20 December 2018

Boeing Awarded $48,050,000 Single- Award, IDIQ Contract For Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB) Kits

U.S. Department of Defense                
Contracts for Dec. 19, 2018
Release No: CR-242-18
AH-6M lightU.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a maximum $48,050,000 single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract (H92241-19-D-0002) for the production of Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB) kits to upgrade the A/MH-6 in support of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).  Fiscal 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $4,633,100 will be obligated at the time of award as a firm-fixed-price contract. 
Individual task orders will be funded with procurement appropriations under the appropriate fiscal year and are not multiyear.  A majority of the work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by December 2026. 
This contract is a non-competitive award and is in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302.1. 
USSOCOM, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity.
Source: https://dod.defense.gov/News 
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http://www.americanspecialops.com
The MELB program introduced a number of Improvements to the Little Bird line, including a 6-bladed main rotor and 4-bladed tail rotor. An improved tail boom and tail rotor drive system, chambered vertical fin and improved tail stinger were also added, The helicopter's cabin features enlarged aft doors / openings and improved landing gear (struts).
The aircraft is powered by a Rolls Royce 250-C30R/3M 650shp turboshaft engine with Full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system. An improved engine inlet and engine inlet barrier filter (IBF) and IBF minder ensure the engine remains free from dust, sand and other particles.
Other features include crashworthy main fuel tanks that are resistant to small arms fire up to and including .50 cal. The helicopter can also mount external extended-range fuel tanks. Little Birds can be rapidly 'broken down' and air transported in cargo planes, then quickly built up at their destination.
Communications include AN/ARC-231 radios (UHF, VHF and SATCOMM) and a AN/APX-123 IFF transponder.
A chin-mounted turret houses AN/ZSQ-3 infrared and electro-optical sensors. These sensor pods come in 2 flavors: V1 Assault for the MH-6m and V2 Attack for the AH-6M.
Little Birds have a Night-Vision-Goggles-compatible Rockwell Collins digital glass cockpit that features 2 multifunction LCD display screens, control display units.
 A Cockpit Management System (CMS) displays flight systems, navigation and sensor data on the MFDs. These include a digital moving map display and the display of video from the AN/ZSQ-3 sensor package.
AH-6M Features
Based around the MD530 airframe, the AH-6M gunship features lightweight pylons for the loading over a number of weapons systems including:
  • M134 miniguns
  • M260 FFAR rocket pods
  • AGM-114 Hellfire laser-guided anti-tank missiles
  • GAU-19 .50 cal 3-barrel gatling guns
For target acquisition, the AH-6M's AN/ZSQ-3 (V2 Attack) FLIR sensor features a laser range finder and target designator via which the AGM-114 Hellfire missiles can be targeted.
AH-6M/MH-6M Specifications
Crew2 - Pilot, Co-pilot
EnginesRolls-Royce Model 250-C30R/3M turboshaft
DimensionsL - 9.8m
W (rotorspan) - 8.1m
H - 2.6m
Weights 4,700 lbs (max gross weight)
Cruise Speed 90 knots
Range430 km
Armament
(AH-6M)		Various combinations of :
2x TOW missile pods (4 missiles total)
2x M260 FFAR 2.75" 7/12-rocket pods.
2x .50 caliber gun pods
2x AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles
2x Stinger Air-to-Air Missiles
2x M134 7.62mm miniguns
2x MK19 Grenade Launchers
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SIGNAL Magazine
December 19, 2018
Boeing Helping SOCOM Upgrade Light Helicopter 
The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a maximum $48,050,000 single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract (H92241-19-D-0002) for the production of Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB) kits to upgrade the A/MH-6 in support of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
Fiscal year 2018 procurement funds in the amount of $4,633,100 will be obligated at the time of award as a firm-fixed-price contract.  Individual task orders will be funded with procurement appropriations under the appropriate fiscal year and are not multiyear.  A majority of the work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by December 2026. 
This contract is a non-competitive award and is in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302.1. 
USSOCOM, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity. 
Source: https://www.afcea.org/content
Departments: Acquisition and Contracting
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