March 24, 2013

U.S., Afghanistan Reach Prison Transfer Deal

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/23/us-afghanistan-prison-transfer-deal_n_2940602.html



In this Monday, April 25, 2011 file photo, a prisoner looks out of his cell window at the main prison in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

U.S., Afghanistan Reach Prison Transfer Deal
By LOLITA C. BALDOR 03/23/13 04:04 PM ET EDT

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. has reached an agreement with the Afghanistan government to transfer the Parwan Detention Facility to Afghan control, the Pentagon said Saturday, two weeks after negotiations broke down over whether the U.S. would have the power to block the release of some detainees.

According to a senior U.S. official, a key element to the agreement is that the Afghans can invoke a procedure that insures prisoners considered dangerous would not be released from the detention center. The agreement also includes a provision that allows the two sides to work together to resolve any differences. The official lacked authorization to discuss the details of the agreement publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Transfer of the Parwan detention center on Monday is critical to the ongoing effort to gradually shift control of the country's security to the Afghans as the U.S. and allies move toward the full withdrawal of combat troops by the end of 2014.

Afghans demanded control of the center, but U.S. officials have worried that the most threatening detainees would be freed once the U.S. transferred control. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday as officials finalized the agreement after days of intense negotiations.

March 23, 2013

Military Contracts Awarded On 3.22.2013

http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=5003

Contracts valued at $6.5 million or more are announced each business day at 5 p.m. Contract announcements issued within the past 30 days are listed below. Older contract announcements are available from the contract archive page. Contract announcements are also available by e-mail subscription. Go to DOD News for more information and for links to other news items.

FOR RELEASE AT
5 p.m. ET No. 168-13
March 22, 2013

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Caterpillar Incorporated Defense & Federal Products, Mossville, Ill., was awarded contract (SPE8EC-13-D-0008). The award is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract with a maximum $633,000,000 for material handling equipment. Locations of performance are Illinois, Pennsylvania, Belgium, Japan, Germany, and Texas with a March 21, 2018, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2018 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

Government Scientific Source, Reston, Va.**, was issued a modification exercising the fourth option year on contract (SPM2DE-09-D-7339/P00005). The modification is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a maximum $319,459,410 for medical laboratory supplies and equipment. Location of performance is Virginia with a March 26, 2014, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

NAVY

Lockheed Martin Corp., Liverpool, N.Y., is being awarded a $27,399,999 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-5300) to exercise and restructure the fixed-price-incentive-options for the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 2 System long-lead-material to firm-fixed-price options. SEWIP is an evolutionary acquisition program to upgrade the existing AN/SLQ-32(V) Electronic Warfare System. The SEWIP Block 2 will greatly improve the receiver/antenna group necessary to keep capabilities current with the pace of the threat and to yield improved system integration. Work will be performed in Syracuse, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by March 2014. Funding in the amount of $27,399,999 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Airtec, Inc.,* California, Md., is being awarded a $12,500,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services in support of the Army’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). The contractor will provide ISR services utilizing two contractor-owned, contractor-operated aircraft, with government furnished property previously installed on the aircraft. Work will be performed in Bogota, Columbia, and is expected to be completed in January 2014. Fiscal 2013 Operations and Maintenance, Army contract funds in the amount of $917,563 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was non-competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity(N68335-13-D-0010).

EDO Corp., Panama City, Fla., is being awarded a $10,984,400 firm-fixed-price contract to build and deliver one MK-105 Mod 4 Magnetic Minesweeping System for the Airborne Mine Countermeasures Program. This system upgrade provides a significant reliability and performance improvement to the current MK-105, increasing the Navy's capability to conduct quick response, high speed airborne mine countermeasures for the next decade. Work will be performed in Panama City, Fla., and is expected to be completed by October 2014. Fiscal 2012 Other Procurement, Navyfunding in the amount of $10,984,400 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented in FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61331-13-C-0010).

