Russia Possibly Repositioning Forces to Donbas

View Online Russia Possibly Repositioning Forces to Donbas March 31, 2022 | By Jim Garamone About 20 percent of the Russian forces to the North of Kyiv are repositioning, and while American officials do not know where they are going, they don’t think they are going home. A small number of Russian forces are beginning to reposition from their attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. “It is not exactly clear … where they’re going to go, for how long and for what purpose, but we don’t see any indication that they’re going to be sent home,” said Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby. The best assessment is these troops will reposition to Belarus where they will refit, get resupplied and then be moved back into Ukraine, possibly into the Donbas region, Kirby said. “It’s clear the Russians want to reprioritize their operations in the Donbas area that could be one destination, but again, too soon to know,” he said. “We don’t really have a good sense of it.” Kirby also discussed how long the American troops deployed to Europe will remain in the region. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III ordered the first of those troops to deploy from the United States in February. Most are now in the frontline NATO states of the Baltic Republics, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. Spotlight: NATO “I think the Secretary wants to keep his options open,” Kirby said. Austin ordered just under 20,000 troops to the region on temporary orders. “We’ll take each one as it comes and the secretary will decide whether that capability needs to stay – yes or no – and then does it need to be that unit, or do we need to rotate that unit out,” the press secretary said. “Thus far, nobody has been rotated out. Everybody that the secretary has ordered in, is going to stay in.” No decision has been made for those forces. The same is true of the USS Harry S. Truman carrier Strike Group in the Mediterranean, Kirby said. The Truman “will stay in the Mediterranean until the secretary decides that it’s time for the ship to rotate out.” Finally, Kirby said the aid to Ukraine has been moving at light speed for the federal government. He said the $350 million of equipment that President Joe Biden authorized Feb. 26 – just two days after the Russian invasion – “was completed in a record three weeks,” Kirby said. Another $200 million worth of equipment and supplies have also been delivered. “Then the $800 million that the president approved 10 days ago … those shipments are already arriving,” he said. “In fact, from the time he signed the order to the first shipment going on its way, it was four days.” Every shipment to Ukraine is a mixture of weapons systems, support and sustainment. This includes food, body armor, helmets, small arms ammunition, medical and first aid kits. These are in addition to the Javelin anti-armor weapons and the anti-air Stinger systems.

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Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing, March 31, 2022

