FL jump starts Eglin radar site

Expect additional Air Force personnel to visit the Carrabelle, Fla., waterfront in the near future to examine engineering and management of a remote instrumentation radar site to assist in Eglin Air Force Base’s testing capabilities over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The “2017 Gulf Range Expansion Systems Engineering for Remote Instrumentation Site” project was granted $235,000 last week from the state to help Florida-based military installations, and surrounding communities, against base closures and Pentagon cutbacks. The funds are to go to a joint venture contractor, called Reliance Test and Technology (RT&T), which will conduct operations and maintenance for Eglin’s test ranges. InDyne Inc. owns three-quarters of RTT. Both entities are based out of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. RTT VP James Heald has said the AF is in talks with the Coast Guard for a suitable site that may likely be the old Coast Guard station in Carrabelle. The AF hasn’t concluded negotiations with the CG, he said. (Source: Apalachicola Times 07/13/17) InDyne and RT&T were awarded this Eglin Operation and Maintenance Services (E-OMS) contract. E-OMS is a consolidated re-compete of InDyne’s Eglin Test and Training Range contract and National Radar Cross Section Test Facility contract. Transition from the current contracts began on April 1, 2016 to support a this contract start on October 1, 2016.