Almost $1b to support USAF Medical Services, 2012-2018

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In February 2012, the USAF has issued a 6-year, multiple-award contract worth up to $985 million, to support the USAF Medical Service. Winners will have the chance to bid on delivery orders under the mixed indefinite-delivery/ indefinite quantity, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. Services will include management and professional support services, engineering and technical services, and studies, analyses and evaluations over the 6-year period, to Feb 1/18.

Air Force Medical Services includes all 5 USAF medical corps (Biomedical sciences, Dental, Medical, Medical service, Nurse) and enlisted medical technicians, and is led by a Surgeon General. They’re likely to find themselves rather busy over the next few years. In addition to this services contract, a separate multiple-vendor program is getting ready to devote up to $900 million over the next 5 years, for the AFMS Healthcare Facilities Modernization Program. The USAF’s 773th ESS/PKJ manages the services contract, and eligible bidders for task orders include:

Rapid Fire 2012-02-02: USAF Aircraft Redundancy Plans

• US Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz released a short whitepaper [PDF] outlining its priorities and choices within forthcoming budget constraints. It states: “More than 280 aircraft have been identified [...] for elimination [...] over the next five years. This includes 123 fighters (102 A-10s and 21 older F-16s), 133 mobility aircraft (27 C-5As, 65 C-130s, 20 KC-135s, and 21 C-27s), and 30 select ISR systems (18 RQ-4 Block 30s, 11 RC-26s, and one E-8 damaged beyond repair)”

• The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission had hearings last week on what China’s quest for global resources – water, fossil fuel, mineral, fish – means for the United States. Transcripts | Video.

• Andrew Davies from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) thinks it is unlikely that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will make a big rebasing effort to the country’s north. ASPI also released an economic and strategic analysis [PDF] pondering whether Australia should build warships.