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Williston, Vt., is being awarded a $7,048,050 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00421-10-C-0024) to exercise an option for 19 M61A2 20mm Lightweight Gatling Gun Systems in support of fiscal year 2013 F/A-18 E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in Williston, Vt., and is expected to be completed in March 2015. Fiscal 2013 Aircraft Procurement, Navy contract funds in the amount of $7,048,050 are being obligated at time of award; none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

ManTech SRS, Technologies, Inc., Arlington, Va., (FA8811-10-C-0002, P00015) is being awarded a $15,297,820 contract modification for systems engineering and integration support for the Space and Missile Systems, Launch and Range Systems directorate. The locations of the performance are Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.; Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Work is expected to be completed by March 22, 2014. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013. The contracting activity is SMC/LRK, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.

*Small Business

**Veteran Owned Small Business

March 23, 2013

Army Issues RFP For $6 Billion M113 Replacement: Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle Program

http://defense.aol.com/2013/03/22/army-issues-rfp-for-6-billion-m113-replacement-armored-multi-p/



he Army wants to replace its Vietnam-vintage M113s (pictured) with a new Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle, the AMPV.

Army Issues RFP For $6 Billion M113 Replacement: Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle Program
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
Published: March 22, 2013

~snip~

The bottom line: almost $1.5 billion for over 300 vehicles -- for a start. The RFP proposes a $1.46 billion contract in two phases: design, develop, and build 29 prototypes over four years -- the $388 million engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase, 2014 through 2017; and then build up to 289 production models over three years -- the $1.08 billion low-rate initial production (LRIP) phase, 2018-2020.

Beyond 2020, the Army plans to buy another 2,618 AMPVs over 10 years, for a total of 2,907, at an average manufacturing cost not to exceed $1.8 million per vehicle. (Weapons and electronics will add more, depending on the variant). That's about another $4.7 billion.

Of course, these are all pre-sequestration figures. President Obama has still not released his 2014 budget request. With Congress having just passed the 2013 spending bills yesterday -- halfway through the fiscal year -- and the automatic cuts of the sequester still set to happen, it's up in the air whether any big programs will survive intact, or at all.

Already the Army has had to slow down development of the AMPV's big brother, the Ground Combat Vehicle, and give up on competitive prototyping. So for AMPV, as with the revised GCV program, the Army will award just one development contract to one company. This saves money in the short run while raising the long-term risk that you won't like what you've bought but won't have an alternative.

March 23, 2013

Tell me again, why did we invade Iraq?

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Tell-me-again-why-did-we-by-Mike-Kirchubel-130322-696.html



Taps at Arlington National Cemetery

Tell me again, why did we invade Iraq?
By Mike Kirchubel
OpEdNews Op Eds 3/22/2013 at 10:26:17

~snip~

Last week marked the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. For most of us, Iraq is "Mission Accomplished" and we are on to other things. For many others, on both sides, still fighting injuries, demons, and the loss of loved ones, this war remains a deep, festering wound. I don't want to rehash who lied to get us in that war, and whether or not removing one man from power was worth the sacrifice of the 4,486 American service members who died in Iraq, the 32,000 wounded, or the estimated 150,000 to 1,000,000 dead and wounded Iraqis and a country still recoiling and rebuilding from our incursion. I'm not even going to argue that the $1 trillion dollars spent destroying Iraq's infrastructure would have been better spent rebuilding ours. I'd just like to know why we went to war.

I'm old now, but my generation was young, aware, and vocal as we slogged through the Viet Nam War. Unfortunately, we were also powerless, with long hair. We couldn't vote until we were 21 so, even though we yelled at the top of our lungs about the insanity of that war, nobody heard what we had to say. As a result, we now have a war memorial in front of the old courthouse on Texas Street inscribed with the names of 62 of Fairfield's sons. I grew up with these kids in a much, much smaller version of Fairfield. These chiseled names once had faces, feelings, and futures, and many were my friends.

When America invaded Iraq ten years ago, my generation had long since cut their hair and we were in charge, running America's businesses and sitting in seats of power. But we sat silent as our government once again sent our children into yet another senseless war. With Viet Nam, we really didn't know that our government had lied about the Gulf of Tonkin "incident" until years later, but with Iraq, most of us knew George W. Bush was wrong about weapons of mass destruction and that Rice and Cheney's mushroom clouds would be impossible to create if there was no yellowcake uranium concentrate.

