US DISA Pays up to $411M for Level 3′s Services from 2012-2021

Level 3

At the end of 2011, Level 3 Communications, LLC in Broomfield, CO received a maximum $410.8 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract, for up to 10 years of fiber cable operations and maintenance support, through Dec 29/21. Performance is stated as “various locations throughout the United States,” though some contracts with those designations include overseas infrastructure. This solicitation was issued without competition under FAR 6.302-1 (one responsible source) by the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization’s National Capital Region (HC1047-12-D-0002). The justification/approval package was marked sensitive/secure, and L-3 declined to discuss its contract further.

Level 3 is primarily a large-scale fiber optic communications infrastructure play, with significant quantities of “dark” (unlit/unused) fiber, alongside a lit Tier 1 network used by a number of medium and large telecom carriers around the world. They also offer managed services of various types on top of that, including a dedicated content delivery service that includes customers like Netflix and Apple. On Oct 4/11, the firm completed its purchase of Global Crossing, the IPv6 backbone provider whose 2002 bankruptcy and restructuring was one of the highest-profile casualties of the dot-com collapse.

More Mistrals sur la Mer: Dixmude, France’s 3rd LHD

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FNS Tonnere
FNS Tonnerre [BPC 2],
during sea trials

In December 2008, reports surfaced that France intended to accelerate production of its 3rd Mistral Class LHD amphibious assault and command ship, as part of a EUR 2.3 billion defense component of France’s economic stimulus package. That deal was finalized on Apr 10/09, and production of the 3rd ship of class is now complete. It is expected to enter service as FS Dixmude in 2012.

Cost figures were not released initially, but the use of commercial cruise ship standards and civilian yards reportedly allowed France to field the first two 21,300t Mistral Class LHDs for about EUR 660 million. By 2010, it emerged that Dixmude would be delivered for about 10% less, or EUR 300 million. That would make each Mistral Class LHD just 25% of the price for a single American 22,700t LPD-17 San Antonio Class amphibious assault and command ship.

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