DefenseLink has posted a Navy contract awarded to Remotec, Inc., Clinton, Tenn., for $45,000,000. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for robotic systems, accessories, spare parts, depot level repair support, and operator and technician training.
(“Indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity”? And you make a cool $45 mil? Where do you sign up for that kind of work? No wonder the defense budget is so gynormous.)
Meanwhile over at National Defense, Stew Magnuson has a nice capture of the Navy’s next gen bomb disposal robots.
Check it out.
And speaking of robots, here’s a classic from a couple of years ago. (Not sure who “Gruntie the Knucklehead” is at the end):
– Ward
IDIQ contracts are common. Basically the company is put under contract to perform services related to robotic engineering, but, the ‘tasks’ aren’t well defined yet.
The contract may say robotic systems while a task may be to design tracked undercarriage, with another task to design automated sensor technology. The deliverable is indefinite as the exact tasks are being worked. There is always negotiations between govt & contractor regarding each task. The quantity is indefinite as its unsure how much robotic work will be tasked.
The govt is probably responsible for a small guaranteed $ amount. More indefinites.
The entire contract may never hit that ceiling amount noted.
Thanks for the explanation, KW. Good stuff.
What is up with the last couple of seconds of that vid. I think it broke my brain.
Respectfully
By law the government cant make such a contract as described.
Your info on how an IDIQ works is just a little misreported. The statement of work has to be spelled out even if its indefinite delivery indefinite quantity for support or even for research. Otherwise its some ones but in a sling.
Just want to say.
Everyone should try to get into selling to the government. Its easy. Robots are great I wish we had more of them to kick T-butt.
An ID/IQ contract guarantees the vendor a minimum amount of work. The remainder of the contract value is only potential work. Sometimes that work depends on demand from military users (we blew up a robot and need a replacement or we need 10 more because we are fielding a new team of users and that wasn’t known when the contract was let). Sometimes the additional work depends on additional funding being obtained by the activity that let the contract. This saves the government the cost and trouble of letting a new contract each time additional funding becomes available. Prices for all work are set when the contract is negotiated. The quantities and when they are needed get defined at a later date.
Add Mini LASER pod to Robotics & UVHF sonics to disable IEDs.
Then save for ALL forces in area.
Yes use Lasers to Burn IEDs.
& have Robots with M60s & 30cal MGs for defense.
Control base can be 5– 10 miles behind Lines
NO LOS req.
Nice.
Send em to Iraq.
ORIS Games
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FX