Five-star general and President, Dwight Eisenhower said, "Preventive war was an invention of Hitler. Frankly, I would not even listen to anyone seriously that came and talked about such a thing." But George W. Bush made pre-emptive invasions official U.S. policy when he said, "As a matter of common sense and self-defense, America will act against such emerging threats before they are fully formed." We were told that we must silently and blindly follow our president for we cannot possibly know what he knows. But 65 years ago, Abraham Lincoln warned us: "If today he (the President) should choose to say he thinks it necessary to invade Canada to prevent the British from invading us, how could you stop him? You may say to him, "I see no probability of the British invading us;' but he will say to you, "Be silent: I see it, if you don't.'"Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object."

March 22, 2013

Military Contracts Awarded On 3.21.2013

http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=5002

Contracts valued at $6.5 million or more are announced each business day at 5 p.m. Contract announcements issued within the past 30 days are listed below. Older contract announcements are available from the contract archive page. Contract announcements are also available by e-mail subscription. Go to DOD News for more information and for links to other news items.

FOR RELEASE AT
5 p.m. ET No. 167-13
March 21, 2013

CONTRACTS

ARMY

BAE Systems – Ordnance Systems Inc., Kingsport, Tenn., was awarded a $780,802,473 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the manufacture and supply of Insensitive Munitions Explosives. Work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2017. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-12-D-0037).

Goldbelt Glacier Health Services LLC, Alexandria, Va., (W9133L-13-D-0002); National Sourcing Inc., Tampa, Fla., (W9133L-13-D-0003); were awarded a $200,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract among two vendors. The award will provide for the psychological health support services. Work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 18, 2018. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 10 bids received. The National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity.

Nanotherapeutics Inc., Alachua, Fla., was awarded a $135,834,018 cost-plus-fixed-fee incrementally-funded contract. This increment is worth $70,882,379. The award will provide for the research and development services in support of medical countermeasure capabilities. Work will be performed in Alachua, with an estimated completion date of March 19, 2015. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with two bids received. The Army Contracting Command, Natick, Mass., is the contracting activity (W911QY-13-C-0010).

SRA International Inc., Fairfax, Va., was awarded a $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of services in support of the Passive Radio Frequency Identification II. Work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Marcy 19, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with six bids received. The Army Contracting Command, Alexandria, Va., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-13-D-0043).

Sikorsky, Stratford, Conn., was awarded a $26,900,000 firm-fixed-price contract. This is a modification to convert UH-60M green aircraft and provided associated services for the Royal Thailand Army. This contract is in support of foreign military sales. Work will be performed in Stratford, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2016. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-12-C-0008).

The Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Penn., was awarded a $17,900,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This is a modification for the design and engineering services in support of the CH-47 Advanced Chinook Rotor Blade. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, with an estimated completion date of March 18, 2017. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-04-G-0023).

BAE Systems Land & Armament LP, York, Penn., was awarded a $16,600,000 firm-fixed-price contract. This is a modification of an existing contract to convert Bradley Reset Vehicles from M3A3 to M2A3 configuration. Work will be performed in York, Penn.; Lemont Furnace, Penn.; and Aiken, S.C.; with an estimated completion date of Aug. 29, 2014. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-10-G-0003).

DRS RSTA Technologies Inc., Dallas, Texas, was awarded a $15,560,833 cost-plus-fixed-fee, incrementally-funded contract. This increment is worth $5,000,000. The award will provide for the development, prototyping and testing of the Joint Effects Targeting Systems Target Location Designation System. Work will be performed in Dallas, with an estimated completion date of March 17, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with four bids received. The Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-13-C-0023).

BAE Systems Inc., Nashua, N.H., was awarded a $15,300,196 cost-plus-fixed-fee incrementally-funded contract. This increment is worth $5,000,000. The award will provide for the development, prototyping and testing of the Joint Effects Targeting Systems Target Location Designation System. Work will be performed in Nashua, with an estimated completion date of March 17, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with four bids received. The Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-13-C-0026).

