DOD Contractors Archives

Coast Guard Wants to Fast Track Production of New Icebreaker Ship

The Coast Guard is Working to Upgrade Ships

The Coast Guard is eager to design and build the first of six new icebreakers ahead of the previously proposed schedule. The Polar Star is the sole Coast Guard heavy icebreaker still in operation. It was commissioned in 1976 and is now frequently down for repairs.

Suppliers of government and DoD military contract equipment must adhere to (GSA) processes and demonstrate they can produce top quality products efficiently and quickly. There are currently five companies vying for the contract, but bids remain open to anyone capable of completing the project. Rear Admiral Michael Haycock announced in April of 2018 that the Coast Guard hopes to take delivery of the first new icebreaker by the end of 2023.

“It’s a little bit like a marriage”

According to Military.com, the initial plan had a delivery date of 2028. The rough condition of the Polar Star necessitated the delivery date be pushed up to 2023. The Polar Star crew had to contend with numerous breakdowns during the most recent season at sea. Problems ranged from a flooded engine room to a failure of one of the three main gas turbines.

Haycock said he knows it’s going to be a challenge for designers and builders to meet the updated timeline. He compared the situation between the Coast Guard and contractors to a marriage saying, “If you’re equally unhappy, you know you probably got it right.”

At DJ Products, we understand the requirements of companies that produce DoD military contract equipment. We have high standards for our equipment and customer service. We have a wide line of materials and equipment movement solutions that meet military and DOD requirements. Contact us to speak with one of our sales engineers and to arrange a product demo.

How to Buy Equipment from the General Services Administration (GSA) Office

The GSA Assures You Are Selecting from High Quality Products

Products that meet high standards are difficult to come by unless you go through a GSA listed supplier. Various military standard equipment is sold through the GSA. They also provide listings for highly-qualified contractors, contractors who in effect have worked closely with the Department of Defense.

The GSA is a solid resource for federal agencies and the public to supply information, advisement and provides multi-billion dollar amounts of products to interested buyers. They also purchase products from small businesses.

Quality is an integral part of what the GSA facilitates. In an on-going technology-driven world, longevity in a product, through design, and premium materials are a commodity that businesses and their consumers appreciate. The GSA sells and purchases the best.

How to Buy through GSA

Whether you are with a federal agency or a public consumer, there are numerous ways you can align yourself with durable, industrial strength products and services. Besides sharing access to alphabetically organized GSA-listed supplier contacts, the GSA has compiled contract award information that can prove beneficial to your product inquiries.

Through their online ordering and shopping system, GSAAdvantage!, interested government employees can browse and compare millions of high-grade products and supplies with just a few clicks.

Similarly, DJ Products has their own selection of DoD and military products that are available to companies that prefer high-grade machinery. To save on labor costs, keep employees safe from injury, and avoid expenditures consistent with acquisition of low-quality products, DJ Products has self-propelled and remote-control machinery to meet unique buyer needs.

Keep valued staff protected and their productivity at a high level when you incorporate trusted machinery in your place of business. Buyers looking for quality use DJ Products to keep their efficiency and profits in tip-top shape.

DoD Forms Advisory Panel to Help Firms that Aren’t Typical DoD Contractors

Changing Regulatory Instructions for the DoD are Fueling a Need for More Technological Adaption.

The most innovative companies have countless ideas and technologies that are useful to the Department of Defense, but doing business with DoD can look and feel very differently than what tech firms are used to. In Silicon Valley and beyond, firms that prize speed, agility, and the ability to pivot or launch a product on a moment’s notice can feel encumbered by red tape when collaborating with the government.

A DoD advisory panel was recently formed to expedite collaboration with non-traditional contractors—those companies who aren’t accustomed to DoD contracts.

So far, the Government Accountability Office has identified these challenges facing DoD contractors’ equipment needs, negotiations, and finances:

• Complex processes

• Drawn-out processes

• Inexperience on the part of DoD staff

• Unusual, government-specific terms and conditions

• Unpredictable budget and cash flow issues

• Conflicts with intellectual property rights

Government and the tech industry have long enjoyed a two-way street of innovation and growth. What’s different now? According to the GAO, the private sector has increased R&D spending by 200% since 1987, while the government has held steady at 10% growth.

Among the goals: speed up contracting agreements to 60 days max, and enable DoD agility with easier access to new technology platforms.

Technology for Government and Military Contractors

At DJ Products, our GSA-approved material handling carts serve military and DoD contractors’ equipment needs in hangars, warehouses, factories, construction sites, and more.

From the TrailerCaddy Chain Drive battery-powered trailer hauler to the remote-controlled BombCaddy for explosives removal or general confined space towing, we have solutions that empower DoD contractors and make it easier to fulfill government work. Contact DJ Products today for more info!

Military Contractors: The New Cyber Security Gurus

Questions on the Rise of Cyberintelligence

Over the last few years, a sizable stream of high-ranking intelligence officials and operatives have migrated to similar positions with military contractors and other private sector firms. How does this blurring of lines impact our country’s intelligence community?

