Costs are rising – whether it’s at the gas pump or in the grocery store. Consumers are feeling the impacts of global tensions and supply chain issues. And defense contractors are not immune to rising costs. However, recent DoD guidance made it clear to contracting officers (COs) for firm-fixed-price (FFP) contracts that the federal government won’t be covering the extra costs. Contracts with an economic price adjustment clause (EPA) can find ways to recover the additional costs from inflation. But the DoD told contractors without that clause on an FFP, they will have to find other ways to recoup costs. The DoD removed one other option to contractors – requests for equitable adjustment (REAs), saying that inflation doesn’t fall into this category. While most contractors do not love FFP contracts, they are appealing to the federal government because they tend to be a bit more straightforward after the award is made. Of course, extreme circumstances like a pandemic, supply chain issues, rising inflation, and global tensions can make things a little more complicated.
Layoffs
Stellantis
Between the chip shortage and high gas prices, the auto industry can’t catch a break. Demand for cars has decreased, impacting auto manufacturers. Detroit-based Stellantis will begin an indefinite layoff this week. No details yet on how many layoffs will happen, but they’ll start from the bottom and work their way up. Right now, all laid off members who wish to move to other Stellantis facilities will have that option.
“With auto volumes continuing to run at the rate they’re running at, you just don’t need as many people because you’re not producing as many vehicles,” said John Stoll, an expert on automobiles. “We’re going to be in a situation where supply of automobiles is constrained not just for one year, but for probably for 2024.”
Hiring
Viasat
While Viasat made global news after the Russian cyber attack on their networks in Ukraine, it hasn’t stopped their progress in playing a vital role around the globe – including with the U.S. DoD. Viasat has open, cleared positions throughout the U.S., and they recently received an award from the DoD through the Information Warfare Research Project (IWRP) to conduct research on the use of 5G to support communications for Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO). The research will focus on network enhancements, command and control (C2) and delivering advanced processing through the integration of digital twin and agile software defined network (SDN) capabilities. This is the third award Viasat has received as a part of the DoD’s $600M research initiative partnering with industry and academic leaders to explore and advance the use of 5G technology on the battlefield.
Viasat is working with the DoD to support development of advanced communications and enable concept of operations (CONOPs) for warfighters. Achieving secure, resilient communications across multiple transports in expeditionary environments is a challenge due to the need to rapidly set up and tear down the network, work across multiple networks and classifications, and operate in austere and contested cyber and electronic warfare (EW) conditions. Through this research, Viasat will explore how 5G networking and partner solutions can integrate to support EABO missions, including needs for Long Range Precision Fires, Forward Arming and Re-Fueling Points (FARP), and persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability.
Using a phased approach, Viasat will address specific application areas of 5G dynamic radio frequency (RF) spectrum and adaptive network planning and management to enable Low Probability of Intercept/Low Probability of Detection (LPI/LPD) through enhanced deployment of 5G nodes for EABO. This research will also look at how to enhance 5G RF and network planning with digital twin models, use 5G mobile edge compute (MEC) to enable tactical edge compute with artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as how to rapidly deploy and operate a mobile infrastructure in a dynamic and contested environment.
“Like the DoD, we see the significant potential for 5G to enhance the warfighter’s ability to produce, consume, and make sense of mission critical data at the point and time of need in contested and congested environments to support JADC2 enablement,” said Craig Miller, president, Viasat Government Systems. “The ability to swiftly move information and data across the battlespace is essential to the multi-domain and joint-force operations needs of the future. The addition of 5G bandwidth and network management capabilities will support C2 for specific missions and greater visibility across highly dispersed forces in EABO and littoral operations in contested environments.”
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Opportunity to Watch
Perspecta Enterprise Services LLC, a Peraton subsidiary, has been awarded the DoD Cyber Crime Center (DC3) Technical, Analytical, and Business Operations Services (TABO) task order, worth up to $562.9 million over a 1-year base period and four 1-year option periods. The task order was issued by the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM) under the Alliant 2 Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC).
Perspecta Enterprise Services will support essential DC3 missions by delivering digital forensics, multimedia forensics, technical solutions development, cyber analytics, and vulnerability sharing support for DoD and National requirements in law enforcement, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure protection.
DC3 is a federal cyber center, DoD center of excellence, and is the operational focal point for the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Program.
“We are honored that DC3 has entrusted us to support its critical missions across a range of complex technical and operational domains. We look forward to providing our integrated capabilities across the cyber, defense and intelligence domains to help DC3 address an evolving and complex threat environment,” said Roger Mason, Ph.D., president, Space & Intelligence sector, Peraton.
As one of the federal government’s largest full-spectrum cyber contractors, Peraton delivers robust cyber solutions and services, enabling customers to secure their digital domain, including 24x7x365 protection of the nation’s most critical networks and data systems.
“With computer crime being so prolific, the DoD requires experienced digital professionals now more than ever. Peraton employs some of the industry’s leading digital forensic analysts and malware reverse engineers, and as a former DC3 operations leader, I am excited to bring our collective expertise to bear in service of the Center’s growing responsibilities,” said Bob Renko, director, Digital Forensics, Peraton.
