Amentum, Apex Systems and Leidos [LDOS] on Wednesday said they have formed Integrated ICBM Support Services, LLC
(i2S2), a joint venture aimed at capturing the Air Force’s next support contract for its current and future ICBM force.
BAE Systems currently supports the ICBM Integration Support Contract (ISC), which is managed by the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The i2S2 joint venture said it plans to establish a presence in Utah to prepare to support the contract.
“The i2S2 member companies bring exceptional experience, helping large, highly-technical programs sustain critical and complex operations,” Darrell Graddy, i2S2 president, said in a statement. “We’re excited about the prospect of launching this team in the Silicon Slopes area, a great place to live and raise a family, with a culture of mission and service to others. If we are privileged to be awarded the ISC 2.0 contract, we look forward to growing that team and providing superior support to AFNCWC’s mission.”
BAE won the approximately $534 million ISC contract in July 2013. The ISC 2.0 award could last for up to 18 years, depending on options, and be worth up to $12 billion.
I2S2 said that its three partners bring differentiated capabilities to the team, with Leidos providing expertise in model-based systems engineering, digital engineering, modeling and simulation, and artificial intelligence and machine learning. Amentum brings experience in sustaining large-scale operational nuclear programs for the Departments of Defense and Energy. Apex Systems has expertise in workforce mobilization, supporting rapid recruiting of employees locally and nationally over the long-term.
The ISC 2.0 contract will support the aging Minuteman III ICBM force and the future Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), which is expected to become operational in 2029 and remain so until 2075. Boeing [BA] built the Minuteman missiles and Northrop Grumman [NOC] is developing the GBSD.
A senior advisory group consisting of executives from i2S2’s partner companies as well as former government and military leaders will provide counsel to the joint venture.
Leidos is the majority partner in i2S2. Graddy, a Leidos employee, was previously senior vice president of Operations for the Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC joint venture that manages the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Pantex production facility in Texas. Consolidated Nuclear Security consists of Bechtel, Leidos, Northrop Grumman, and SOC LLC.