The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center on Jan. 29 awarded four companies, InDyne, Inc., L-3 Communications [L-3], Northrop Grumman [NOC] and Xator Corp., a potential $486 million in combined indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts to compete for work to provide force protection systems to military bases.

The Force Protection Site Security Systems Contract provides for the acquisition, upgrade and sustainment of a family of Integrated Base Defense Security Systems (IBDSS). The incumbent contractors were Leidos [LDOS], L-3 and Northrop Grumman.

Airmen from F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., working on a Remote Tactical Engagement System in this 2012 photo. Photo: F.W. Warren AFB.
Airmen from F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., checking a Remote Tactical Engagement System in this 2012 photo. Photo: F.W. Warren AFB.

The IBDSS solutions include fixed site intrusion detection systems, tactical security systems such as the Tactical Automated Security System (TASS), and delay/denial systems such as the Remote Target Engagement System (RTES).

The TASS uses sensors and radars, cameras and thermal imagers, to alert operators and identify threats at a command and control center. The system is deployed at forward operating locations worldwide.

The networked RTES consists of six separate M-240 machine guns–each housed in armor–that are controlled remotely from command consoles to engage the enemy. Each gun system includes three cameras–a thermal imager, wide-angle camera, and scope–to provide live video to the command and control console, according to the Air Force.

The contract is for five years and began on Jan. 29. There are no options although the award has an additional three-year execution period.