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The Navy will launch and christen dry cargo/ammunition ship the USNS Carl Brashear at a 10 a.m. PDT ceremony on Sept. 18, 2008. The christening ceremony for the newest ship in the Lewis and Clark (T-AKE) class of underway replenishment ships will be held at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, Calif.
Designated as T-AKE 7, the new ship honors Master Chief Boatswain's Mate (Master Diver) Carl M. Brashear (1931-2006), who joined the U.S. Navy in 1948. He was a pioneer in the Navy as one of the first African-Americans to graduate from the Navy Diving School and was designated a Navy salvage diver. He was the first African-American to qualify and serve as a master diver while on active duty and the first U.S. Navy diver to be restored to full active duty as an amputee, the result of a leg injury he sustained during a salvage operation. After 31 years of service, Brashear officially retired from the U.S. Navy on April 1, 1979. Brashear was the subject of the 2000 movie "Men of Honor" starring Cuba Gooding Jr.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead will speak at the christening ceremony and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe R. Campa Jr. will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Serving as ship's sponsor, Lauren Brashear will christen the ship in honor of her grandfather. The launching ceremony will include the time-honored Navy tradition when the sponsor breaks a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship "USNS Carl Brashear."
USNS Carl Brashear is the seventh ship of the Navy's T-AKE 1 class. The T-AKE program calls for up to 14 ships, the first 11 of which will serve as combat logistics force ships and the last three of which are expected to be part of the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future). As a combat logistics force ship, USNS Carl Brashear will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a worldwide forward presence by delivering ammunition, food, fuel, and other dry cargo to U.S. and allied ships at sea. The ship is designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea and can carry and support two helicopters to conduct vertical replenishment.
As part of Military Sealift Command's (MSC) Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, the USNS Carl Brashear is designated as a United States Naval Ship (USNS) and will be crewed by 124 civil service mariners working for MSC. The ship will also have a Military detachment of 11 U.S. Navy Sailors to provide supply coordination and, when needed, can carry a helicopter detachment of up to 36.
Additional information about this class of ship is available on line at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4400&tid=500&ct=4.
By Army Pfc. Christopher McKenna
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 3, 2008 - Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Samuel Solis couldn't have pictured himself working on Army vehicles in the Iraqi desert when he signed up to become a sailor. But that is exactly what Solis, a native of Ore City, Texas, is doing as the lone sailor attached to an Army squadron deployed here to help protect soldiers from improvised explosive devices.
"My job is to maintain the counter-IED equipment on all of the vehicles that go outside the wire," Solis said. He is part of the Joint Counter-Radio-controlled IED Electronic Warfare Composite Squadron 1, attached to the 101st Airborne Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
"I maintain the equipment and make sure that, when at all possible, improvements are made," he said.
Solis arrived in June after working as a cryptologic technician onboard the USS Sampson out of San Diego. A cryptologic technician is similar to an electronic warfare officer on a ship, except operating with equipment optimized for maritime missions.
"I got my skill sets from the Navy and use that over here," he said. "I went through a week-long course here, and I'd say about 90 percent of what I do is from hands-on training."
Prior to arriving to the unit, Solis didn't know what to expect, especially being in the Navy and joining the ranks of an Army unit.
"Since I've arrived, I feel like I have been accepted well," Solis said. "I've never once felt like I don't belong. I feel like I am a part of the team, and in the same sense, I am treated like I am a part of the team."
Each of the regiment's four outlying patrol bases has a specialist to help maintain the trucks outside of Meade. "We assist the supported commander with employing defensive and offensive electronic warfare and are helping to build the Army's organic electronic warfare capability for their future deployments," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mike Miller, from Oak Harbor, Wash., electronic warfare officer with the squadron.
When a system has a fault, Solis examines equipment in the vehicle, troubleshoots, then takes the needed steps to get the system running properly again.
"Being at Combat Outpost Meade would have to be the most challenging aspect of my job. Being in a remote location, the logistical aspect is challenging," Solis said. "Having a crew specialist at each of the patrol bases has made it a lot easier. They're smart. They know what they're doing."
Solis' experiences and capabilities instill confidence in his fellow servicemembers.
"Guys like him are the ones making the difference," Miller said. "He is one of the key guys out there helping the commanders execute counterinsurgency operations safely."
(Army Pfc. Christopher McKenna serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team.)
By Sharon Foster
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 21, 2008 - The United Warrior Survivors Foundation will host its fifth annual West Coast Survivors Conference Aug. 22-25 in San Diego. "These conferences were established with the unique needs of Special Forces widows in mind, affording them a healing experience and sense of camaraderie and support," Kelly Chott, foundation administrator, said.
The conference brings together Special Forces widows at various stages of bereavement and includes an array of speakers and experts in the fields of military widowhood, bereavement, financial planning, benefits and entitlements, as well as practical classes in self-defense and coping with their children's grieving process, Chott explained.