Rise of the Cyberintelligence-Industrial Complex

As President Dwight Eisenhower left office in 1961, he famously warned about the dangers of the growing military-industrial complex. Observers are now noting the similar rise of a cyberintelligence-industrial complex that could have even more serious implications.

A prime example of this model is the Chertoff Group, founded in March 2009 by the firm’s namesake, Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security. Chertoff also enlisted Michael Hayden, retired four-star general and former National Security Agency (NSA) director.

From the beginning, the Chertoff Group touted its ability to provide clients with access to the same leaders who have “kept the American homeland and its people safe.” Hayden was even more explicit, expressing his desire to re-create his government experience in the private sector.

Democracy at Risk?

What are the dangers of this new cybersecurity elite?

• Knowledge gained by men and women working at the highest levels of cyber-intelligence is now available to the highest corporate bidder.

• This new class is free to operate in a “black hole of secrecy” without government oversight.

Solutions for Today’s Military Contractor Equipment Supplier

Are you a military contractor equipment supplier trying to make your operations safer and more efficient? Contact us for information about our full line of electric tugs, pushers and movers for military and DoD applications.

Department of Defense Contractors Urged to Report Data Breaches

Report Any Data Breaches

Cybercrime is estimated to cost U.S. companies up to $2 trillion by 2019. Beyond the financial toll, cyberattacks on Department of Defense (DoD) contractors pose a crucial threat to national security. In an effort to limit the risk, DoD recently enacted stringent rules governing cybersecurity and breach reporting.

Protecting Sensitive Government and Defense Data

The latest Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), enacted in August 2015, includes the following provisions for DoD contractors:

• Implementation of security measures is required for all computer systems.

• Any occurrence of hacking or other cyberattacks must be reported to the Department of Justice within 72 hours.

This action was prompted by a series of high-profile hacking incidents involving government agencies including the IRS and Office of Personnel Management.

When Cyberattacks Go Unreported

Unfortunately, this regulation has not caused much improvement in breach reporting. One 90-day review revealed 199 instances of suspected leaks, but only 12 agencies reported any breaches.

Failure of DoD contractors to report cyberattacks leaves the door open for whistleblowers via the False Claims Act, which provides for awards of 15-30% of the government’s total recovery against companies found guilty of reporting violations.

DJ Products: The Solution to DoD Contractor Equipment Needs

Military and DoD projects require timely and efficient operations through every step of the process. DJ Products offers a comprehensive line of battery-powered tugs and movers to meet any DoD contractor equipment need up to 50,000 pounds. Call 800.686.2651 and let our friendly sales engineers help you choose the right product for your application.

Agile Contracting Spending on the Rise for Federal Projects

Technology is the Future for The DOD

As the Office of Management and Budget pushes for a new approach to streamline IT development projects, government agencies appear to be going all in on agile contracting. But is this the dawn of a new era in flexible contracts and efficient project management, or is it a runaway train headed for disaster?

Department of Homeland Security Shifts to Agile Contracts

In early 2016 Mark Schwartz, CIO of U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS), instituted a Flexible Agile Development Services (FADS) contract requiring vendors to collaborate and compete on an iterative basis. Projects include option periods where vendor teams may be added or subtracted.

Following Schwartz’s lead, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now has two more major agile contracts in the works:

• Flexible Agile Support for the Homeland (FLASH), announced in May, is an agency-wide contract that will be overseen by the DHS Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL).

• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is soliciting agile services through its EAGLE II contract, which is expected to be awarded in early fiscal 2017. This contract, expected to be worth $50 million to $100 million over a five-year period, will cover a variety of agency-wide IT projects.

Handling Equipment for DoD Contractors? Pushers and Movers from DJ Products

Our battery-powered pushers and movers smoothly and efficiently handle equipment for DoD contractors ranging from parts and materials to Humvees and trucks. A single employee can maneuver loads of up to 20,000 pounds. Call 800.686.2651 or use our handy online chat feature to let our experienced sales engineers help you select the right solution for your applications.

DoD Helps Contractors Steer Clear of Counterfeit Parts

Discerning Whats Real From Fake

When it comes to systems administered and operated by the DoD, integrity is crucial. A malfunction can cost lives, both civilian and military, as well as threaten our country’s security. The DoD recently issued a new rule aimed at preventing the acquisition of counterfeit equipment for DoD contractors.

Maintaining a Trusted Supply Chain

This past August, the Final Rule was announced as an amendment to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. The rule mandates a “strong preference” for the use of electronic components obtained from original or authorized manufacturers and their resellers.

The Federal Register states that the Final Rule was created for the benefit of both the Government and its contractors. Ensuring the integrity of electronic parts greatly reduces the risk of system failure on aircraft, ships and other military equipment.

What Happens with Non-Authorized Sources?

The Final Rule also contains a contingency clause addressing situations where a contractor has no trusted source for specific electronic parts.