International Business Machines Corp., Bethesda, Md., was awarded an $8,074,022 firm-fixed-price, incrementally-funded contract. This increment is worth $3,365,842. This is a modification to provide services in support of the Army Learning Management System. Work will be performed in Fort Eustis, Va., with an estimated completion date of March 21, 2014. There were 16 bids solicited, with one bid received. The Army Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Va., is the contracting activity (W91QUZ-06-D-0010).

NAVY

The Navy is modifying the total amount of a previously awarded contract to Huntington Ingalls Inc, Newport News, Va., (N00024-09-C-2116) by $407,408,093 in order to extend construction preparation efforts and provide the ability to procure additional long lead material and advance construction activities for CVN 79 if required. The current contract has been in place since 2009. This modification for additional long lead material and advance construction activity may help preserve the construction schedule. Work will be performed in Newport News, Va., and is expected to complete by October 2015. Additional funding is not being obligated at this time. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Exide Technologies, GNB Industrial Power, Aurora, Ill., is being awarded a $49,900,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for valve-regulated lead acid batteries and associated accessories for Ohio, Los Angeles, Virginia and Sea Wolf class and moored training submarines. The batteries and accessories will be used on Navy submarines as secondary sources of power. Work will be performed in Fort Smith, Ark., and is expected to be completed by March 2017. Fiscal 2013 Operations Procurement Navy funding in the amount of $2,851,359 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-13-D-GS27).

EnerSys Energy Products Inc., Warrensburg, Mo., is being awarded a $49,900,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for valve-regulated lead acid batteries and associated accessories for Ohio, Los Angeles, Virginia and Sea Wolf class and moored training submarines. The batteries and accessories will be used on Navy submarines as secondary sources of power. Work will be performed in Warrensburg, Mo., and is expected to be completed by February 2018. Fiscal 2013 Operations Procurement Navy funding in the amount of $1,241,000 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-13-D-GS05).

Truston Technologies, Inc.*, Broussard, La. (N62583-10-D-0341); GPA Technologies, Inc.*, Ventura, Calif. (N62583-10-D-0342); Harbor Offshore, Inc.*, Ventura, Calif. (N62583-10-D-0343); Great Eastern Group, Inc.*, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (N62583-10-D-0344); and Hardline-Resolute CM JV*, Brasstown, N.C. (N62583-10-D-0345), are each being awarded option year four under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for barriers and mooring services in support of the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme. The combined total value for all five contractors is $17,500,000. The work to be performed provides for project execution, logistic support and information management services for installation, inspection, repair, maintenance, and field supervision/operation of waterfront barriers, associated moorings, waterfront security systems, and marine facilities throughout the world. No funds will be obligated with this award. The total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $80,000,000. All work will be performed at various installations world-wide. Work locations will be determined with each order. No task orders are being issued at this time. The term of this option is from March 2013 to March 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, Calif., is the contracting activity.

J&A World Services, LLC, Austin, Texas, is being awarded a $13,062,995 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operating support services at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Webster Field Annex, Solomon’s Recreation Center Annex and Point Lookout, Md. The work to be performed provides for general management and administration services; facility support (facilities investment, integrated solid waste management and pool maintenance services); utilities maintenance and operation (including electrical, water and waste water); environmental. Fiscal 2013 contract funds in the amount of $6,622,609 will be obligated at time of award. This contract contains four option years, which if exercised, will bring the contract value to $65,943,515. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md. (91 percent); Webster Field, Md. (5 percent); Solomon’s Island, Md. (2 percent); and Point Lookout, Md. (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2014. Contract funds in the amount of $8,737,705 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 10 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N40080-13-D-3013).

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded an $8,761,875 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0007) for the replacement of the Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) Encoder due to obsolescence issues for the Tomahawk Missile. The PCM Encoder is a key component of the Mid-Body Range Safety Subsystem (MRSS) kit, which is installed into flight test configured missiles. The PCM Encoder samples the flight test missile guidance and avionics telemetry data stream, encodes and formats the data, and provides the telemetry information to the ground monitoring station. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (60 percent); Bristol, Pa. (35 percent); Berryville, Ark. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2015. Fiscal 2011 and 2012 Weapons Procurement Navy contract funds in the amount of $8,761,875 will be obligated at time of award, $5,510,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity.