View Online Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing, March 31, 2022 March 31, 2022 PRESS SECRETARY JOHN F. KIRBY: Hey guys, sorry I’m a little late. My goodness, the sarcasm is just dripping in here. I’d think it was a Friday. OK. A couple things to get to at the top here. I think today, you saw the Department released the 2021 On-Site Installation Evaluation Report. I want to remind that on his very first full day in office, Secretary Austin made a very strong commitment about sexual assault and sexual harassment and how he was going to prioritize on it. And that set into motion an Independent Review Commission, which set into motion a series of findings and recommendations. And among those recommendations was that we take a look at sites around the country and around the world to make sure that we’re properly examining the kinds of conditions that exist to help prevent these harmful behaviors. And it’s not just sexual assault and sexual harassment, but domestic abuse, suicide. And what kind of conditions are there to help prevent? What’s the command climate like? What sort of resources are available to our, folks to their families? Anyway, so all that led to this very first On-Site Installation Evaluation Report. The Secretary believes that the findings in this report of those site visits is going to be critical to helping us better prevent a range of harmful behaviors. And I said that includes sexual assault, harassment, suicide, domestic violence, and child abuse. How to better prevent it and what it takes to do prevention well. So, a key objective of the process here is to better understand where the gaps in the seams are and provide leaders at these installations as well as across the force with the necessary tools to enhance prevention. So, again, this was a first in what will be a series of additional installation visits and installation reports as it should be. We’ll learn from each one. We’ll share those lessons broadly. And we’ll be as transparent with you as we can. And we have done that today. Also, today, the department authorized for public release the RAND Report, which was titled Understanding Civilian Harm in Raqqa and its Implication for Future Conflicts. I think you may have seen RANDs already spoken to this and posted their report. It provides insights into the causes of civilian harm during the U.S. led campaign to liberate Raqqa from the Islamic State, from June to October 2017. The report provides recommendations related to U.S. strategic choices, operational approaches and capabilities, information collection, approaches to adversary tactics, and force development. It was sponsored by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy. And this report will be one of the key resources considered in developing our own Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan that the Secretary also recently directed the Department to develop. Safeguarding civilian life is a strategic and moral imperative. You’ve heard Secretary Austin say that many times. The department appreciates the insights that this report offers. I appreciate all the work that RAND put into it. And we know it’ll help inform our own work as we continue to try to improve our approach to civilian harm mitigation and response going forward. Let’s see, lastly, earlier today, I had the great privilege of launching a new community engagement — strategic and community engagement initiative that we’re calling Beyond the Battlefield. It’s aimed at scholars and students at the collegiate level, to try to help inform them. Obviously, we want to encourage them to consider jobs in national security and here at the department, of course, but it’s really about helping inform them about how the policymaking process works at the Pentagon. I mean, so much of what the military does, is available for everybody to see and to read about. I mean, we just released a budget on Monday that lays out what we’re going to be spending and what we’re spending it on and why. But I felt like, we felt like, we needed to do a better job explaining what working inside the Defense Department actually felt like, and how those decisions got made. And so, we did our inaugural session today. I’m very proud of that. And we’ll keep it going. It’s going to be an interactive virtual dialogue, to the degree that we need to right now with COVID. We hope to do more in person stuff, and so I was very pleased to kick that off today. Finally, I know kind of rattling on here, but an apology to all the Press Corps. We had some technical difficulties today, so we won’t be able to take calls through zoom. So basically, you guys here with butts in seats, you’re going to be the only ones asking question today. And that’s not on purpose we do apologize. We try as you know, very hard to make this as inclusive as we can, because of COVID restrictions. But unfortunately, technology got the better of us today. So we’re going to just stick to what’s in the room. So, Bob, you’re lucky, you didn’t call in today. You’re here. So… Q: I’m here. MR. KIRBY: …first question. Q: Thank you. On Ukraine, can you give an update on the size and the scope of the movement of Russian forces north from Kiev, what you’ve called repositioning. Does that include Chernobyl? Or is that kind of a separate situation because of some health problems there that you’ve talked about? And lastly, by popular demand, can you give us an update on the convoy that you talked about… MR. KIRBY: I haven’t gotten a convoy question in a long time. That did not merit for applause, whoever did that. On the repositioning, we continue to see indications that they are moving a small number. I don’t have an update for you in terms of what that equates to. I think yesterday we said it was about 20 percent maybe a little less. I don’t think we would change that estimation, much over the last 24 hours. It has not been wholesale by any means, or hasn’t it been rapid. We do believe that, again, that a small number are beginning to reposition. It’s not exactly clear Bob, where they’re going to go, for how long, and for what purpose. But we don’t see any indication that they’re going to be sent home. The best assessment we have, and it’s an assessment at this early stage is that they’re going to be repositioned probably into Belarus, to be refit and resupplied and used elsewhere in Ukraine. Again, where’s that elsewhere? We don’t exactly know. All I can tell you is what we’ve said now for several days. It’s clear the Russians want to reprioritize their operations in the Donbass area, that could be one destination. But again, too soon to know. We don’t really have a good sense of it. You were asking about Chernobyl. We have seen indications that some Russian forces are departing the Chernobyl plant facility. Again, we gather that they are leaving to the north, to go back, again towards Belarus. But again, indications are not completely clear at this time. I think you were asking is that of a piece or is it something separate? We would assess at this early stage that it’s of a piece of this larger effort to refit and resupply. And not necessarily done because of health hazards or some sort of emergency or a crisis at Chernobyl. That would be our assessment. And I honestly don’t have an update for you on the convoy. I don’t have anything for you on that. I don’t even know if it still exists at this point. I mean, it’s been now so long, they never really accomplished their mission. They never really provided a resupply of any value to Russian forces that were assembling around Kiev, never came to — never really came to their aid. The Ukrainians put a stop to that convoy pretty quickly, by being very nimble, knocking out bridges, hitting lead vehicles stopping their movement. But we’ve not seen an update on where those vehicles are or what they’re doing at this point. And at this point, I mean, you know, again, take our skepticism about the repositioning and just put that to the side for a minute. Over the last several days, we’ve talked about that the Russians had, pretty much even before this repositioning had basically established defensive positions. And they weren’t — they were digging in. They weren’t making any effort to advance on Kiev. So, it’s questionable whether that resupply convoy would have been of much use anyway, because they weren’t on the move anymore. Again, how much of the material they were able to get from it? I don’t know. Q: Would that be an example of a Russian planning failure or shortcomings? That the convoy that didn’t seem to connect with what they were doing. MR. KIRBY: I think it’s a function of a lot of things. I think that’s one of them. I mean, we don’t think that they properly planned for logistics and sustainment of a force that size in the field under combat conditions. Clearly, they didn’t execute — if they did plan for logistics and sustainment, they didn’t execute very well. Because even before that, you know, before the convoy became a news story, I mean, we were talking about they were running out of fuel. They were running out of food. They were running out of ammunition. So, it’s not clear to us whether this convoy was a reaction to problems they were experiencing or that it was them trying to be proactive. Doesn’t matter obviously it didn’t get there. I think it’s also a function of Ukrainian resistance and agility, and, frankly, just battlefield smarts. By knowing where these vehicles were coming from, knowing where they were trying to get to, and getting between where they were going and where they were. Which is what they did and knocking out bridges for instance, making it hard for them to move on paved roads. And these were not vehicles that were built for of- roading either. So, you know, I think you have to, when you talk about this resupply effort, you have to credit the Ukrainians for some real dexterity. Jen. Q: John, can you roll out to the U.S.’s training Ukrainian military on Polish soil? MR. KIRBY: We are not in a training environment in Poland, with Ukrainians. So what we’ve said in the past is that obviously, as there are transshipments being coordinated in some countries around Ukraine. There’re interactions with Ukrainian armed forces, some of those interactions are with members of the U.S. military. There’s some liaison going on. but we wouldn’t call it classic training. Q: And how would you explain that certain Ukrainian parliament members are still telling Congress that they are not getting not only the weapons they need, but the shipments have slowed? Can you give us a sense of the pace of the shipments? And what is in those shipments? Are you sending medical supplies, for instance? Or is it only lethal aid that you’re sending? MR. KIRBY: No, it’s a so we would not agree that it’s being slowed quite the contrary. We completed the $350 million that President Biden authorized a month or so ago, that was completed in a record three weeks or so, which is unheard of. The 200 million that he approved, not long after, that’s pretty much all in now. I think there may be maybe one shipment or so left, I don’t know. And then the 800 million that the President approved more than just over a week or 10 days ago. That — those shipments are already arriving. In fact, from the time he signed the order to the first shipment going on its way was like four days, Jen. And there’s already been about a half a dozen shipments that have flowed into the region. And they’re not — I’m not going to talk about the ground routes and how things are getting into Ukraine, as you can understand. But I will tell you that things aren’t sitting long at these intermediate staging shipment sites before they’re getting picked up by convoys and taken into Ukraine. So, four days is pretty quick. And like I said, there’s already been a half a dozen or so on the way and we expect again, without getting too predictive, we’re going to get these materials in as fast as we can. It’s happening as you and I are actually talking right now. And we don’t think it’s going to take very long to complete the $800 package getting it all filled out. We really don’t think that’s going to take long at all, a couple of weeks, probably. And the other question you had was on the — what’s in there. So, every shipment is a mixture of weapons systems, and then support and sustainment items. Whether that’s food, body armor, helmets, small arms and ammunition, medical and first aid kits, all of that – every shipment is different. I couldn’t tell you. And I’m not going to you know, tell you that every single shipment has all of those things in. But in typically there’s a mixture of what goes in with every shipment. It’s not just all like — it’s not all javelins and nothing else. But in these first half a dozen or so there have been weapon systems, there have been javelins, there have been stingers that have gone in as well as medical supplies and body armor and small arms and ammunition. So, look, Jen, we appreciate respect, that the Ukrainians want this stuff, and they want it like yesterday. We understand that. We know time is not on their side. We don’t think it’s on our side either. Which is why we’re working really, really hard. And I mean, I’ve been dealing with security assistance issues since when I had this podium under previous administration. I’ve never seen the Department of Defense be able to move with this sense of alacrity and speed, as I have in just the last few weeks. Q: Do you have any estimate of how many javelins or stingers have ended up in Russian or Chechen hands? MR. KIRBY: I don’t think we have any indication that that’s happened. So, yes, Meghann. Q: On the On-Site Evaluation Report, there’s a line in some of the materials that were distributed to reporters that says that the department basically considered its prevention program for sexual assault in the early development stage. Is that shocking to the Secretary or anybody else to learn that 17 years since the SAPR office was first set up that prevention — the prevention infrastructure and understanding in the military is still considered an early development? MR. KIRBY: What I would tell you, is this Secretary’s not comfortable, that we haven’t done as good a job on prevention as we should have done. And what he really appreciated about this report was how candid it was about how much more work we have to do. So, I think he would absolutely expound that line. The fact that, that we don’t have prevention, organized and resource the way it needs to be. Clearly, we don’t, Meghann, because, you know, for yourself how high the numbers now still are, 20,000 incidents in 2020 I think was the number. That’s just way too high, so one of the reasons we wanted to do this, again, this was a recommendation by the IRC and a good one, was to give us a more tactile feel of what it’s like. Because you can have the best prevention program at the corporate level here at the headquarters level. But unless it’s being acted on and executed and locally adopted, then it’s no better than the paper it’s written on. And so clearly, we learned a lot from these first 20 sites. I think we’re going to learn a lot from the ones that come. But the Secretary is not resting on any laurels. He’s not happy that we haven’t gotten prevention better organized and better resourced. And he’s committed to doing that. Tom. Q: Hi John, good afternoon. I’d like to follow up on Jen’s question and have second question. My second question deals with the RAND Report. Specifically, but more generally, excuse me, more generally. Is there a central lesson learned area of the Pentagon? We always hear, you know, after like the Kabul incident and other incidents, that there’s a lesson learned done. Is there actually a repository for these lessons learned so somebody can go and read the lessons learned? MR. KIRBY: The way it’s typically done is by geographic region or combatant command or sometimes surface specific. There have been lessons learned, there have been after action reports done now that you know, we just wrapped up 20 years of war. So, there are plenty of documents for us to consult and look at. And some of them reside here in DC, some of them were down in Tampa. They’re scattered around depending on what level they were written. But Tom, as I said at the opening, he is now putting into place a Civilian Harm and Mitigation Response Program here at the corporate level, at the headquarters level. To be led by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, Chris Maier. Q: Yes, I just… MR. KIRBY: So, no, I know. So, Chris is going to take a hard look at obviously, he’s going to learn from this RAND Report. He’s already gone through it. But he’s leading up a team, that’s going to come up with a more thoughtful approach to civilian harm and mitigation based on the lessons learned from even just, you know, this year’s events. Q: Well, I was thinking about that. And the successful mission in Syria that we talked about. You told us, you know, how President by wanted to make sure there was no civilians harmed, et cetera. That’s part of the lessons learned you indicated. And that’s so when Chris sends his team go to do to study, they know where to go to get these, quote, unquote, “lessons learned”? MR. KIRBY: He absolutely does. And if it’s not something he can get his hands on, believe me, he can get his hands on it. We’re going to be as the Secretary has directed us to be as open minded and as curious as we can be to try to get better at this. We still, you know, no other military works as hard as we do to mitigate civilian harm, and yet we still cause it. And we’re going to be nothing but honest about that. And we’re going to continue to try to learn from past issues. Q: And a follow-up on Jen’s question about the training. She asked you specific to rule it out. And you said earlier, this week, it’s not training in the classic sense that what people would think. This is you’re speaking on the podium, when we were asking about the possible training of Ukrainians by U.S. forces. And you also referred this word liaison, which I thought it’s an interesting word to use. The classic definitions of liaison are communications between people, or in a culinary sense, thickening of a product, which I don’t think you’re referring to. So, could you drill down a little bit on — is there no outright training? And what do you mean training in the classical sense that people think? Is there something else going on people wouldn’t think about? MR. KIRBY: No, I mean, I don’t know that I can prove upon my answer to Jen. We are having interactions on occasion with Ukrainian troops that momentarily have to come and temporarily have to come into Poland for the purpose of transshipment of this security assistance, and there’s some liaison going on there. But it’s not, as I said to her is not — or and to you, it’s not classic training in the sense that I think you and I think about it. But these liaisons are happening, and they’re happening at a fairly frequent level. I would remind, and I know why the questions coming up. But I mean, we did have a training mission in Ukraine that we had to suspend because of the invasion. We had Florida National Guard troops that were there not far from Lviv that we’re doing training. And you know, we would love nothing better than to get back to that. But clearly, that’s not an option right now. You didn’t ask this, but I’m going to take the opportunity anyway. You know, as we talk about security assistance, and we’re doing a lot and we’re doing a lot faster. And I understand the the focus and the interest in the actual items being sent and being used, I totally get that. But I just hope we don’t forget that it’s not just the stuff that matters. It’s their ability to use this stuff. And that didn’t happen by accident. Eight years of training for Ukrainian Armed Forces has made an enormous difference in their battlefield competency, in their capability. And that wasn’t just the