OFPP's Jordan takes price debate to Twitter

Joseph Jordan, administrator for federal procurement policy at the OMB, has turned to Twitter for insights on the best ways for agencies to get information on prices paid when making their contracting decisions.

The issue of pricing is a hot one these days, as many agencies use lowest price, technically acceptable as their criteria for making award decisions.

Ultra Electronics wins $44.5M Navy contract for engineering, technical services

Ultra Electronics has won a $44.5 million task order contract to provide the U.S. Navy with engineering and technical services in support of Air Defense Systems Integrator systems.

Under the firm-fixed-price, performance-based contract, the company will support the Air Defense Systems Integrator systems, communication systems and satellite communication systems.

Serco wins $355M smart transportation contract

Serco has won a six-year, $355 million contract with the Virginia Transportation department to integrate and operate the state’s five transportation operation centers.

The company will operate the centers, and will manage the safety service patrol under a single system instead of separate geographical programs, Serco said in a release.

General Atomics wins $110.3M Army contract for UAV support

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has won a $110.3 million contract modification to provide the U.S. Army with Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft systems support.

Under the contract, General Atomics will provide product support and fleet sustainment operations for the Gray Eagle UAVs.

The Gray Eagle is an upgrade of the MQ-1 Predator drone, and has better performance at high altitudes.

This modification brings the total value of this contract to $354.7 million.

Work will be performed in Afghanistan.

Jacobs wins $128M expansion of Air Force advisory, assistance contract

Jacobs Engineering Group has won a $128 million contract option to provide advisory and assistance services to the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida

The option was awarded under Technical and Engineering Acquisition Support 6 contract.

The scope of work includes systems engineering and integration support for air-delivered munitions. The company also supports test and training range systems and numerous air combat support systems, Jacobs said in a release.

The company has been supporting the Air Force at Elgin since 1986 and has 800 people working there.

ICF taps new VP of aviation and aerospace business

ICF International has named Subodh Karnik vice president for its ICF SH&E unit, which provides professional services in the aviation and aerospace fields.

In his new role, Karnik will work with clients across the globe, and with ICF’s aviation teams in Beijing, Boston, Hong Kong, London and New York.

4 critical questions to guide your career

Today, many of us find ourselves working longer than we envisioned when we began our careers.  Few people retire today by age 65 who are financially secure. Things did not turn out career-wise as many of us planned.When you consider that most young people today will work for 50 years or more, it raises fundamental career-related questions that few people are prepared to answer.

TASC revs its strategy engine

TASC Inc.’s hiring this week of Randy Phillips as its first chief strategy officer got me thinking that the company is getting ready to accelerate its merger and acquisition activities.

Just look at his resume:

At Computer Sciences Corp., he led more than 25 transactions, with more than $3 billion in revenue.

NetCents protests grow to 14

More companies have filed protests against the Air Force and its troubled NetCents 2 Products contract. The total has now reached 14 protestors.

If my sources are correct, then all the losing bidders, except for two, have filed protests. The is round two for NetCents 2 Products, which last year was awarded to nine companies, but a flood of protests forced the Air Force back off and try again.

Exelis to add data tech into legacy command system

ITT Exelis has won a $6.1 million contract modification with the U.S. Air Force to insert a modern data storage and memory technology system into the Strategic Automated Command Control System.

The system provides orders and pass codes authentication for Air Force nuclear weapons platforms, bombers and support units, the company said in a release.

ITT Exelis will insert a modern data storage system that will improve retrieval and verification of critical data for decision makers, the company said.