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems Training, Moorestown, N.J., was issued a modification on contract (HQ0276-10-C-0003/P00050). The total value of this contract action is $79,693,952,increasing the total contract value from $252,128,157 to $331,822,109. Under this modification, Aegis Ashore Engineering Agent will provide installation, integration and test of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System at the Pacific Missile Range facility, Kauai, Hawaii and at Host Nation 1 facility, Deveselu, Romania. The work will be performed in Moorestown, N.J., Kauai, Hawaii, and Deveselu, Romania. The performance period is from the date of award through July 31, 2015. Fiscal year 2013 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funds in the amount of $9,241,241 will be used to incrementally fund this effort at award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This is not a Foreign Military Sales acquisition. The Missile Defense Agency, Dahlgren, Va., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Brasseler USA, Savannah, Ga.*, was issued a modification exercising the first option year on contract (SPM2DE-12-D-7458/P00002). The modification is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a maximum $23,303,169 for distribution of a wide range of general dental supplies. Location of performance is Georgia with an April 8, 2014, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2014 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Goodrich Corp., Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded a $7,562,854 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (HR0011-13-C-0044). The award is sole-source to Goodrich for the Hybrid Multi-Material Rotor (HMMR) program. HMMR Phase 3 includes critical scale work in support of risk mitigation associated with the design and manufacturing of hybrid multi-material systems. The project will culminate with the delivery of a rotor for subsequent government testing. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Fla. (67 percent); Groton, Conn. (12 percent); Arlington, Va. (8 percent) and Arvonia, Va., (13 percent). The estimated completion date is Sept. 30, 2014. The contracting activity is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va.

DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

Sanofi Pasteur VaxDesign Corporation of Orlando, Fla., is being awarded a $15,106,789 cost-plus fixed-fee, incrementally-funded contract for research and development services for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to further optimize and utilize the invitro biomimetic immune system. The contract award was a direct response to DTRA's Chem-Bio Broad Agency Announcement. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla., and at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (ASAMRIID) at Fort Detrick, Md., and is expected to be completed March 24, 2017. Fiscal 2012 Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation funds in the amount of $1,406,191 will be used to incrementally fund this effort at award. The contracting activity is Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va., (HDTRA1-13-C-0011).

*Small Business

March 22, 2013

Dumb Wars, Now and Forever

http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/robert-scheer/48681/dumb-wars-now-and-forever

Dumb Wars, Now and Forever
by Robert Scheer | March 21, 2013 - 8:25am

It is a staple of our widely trumpeted Judeo-Christian heritage that the acknowledgment of sin is a prelude to redemption. So how is it that there is no palpable sense of soul searching associated with the 10th anniversary of a war based on officially concocted lies and a policy of torture? It is because the presumption of a unique American claim to an original and enduring innocence perseveres, no matter the death and destruction.

Indeed, some of our most celebrated publicists defined moral deceit as virtue in justifying the Iraq War. “As far as I am concerned, we do not need to find any weapons of mass destruction to justify this war,” New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote in April 2003, when U.N. inspectors had clearly established that the proclaimed basis for invading Iraq was a lie. “Mr. Bush doesn’t owe the world any explanation for missing chemical weapons (even if it turns out that the White House hyped this issue).”

The big lie, that bane of human existence when embraced by obvious dictators elsewhere, is perceived as merely hyping when employed by an American president. Lyndon Johnson hyped the nonexistent second Gulf of Tonkin attack on American ships to justify the U.S. war in Vietnam, and George W. Bush hyped the fraudulent WMD issue when his fabrication of a connection between Saddam Hussein and the 9/11 attack was proven factually absurd.

Even though Iraq never threatened the security of life in the United States, the Bush administration launched a genocidal civil war replete with a systemic policy of torture directed by U.S. officials at the highest level.

