Week in review (3/25 to 3/31)

The week was heavy with contract activity for the Gulf Coast aerospace region. But there were some non-contract news items as well.

Here's your week in review:

Bases

Devices that rely on Global Positioning System technology may be affected during upcoming military testing and evaluation in the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay, according Eglin Air Force Base. There will also be an increase in aircraft noise during the testing beginning Sunday through Friday.

The work by Eglin’s 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group is scheduled from 8 a.m.- noon during each of the six days. During the testing period, fighter aircraft will release munitions about 20 nautical miles south of Destin over the Gulf.

During the testing, boats traveling in formation will move between the Mid-Bay Bridge and the Clyde B. Wells Bridge at U.S. Highway 331 between 1 and 5 p.m. The formation will be used as visual targets by military aircraft flying over the area. No weapons or ammunition will be involved, but some boats will have fake deck guns and rocket launcher tubes on board. The boats will also use marine flares as visual markers. (Post)

Airports

United Airlines has committed to offering service for several more years at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) near Panama City Beach, Fla. The Airport Authority board approved an airline-airport use and lease agreement with United Airlines.

A representative of United Airlines, which has served the airport since March 2015, has advised airport officials the company intends to sign the agreement in the next 45 days, airport officials said. The agreement expires Sept. 30, 2020, but United already is discussing a new agreement once that time comes, airport Executive Director Parker McClellan told the board. There are four major carriers at the airport: American, Delta, Southwest and United. (Post)

Contracts

B3 Enterprises LLC, Woodbridge, Va., was awarded a $9.9 million contract for refuel and defuel support services for the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Rucker, Ala. Work will be performed in Fort Rucker, with an estimated completion date of March 30, 2025. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Va. is the contracting activity. … Reliance Test & Technology, Crestview, Fla., was awarded a $227.4 million modification to a previously awarded contract for Eglin Operation and Maintenance Support Service. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2020. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. … Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, King of Prussia, Pa., was awarded a $10.9 million contract for Joint Air-to-Air Surface Standoff Missile Enterprise Management System 7.0. This contract provides for enhancements to the software package known as the JASSM Enterprise Management System. Work will be performed in King of Prussia and is expected to be complete by March 29, 2019. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Eaton Aerospace LLC, Jackson, Miss., was awarded a maximum $37.9 million contract for axial piston pumps. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Mississippi, with a Sept. 30, 2024, performance completion date. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Mich. … Electronic Metrology Laboratory LLC, Franklin, Tenn., was awarded a $10.6 million modification under a previously awarded contract to exercise Option Four for base operations support services at Naval Air Station Whiting Field and outlying fields. Work will be performed in Milton, Fla. (80 percent); and outlying fields (20 percent). Work is expected to be completed in March 2019. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.