Pittsfield Lab To Do 11 Percent of Missile-Building Contract

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — U.S. Department of Defense announced Monday that the city will complete 11 percent of work for a $494 million missile-building contract for the Navy.

Charles Stark Draper Laboratories, based in Cambridge, received the $494,257,945 contract for guidance systems for Trident II, D5 missiles. Most of the work will be performed at the company's home office but 11 percent will be done at the laboratory's Merrill Road location.

Here is the release from the U.S. Department of Defense's website:

CONTRACTS

NAVY

Charles Stark Draper Laboratories, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., is being awarded a $494,257,945 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Trident II, D5 guidance system tactical engineering support and guidance applications program, and life extension development.  Work will be performed in Cambridge, Mass. (82 percent); Pittsfield, Mass. (11 percent); Clearwater, Fla. (2 percent); and El Segundo, Calif. (5 percent).  Work is expected to be completed Sept. 20, 2016.  This contract was not competitively procured.  Contract funds in the amount of $83,981,547 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00030-11-C-0005).

L-3 Communications Corp., Sylmar, Calif., is being awarded a $78,500,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price provisions contract to provide repairs to the TB-23 towed array and purchase the spare subassemblies and parts required to improve maintenance schedules.  The contractor, by monitoring work flow, upgrade plans, ships schedules, overhaul, and repair plans, shall anticipate and prepare for repairs as needed to meet the performance goals.  The contractor will provide inventory management services to support the timely repairs of the towed arrays and implement overhauls and upgrades as directed by the government.  This contract will also require the contractor to manage spare parts and optimize purchases to improve maintenance and repair schedules and the operational profile of the Navy’s submarine fleet.  Work will be performed in Sylmar, Calif., and is expected to complete December 2015.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured.  The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, R.I., is the contracting activity (N66604-11-D-0179).

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $66,180,000 firm-fixed-price order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-11-G-0001) for the procurement of weapon replaceable assemblies and other complex parts for use in retrofitting F/A-18C/D aircraft; 62 for the government of Finland, and 33 for the government of Switzerland.  Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (44.8 percent); St. Louis, Mo. (26.8 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (14.9 percent); Oakland, N.J. (6.4 percent); Grand Rapids, Mich. (3.3 percent); Butler, N.J. (1.3 percent); Sylmar, Calif. (1 percent); Killdeer, N.D. (0.5 percent); Mesa, Ariz. (0.4 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (0.3 percent); Wallingford, Conn. (0.2 percent); and Horsham, Pa. (0.1 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2015.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract combines purchases for the governments of Finland ($44,598,959; 67 percent) and Switzerland ($21,581,041; 33 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin, Mission Systems and Sensors, Moorestown, N.J., is being awarded a $65,636,395 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-5110) for production of the Aegis Weapon System, tooling, test equipment, and associated technical services for the Aegis ashore test site at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii.  Work will be performed in Moorestown, N.J. (87 percent), and Clearwater, Fla. (13 percent), and is expected to be completed by October 2014.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $48,981,414 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-07-C-0060) for the procurement of 24 AE1107C engines for the Air Force CV-22 aircraft (14 spares and 10 Lot 15 installs).  Work will be performed in Oakland, Calif. (70 percent), and Indianapolis, Ind. (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2012.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

EDO Communications & Countermeasures Systems, Thousand Oaks, Calif., is being awarded a $17,092,500 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-6311) for the production and support of 265 JCREW 2.1 radio-controlled improvised explosive device (RCIED) electronic warfare (CREW) systems to Australia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  Vehicle mounted CREW systems are one element of the DoD’s Joint Counter RCIED Electronic Warfare program.  Spiral 2.1 CREW systems are vehicle mounted electronic jammers designed to prevent the initiation of radio-controlled improvised explosive devices.  This contract is for the urgent procurement and support of CREW systems, to be used by Australian forces.  The Navy manages the joint CREW program for Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Joint IED Defeat Organization.  The contract is for option P00089.  Work will be performed in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and is expected to be completed by June 2011.  Contract Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract involves Foreign Military Sales to Australia.  The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Robertson Aviation, LLC, Tempe, Ariz., is being awarded a $16,830,672 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-08-D-0009) to exercise an option for the procurement of V-22 mission auxiliary fuel tanks, refueling kits, and accessories.  Work will be performed in Tempe, Ariz., and is expected to be completed in December 2011.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Science Applications International Corp., McLean Va., is being awarded a $13,576,972 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contact with cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing for technical and engineering services in support of the Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (ICTAP) to provide interoperable communications support to first responder agencies. Support will include voice communications interoperability technical assistance to public jurisdictions, including law enforcement, fire protection, medical emergency services, and others involved in preventing or responding to threats to public safety.  This one-year contract contains two one-year options which, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of this contract to $41,778,679.  Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed Dec. 26, 2011.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured and represents a sole-source award, as authorized under 10 U.S.C. 2304 c (1); only one responsible source and no other suppliers or services will satisfy government requirements.  The intention to award this sole-source contract was published in the Commerce Business Daily, and posted to the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website.  Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific is the contracting activity (N66001-11-D-0051).

Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Va., is being awarded a $10,957,245 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for technical and engineering services in support of the Naval Air Systems Command’s Air Vehicle Engineering Department and the manned flight simulator/air combat environment test and evaluation facilities.  Services to be provided support the development and utilization of advanced air vehicle technology for evaluating air vehicle flying qualities and controllability, developing simulation software, and building prototype simulations.  The estimated level of effort is 94,970 man-hours.  Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md., and is expected to be completed in December 2011.  This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals; one offer was received.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-11-D-0030).

Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $9,077,929 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of 14 support equipment workarounds for organizational- and intermediate-level maintenance in support of the MV-22 and CV-22 aircraft.  Work will be performed in Amarillo, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2014.  Contract funds in the amount of $599,607 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured.  The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-11-D-0002).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a $7,350,000 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-fee contract (N00019-08-C-0027) for non-recurring efforts associated with productionization of drawing changes in support of E-2D advanced Hawkeye aircraft production.  Work will be performed in Bethpage, N.Y. (71.5 percent), and St. Augustine, Fla. (28.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2012.  Contract funds in the amount of $1,000,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

 AIR FORCE

Information Systems Worldwide Corp., Arlington, Va., was awarded a $23,625,517 contract to conduct gap filling research and enhance the existing software architecture to search information; rapidly acquire new contextual information; and deliver timely across domains.  This research will support and enhance the currently analytic workflow and provide enhanced sharing of information.  At this time, $4,049,359 has been obligated.  Air Force Research Laboratory/RIKE, Rome, N.Y., is the contracting activity (FA8750-11-C-0045).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Hurst, Texas, is being awarded a maximum $10,010,693 firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for prop rotor gearboxes used in support of MV-22 helicopter.  There are no other locations of performance.  Using service is Marine Corps.  There was originally one proposal solicited with one response.  The date of performance completion is Oct. 31, 2013.  The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPRPA1-09-G-004Y-5638).

Powder Shield Looking for Business

ADAMS, Mass. — Reports of Powder Shield Technologies' closure are a bit exaggerated, says Joseph White, operations manager.

An assertion had been made at the North Adams City Council meeting Tuesday night that the shop had closed and tossed 25 people out of work.

White, who answered the phone on Wednesday with the buzz of equipment in the background, said that wasn't exactly true. "We didn't close," he said. "We kept one part of the shop open."

The 25-year-old company uses an electrostatic process to lay a powder, rather than liquid, coating over metal products. It also does pretreating, custom work, sandblasting and related work. It was one of the largest operation of its kind in New England.

When business was good, some 35 people were employed at the Howland Avenue facility. But, like so many other small businesses in the region, it's been undercut by cheaper work out of China and has seen orders drop off. White estimates about 75 percent of the company's regular customers have defected to China.

It most recently employed about a dozen people and there was talk of shutting down the operation. White's trying to persevere with some part-time help until things look up.

"I'm trying to build the business along with [owner] R.J. Scullin," said White. "We still have the production line, we still have the ovens. We're trying to find the right direction."

That includes an energy audit to help cut down on costs and more aggressive marketing to build a base of loyal, local customers. But he's been running into a problem.

"I've been really marketing for two weeks and people say to me, 'I thought you were closed,'" said the Adams native. "We're still here, we still exist."

Learn more about Powder Shield's capabilities by contacting White at 413-743-0022 or joe@powdershield.com.

Crane Gives $100 Bill High-Tech Touch

DALTON, Mass. — Crane & Co. officials were on hand this morning as the new $100 bill was unveiled in the U.S. Treasury Department's Cash Room in Washington. The Dalton printer has been making the specialized paper for the nation's folding currency for more than 100 years.
 
The bill includes a variety of high-tech additions to help defeat counterfeiting; the U.S. $100 bill is the most widely counterfeited note.

Find out the cool things happening on the new $100 bill.

"As the supplier of the paper used to produce the redesigned $100 bill, Crane & Co. worked diligently to provide the Bureau of Engraving & Printing with paper that contains an updated suite of security elements," said Douglas Crane, vice president, in a statement. "These features were designed to address the government's twin objectives of elevating the security of the world's most recognized banknote, while at the same time enhancing its ease of use — both of which serve to support and extend the public’s confidence in the banknote."

The security includes a micro-optic "Motion" feature that creates simulated images on the security thread that appear to move as the bill is tilted and also switches from one image to another — from $100 to the Liberty Bell — in an stylized inkwell. That should create a major challenge to potential counterfeiters, said Crane.

The bill also has the traditional anti-counterfeit devices like scattered blue and red fibers, a facial watermark of Ben Franklin, embedded security thread that glows under ultraviolet and darker number watermarks.

Crane officials will be demonstrating the bill's new attributes at the Dalton mill on Friday to a select group of officials and press that includes iBerkshires.

Crane Offers Creative Challenge

Crane & Co. is setting the bar for the next Berkshire Creative Challenge in hopes of identifying local talent that could be added to its freelance creative resource team.

The 200-year-old Dalton stationary manufacturer and the sole supplier for the nation's folding money is the second company to participate in the challenge. Interprint Inc. took the plunge last year and was so pleased with the results, company officials are considering their own creative program.

The challenge is designed to connect local artists and other creative types with the manufacturers and businesses that fuel the Berkshire economy. This challenge is open to artists, illustrators, designers and copywriters who can create sophisticated art and copy for Crane's stationery collections.

Known as a leader in the stationery category, Crane is an iconic brand that delivers uncompromising quality and classic designs. The brand also creates updated, fresh, modern designs targeted at consumers who are young, artistic, design-savvy and stylish.

Interested creatives should have an understanding of the stationery category and how art translates to stationery products. Art for stationery would include, but not be limited to, motif illustrations, illustrative design, pattern creations, type-driven design (type layout and type as art), and copywriting as art/voice/layout. Working knowledge of printing and production processes will also be helpful. Printing and production processes used by Crane & Co. include engraving, letterpress, thermography, lithography, foiling and die cutting.

Those interested should submit an application to include examples of their work using the guidelines provided. The preliminary examples should help with Crane's assessment of each artist's style as it applies to stationery. Concepts for stationery collections or brand appropriate product lines are also welcome. From these submissions finalists will be chosen.

Find an electronic application here.