Zel Technologies gets $165 million counter IED contract

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Zel Technologies has been awarded a max $165 million Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency contract to research and develop counter-IED technologies.

The cost-plus-award-fee task order, under the General Services Administration One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services Small Business Pool 4, calls for the provision of expertise in research, experimental development and rapid acquisition, and development and fielding of counter-threat technologies.

It also calls for delivering urgent mission solutions in support of global operations.

Zel will also identify and maintain an understanding of risks, capability gaps and vulnerabilities of the joint force to drive rapid assessments, enabling informed investments in counter-threat tech and non-materiel solutions within the combatant command's latest time of value.

The deal will assist the agency in enabling Pentagon actions to counter improvised threats with tactical responsiveness and through anticipatory, rapid acquisition in support of combatant command's efforts to prepare for and adapt to counter-terrorism, counterinsurgency and other related mission areas.

Work will mainly be done in Virginia and the Washington, D.C., region, but contractor personnel will also be embedded as needed with deployed U.S. forces.

The expected completion date is August 2021.

The GSA Federal Systems Integration and Management Center is the contracting activity.