United States, UK, the Canadians, and other allies were also involved in that. So that when these things are arriving, they’re able to get into the hands of Ukrainian armed forces, and they’re able to use them in fairly short order. Again, that’s not an accident, that prowess that agility that we were talking about earlier, that very much was by design, because of eight years of very quality training that they received. Q: Statements that you just made there is probably what fuels the idea that there’s some training going on. Only because some of these weapons and supplies are relatively new to the Ukrainians. And your testimony up there, as you were saying, eight years of training by the United States and other countries gives them this prowess gives them the ability… MR. KIRBY: It does. Q: …to stun the Russians. Yet on newer weapons they may not be so familiar with, how could they use — achieve that same — I’m just saying that to suggest the fact that somewhere along the line… MR. KIRBY: Again, I can’t improve upon my answer. There’s no training right now in the classic sense. Q: OK. MR. KIRBY: Fadi. Q: With everything that you mentioned about the Russian troops moving around Kiev. Did the department detect any de-escalation on the side of the Russian troops and around Kiev, but in Ukraine in general? And then, if I may… MR. KIRBY: Before you go on, what do you mean by de-escalation? Q: What they said that there’s going to be some de-escalation in the operations and… MR. KIRBY: What they call de-escalation, I call repositioning. They had already been in a defensive posture before they began to re-position. And as far as we can tell, the forces that remain around Kiev are still largely in defensive positions. Q: But in terms of military operations targeting the city itself or other… MR. KIRBY: No clearly, they are from the air. I mean, Kiev is still a central focus of their airstrikes. Q: And you’ve read them Ukrainian forces with their agility and stopping not only the convoy, but basically, it seems like they were able to ford this offensive — Russian offensive to take Kiev. Should the Pentagon as well be credited with any advisory role on the operational level with the Ukrainians throughout this war? You said, like for eight years, of course, they played a role in and training these forces. Did the Pentagon play any role, not only in supplying the weapons, but play in any advisory role in the operational sense of how to basically deal with this invasion? MR. KIRBY: You know, we don’t have trainers on the ground in Ukraine. We’re not doing tactical level, you know, advise and assist, which is what I think you’re getting at. But we have said for a while now we, to the degree we can provide the Ukrainians information that’s useful to them in the fight, we’re providing that. I think that’s about the best I can answer your question. Barb. Q: A question from one of our colleagues who was unable to dial in would like to ask. MR. KIRBY: So, they found a work around. Q: It’s a very typical practice the Whitehouse often did that during COVID. People would email to other… MR. KIRBY: Very good. Q: …colleagues. So, this person who shall go unnamed, would like to know, of the Russian announcement — and then I have a question. About the 134,000 conscripts, what do you make of that? Do you believe the Russians when they say these conscripts won’t go into Ukraine, it’s a routine call up? Do you believe they’re going to get mobilized and that the Russians are going to have to rely on them in the coming weeks? And the question I wanted to ask you. Can you bring us up to date on any plan or thoughts you have — the department has about the need to establish either a rotational or extension program for the troops you’ve sent? While some, some of them are quite recently there, there’s every reason to think you’re going to have to eventually rotate some units. MR. KIRBY: On the conscripts, I mean, we’ve seen noted that the Ministry of Defense has claimed that these conscripts that President Putin has now called up 134,000 or so. They’ve claimed that they’re not going to be sent in the Ukraine to fight. We’ll see. We’ve also seen Russia rejected deployment of conscripts in Ukraine, totally outright saying, you know, wasn’t happening. Only to then have to publicly acknowledge that after it was real by journalists that they were in fact there. So, I don’t think he can take anything from the Ministry of Defense at face value. So, we’ll see, we know that. And we talked about this before, Barb that, that in those early days, it was a significant amount of their forces were conscripts. And we have indications that many of them were simply lied to about what they were doing. Some of them thought they were going on a training exercise, weren’t told that they were actually going into combat into war. And of course, that sense of disillusionment, and their lack of proper training and preparation led to some disastrous consequences for some of these early Russian units. So again, we’ll see. We’ll see where this goes. We’ll watch. We’ll try to do the best we can to verify. We’re not going to take at face value. And on the extension, or extensions or rotations, I think the Secretary wants to keep his options, open Barb. The additional deployments that we’ve sent now, somewhere on the order of just under 20,000 or so, troops to Europe, these are on temporary orders. You know, we’ll take each one as it comes. And the Secretary will decide whether that capability needs to stay yes or no. And then if it does, does it need to be that unit? Or do we need to rotate that unit out? Thus far, nobody has been rotated out everybody that the Secretary has ordered in, is going to stay in. And we’ve talked about the 82nd airborne, for instance, in some of their enablers. They are still there. And the Secretary’s made no decisions about their departure. The carrier strike group Harry S. Truman is still in the Mediterranean and will stay in the Mediterranean until the Secretary decides that it’s time for the ship to rotate out. Now with a carrier strike group, obviously, you’ve got refit and refuel and maintenance that has to go on the back end of a deployment. So, we’ll factor that all in there. But I think what we’re trying to be careful of is sort of our hard ending dates on these temporary deployments, because we want to be able to monitor the situation on the ground and make the best and most flexible decisions in real time. Q: I’m sorry I don’t get it. Because I mean, are you just saying, your going — I know, you’re not exactly saying you’re just going to plus deployment… MR. KIRBY: No. We’re going to… Q: Are you open to rotations? MR. KIRBY: Of course. Of course. Absolutely. The Secretary is leaving his options open. And look Barb, I mean, nobody knows how long the needs going to be there. The acute need for these deterrence and defense capabilities, because we don’t know how long this war in Ukraine is going to last. So, I think it follows just normal reason that at some point, if the length of time gets to a point where commanders on the ground recommend that they swap these units out, the Secretary will certainly be open to that. And it may be like, you remove a capability, because it’s not only time to send that capability back, but maybe you just don’t need it as much anymore. And maybe what goes forward is something completely different, or maybe nothing at all. I mean, I think it’s going to be very flexible. And we’ll be as open with you as we can about what’s going in. But you’ve noticed, I’m sure that we’re not giving you hard end dates, because we’re watching this in real time. It is about making sure that we are properly postured on the Eastern Flank of the Alliance. And again, that’s a put and take that the Secretary is looking at literally every day. Q: Can you say besides the carrier strike group you just mentioned, can you say who else is in it? And I believe, Army combat brigade, can you say what other units are being extended? MR. KIRBY: I don’t I don’t have any other ones to speak to at this time. Those are the big muscle movements that we know are staying in place for right now. But I mean, you know, Barb we have lots of small units, enablers that I don’t have visibility on all of those. Q: Is the 82nd being extended? MR. KIRBY: They’re not going anywhere, anytime in the immediate future. I’d just put it that way. Sylvie. Q: Just follow-up on Barbara’s question. MR. KIRBY: Which one? Q: About the length. MR. KIRBY: She asked a lot of them. Q: About the length… Q: They weren’t all mine. (Barbara) Q: …of the conflict. So, I understand that the fact that the Russians refocus on Donbas may extend the conflict, because they have to move… MR. KIRBY: Sure. Q: And to go into a very contested region. So, how long do you think it could last months? Years? MR. KIRBY: Hard to say, it really is. The Ukrainians are fighting very, very well. And the Russians are not. It would be foolish to try to predict exactly how long this could go clearly, if in fact, they’re going to prioritize the Donbas region. If what they say they’re going to do, they actually do. An area that they have now fought over for eight years. An area where there are many Ukrainian armed forces, who are also very active. This could drag on for a while. It wouldn’t — it might not just be a matter of days and weeks. It could be much longer than that. But Sylvie that’s difficult to know, it’s really difficult to know. Louis. Q: John, you said that the Secretary is keeping his options open about the presence and troops. MR. KIRBY: Yes. Q: But has he actually extended the carrier and the combat brigade and the 82nd because you said, they’re not going home. Has he… MR. KIRBY: He has made — he reviews the posture, literally every day. And he has decided that he’s going to keep the 82nd there for a while longer. And he has decided that the Harry S. Truman and her strike group will stay in the med for a while longer. Q: But the armored combat brigade, they’re going… MR. KIRBY: Right now, those are the two big muscle movements and the enablers that went with the 82nd also. They’re also staying as you might imagine. I don’t have additional decisions to speak to today. But again, first of all, they have none of them have been there that long already. It really hasn’t been — it’s been, what, six, eight weeks in some cases. So, it hasn’t been that long, but again, he’s going to keep his options open. Make decisions in consultations with the Chairman and General Wolters to make sure that the deterrence and defense posture that we’re trying to make sure is in place on the Eastern Flank of NATO is preserved, and that it’s transparent. And that our allies and partners also have a say in what that posture looks like. And that they’re comfortable with the capabilities we have in their country or in their region. So again, we’ll do the best we can to be as transparent with you as well about that. But some of these units are fairly small. And, you know, though they may come and go based on whatever the need is. Now that the more interesting question is, what does this look long-term? And so, at the right time, we’ll sit down, and we’ll have those kinds of consultations with allies and partners too. About what, what’s the proper European posture here, because clearly, no matter how this war ends, no matter when it ends, the security environment in Europe is going to be different. And we’re going to have to respond to that. So, what that looks like, we don’t know. But we’re going to stay open to having those kinds of conversations too. About whether there needs to be more permanent — a larger permanent presence on the European continent. Tony. Q: I have one tactical and one weapons question. Does the Pentagon assess that at this point, the Russians lack of air superiority, much less supremacy has been the deciding factor in this conflict? And that Ukrainian forces can attack Russian ground formations, without any — without minimal — with minimal fear of being attacked by Russian aircraft? MR. KIRBY: I don’t think at this point, we’re willing to say there’s one factor that’s been ultimately decisive. I think, probably the most important decisive factor in Russia’s failure thus far to achieve what they themselves said were their goals. And in terms of replacing the Zelenskyy government, occupying Ukraine, removing their sovereignty, their failure to achieve that the biggest decisive factor are the Ukrainians themselves. And not just the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but the Ukrainian people. I would say that they get the lion’s share of the credit here about defeating the Russian strategic goals in the onset. Q: I’m giving them all the credit in the world, but the fact that they’ve contained this powerful Russian air force, it would seem to be a major factor in their success is it not? MR. KIRBY: I’m not I’m not suggesting it’s not a major factor, but you asked me if it was the decisive factor. And I think there’s a lot that goes into that. Q: OK, weapons. You rattle off stingers, javelins, you didn’t mention those hundred little drones that that fixated the world’s attention. When they do arrive there, what will be their targets, because the versions gone over their… MR. KIRBY: That would be up to the Ukrainians to decide. Q: Well, they don’t have any anti-tank capability of those drones, I just want to get a sense from you. MR. KIRBY: I’m not going to get into targeting. We’re providing the Ukrainians, systems and weapons that they can use to defend themselves and how they decide to use them where and when and against what targets that’s really for them to speak to. And clearly it wouldn’t be wise, even if I knew for me to talk about it here from this podium. Q: They haven’t arrived yet though right the… MR. KIRBY: We have not. Q: Can I ask you one of the civilians — minimize the civilian casualties. Part of minimizing it is fessing up and making good when you screw up like we did in Afghanistan killing that family in the errant drone attack. Can you take this for the record? Have they been paid — have the survivors been given any condolence payments yet? I know that was in the works. But now four months later. MR. KIRBY: I haven’t checked in a while. I will — I’ll take the question. I don’t believe that that’s happened yet. Q: I didn’t expect you to know off the top of your head. So, thanks. MR. KIRBY: Thank you. In the back there. Q: I have two questions, one for each side of the conflict. Now is the aim of the U.S. and the Allied weapons transfers to help Ukraine win this war? And what a win entail pushing the Russians out of the Donbass region? Now for the other side, is Belarus still providing help to the Russians or has Lukashenko pulled back his support for Putin? MR. KIRBY: You mean help as in providing a place from which the attack could have been launched? Help as in providing refit and resupply should that be what the Russians do. Help as in the ability to have aircraft launch and take off from your territory? Help as in letting the Russians put the surface to air missile systems? Yes, I think all that’s true. And as for your first question of course. Look this war should have never happened in the first place. But now that it is, obviously we want the Ukrainians to win. Why would we not be sending $2 billion worth of security assistance, and that’s just the United States. If we didn’t want them to win this war, if we didn’t want them to get their country back to have every inch of their territory respected by their neighbors, including Russia. Yes, absolutely. Ryo. Q: Thank you. On China — China and the Solomon Islands concluding the new security — Solomon Islands concluded the new security agreement earlier today. This agreement Chinese watches to be the formal hierarchy. How much are you concerned about this new security here? And do you regard the Chinese efforts to undermine free and open Indo Pacific? MR. KIRBY: I’ll of the government of the Solomon speak to their relationship with China. That’s really the appropriate place for comment about that. And I don’t think based on what little bit we know of this communication — it’s too soon to know what China’s long-term potential ambitions are here with respect to that. So, we’d let those two nations speak to this Ryo. But taking 10 steps back away from the Solomons, we have continued to see China’s outreach to be coercive, to be aggressive, to be clearly one sided towards China’s interests in the Indo Pacific region. They are not only bullying their neighbors for ridiculous bogus territorial claims, but they actually are, you know, building basically island aircraft carriers in the western Pacific to further advance their own national security goals. Which are inimical to so many other nations there in the Asia Pacific. You have another on? Q: Yes. Is the DoD reach out to the formal island — is the DoD reach out to the Solomon Island counterpart about this new security deal? MR. KIRBY: I know of no communication between us in the Solomon Islands. You might want to check with the State Department, though. It’s really a better question for them. Kasim. Q: General in Chernobyl — can you say that Chernobyl is still under the control of Russians? They have sent some forces out. MR. KIRBY: All I can tell you is that we’ve seen indications that some Russian forces are leaving Chernobyl. Who has custody of it right now? I don’t think we’re able to say definitively. Q: And also own nuclear posture of Russia. Do you have any indication that they change nuclear posture? Or have they conveyed to you anything with respect to that? MR. KIRBY: They’re not conveying anything to us about their nuclear posture. And Kasim, I would just say that we haven’t seen anything from a nuclear posture perspective that warrants a change on our part. I just leave it at that. Q: I have two questions. And my first question is about President Biden’s announcement to release more oil reserves to reduce pressure on gas prices. And I would like to know the threat of the implication of this decision? Does U.S. military have a separate or reserves to make sure that this decision doesn’t impact on U.S. military readiness, in case of large, unexpected contingencies? MR. KIRBY: We have, as I think everybody knows, I mean we have the fuel reserves of our own to fuel our operations. We do the best we can to distribute those and make sure that they are available for our use. And obviously, but we also purchase on the market, oil and gas to — so that we don’t have to dip into our reserves all the time. What I would just tell you, because I’m not an expert on exactly what that process looks like. I will just tell you that the more important thing is, can we continue to defend the country and defend our national interest using our reserves, our resources for fossil fuel? And the answer’s yes. Q: My second question is about nuclear posture review. So, the U.S. allies have paid much attention to their nuclear posture review. And yesterday, we have, like half page fact sheet, a summary of consisted of seven sentences of a Nuclear Posture Review and three sentences about Missile Defense Review. And I checked how previous situations released the results of their review. So, the Obama administration had printed like 72 pages of information in 2010. And Trump administration had released like a 100 piece of their like, report in 2018. So, is there any reason that the current administration should keep most of the information classified this year? And do you have any plan to release more detailed and comprehensive information? MR. KIRBY: We will release an unclassified version of both documents at the appropriate time. right now, they’re classified. We’ll work through the declassification process, but they’ll get released eventually. Q: So, do you have an estimation about the release, like when… MR. KIRBY: In coming months. In coming months. Anything else? OK, thanks, everybody.

