Acquisition Management News

Crowley Maritime has secured a multi-year, $638 million contract for Vessel Acquisition Management (VAM) by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD)."Crowley’s strategic acquisition and vessel management service will assist MARAD in the enhancement of the Ready Reserve Force (RRF), helping reduce the overall age of the fleet and increase ship reliability. The fleet executes U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) sealifts," Crowley Maritime said."To carry out the contract, Crowley will use a new…

Modus Seabed Intervention has successfully completed trialling one of the subsea industry’s first commercially available hybrid unmanned underwater vehicles. It will be one of the first autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to feature the capabilities and characteristics of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). In partnership with Saab Dynamics, Modus has developed the Saab Sabretooth to offer greater endurance and speed, and is also developing advanced sensor payload packages and operating methodologies. The vehicle is expected to contribute to more cost-effective survey and inspection projects in the offshore, defence and oceanographic sectors. Following successful trials in Sweden and the UK, Modus is preparing the advanced spread for its first commercial deployment.

Royal IHC and Tompkins UK Limited are strengthening their strategic cooperation with IHC’s acquisition of a majority stake in Tompkins, the parent company of Modus Seabed Intervention and a partner in the TI Geosciences joint venture (that IHC and Tompkins created in 2015). Modus is a specialist provider of remote and autonomous technologies for subsea and seabed intervention. It has industry-leading capabilities in remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services and currently deploys a fleet of work class ROVs and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in construction and drill support, as well as survey and inspection activities. With its fleet of trenching ROVs and systems, Modus also offers seabed intervention solutions in cable and pipeline trenching, and seabed earthmoving, among others.

Michael Lempke has been appointed vice president of energy programs for Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division, succeeding Pete Diakun, who will retire at the end of the year after 31 years of service. Lempke, who will lead the shipyard’s energy programs strategy once he transitions into the new role, has more than two decades of experience in executive acquisition and operations for both government and industry. Most recently, he served as vice president of integrated strategic decision support for Systems, Planning and Analysis, Inc., in Alexandria.

Polarcus Limited announced a two-year extension of the support services agreement with Turkish Petroleum covering seismic data acquisition management, maritime management and crewing support. Reference is made to the stock exchange notice published by Polarcus on 02 January 2013 regarding long term collaboration agreements with Turkish Petroleum. Through this extension, Polarcus will continue to provide Turkish Petroleum the support services required to deliver safe, efficient and high quality marine seismic operations onboard Turkish Petroleum's state of the art seismic vessel, Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa. Turkish Petroleum CEO and President…

Marine tourism operator Bali Hai Cruises has selected International Maritime Consultants (IMC) for the design of its next generation day cruise catamaran. Working closely with Bali Hai Cruises, IMC has developed a design that aims to support the operator’s wide range of operations, which includes a variety of tourism experiences from Benoa Harbour, such as day cruises to a water activities pontoon off Nusa Lembongan, day sailing trips, ocean rafting trips on high-speed rigid inflatables and evening dinner cruises.

Maui Acquisition Corp, the parent corporation of The Safariland Group, has  announced the appointment of Christopher E. Kubasik to its Board of Directors effective immediately. In addition to serving on the Board, Mr. Kubasik will also serve as the Chairman of the Company’s Audit Committee. “We are pleased and excited to welcome someone of Chris’ caliber to our Board of Directors,” said Warren Kanders, Chairman and CEO of the Company. Mr. Kubasik added, “I am excited to join this…

Maui Acquisition Corp, the parent corporation of The Safariland Group, a global provider of a diverse range of safety and survivability products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets has announced the appointment of Christopher E. Kubasik to its Board of Directors effective immediately. In addition to serving on the Board, Mr. Kubasik will also serve as the Chairman of the Company’s Audit Committee. “We are pleased and excited to welcome someone of Chris’ caliber to our Board of Directors,” said Warren Kanders, Chairman and CEO of the Company. Mr.

General Dynamics announced that Thomas W. Kirchmaier has been elected a vice president of the corporation and appointed as president of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, reporting to David K. Heebner, executive vice president of the company's Information Systems and Technology group. Kirchmaier succeeds Lewis F. Von Thaer, who resigned in April. The appointment is effective immediately. Kirchmaier, has been the senior vice president and general manager of the Intelligence Solutions division of General Dynamics Information Technology since 2007, leading a worldwide organization with more than 4,600 professionals which provides high-technology solutions for the U.S. intelligence community, selected DoD commands and agencies, their coalition partners and NATO.

VT Halter Marine, Inc. (VT Halter Marine) announced the appointment of Rear Admiral (Ret.) John J. Prendergast, III to the position of Executive Vice President (EVP). Mr. Prendergast will be responsible for a broad range of functions including Government Contracts, Organizational Excellence, Human Resources and DoD/DHS Interface, Procurement and Inventory Management. Prendergast holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and is a distinguished graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School…

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) published new guidance Sept. 15, aimed at preventing conflicts of interest among companies competing for business with the science and technology organization. "This new set of guidelines levels the playing field for the contracting community when it comes to doing business with ONR," said Mark Bennington, ONR's executive director for acquisition management. "The new policy is effective immediately and is expected to ensure fair competition for companies selected to perform research and development (R&D) as well as systems engineering and technical assistance or other support services," Bennington said.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has named Karen Williams vice president and general manager of the Defense Technologies Division, one of four divisions within its Information Systems sector. The sector recently realigned its defense business to form the Defense Technologies Division, focused on end-to-end support systems and services for defense customers. Williams reports to Linda A. Mills, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Information Systems.

