Thursday, April 18, 2024
Thursday, April 18, 2024
This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's Combat Rescue Helicopter program, an inspector general report on U.S. Special Operations Command and more.
The Combat Rescue Helicopter program is moving to complete formal developmental testing in December, start initial operational test and evaluation next spring and begin initial deliveries of the first production lot in May 2021:
Combat Rescue Helicopter program fixing deficiencies, eyeing upgrades RFP this fall
The HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter program is working through technical deficiencies found during developmental testing, implementing more industry-standard software practices and planning to solicit proposals for a capability upgrades contract this coming fall.
The Defense Department's inspector general issued a report late last week on U.S. Special Operations Command:
SOCOM pledges to 'verify' programs meet mission needs following critical IG audit
U.S. Special Operations Command purchased and fielded $815 million worth of military gear "without verifying that the equipment meets user needs," according to a Defense Department inspector general report on an audit spanning two years.
Document: DOD IG audit of SOCOM testing and evaluation
DOD will temporarily continue contracting with companies that use telecommunications and surveillance equipment made by Huawei, ZTE and other Chinese companies:
Pentagon gets temporary waiver from Huawei ban for 'low risk, high volume items' contracts
The Pentagon has waived a requirement until the end of the fiscal year for "low risk, high volume items" contracts to comply with a government-wide ban on contractors using equipment made by Chinese vendors like Huawei and ZTE.
A lawsuit by Perspecta, which was recently unsealed and is partially redacted, shows Perspecta largely relitigating many of the same issues featured in its Government Accountability Office bid protest of Leidos' winning a Next Generation Enterprise Network contract:
Perspecta, DOJ discussing possible stay of work on Leidos' NGEN contract
Perspecta is in talks with the Justice Department to stop Leidos from continuing work on its Next Generation Enterprise Network contract while a lawsuit is pending in federal court, according to recently unsealed court documents.
Document: Perspecta's lawsuit against Leidos NGEN contract
The COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on development of the Air Force's B-21 bomber program:
B-21 program mitigating COVID-19 impact, using testbed to reduce integration risk
The Air Force's B-21 bomber development saw some supply chain disruption this summer when a major subcontractor, Spirit AeroSystems, announced production delays due to COVID-19, but program manager Randall Walden said today the team has adapted to the challenge and is "on the right path, to date."