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DOD Makes Strides in its Women, Peace and Security Program

View Online DOD Makes Strides in its Women, Peace and Security Program March 31, 2022 | By Terri Moon Cronk Two years into its Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan, the Defense Department’s Women, Peace and Security program has made significant strides to promote the safety, equality and meaningful contributions of women around the globe, according to policy analysts in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Partnerships. During fall 2021, DOD deployed its gender advisory workforce to support Operation Allies Welcome to aid in the evacuation of Afghan allies and partners and help them resettle throughout the United States. The gender advisors were placed to both recognize the unique needs of not just women and girls but the entire population on the ground; make adjustments with task force military personnel and U.S. interagency partners on how to allocate resources, implement programming, and deal with critical incident needs.   “Operation Allies Welcome was the first time we’d ever deployed our gender advisory workforce,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michelle Strucke, who oversees team leads on Women, Peace and Security implementation. “It’s a testament to the sort of progress we’ve made in training additional personnel and expanding the Women, Peace and Security program, and has positively impacted Afghan families who are beginning their new lives in the United States.” Spotlight: Women’s History Month In 2020, DOD stepped up its WPS efforts by releasing the first Women, Peace and Security Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan, a critical step in advancing the approach to promoting the meaningful inclusion of women across the spectrum of conflict.  The plan outlines DOD’s internal and external focus areas for the next four years, including:   Modeling WPS within the Defense Department through its development, management and employment of the Joint Force.  Supporting DOD’s partner nations to advance women’s meaningful participation in their defense and security sectors; and   Working with partner nation defense and security sectors to ensure women and girls are safe and secure and that their human rights are protected.     “We execute WPS in the services and at the combatant commands through our team of gender advisors, who are trained by DOD to implement women, peace and security principles into what the department is doing, both internally and then also in our relationships with partner nations,” WPS policy analyst Siena Cicarelli explained of the process. Thanks to Congressional support, WPS has expanded in both its budget and in personnel since the passage of the Women, Peace and Security Act of 2017, having trained more than 500 people since 2019, she said.  “DOD has prioritized training Gender Focal Points & Gender Advisors over 2021 and continues to do so in 2022. Training and education have helped bridge a gap in operationalizing Women, Peace and Security across the department. The WPS courses ensure that DOD military, civilian and contractor personnel learn about important WPS guidance such as: the U.S. WPS Act & the DOD WPS Strategic Framework Implementation Plan SFIP, understand WPS’s relevance to national security, and apply WPS principles and a gender analysis to their DOD mission areas,” said Susan Radov, WPS advisor on the Joint Staff J5.   Cicarelli highlighted that, “we are currently working on a DOD Instruction that will codify the DOD WPS program and outline the department’s roles and responsibilities for fulfilling the U.S. WPS legislation. This document will give instructions to the combatant commands, military departments and their services, and other DOD combat support agencies that explains requirements for developing gender advisory workforce personnel and defines what WPS execution looks like for their component. That is a foundational way of institutionalizing WPS and ensuring that WPS principles are woven into everything that our department is doing.” Additionally, another ongoing challenge is to ensure that a gender perspective is built into the security cooperation activities that DOD is engaged in with its partner nations, Cicarelli said, adding this is one core component of the DOD WPS program that the DOD security cooperation enterprise is working toward over the next few fiscal years. “We’re really starting to hit our stride,” WPS policy analyst Erin Cooper said of the WPS effort, which is a whole-of-government approach.   Cooper highlighted the October 2021 National Strategy for Gender Equity and Equality is the first national gender strategy to advance the full participation of all people — including women and girls — in the United States and around the world, according to the White House.  DOD is working on its action plan for the strategy, combining the ongoing implementation of Women, Peace and Security principles and the recommendations laid out by the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military, as well as other DOD diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiative.  Additionally, “the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally is something DOD’s WPS team is working on from an interagency perspective gender-based violence has a security impact as well,” Cooper said. “As we know, there is a strong correlation between gender equality and stability. Factors such as meaningful participation of women and incidence of gender-based violence are directly tied to whether or not a country has strong democratic institutions and whether or not they’re more likely to engage in conflict,” she added. “This is not just ensuring we’re doing this to do it because it’s ‘the right thing to do,’ but it also impacts our national security as well as global stability,” she noted.  “At this point in history, it’s really wonderful to see the Women, Peace and Security has been taking and how leadership continues to support the department’s WPS efforts for meaningful change on the ground,” Cooper said, “We’re very much standing on the shoulders of the people who came before us, and we’re trying to make sure the department is as strong and effective as it can be for the future.”

