Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
1/16/2015
Lockheed Martin is competing for the Propulsion Subsystem contract to be awarded as part of the Future ICBM Sustainment and Acquisition Concept (FISAC), a company spokeswoman told NS&D Monitor late last week. Slated to be the last of four subsystem contracts awarded under the new Air Force-managed FISAC contracting structure, the Propulsion Subsystem contract is expected to be awarded Oct. 1, one day after the current ICBM Prime Integration Contract (IPIC) managed by Northrop Grumman is set to expire. The FISAC will then take full effect. ATK is currently a principal teammate to Northrop Grumman in supporting the Minuteman 3’s Propulsion system under the IPIC. Northrop was awarded a $90 million contract modification in August to sustain the Minuteman 3’s propulsion system until the IPIC expiration date.
ATK and Northrop Grumman Also Competing for FISAC Propulsion Subsystem
In addition to Lockheed, ATK (supported by Boeing), and Northrop Grumman are also competing for the FISAC Propulsion Subsystem contract. Upon that award, the FISAC will enter into full force, with BAE Systems providing direct support as Integration Support Contractor to the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center ICBM Systems Program Office at Hill AFB. The Air Force released a Request for Proposals for the Propulsion Subsystem April 1, and originally intended to award a contract in early- to mid-Fiscal Year 2014, but the service has delayed the response due date as it aimed to promote more competition and generate more proposals, Air Force spokesman Ed Gulick told NS&D Monitor last week.
Lockheed to Pursue Support of FISAC Guidance Subsystem
Lockheed Martin also is also pursuing support work on the FISAC Guidance Subsystem contract, which was awarded to Boeing on Jan. 8, Lockheed spokesperson Lynn Fisher said. Lockheed’s 50-plus years of experience in sustaining ICBM’s will be critical in helping the Air Force sustain the aging, sophisticated Minuteman 3, according to Fisher. “We believe our unique capabilities are important to the Air Force to keep the ICBM system operational to 2030,” she said. Lockheed in June received the first FISAC subsystem contract—a $109 million sole-source award with options that could increase the contract’s value to $452 million—to maintain the ICBM Reentry System. “We’re proud to be a partner with the Air Force in keeping this critical system operational for the U.S., as well as those countries underneath the U.S.’s nuclear umbrella,” Fisher wrote.
