ManTech, Smartronix aim to shoot down Jacobs' F-35 win

An incumbent and another challenger are protesting a contract win by Jacobs Technology to provide support services to the F-35 fighter jet.

The incumbent is Smartronix Inc., and the company has been supporting the F-35 since 2010. It lost the recompete of the work to Jacobs. ManTech International also filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office after losing its bid.

The contract supports the Air Force’s 53^rd Wing, which is part of the Air Combat Command. The work includes maintenance and sustainment of IT and computer security related to the F-35. There also is a need for systems engineering, network support, test and evaluation, and database and computer systems development.

Smartronix first one the contract in 2010 and since then has pulled in $72 million in task orders. The company has had its contract extended so services to the Air Force can continue until a contract is in place.

The recompete is being run as a task order through the GSA Alliant contract. Smartronix filed its protest on Aug. 20 with a deadline for a GAO decision on Nov. 30. ManTech protested on Aug. 24 with a due date of Dec. 2. But if the protest works it all the way through the system, GAO will likely move them through the process together and issue a signal decision that covers both protests.