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Attendees of Caribbean Security Conference Aim to Improve Regional Ties

View Online Attendees of Caribbean Security Conference Aim to Improve Regional Ties March 31, 2022 | By Jim Garamone The Caribbean Nations Security Conference kicks off next week in Bridgetown, Barbados, as participants look for ways to improve the Caribbean “zone of peace.” Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, is co-hosting the conference that consistently looks for ways to enhance multinational cooperation in the region. The conference runs April 5-7, and Richardson will take advantage of the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with many of the defense leaders in attendance. Southcom officials said defense leaders from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago will join host nation Barbados. Other nations are also invited to attend, including Canada, Mexico, France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The conference is a venue for leaders to discuss problems and the best practices to combat those problems, officials said. They also use the venue to discuss what the leaders see coming down the pike – like the threat posed to the region by climate change. Regional organizations are also attending the meeting, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, the Caribbean Community Implementing Agency for Crime and Security, the Regional Security System and the Inter-American Defense Board. Richardson said transnational criminal organizations are a large problem in the region. She said the groups are poisoning the Caribbean and American people; trafficking in drugs, arms, other illicit products, and humans; and worsening corruption. The Caribbean defense leaders will also address what the general calls unique cross-cutting threats. This includes stronger hurricanes and rising sea levels caused by climate change. The island nations of the region are particularly susceptible.

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Some Russian Forces Disengage From Kyiv, but Airstrikes Continue

View Online Some Russian Forces Disengage From Kyiv, but Airstrikes Continue March 31, 2022 | By Jim Garamone Although some Russian forces continue to disengage from positions north and east of the Ukrainian capital, airstrikes continue, and Kyiv is still in danger, a senior defense official said today. “We haven’t observed that much of a difference over the last 24 hours, so I’d still roughly leave it at about 20 percent or so,” the official said. “There hasn’t been … a wholesale movement, at least not at this point.” Earlier this week, Russian officials had announced they were going to de-escalate the attacks on Kyiv and concentrate on the eastern Ukrainian provinces, but defense officials continue to see attacks on Kyiv. “I would say that … despite the rhetoric of de-escalation, we’re still observing artillery fire and airstrikes in and around Kyiv,” the official said. “They’re still fighting to the north of Kyiv. As these forces begin to reposition, the Ukrainians are moving against them.” In southern and eastern Ukraine, fighting continues, and Russian invaders have made little progress, including in the city of Mariupol. “The Ukrainians are fighting very, very tough inside the city,” the official said. Overall, the airspace over Ukraine remains contested with the Russians launching around 300 sorties yesterday. As of today, the Russians have launched more than 1,400 missiles. “There’s nothing new in the maritime environment to speak to,” he said. The repositioning of Russian forces from Kyiv indicates that Russian military leaders know they have failed to take the capital city, the official said. “They have been under increased pressure elsewhere around the country because they are obviously making decisions to alter their goals and objectives,” he said. Russian morale continues to suffer. “We have continued to see unit cohesion issues, command and control problems problems with faulty leadership,” the official said. Officials have said they have heard anecdotes about poor morale and poor performance on the battlefield, but admitted “it’s anecdotal; we can’t say with certainty that it’s uniformly across all the force that they have in Ukraine.” Still, these anecdotes reinforce some of the core problems experienced by the Russian military, including the lack of any kind of professional noncommissioned officer corps. “This is an operation of armed conflict on the scale that the Russians have not attempted in a very, very, very long time on multiple lines of axes,” the official said. There has been poor coordination between elements and subordinate commands, and there have been vast problems with logistics and sustainment. The Russian military depends largely on conscripts, and there is evidence that the regime of President Vladimir Putin has not been honest with its troops. “It’s a military that doesn’t have a noncommissioned officer corps the way that the West does; so, you’re not seeing a lot of small-unit leadership or even any initiative at lower levels,” the official said. “It’s a very top-down driven military, and we think that some of the problems they have directly result from that leadership organizational structure.”