Conference organizers encourage all surviving spouses of U.S. Special Operations personnel who have died in the line of duty since Sept. 11, 2001, to attend. The conference also is open to surviving spouses of those who died while on volunteer support or re-supply missions to Special Operations teams.
The overall goal of the conference is to provide a safe and fun setting for sharing stories and challenges and forging bonds with others who have suffered similar tragedies, Chott said.
"The 'survivor reunions' bring all of us together, and we form this amazing bond," said Jackie Syverson, widow of Army Maj. Paul Syverson of the 5th Special Forces Group. "Before my first reunion, I would wake up in the morning and wonder how I was going to make it through another day, feeling all alone in what I was facing.
"I left the reunion renewed," she continued, "and with a new group of friends that are walking this path along with me. United Warrior Survivors Foundation gives us the chance to come together, share experiences and help one another through the grieving process. That is priceless, and has truly changed my life."
Because of the overwhelming response to the West Coast Conference, United Warrior Survivors Foundation had its first East Coast conference several years ago.
"These reunions are lifelines for all surviving spouses," said Emily Munoz, widow of Army Capt. Gil Munoz of the 7th Special Forces Group.
United Warrior Survivors Foundation, a home-front group of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, was founded in 2002 in direct response to the loss of life in the global war on terror. Through counseling, emergency financial aid and financial planning, the group has extended help to more than 150 widows. Annually, it offers scholarships to college-bound Special Operations surviving spouses.
L-3 Communications Integrated Systems L.P., Waco, Texas, is being awarded a $60,630,244 not-to-exceed undefinitized contract action for the fabrication and delivery of four P-3 Outer Wing Assembly kits in support of the P-3 recovery plan. Work will be performed in South Korea, (51 percent) and Waco, Texas, (49 percent), and is expected to be completed in Jun. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-08-C-0065).
BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Va., is being awarded a $13,990,687 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-4404) to exercise an option for alterations and repairs for the USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) FY08 docking selected restricted availability. The modification provides the following major alterations and repairs: repairs to underwater hull, repairs to propeller shafts and struts, repairs to sonar dome, and bow-strengthening alteration. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 2008. Contract funds in the amount of $12,266,074 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity.
AGVIQ-CH2M Hill Joint Venture III, Anchorage, Ala., is being awarded a $9,322,161 modification 01 to contract task order JM04 under previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N62470-08-D-1006). The work to be performed is for corrective remedial actions of various sites, including Solid Waste Management Units 7/8, 54 and 55 at the U.S. Naval Activity. Work will be performed primarily in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, and work is expected to be completed Nov. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.
TAOS Industries, Inc., Madison, Ala., is being awarded a $5,786,059 firm-fixed priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. The preponderance of the contract is firm-fixed-priced for recurring services. Less than one percent of the contract value is for annual indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract line item numbers. The contract is for the Consolidated Storage Program, which consists of: program management support and facilities operation (encompassing individual and organizational bulk issue, recovery, warehousing, organizational maintenance, asset management including visibility, accountability, automated shelf-life management, replenishment and replacement for the Marine Corps families of individual combat equipment; chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense equipment; special training allowance pool (cold, hot, wet weather clothing and equipment, humanitarian effort assets, and any other specialty clothing and equipment item); and shelters & camouflage netting. This contract includes six option years, which if exercised, would bring the potential cumulative value of the contract to $140,000,000. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, N.C., (21.5 percent); Okinawa, Japan, (20.5 percent); Oceanside, Calif., (18.0 percent); Madison, Ala., (10.0 percent); San Diego, Calif. (05.0 percent); Yuma, Ariz. (05.0 percent); Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, (05.0 percent); Awaken, Japan, (05.0 percent); Barstow, Calif., (02.5 percent); Bridgeport, Calif., (02.5 percent); Havelock, N.C., (02.5 percent); Beaufort, S.C., (02.5.0 percent), and work is expected to be completed Aug. 2009 (Aug. 2015 with exercised options). Contract funds in the amount of $5,786,059 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with 31 proposals solicited and six offers received. Marine Corps Logistics Command, Albany, Ga., is the contracting activity (M67004-08-D-0018).
General Atomics, San Diego, Ca., was awarded on Aug. 18, 2008, a $11,449,606 time & materials contract for modification to extend the period of performance for support services to Highlighter operations in Iraq. Work will be performed in Iraq with an estimated completion date of Dec. 21, 2008. One bid was solicited and one bid received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-08-C-T205).