• The contractor must give written notice to the contracting officer regarding proposed use of items from non-trusted sources.

• Upon request, the contractor must offer detailed documentation for their inspection and testing process.

• Contractors must be able to either trace the parts back to the original manufacturer or assume responsibility for authentication.

• These conditions also apply to subcontractors who are unwilling to accept a flow-down of the clause.

Military Material Handling Solutions from DJ Products

Make it easier for your employees to move vehicles, machinery and other heavy-duty equipment for DoD contractors. Visit our website and chat with our sales engineers about our assortment of tugs and pushers for military and DoD applications.

Labor Department Gives DoD Contractors New Guidelines for Fighting Gender Discrimination

New DoD Regulations to Fight Gender Discrimination

For the first time in 46 years, the U.S. Department of Labor has updated the regulations regarding sexual discrimination for defense contractors and all other federal contractors. Covering issues like pregnancy of employees and transgender status, the new rules apply to any federal contractor that receives a minimum of $10,000 from government contracts in a one-year time frame. Also covered are unlawful employment practices that treat women differently than men in the workplace.

Today’s workplace and legal landscape

It’s imperative that corporations embrace diversity in the workplace to protect all employees from any form of discrimination and a hostile work environment. To minimize the possibility of injuries to personnel and to help them complete their work efficiently, DJ Products, Inc. provides a full line of DOD contracting equipment. Designed specifically for the unique demands of defense contractors, this powerful equipment is easy to maneuver and it operates quietly. The BombCaddy offers dual-mode, remote-controlled power to intricately maneuver up to 5,000 lbs around tight areas and heavy equipment.

Federal contractors have no reason to feel uncomfortable about the newly adopted rules. Most DOD contractors and other company owners are already making decisive efforts to eradicate outdated stereotypes. These updated regulations help address any lingering issues of pay discrimination or uncertainty about dealing with gender identity and transgender status.

At DJ Products, our goal is to provide electric and motorized solutions that will eliminate strains from attempting to push or pull heavy loads. To learn more about our walk-behind and remote controlled DOD contracting equipment, contact us today to speak with one of our equipment specialists about solutions tailored to your business.

Feds Work to Shut Out Contractors as Punishment

In July 2014, the Fair Play and Safe Workplaces executive order was enacted in an attempt to punish federal contractors who have a history of labor abuses. As Congress addresses funding for the Department of Defense, the order is causing members to take sides regarding its enforcement.

Is the “Fair Play” Order Necessary?

The order covers a wide spectrum of labor abuses, but the primary issue is wage theft, which occurs when employers don’t pay employees the full amount they are owed. In the absence of general anti-wage theft laws, the White House has used the policy to withhold federal agency contracts from offending companies.

This past May, the funding bill came before Congress, and it included a provision to make DoD contract equipment and other contracted services exempt from the President’s order. Rep. John Kline of Minnesota, author of the provision, argued that the order is redundant based on the effectiveness of current safeguards.

A House Divided

Rep. Keith Ellison, also of Minnesota, objected to the provision, citing evidence from a Senate labor report showing that $81 billion in contracts had been awarded to 49 companies with significant wage and safety violations on record. However, Ellison’s amendment to remove the provision was dismissed.

The House ultimately approved the funding bill, which is now before the Senate, but it still faces an uncertain future. The White House has suggested that President Obama will veto the entire bill unless major changes are made.

DoD Contract Equipment from DJ Products

Our reliable and cost-effective material handling solutions fill a multitude of military and DoD applications. Contact us for more information.

Shoulder-Mounted Jammers Aim to Take Down Drones

In the era of drones, new technology has begun proliferating to effectively shut down unwanted drones. The latest is something like a ray gun — a shoulder-mounted “rifle” that blasts radio waves of interference.

Radio-Powered Interference to Stop Drones

The DroneDefender was recently unveiled by an Ohio company called Battelle. The device operates on GPS and ISM radio bands and features a range of up to 400 meters. Specs remain somewhat secretive. What’s clear is that the DroneDefender has power over most commercially available consumer drone products.

When a drone flies over private property (or perhaps over restricted military areas), a jammer like the DroneDefender can interfere with the radio signals to force the drone into a hovering position. The operator then must land the device or return it home.

This technology should prove beneficial to police and military, as well as civilians wishing to protect private property from trespassing drones operated by other civilians.

DOD Contractor Heavy Equipment for Drones

Whether drone jammers should be available to the general public remains up for debate. For now, the technology seems to be a stopgap solution for unregulated drone flying by civilians. In the world of military and DOD contractor heavy equipment, jamming technology like the DroneDefender should not pose an issue.

For more information about DOD contractor heavy equipment, you can visit DJ Products to find out about electric platform carts, parts caddies, and motorized equipment movers. This includes tool and equipment solutions as well as aircraft and vehicle pullers with GSA authorization for DOD contractors.

Tag: DOD Contractors