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Contracts For March 31, 2022

View Online FOR RELEASE AT 5 PM ET Contracts For March 31, 2022 ARMY Lockheed Martin, Liverpool, New York, was awarded a $3,268,232,049 firm-fixed-price contract for full-rate production of AN/TPQ-53 radar systems and associated spare parts and services, and deployment to various Foreign Military Sales countries. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 30, 2027. U.S. Army contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56KGY-22-D-0001). C & C Marine LLC,* Mobile, Alabama, was awarded a $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for rental of construction equipment with operators. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 30, 2027. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-22-D-0025). Carter Enterprises,* Brooklyn, New York (W91CRB-22-D-0006); and Slate Solutions LLC,* Davie, Florida (W91CRB-22-D-0007), will compete for each order of the $33,997,122 firm-fixed-price contract to provide a consistent backing for ballistic testing of tactical vests. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 30, 2026. U.S. Army contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ModernaTX Inc.,* Cambridge, Massachusetts, was awarded a $26,000,000 modification (P00022) to contract W911QY-20-C-0100 for a change to the production schedule of COVID-19 vaccine to a different presentation/type. Work will be performed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of March June 30, 2022. Coronavirus Response Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act funds in the amount of $26,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Awarded March 28, 2022) Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $20,131,385 modification (P00034) to contract W31P4Q-19-C-0092 for Army Tactical Missile System service life extension. Work will be performed in Camden, Arkansas; Clearwater, Florida; Grand Prairie, Texas; and Fort Worth, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2025. Fiscal 2010 Foreign Military Sales (Romania and Taiwan) funds in the amount of $20,131,385 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. EMR Inc.,* Niceville, Florida, was awarded a $19,032,100 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of a civil engineer maintenance shop and storage area. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 29, 2024. Fiscal 2020 military construction, Air Force funds in the amount of $19,032,100 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-22-C-0010). Aero-Graphics Inc.,* Salt Lake City, Utah, was awarded a $16,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for photogrammetric and lidar surveying and mapping. Bids were solicited via the internet with 38 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 23, 2027. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912P9-22-D-0006). Pegasus Support Services LLC, Woodstock, Georgia, was awarded a $14,365,168 modification (P00004) to contract W9124M-22-F-0015 to fund the operation and maintenance contract for Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Air Field. Work will be performed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $14,365,168 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army 419th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort Stewart, Georgia, is the contracting activity. EnviroSafe Demil LLC,* Fallon, Nevada, was awarded a $12,390,267 modification (P00002) to contract W52P1J-21-F-0250 for demilitarization and disposal of conventional ammunition. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 20, 2026. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity. Labcorp, Burlington, North Carolina, was awarded an $8,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for clinical reference laboratory testing services. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2023. U.S. Army Health Contracting Activity, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W81K04-22-F-CL04). MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Lockheed Martin Corp. Missiles and Fire Control, Dallas, Texas, is being awarded a $1,423,660,558 modification (P00049) to a previously-awarded contract (HQ0147-17-C-0032) for the production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Interceptors and associated one-shot devices to support the U.S. government and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case requirements. The THAAD Interceptors and associated one-shot devices will be procured under fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract line items. The value of this contract is increased from $6,336,954,438 to $7,760,614,995. The work will be performed in Dallas, Texas; Sunnyvale, California; Huntsville, Alabama; Camden, Arkansas; and Troy, Alabama, with an expected completion date of Aug. 1, 2027. Fiscal 2021 U.S. government procurement funds in the amount of $371,608,643; and KSA FMS funds in the amount of $1,052,051,914 are being obligated at time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. NAVY Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Marlborough, Massachusetts, is awarded a $650,746,530 fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract for hardware production of the AN/SPY-6(V) Family of Radars and associated hardware. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $3,160,609,600. Work will be performed in Andover, Massachusetts (35%); Scottsdale, Arizona (13%); San Diego, California (11%); Stafford Springs, Connecticut (10%); Sykesville, Maryland (8%); Dallas, Texas (4%); Bergenfield, New Jersey (4%); Portsmouth, Rhode Island (4%); Chesapeake, Virginia (3%); Hanahan, South Carolina (3%); Indianapolis, Indiana (3%); Bloomfield, Connecticut (1%); and Huntsville, Alabama (1%), and is expected to be completed by November 2025. If all options are exercised, work will continue through June 2028. Fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $421,699,574 (65%); fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $175,568,375 (27%); and fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $53,478,581 (8%) will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website, with one offer received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-22-C-5500). Raytheon Missile and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $218,364,323 modification (P00004) to a previously awarded fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract. This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of AIM-9X production Lot 22 and additional Lot 21 requirements to include 367 AIM-9X Block II all up round tactical missiles (48 for the Navy, 162 for the Air Force, and 157 for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers); 20 AIM-9X Block II+ all up round missiles (six for the Navy, eight for the Air Force and six for FMS customers); 109 Block II captive air training missiles (38 for the Navy and 71 for the Air Force); 153 all-up round containers (45 for the Navy, 64 for the Air Force, and 44 for FMS customers); four spare advanced optical target detectors for the Air Force; two spare advanced optical target detector containers for the Air Force; 118 spare Block II guidance units (live battery) (64 for the Navy and 54 for the Air Force); two spare Block II+ guidance units (live battery) for the Air Force; 16 spare captive air training missile guidance units (inert battery) (10 for the Navy and six for the Air Force); two spare Block I propulsion steering sections for the Air Force; nine spare Block II propulsion steering sections (six for the Navy and three for the Air Force); 36 tail caps (six for the Navy, 24 for the Air Force, and six for FMS customers); 10 tail cap containers (two for the Navy, six for the Air Force, and two for FMS customers); seven Lot 22 spares assets (four for the Navy and three for the Air Force); 25 Block II tactical sectionalization kits for the Navy; 25 Block II captive air training missile sectionalization kits for the Navy; and 50 general purpose controllers for the Air Force. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (31%); North Logan, Utah (10%); Keyser, West Virginia (9%); Niles, Illinois (8%); Vancouver, Washington (5%); Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (5%); Goleta, California (4%); Cheshire, Connecticut (4%); Heilbronn, Germany (3%); Simsbury, Connecticut (2%); San Jose, California (2%); Valencia, California (2%); Anaheim, California (2%); Cajon, California (2%); Cincinnati, Ohio (1%); Anniston, Alabama (1%); San Diego, California (1%); Chatsworth, California (1%); Amesbury, Massachusetts (1%); Claremont, California (1%); Sumner, Washington (1%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (4%), and is expected to be completed in March 2025. Fiscal 2022 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $42,252,033; fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,411,627; fiscal 2022 missile procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $1,355,909; fiscal 2022 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $102,424; fiscal 2021 missile procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $94,872,015; fiscal 2022 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $102,424; and FMS customer funds in the amount of $73,814,180 will be obligated at the time of award, $2,411,627 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Boulder, Colorado (N66001-22-D-0057), is awarded a $99,630,284 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Relay Ground Station Asia (RGS-A). The RGS-A will enable the Space System Command (SSC) Next Generation Space Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Ground System to operate the Legacy SBIRS Geosynchronous (GEO) space vehicles. This effort requires the design, procurement, development, integration, and testing of advanced technology RGS-A hardware and software capabilities to provide uplink and downlink capability to the Legacy SBIRS GEO, Defense Support Program (DSP), Next Gen GEO, and Next Generation Polar space vehicles. Work will be performed in Boulder, Colorado (60%); and Guam (40%). The period of performance of the base award is from April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2027. Fiscal 2022 funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test and evaluation (Space Force) funds. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This requirement was competitively procured using full and open competition via a request for proposal (N66001-22-R-0024) published on the beta.sam.gov website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Two timely offers were received. Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. NIWC Pacific awarded the contract on behalf of its organizational partner, U.S. Space Force. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois, is awarded a $98,360,230 fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract. This contract procures weapon replaceable assemblies hardware to include 304 advanced threat warning sensors; 77 control indicator unit replaceable replacements; 75 Department of the Navy (DoN) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) processor units; 60 Guardian laser transmitter assemblies (GLTAs); 209 GLTA shipping containers; 129 high capacity cards; 94 large aircraft system processor replacement smart connector assemblies; 57 personal computer memory international association cards; and 78 battery kits, as well as associated systems engineering, technical support, analysis and studies in support of integration of the DoN LAIRCM system onto various aircraft for the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and the Air Force Special Operations Command. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Illinois (43%); Goleta, California (21%); Longmont, Colorado (9%); Apopka, Florida (8%); Blacksburg, Virginia (7%); Boulder Colorado (3%); Carlsbad, California (3%); Verona, Wisconsin (2%); Ashburn, Virginia (2%); Salt Lake City, Utah (1%); and Tripp City, Ohio (1%), and is expected to be completed in July 2024. Fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $73,834,503; fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $19,551,314; and fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $4,974,413 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001922C0042). BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., Minneapolis, Minnesota, is awarded a $55,271,778 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-20-C-5380 to exercise options for the procurement of MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) canisters and ancillary hardware. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, South Dakota (90%); and Minneapolis, Minnesota (10%), and is expected to be completed by February 2024. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. government (99%); and the governments of Japan and Chile (1% combined) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Fiscal 2022 defense-wide procurement funds in the amount of $28,417,927 (51%); Foreign Cooperative Projects (Navy) funds in the amount of $16,019,982 (29%); fiscal 2022 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,473,411 (18%); FMS Japan funds in the amount of $356,810 (1%); and FMS Chile funds in the amount of $3,648 (less than 1%), and will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity. Spalding Consulting Inc.,* Lexington Park, Maryland, is awarded a $49,726,005 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides program management, software and systems engineering, enterprise architecture, information assurance/network security/cyber security, configuration management, risk management, data/modeling/analytics, database administration, web support, sustainment, education and training reports, and help/service desk support for the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR); Naval Air Warfare Center; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) headquarters and depots. Work will be performed at Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in April 2027. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; four offers were received. The Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N6852022D0001). Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc., Monroeville, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $48,289,508 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-19-C-2112 for naval nuclear propulsion components. Work will be performed in Schenectady, New York (96%); and Monroeville, Pennsylvania (4%). Fiscal 2022 other procurement (Navy) in the amount of $48,289,508 will be obligated at time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Washington, is awarded a $44,350,000 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N62473-21-D-1406. This modification provides for the second increment to the replacement of Pier 6 at Naval Base San Diego. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by September 2023. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $99,870,000. Fiscal 2022 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $44,350,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Inc., Pascagoula, Mississippi, is awarded a $28,374,837 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-2427 for the Joint Strike Fighter, and ship’s mast and superstructure engineering change proposals in support of one Amphibious Assault Ship (General Purpose) Replacement (LHA(R)) Flight 1 Ship (LHA 8). Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi (72%); Chesapeake, Virginia (25%); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3%). Work is expected to be completed by July 2025. Fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $28,374,837 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Smartronix Inc., Hollywood, Maryland, is awarded a $26,798,435 a modification (P00036) to an order (N0042119F0422) against a previously issued a General Services Administration Alliant 2, government-wide acquisition contract (47QTCK18D0007). This modification exercises an option to provide enterprise-wide Information Technology and Cyber Security (IT/CS) services to support the development, planning, execution, monitoring, and life cycle support of IT/CS programs for the Naval Air Warfare Center, the Naval Air Systems Command, and other Department of the Navy components. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in March 2023. Fiscal 2022 working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,465,150 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $26,081,921 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-only contract for safety, logistics, engineering, and depot services in support of Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS). This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $95,925,337. