By Ann Roosevelt
Northrop Grumman [NOC], Lockheed Martin [LMT], and Boeing [BA] said they will respond to the draft request for proposals for the Development and Sustainment contract for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system released by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
Boeing has been the prime contractor for the GMD system since 2001.
“We’re going to compete hard,” Greg Hyslop, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems, told Defense Daily. “The GMD program is very important to us and we are very proud of our 10 years as prime contractor.”
Boeing has continued to develop new capabilities and is “proud of its track record,” developing and deploying the defense against long-range ballistic missiles, Hyslop said.
In a statement Jan. 21, Northrop Grumman said it would compete as a prime contractor, citing its ability to leverage experience and best practices from missile-related programs.
“We have the core people, processes, and tools in place to deliver robust missile defenses under this contract,” John Clay, vice president of Missile Systems for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector, said. “Northrop Grumman already is well underway in bringing together the capabilities to meet GMD’s development, testing, training, operations, support and sustainment challenges.”
John Holly, vice president, Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, said, “Lockheed Martin is dedicated to partnering with the MDA and GMD program office to support and extend the life of this crucial fielded weapon system. We are committed to teaming with the best in industry to deliver consistent, performance-based outcomes across the GMD life cycle.”
Lockheed Martin cited more than 30 years experience in midcourse missile defense development, production and testing and more than 50 years of experience in strategic weapon system operations, sustainment and performance based logistics expertise.
Documents filed by MDA state that the Development and Sustainment acquisition will be “to provide continued development; manufacturing; testing; and operations and sustainment for the GMD Element of the MDA’s Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).”
The contract, expected to be awarded in fiscal year 2011, is anticipated to be an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) with allowance for various types of task orders.
The work will be done Huntsville, Ala., Ft. Greely, Alaska, Eareckson AS, Alaska, Schriever AFB, Colo., and at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
Initial written comments/questions on the draft RFP are due Feb. 9, with final comments due by March 18.
On Feb. 5, MDA plans a Transition Focus Day in Huntsville, Ala. Presentations will include an overview of the GMD Element, as well as information on the work expected, transitioning from current GMD contracts, resources and facilities. This will be the first planned 2010 industry day and initiate the dialogue with industry with the intent to enhance government solicitation documents and contractor proposal.