I.L. Fleming, Inc., Midway, Ga., was awarded on Aug. 18, 2008, a $15,580,056 firm-fixed price contract to construct a 120 person multi-story 3,958 square meter facility with reinforced concrete foundation and floor slabs, insulated maintenance free exterior walls and exterior stairs, standing seam metal roof, force protection system, utilities, parking, access road and site improvements. Facility includes room-bath-room modules, kitchens, fan-coil units with individually controlled thermostats, communication, fire suppression, elevator, lounge, laundries, storage areas and all other support necessary to provide a complete and usable facility. Project will comply with all DoD force protection standards. Work will be performed at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 20, 2009. 100 proposals were solicited with four bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-08-C-0033).
General Atomics Aeronautical System, San Diego, Ca., was awarded on Aug. 15, 2008, a $7,896,513 cost plus fixed fee contract to acquire three extended-range multi-purpose Block 0 Unmanned Aircraft in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Work will be performed in San Diego, Ca., with an estimated completion date of Mar. 31, 2010. One bid was solicited and one bid received. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-06-C-0208).
Alcan General, Anchorage, Ala., was awarded on Aug. 15, 2008, a $54,178,881 firm-fixed price contract to design and build a battalion complex at Fort Richardson, Ala., (FTR195 & FTR 197). Work will be performed at Fort Richardson, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 10, 2010. Bids were solicited via the Web with two bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District Ala., Elmendorf Air Force Base, Ala., is the contracting activity (W911KB-08-C-0014).
CPI Aerostructures, Inc., of Edgewood, N.Y.; GSE Dynamics Inc. of Hauppauge, N.Y.; and Top Flight Aerostructures, Inc., of Marietta, Ga., are being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for a maximum of $40 million. This action will provide 108 aircraft spare parts included in the scope of the contract and applicable to multiple platforms including the C-5 Galaxy, A-10, H-53 helicopter, C-135, B-52, B-1, A-10, and T-38. Quantities will be negotiated as requirements generate. At this time $12,116 has been obligated to CPI Aerostructures; $353,316 has been obligated to GSE Dynamics Inc.; and $53,980 has been obligated to Top Flight Aerostructures. 603 SCMS/GUBA, Robins AFB, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8537-08-D-0001, FA8537-08-D-0003, FA8537-08-D-0004).
AeroVironment Incorporated, Simi Valley, Calif., was awarded on Aug. 13, 2008, a $17,757,543 firm-fixed price contract for additional Army Standard Raven Systems and Raven initial spares packages. Work will be performed in Simi Valley, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Jan. 30, 2008. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-05-C-0338).
General Atomics Aeronautical system, San Diego, Calif., was awarded on Aug. 14, 2008, a $10,487,251 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for logistics support for the IGNAT/Sky Warrior alpha unmanned aircraft system. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Jun. 27, 2008. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0082).
ECC International, LLC, Burlingame, Calif., was awarded on Aug. 13, 2008, a $9,979,477 firm-fixed price contract for the Afghan National Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal School camp and garrison upgrade. Work will be performed in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 13, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five bids were solicitedon Jul. 13, 2008, and two bids were received. U.S. Army engineer District, Afghanistan, is the contracting activity (W917PM-07-D-0015).
Science Application International Corp., San Diego, Calif., was awarded on Aug. 14, 2008, a $6,081,000 time and materials contract for post deployment/post production software support and fielding, training, logistics, documentation, engineering and technical support services for the Joint Network Management System. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and Fairfax, Va., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 14, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Jun. 17, 2008. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J. is the contracting activity (W91QUZ-06-D-0016).
BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle Systems, Sealy, Texas, was awarded on Aug. 14, 2008, a $6,019,671 firm-fixed price contract for medium tactical vehicles. Work will be performed in Sealy, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two bids were solicited on Aug. 15, 2002, and two bids were received. U.S. Army TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-03-C-S023).
BriarTek, Inc.*, Alexandria, Va., is being awarded a $18,989,915 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the acquisition of material and services for the installation and validation of Man Overboard Indicator (MOBI) systems on approximately 105 Navy ships. The MOBI system is capable of alerting the crew to a man overboard event so that a life saving rescue can be initiated. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Va., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively awarded. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61331-08-D-0036).
Nokomis, Inc.*, Charleroi, Pa., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $9,900,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research Program under topics N04-016 entitled "Super-Efficient Omni-Directional Antennas for Low Power Wireless Ammunition "Health" Monitoring Systems"; DTRA-06 "Novel Methods of IED Suppression and Neutralization to Include Next Generation WMD Dispersal Devices"; and AF-071-219 "Remote-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Detection Identification and Classification Algorithms." The contractor will provide the continued development of UAV based AELED IED detection, to include exploratory study of application, further research and development, analysis for system integration, customizing prototype to specific platform needs, test and evaluation, production buys, support and training, as necessary. Work will be performed in Charleroi, Pa., and is expected to be completed in Aug. 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This SBIR Phase III contract was competitively procured using SBIR Program Solicitations under Topic A04-016, DTRA06-007; and AF07-219; 14, 21, and 15 offers were received, respectively. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-08-D-0026).
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