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida, and is expected to be completed by March 2023. If all options are exercised, work will continue through March 2029. Fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $400,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) — only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-22-C-6418). Innovative Mechanical Contractors LLC,* Westminster, Maryland, is awarded a maximum-value $20,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for design-bid-build wet utilities construction, repairs, and replacement projects at the Naval Research Laboratory and the Naval Surface Warfare Center – Carderock, Maryland. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C. (40%); Maryland (40%); and Virginia (20%), and is expected to be completed by March 30, 2027. An initial task order is being awarded at $2,000 to meet the minimum guarantee for the contract. Fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website with eight proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N40080-22-D-0013). Lockheed Martin Space, Titusville, Florida, is awarded a $19,625,091 fixed-price-incentive, cost-plus-incentive-fee, and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00010) to exercise options under a previously awarded contract (N0003021C0100) for Trident II (D5) missile production and deployed systems support. Work will be performed in Cape Canaveral, Florida (27.2%); Magna, Utah (21.3%); Elkton, Maryland (14%); Denver, Colorado (12.6%); Sunnyvale, California (11.8%); Palo Alto, California (6%); Camden, Arkansas (3.1%); Titusville, Florida (2.8%); Melbourne, Florida (1.1%); and other various locations (less than 1.0% each, 1.67% total). Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2026. Fiscal 2022 operational and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,696,422; fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $536,546; fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $869,250; and fiscal 2022 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,522,873 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is being awarded to the contractor on a sole source basis under 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) and was previously synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities website. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. BAE Systems, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is awarded a $16,326,451 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00174-22-F-0092) under previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00174-18-G-0001) to provide all necessary material and services required to manufacture, assemble, inspect, preserve, package, and ship the fiscal 2022 conversion kits. Work will be performed in Hafia, Israel (67%); and Louisville, Kentucky (33%), and is expected to be completed by April 2025. Fiscal 2022 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,550,515 (95%); fiscal 2020 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $415,978 (3%); and fiscal 2021 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $359,958 (2%) will be obligated at the time of award, of which $415,978 will expire at end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity. American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Spring, Texas (N3220522C4029), is awarded a $13,569,820 firm-fixed-price contract for engineering and technical services to survey and audit ships and conduct plan reviews to verify, confirm, and document that Military Sealift Command’s government-owned, government-operated fleet of ships and government-owned, contract operated fleet of ships are maintained in class or can be placed in class with ABS. The ship count will change each year, but the average ship count that is covered under this contract is seven fleet replenishment oilers (T-AO 205); 13 fleet replenishment oilers (T-AO 187); five towing, salvage, and rescue ships (T-ATS 6); 14 expeditionary fast transport ships (T-EPF); 14 dry cargo, ammunition ships (T-AKE); two fast combat support ships (T-AOE); two hospital ships (T-AH); two submarine tenders (T-AS); five expeditionary sea base ships (T-ESB); one cable laying/repair ship (T-ARC); five at-sea resupply ships (NGLS); one rescue and salvage ship (T-ARS); one fleet ocean tug (T-ATF); one command ship (LCC); 19 large medium speed roll-on, roll-off ships (T-AKR); 16 auxiliary break-bulk ships (T-AK); two offshore petroleum distribution system ships; two missile range instrumentation ships (T-AGM); five ocean surveillance ships (T-AOS); seven oceanographic survey ships (T-AGS); four submarine and special warfare support ships (T-AGSE); and one sea base X-Band radar ship (SBX-1). This contract includes a one-year base period with four one-year options periods, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $98,385,173. Working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,000,000; and working capital (Transportation) funds in the amount of $1,000,000 will be obligated in fiscal year 2022. Working capital (Navy) funds and working capital (Transportation) funds in the amount of $6,569,820 will be obligated in fiscal 2023, when funding is available. This contract was an other than full and open competition requirement as ABS is a congressionally mandated source in accordance with 46 U.S. Code 3316, and services were procured by sending a solicitation directly to ABS and one timely offer was received. The Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. ThunderCat Technology LLC,* Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $13,324,416 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for commercial off-the-shelf navigation display hardware manufactured by Leidos. This contract does not include options. Work will be performed in Reston, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by April 4, 2027. Fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $463,892, with $500 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract minimum guarantee, will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. All other funding will be made available at the task order level as contracting actions occur. The contract was competitively procured as a small-business set-aside via the beta.sam.gov website, with three offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N64498-22-D-4004). DRS Laurel Technologies, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is awarded a $13,007,117 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-5395 to exercise options for production of the AN/SPQ-9B radar systems and associated equipment. Work will be performed in Largo, Florida, and is expected to be completed by January 2025. Fiscal 2022 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,007,117 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $12,326,964 firm-fixed-price order for MK165 Mod 0 launcher frames, materials, exhaust control systems covers and associative labor in support of the Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) program for the International Consortium Nation Navies – Canada. Work will be performed in Richmond, British Columbia Canada (66%); Portsmouth, Rhode Island (16%); Waco, Texas (13%),;and Santa Fe Springs, California (5%). Work is expected to be completed by July 2025. Fiscal 2021 other customer funds in the amount of $11,320,550 (92%); and fiscal 2020 other customer funds in the amount of $1,006,414 (8%) will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(4), under the terms of an international agreement. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N0002422F5454). Air Center Helicopters, Inc. (ACHI), Burleson, Texas, was awarded an $11,679,419 firm-fixed-price, C-type contract that will provide ship-based commercial helicopter and vertical replenishment services to Navy ships, partner nation’s ships, and theater facilities and operations worldwide. ACHI will be required to perform missions at any time, day or night, on a 24-hour per day basis, and shall be capable of executing all missions during a state of war, warlike operations, civil strife, piracy, natural disaster or other hostilities, and obey all lawful orders in the execution of their mission. This contract includes a one-year base period, three one-year option periods, and one final option period consisting of 241-days. Work will be performed worldwide, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 28, 2026, if all options are exercised. The overall value of the contract, if all options are exercised, is $58,757,878. Fiscal 2022 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds were obligated in the amount of $11,679,419 for this contract. This contract will be incrementally funded through the use of operation and maintenance (Navy) funds, and it will utilize the appropriate fiscal year funding throughout the life of the contract. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website with one proposal received. The Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220522C4200). (Awarded March 28, 2022) Parker Hannifin Corp., Irvine, California, is awarded an $11,115,096 firm-fixed-priced delivery order (N00383-22-F-UW0J) under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-19-G-UW01 for the repair of servo cylinder assemblies and servo cylinders in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in Coronado, California (75%); and Irvine, California (25%). Work will be completed by March 2023. Fiscal 2022 working capital (Navy) funds in the full amount of $11,115,096 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1) and one offer was received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Treadwell Corp., Thomaston, Connecticut, is awarded an $8,189,750 firm-fixed-price, undefinitized contract action for the repair of 82 electrolytic cells that are used to produce oxygen in the operating systems in support of Los Angeles-class submarines. All work will be performed in Thomaston, Connecticut, and work is expected to be completed by May 2024, with no option periods. Working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,012,977 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One source was solicited for this sole-source requirement, with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00104-22-F-VW0H). AIR FORCE Kekolu-Rio Vista JV, West Jordan, Utah (FA8201-22-D-0003); Shofar Communications LLC, Clinton, Utah (FA8201-22-D-0004); and PM Jenkins Group-Professional Management Services LLC, Kalamazoo, Missouri (FA8201-22-D-0005), have been awarded an estimated maximum $270,000,000 multiple award, indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract for Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Requirements III. This contract provides for construction services in support of the 75th Civil Engineering Group at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Work is expected to be completed by March 30, 2028. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with 11 offers received. Fiscal 2022 Air Force working capital funds in the amount of $1,500 will be obligated at the time of award. Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity. Canadian Commercial Corp., Ottawa, Canada, has been awarded an $82,903,629 firm-fixed-price contract for North Warning System (NWS) rotary airlift services. This contract provides all personnel, services, equipment, tools, supervision and direct materials necessary for the performance of the rotary airlift services to support the NWS. Work will be performed in locations across Canada, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2026. This contract is the result of a direct award. Fiscal 2022 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,030,234 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Combat Command Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA4890-22-C-0013). Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $41,200,000 requirements type contract for the Foreign Military Sales workload of the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod and Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) navigation pod sustainment. This contract provides for all actions necessary for the contractor to return an unserviceable item to serviceable condition. Work will be performed at Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Georgia; and Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2027 . This contract involves 100 percent Foreign Military Sales. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Warner Robins, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8540‐22‐D‐0001). BAE Systems Information & Electronic Systems Integration Inc., San Diego, California, has been awarded an $8,784,565 indefinite delivery contract for Automatic Test Systems testers applicable to the A-10, C-5, C-130, C-17, CV-22, F-15, F-16, and HH-60 platforms. This contract provides for sustainment activities of engineering and technical services, software development, spares and production related to various systems and components that are sole source to BAE Systems. Work will be performed in San Diego, California; and Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2032. This contract will include Foreign Military Sales for those supported countries by the Automatic Test System Division. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8533-22-D-0004). Chickasaw Defense Logistics LLC, Norman, Oklahoma, was awarded a $7,517,683 firm-fixed-price contract for Tinker Help Desk Services. This contract provides for base-wide client computer support. Work will be performed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2023. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2022 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,517,683 will be obligated at the time of award. Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8101-22-C-0002). DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY Health Net Federal Services LLC, Rancho Cordova, California, is awarded a $104,419,360 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price T2017 West Managed Care Service Contract (HT9402-16-C-0002). This modification implements changes to the Military Health System required by the National Defense Authorization Act 2017, Section 701, TRICARE Select. Specifically, TRICARE Select replaced TRICARE Extra and TRICARE Standard health programs. Work will be performed throughout the western region of the continental U.S. at military service component sites, contractor call center, and within an integrated healthcare provider network, with a period of performance of Jan. 1, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 operation and maintenance funds are being obligated at the time of award. The Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Old North Utility Services Inc., San Dimas, California, has been awarded a maximum $64,653,120 modification (P00297) incorporating the economic-price-adjustment agreement to the 50-year contract (SP0600-07-C-8258) with no option periods for water/wastewater utility service charges at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract. Locations of performance are California and North Carolina, with a Feb. 28, 2058, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2022 through 2058 Army operations and maintenance funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Creative IT Solutions LLC,** Fort Cobb, Oklahoma, has been awarded a maximum $14,632,814 modification (P00007) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SP4704-21-C-0002) with four one-year option periods for information technology operations and maintenance support services. This is a firm-fixed-price contract. Locations of performance are California, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia, with an April 30, 2023, performance completion date. Using customer is Defense Contract Audit Agency. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2022 through 2023 operations and maintenance; and research, development, test and evaluation funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Contracting Services Office, Richmond, Virginia. Mercury Mission Systems LLC, Torrance, California, has been awarded a maximum $14,447,980 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for digital data transfer computers. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(5), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a March 30, 2027, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2022 through 2027 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (SPRRA1-22-D-0002). DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Two Six Labs LLC, doing business as Two Six Technologies, Arlington, Virginia, has been awarded a $15,667,286 modification (P00020) to cost-plus-fixed-fee contract HR001118C0134 for additional in-scope work performed under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency research project. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $33,230,903 from $17,563,617. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of September 2023. Fiscal 2022 research and development funds in the amount of $3,782,565 are being obligated at the time of award. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. * Small business **Small-disadvantaged business

