. The families of the EOD technicians added to the wall each year receive a folded flag that was flown over the memorial. (Source: DoD, 05/10/17)

Wing activated at Hurlburt

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center was deactivated and the 492nd Special Operations Wing activated during a ceremony here Wednesday. Col. Nathan Green, who assumed command of the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center last July, took command of the new wing. Like the organization it replaces, the 492nd SOW’s mission is to train, educate and equipping special operators and perform test and evaluations of special operations programs and equipment. The wing’s forerunner is the 492nd Bombardment Group, which flew special operations missions in World War II. The name was a cover for its real mission – flying heavily modified B-24s behind German territory to deliver agents and supplies to the resistance. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 05/10/17)

Contract: Raytheon, $7.2M

Raytheon Missile Co., Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded a $7,172,609 firm-fixed-price modification (P00054) to previously awarded contract FA8675-15-C-0022. Contractor will provide life of type buys, obsolescence components under the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile Lots 28-30 production. Work will be performed at Tucson and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2019. This contract involves foreign military sales to Japan, Norway, Romania, Turkey, and Australia. Fiscal 2016 and 2017 production funds in the amount of $7,172,609 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/10/17)

Passenger count up at PNS

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The number of passengers passing through Pensacola International Airport have steadily grown over the past five years. Departures during this year’s first three months are 4.7 percent higher than in the same span in 2013. March performed particularly well, with 7.4 percent more departures this year over 2016. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 05/09/17)

Panel wants info on T-45

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The House Armed Services Committee wants more information from the Navy as part of its ongoing probe into problems with T-45 training aircraft used at Naval Air Station Pensacola and bases in Mississippi and Texas. The committee wants to schedule of all tests and evaluations of equipment associated with the trainer, as well as the Navy’s actions in response to test results. Pilots had complained about oxygen issues with the jet, which is still flying with limitations on maneuvers. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 05/09/17) Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton does not use T-45 trainers. Previous

Contract: Lockheed, $10.8M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $10,800,000 modification to a previously awarded advanced acquisition contract (N00019-16-C-0033) for additional hardware modules and racks in support of the F-35 low-rate initial production Lot 11 aircraft for the government of Israel under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth (30 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); Nagoya, Japan (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2019. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/28/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $1.37B

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $1,377,002,000 advance acquisition contract for long-lead time materials, parts, components, and effort for 130 low-rate initial production Lot 12 F-35 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants, and foreign military sales customers. In addition this contract provides long-lead time materials, parts, components, and effort for 110 Lot 13 and 14 F-35 aircraft for the non-U.S. DoD participants and foreign military sales customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); Nagoya, Japan (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2018. This order combines purchases for the Air Force (23 percent); Marine Corps (9 percent); Navy (3 percent); non-U.S. DoD participant (38 percent), and foreign military sales customers (27 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity (N00019-17-C-0001). (Source: DoD, 04/28/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: HX5, $67.9M

HX5 LLC, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded a $67,943,475 modification (P00020) to contract W9133L-11-C-0033 for a system support representative contract that will provide for the entire spectrum of mission planning support for ninety Air National Guard flying missions. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2018. Fiscal 2017 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $11,247,958 were obligated at the time of the award. National Guard Bureau, Arlington, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/28/17)

Contract: DynCorp, $202.4M

DynCorp International, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded an undefinitized contract action with a not-to-exceed of $202,434,437 for contractor operated and maintained base supply services for the T-6A/B/D Texan II aircraft. Contractor will provide serviceable aircraft material and support equipment to support Air Force, Navy, and Army Texan II aircraft. Work will be performed at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas; Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas; Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; Vance Air Force Base, Okla.; Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.; Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla.; Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas; Naval Flight Officer at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.; Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.; and Redstone Arsenal, Ala. This contract is expected to be complete by April 30, 2018. This is a bridge contract and a new Contractor Operated and Maintained Base Supply (COMBS) contract is currently in source selection. Fiscal 2017 funds in the amount of $44,273,731 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8617-17-C-6210). (Source: DoD, 04/28/17)

VT-2 wins two CNATRA awards

NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD, Fla. -- Training Squadron TWO’s Squadron Augment Unit (SAU) received recognition recently with the announcement of the annual Chief of Naval Aviation Training (CNATRA) awards. The squadron earned honors as the SAU of the Year and one of the unit’s pilots garnered the Reserve Flight Instructor of the Year. The SAU of the Year award recognizes the outstanding achievements of the top reserve unit engaged in the flight training of NATRACOM students. During calendar year 2016, the SAU contributed 5,364.5 flight hours and completed over 2,800 flight events. Additionally, two members of the SAU served as Officers in Charge for part of the Training Air Wing FIVE detachment to Roswell, NM. One member of the team, Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Toms, was honored as the Reserve Flight Instructor of the Year. The honor is based on all-around performance and effectiveness as an instructor, contributions to safety, leadership, strength of character, personality, and civic involvement. (Source: Whiting Tower, page 2, 04/26/17) Whiting Field, near Milton, is one of the Navy's two primary pilot training bases, providing instruction for Navy, Marine, Coast Guard and Air Force student aviators.

Contract: Lockheed, $31.1M

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., has been awarded a $31,129,968 modification (P00024) to previously awarded contract FA8682-16-C-0005. Contract will provide support for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile production support, systems engineering, and tooling and test equipment. Work will be performed in Orlando and is expected to be complete by Aug. 31, 2019. This contract consists of foreign military sales to Poland. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/27/17)

Contract: Harris, $10.9M

Harris Corp., Colorado Springs, Colo., has been awarded a $10,900,333 modification (P00738) on previously awarded contract F l 9628-02-C-0010 for system sustainment of the FPS-85 Phased Array Eglin radar, which provides space situational awareness data for tracking space objects. Contractor will provide sustainment services which include weapon systems management and engineering, core sustainment for the field service teams, requirements development modeling and analysis, engineering support and technical orders support. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; and Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2018. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Peterson Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/27/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $18.9M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $18,878,328 for modification 00006 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-14-C-0040) to provide additional sustainment, integration and test, training, and database production in support of the F-35 for the government of Japan under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in May 2019. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $18,832,398 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/26/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $422.7M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $422,738,589 for cost-plus-fixed-fee modification P00022 to the previously awarded low-rate initial production Lot 10 F-35 advance acquisition contract (N00019-15-C-0003). This modification provides the procurement of production non-recurring special tooling and special test equipment to support the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (28.4 percent); Nashua, N.H. (8 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (7.6 percent); San Diego, Calif. (6.4 percent); Baltimore, Md. (4.5 percent); Palmdale, Calif. (3.3 percent); Orlando, Fla. (2.5 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (2.1 percent); Garden Grove, Calif. (1.9 percent); Marietta, Ga. (1.6 percent); Rolling Meadows, Ill. (1.5 percent); East Aurora, N.Y. (0.9 percent); Melbourne, Fla. (0.7 percent); Owego, N.Y. (0.7 percent); Tempe, Ariz. (0.5 percent); Hauppauge, N.Y. (0.3 percent); Williston, Vt. (0.2 percent); and various other locations inside and outside the continental U.S. (28.9 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2020. This order combines purchases for the Air Force (33.6 percent); Navy (16.8 percent); Marine Corps (16.8 percent); international partners (17 percent), and foreign military sales customers (15.8 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/26/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.