B--MK41 VERTICAL LAUNCHING SYSTEM DESIGN AGENT ENGINEERING SERVICES

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) plans to award a sole source contract to Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance-Marine Systems for engineering services in support of the MK41 Vertical Launching System (VLS). The contract includes a base year followed by four option years, with a total estimated workload of approximately 1,391,026 labor hours. The base year, fiscal year 2004, accounts for around 351,968 hours, while the option years spanning fiscal years 2005 through 2008 will require about 1,039,058 hours. Lockheed Martin, as the original designer and developer of the MK41 VLS, holds unique expertise essential for this work, making them the sole qualified source for this contract. This award will be conducted under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), which allows for non-competitive awards when only one responsible source can fulfill the agency's requirements. The services contracted involve engineering support critical to the ongoing functionality and enhancement of the MK41 VLS, a key naval weapons system component. The contract is designated to maintain and advance this system’s capabilities with specialized knowledge proprietary to Lockheed Martin, ensuring continuity and operational readiness for the Navy.