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, was pleased with the passage of H.Res. 1665, concurring in Senate amendments to H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. The bill authorizes slightly more than $10b in annual funding for the United States Coast Guard, and will make several major changes to the service. Cummings chaired four hearings on the Deepwater acquisition program and participated in multiple hearings of the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to consider Coast Guard acquisitions. Coast Guard procurement was heavily examined, including circumstances leading to initial failures in Deepwater procurements.

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings assisted in the U.S. House of Representatives passing of H.R. 3619, the “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010.” Congressman Cummings was “floor manager” for the bill. Cummings, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, also sponsored the bill. The Coast Guard authorization, which passed 385-11, will allow the Coast Guard to add 1,500 additional personnel, bringing the total number of authorized service members to 47,000. Also, the number of authorized officer slots will increase to 6,700. “This authorization will hopefully allow the Coast Guard to shed their tradition of doing more with less,” said Congressman Cummings.

On July 29, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, joined his colleagues in unanimously passing H.R. 1665, the Coast Guard Acquisition Reform Act of 2009—legislation that Congressman Cummings introduced to build on the Coast Guard’s acquisition reform efforts and ensure accountability in the use of taxpayer dollars. “As families across our nation continue to lose their jobs, their homes, their savings, and their dreams, it is more critical than ever to ensure that their tax dollars are being used in the most effective and efficient way possible,” Congressman Cummings said.

Today, March 24, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, convened the Subcommittee to examine steps the Coast Guard has taken to reform and strengthen the policies and procedures it utilizes to manage acquisition processes. Specifically, the hearing examined the extent to which the Coast Guard will be positioned to exercise effective oversight of acquisition efforts as a result of new reforms implemented in response to extensive criticism of its management of the $24b Deepwater program. Over the past two years, the Coast Guard has moved to restructure its acquisition management systems…

On Nov. 6, 2008, Rear Admiral Gary T. Blore, Assistant Commandant for Acquisition & Chief Acquisition Officer, commented on the status of U.S. “On October 28 we posted a fact sheet (updated on November 4) that explained that DHS had rescinded acquisition [milestone] decision authority from the Coast Guard as recommended by the GAO and required in a recent legislation. I want to further explain this issue, as it may not be clear that this basically codified existing acquisition management practices. We are exercising our major* acquisition processes -- appropriately -- the same way we did before, and after, this law. However, since we had previously adopted the guidance as a ‘best practice…

BMT Defence Services Ltd, a subsidiary of British Maritime Technology Ltd (BMT), the multi-disciplinary engineering and technology consultancy, has today acquired Bertram Martin Consulting Ltd (BMC), the engineering investment appraisal and cost modelling consultancy. BMC is well known throughout the defence industry for its work in forecasting the through-life costs of major design and procurement projects and appraising potential research and development investments. It has also applied this expertise to the offshore industry. BMC will become a business unit of BMT Defence Services, the naval engineering and design services subsidiary, reporting to Managing Director Andrew Tyler.

Anteon International Corporation has been awarded a five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), with an estimated value of $20 million to support the U.S. Coast Guard Integrated Deepwater System Program. Under this tasking, Anteon will provide systems engineering, life-cycle management and program acquisition support services. These services will aid the Coast Guard during the development and fielding of three classes of new cutters and their associated boats, a new fixed-wing manned aircraft fleet, a combination of new and upgraded helicopters, and unmanned air vehicles. The Deepwater Program provides a complete revitalization of all the deepwater assets within the Coast Guard's inventory.

A team led by Northrop Grumman Corporation will help the U.S. Navy streamline security assistance and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) for the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) through a contract under the General Service Administration's Millennia Lite contracting vehicle. Northrop Grumman's Information Technology (IT) sector if all options are exercised. Grumman IT as the industry leader for NAVSEA FMS. Northrop Grumman IT will provide a broad range of FMS program and acquisition management support services for the procurement of Navy ordnance, weapons and weapons systems, ships and ship components, and the construction and transfer of Navy ships, ship systems and equipment.

KPMG Consulting, Inc., announced that it will provide long term program management support to the Naval Sea Systems Command's (NAVSEA) Undersea Weapons Program Office. KPMG Consulting teamed with Anteon Corporation, a leading information technology and engineering solution company, to win the delivery order, which was competed under a multiple award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract. KPMG Consulting will be paid $5.7 million for the first year and could receive up to $48.7 million if all options are exercised and award terms are earned and retained. Under the delivery order, KPMG Consulting will be responsible for providing a host of services across the department…

The Naval Sea Systems Command has exercised a $5.6m contract option for Alion Science and Technology, an employee-owned technology solutions company, to provide acquisition management support to its Program Executive Office Ships Acquisition Management (PEO Ships AM) Directorate. The option, which runs from June 1, 2007 through June 6, 2008, covers ship project directive (SPD) execution planning and financial execution; government furnished equipment (GFE) acquisition, delivery management and production management; configuration management; program management and Lean Six Sigma support; and business and financial planning. The contract runs for a total of five years, including a one-year base period and four, one-year options.