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Today in DOD: April 1, 2022

Today in DOD: April 1, 2022 Open Press Events Secretary of Defense The secretary is traveling. His remarks at 1 p.m. EDT at the U.S. Central Command change of command ceremony in Tampa, Florida, will be livestreamed at Defense.gov and broadcast on Channel… Read More > Deputy Secretary of Defense The deputy secretary has no public or media events on her schedule. Read More > Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The chairman is traveling. His remarks at 1 p.m. EDT at the U.S. Central Command change of command ceremony in Tampa, Florida, will be livestreamed at Defense.gov and broadcast on Channel 2… Read More > Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The vice chairman has no public or media events on his schedule. Read More > Additional Open Press Events Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb; Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs Deborah G. Rosenblum; Navy Vice Adm. Collin… Read More > View All Postings Contacts Additions and corrections for Today in DOD are invited and should be directed to the press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131 or +1 (703) 697-5132. For additional media information click here. Public Inquiries Contact us for more information, if you have questions or for technical support. Media Questions News media representatives with questions for the Department of Defense may reach our press desk by calling +1 (703) 697-5131. Duty Officer A public affairs duty officer is available 24 hours a day through +1 (703) 697-5131.

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DLA Designated DOD’s Printing Services Provider

View Online DLA Designated DOD’s Printing Services Provider March 31, 2022 | By DLA Information Operations The Defense Logistics Agency is now the Defense Department’s primary provider of printing services, office print devices and electronic conversion services, according to a DOD instruction signed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. All DOD components except DOD intelligence agencies, National Guard and Reserve organizations, tactical activities and the U.S. Army Print and Media Distribution Center must now purchase such services through DLA Document Services. The change is expected to save tens of millions of dollars each year. DLA Document Services offers numerous printing services ranging from brochures and training manuals to banners and aircraft decals. Custom and specialty options like vinyl, foam board and magnets are available, and the team can also produce large-scale items like museum displays. “We can assist customers throughout every step of their project from planning to production,” said Nick Janik, director of production operations for DLA Document Services. “Our print production employees work hard to make the customer’s vision a reality while being as efficient and timely as possible.” DOD customers turning paper documents into electronic format can use scanning and conversion services available at DLA print facilities or seek the help of on-site technicians who can convert documents of all sizes. Digital conversion preserves documents and makes them searchable. Shredding services are available, too. The updated DOD instruction also charges DLA Document Services with the procurement, delivery and sustainment of office devices including office, desktop and stand-alone printers as well as copiers, fax machines, scanners and multi-function devices (MFDs) — the latter of which is the focus of the office device program. The process of procuring office devices includes an assessment of customer needs and existing equipment to ensure new devices are streamlined and compatible. “Our office assessments help to eliminate unnecessary equipment and shift customers from a single-function or standalone environment to a business model of shared resources with MFDs,” said Terra Nguyen, the division director for DLA’s office device program. More information and help placing orders is available through local j67dcsc.

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DOD Featured Photos

Funeral Honors Members of the Air Force Academy Honor Guard carry the casket of retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Winfield… Photo Details > View All Photos

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DOD Featured Photos

Live-Fire Lookout Army Spc. Logan Alden participates in a live-fire operation during Joint Pacific Multinational Readi… Photo Details > View All Photos

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