A U.S. Air Force squadron has awarded Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) a task order to perform research and development efforts focused on minerals and materials with potential munition application.
The 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron task order is valued at $276 million and aims to enhance the Defense Technical Information Center’s knowledge repository, the company said Monday.
Leidos is also tasked with promoting a more resilient domestic energetics supply chain. Sourcing energetics—the chemicals used in explosives—has become a critical issue amid rising tensions between the United States and China, a major supplier of energetic materials.
According to Mike Diggins, homeland and force protection business area leader and senior vice president of Leidos, a resilient energetics supply chain reduces U.S. reliance on other countries for critical materials and ensures that warfighters are always combat-ready.
“With more than three decades supporting energetics R&D at Picatinny Arsenal [where the Department of Defense conducts munitions-related R&D], our team will help the DOD synthesize and scale up domestic minerals and materials production,” he said.
The task order was awarded under the DOD Information Analysis Center contract vehicle, which is used to acquire services to support defense agencies and the broader science and technology community.
