SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded Shield AI, a venture-funded tech company, a deal that could be worth as much as $198.1 million over five years.
Shield AI will now wait for orders under the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity pact.
The downtown company announced on July 1 that it signed a deal to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for Coast Guard cutters. It is a services deal using contractor-owned and contractor-operated (COCO) aircraft. Shield AI will provide its MQ-35 V-BAT unmanned aircraft system. The V-BAT aircraft stands 10 feet high, weighs 125 pounds and can carry a 25-pound payload. It can stay in the air for 10 hours. The aircraft launches and lands vertically and can shift to horizontal flight. The company says it has more than five years of persistent operational experience flying V-BAT at sea.
The Coast Guard said it received seven offers in response to its solicitation.
Shield AI also produces autopilot software called Hivemind, which has flown V-BAT aircraft as well as quadcopters, target drones and a specially outfitted F-16 fighter.
GA-ASI to Support Belgian Customer
The U.S. Air Force, acting on behalf of the government of Belgium, awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. of Poway a not-to-exceed $48.5 million undefinitized contract action for Belgium sustainment contractor logistics support in support of MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft. The SkyGuardian is a remotely piloted aircraft derived from the Predator aircraft of the 1990s. This contract provides logistics support activities including depot repair, engineering services, field team support and software maintenance services for the Belgian Air Force MQ-9B. Work will be performed at Poway and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2025. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Belgium. This contract was a sole source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $21.6 million are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, awarded the contract, announced on July 1.
MCP’s Laptop Deal Valued at $12.6M
The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) awarded MCP Computer Products Inc., a woman-owned small business based in San Marcos, a delivery order for Dell laptops and associated equipment with a delivery of 60 days after the date of the order. This is a firm fixed price order from a blanket purchase agreement with a value of $12.6 million.
USSOCOM at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, awarded the contract on July 17. The deal was announced July 18.
Renovation Work Goes to Vander Werff
The U.S. Army awarded Peter Vander Werff Construction Inc., a small business from El Cajon, a $9 million firm-fixed-price contract to renovate a building at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, with an estimated completion date of July 14, 2026. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office at Louisville, Kentucky awarded the deal, announced on July 29.
North Star Gets Army Award
The U.S. Army awarded San Diego-based North Star Government Services a multiple award task order contract (MATOC) covering repair, maintenance, minor construction, demolition and other work in Hawaii. North Star is an economically disadvantaged woman-owned small business. The Army made similar awards to nine other building contractors and related specialists, many of them based in Hawaii. North Star and the other companies will now compete for each order of up to $137.5 million worth of contracts. Bids were solicited via the internet with 13 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2029. The 411th Contracting Support Brigade at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, awarded the contracts, announced on July 18.
Hexagon Heads to Camp Pendleton
The Department of the Navy awarded Hexagon US Federal Inc. of Huntsville, Alabama a $17.7 million firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract for sustainment of the Consolidated Emergency Response System (CERS) to provide hardware, software and services to sustain and maintain CERS at several U.S. Marine Corps installations. The total cumulative face value of this contract is $34.7 million. The contract modification is to exercise option year one, second-six-month period for the sustainment of the existing CERS. Some 7.6% of the newly awarded contract, worth approximately $1.35 million, will be performed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Work is expected to be complete by March 31, 2027. This procurement is a sole source award, as the government determined only one vendor could satisfy its requirements. The Marine Corps Systems Command at Quantico, Virginia, awarded the contract, announced on July 19.
