The United States Air Force has selected Bechtel-led National Aerospace Solutions LLC (NAS) to run key operations for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee, expanding the company’s service in the defense and national security sector. The contract is for one year with seven one-year options and a value of up to approximately $1.5 billion.
Under the contract terms, National Aerospace Solutions, whose members include Bechtel National, Inc., Sierra Lobo Inc., and GP Strategies Corporation, will manage Test Operations and Sustainment duties at Arnold and other Air Force facilities in Maryland and California. Chugach Federal Solutions Inc. and nLogic Inc. are teaming subcontractors. The contract transition period is scheduled to begin on July 1.
Test Operations and Sustainment includes operations of 43 wind tunnels, rocket and turbine engine test cells, ballistic ranges, space chambers, and other specialized testing units, as well as technology development, equipment and facility sustainment, capital improvements to the sites and other services for the AEDC. The Complex has played a role in testing nearly all of the United States’ top priority aerospace programs, from fighter jets and missiles to Apollo rockets and weather satellites.
“The Air Force is working hard to ensure the long-term viability of the Complex, while maintaining reliable and cost-effective mission success,” said Craig Albert, president of Bechtel’s Nuclear, Security & Environmental global business unit. “AEDC is a national asset for both the government and commercial sectors, and its potential to meet the needs of future ground test programs is even greater. We’re ready to partner with the Air Force and the team at AEDC to help realize that potential.”
“Bechtel is eager to work with our teammates, the talented Complex workforce, and the community to support the mission of AEDC to become the ‘tester of choice,’” said Brian Sheridan, chair of the NAS Board of Managers. “Our goal is to build on their experience and dedication to take the Complex to the next level of performance.”
Bechtel has a breadth of experience, expertise, and capabilities in test operations support and sustainability solutions. The company and its teammates currently provide technical services and integrated range engineering and logistics to manage and operate The Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific, a test site for the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Additional experience includes management and operations of national security laboratories, construction of chemical weapons disassembly plants in Colorado and Kentucky, and infrastructure design and startup for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
In 2013, the Air Force announced an acquisition strategy to execute up to six contracts for the missions at AEDC. Test Operations and Support is one of those six contracts. To learn more about the acquisition strategy, click here.
Learn more:
- Bechtel’s work in defense and security.
- National Aerospace Solutions LLC.
- Arnold Engineering Development Complex
About the NAS team
- Sierra Lobo Inc. is a small, minority-owned enterprise based in Ohio, with additional offices in Alabama, California, Florida, and Virginia. Sierra Lobo provides advanced engineering, research and development, and superior test and evaluation services that support NASA and DoD research and technology development efforts. Founded in 1993, Sierra Lobo today employs approximately 700 people, and has a Technology Development and Engineering Center (TDEC) and operations office in Milan, Ohio.
- GP Strategies Corporation, a member of the current AEDC operations contractor team, is a global performance improvement solutions provider of training, eLearning solutions, and management consulting and engineering services. GP Strategies’ solutions improve the effectiveness of organizations by delivering innovative and superior training, consulting and business improvement services customized to meet the specific needs of its clients. Clients include Fortune 500 companies, manufacturing, process and energy industries, and other commercial and government customers.
Teaming Subcontractors
- nLogic Inc. is a proven control systems hardware and software provider with customers including U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Special Operations, U.S. General Services Administration, Missile Defense Agency, Defense Commissary Agency, NASA, and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Chugach Federal Solutions Inc., Established in 1972 under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), Chugach strives to fulfill its mission through developing operational businesses that provide wide-ranging services for federal and commercial clients including facilities management and maintenance, construction, technical and IT, oil and gas and education services.