March 22, 2013

Abe asked Obama to draw up plans for early return of some Okinawa bases

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/03/22/national/abe-asked-obama-to-draw-up-plans-for-early-return-of-some-okinawa-bases/#.UUvkvRecc_g



U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the middle of residential areas.

Abe asked Obama to draw up plans for early return of some Okinawa bases

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a direct request to President Barack Obama in February for the United States to draw up plans for the early return of five facilities and areas leased to the U.S. military in Okinawa, Japanese sources said Thursday.

The United States remains reluctant to say explicitly when the sites may be returned to Japan, because bilateral negotiations have stalled.

In his summit with Obama in Washington on Feb. 22, Abe was quoted as saying, “It would be easier for us to proceed with the relocation of (U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma) if you could bring forward” the process of drawing up the plans, referring to the stalled effort to build a replacement base for Futenma in the prefecture.

The request was made ahead of the central government’s application, which may be made next week, to Okinawa Prefecture for permission to begin land-fill work for the replacement base, whose runways would extend offshore. The application is essential for building the replacement base in a coastal area of Okinawa Island for the Futenma base in Ginowan.




unhappycamper comment: It may be "easier for us to proceed with the relocation of (U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma)" if you would stop postponing the move. IIRC, the new move date is 2015 or 2016.

March 22, 2013

3 Dead After Shooting, Standoff at US Marine Base in Virginia

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/03/22



The entrance to the U.S. Marine Corps Base Quantico Friday March 22, 2013. Three people, including the suspect, were killed in a shooting at Marine Base Quantico, base spokesman Lt. Agustin Solivan said early Friday. Solivan said they believe the suspect, whose name wasn't released, is a staff member at the officer candidate school at the base. No information on the victim was immediately released.

3 Dead After Shooting, Standoff at US Marine Base in Virginia
Common Dreams staff
Published on Friday, March 22, 2013 by Common Dreams

Three US Marines are dead this morning following a shooting inside barracks at the Quantico military base in northern Virginia.Photo/Matthew Barakat) According to reports, the shooter was a Marine himself and killed two fellow soldiers before turning the gun on himself.

According to reports, the shooter was a Marine himself and killed two fellow soldiers before turning the gun on himself.

~snip~

According to Marine Corps spokesman Agustin Solivan, the suspected gunman shot one Marine, then barricaded himself inside the staff barracks area of the Officer Candidates School.

When police entered the barracks early Friday, officers found two more bodies, including that of the gunman. He died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Solivan said.

March 21, 2013

Military Contracts Awarded On 3.20.2013

http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=5001

Contracts valued at $6.5 million or more are announced each business day at 5 p.m. Contract announcements issued within the past 30 days are listed below.


FOR RELEASE AT
5 p.m. ET No. 164-13
March 20, 2013

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Fla., is being given a $54,354,363 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification (HR0011-09-C-0096). As part of the long range anti-ship missile (LRASM) demonstration program, Lockheed Martin will conduct additional surface-launch risk-reduction work prior to two planned flight demonstrations from a representative vertical launching system canister. LRASM is a joint DARPA/Office of Naval Research effort to develop and demonstrate standoff anti-ship strike weapon technologies. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla., (84.13 percent), Baltimore, Md. (14.24 percent), and Walled Lake, Mich., (1.63 percent). The work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2014. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Labatt Food Service, San Antonio, Texas, was awarded contract (SPM300-13-D-3659). The award is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a maximum $49,500,000 for prime vendor subsistence support. Location of performance is Texas with a May 5, 2014 performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Air Force, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2014 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

Rick Aviation, Inc., Newport News, Va.*, was awarded contract (SP0600-13-D-0084). The award is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for a maximum $12,306,668 for fuel. Location of performance is Virginia with a March 31, 2017 performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, federal civilian agencies, and Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, Newport News, Va. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2017 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va.

NAVY

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $9,800,000 undefinitized modification to the previously awarded low rate initial production Lot 6 advance acquisition contract (N00019-11-C-0083). This modification provides for the procurement of Australian-specific non-recurring sustainment activities to include procurement of Autonomic Logistics Information System equipment, and sustainment and logistics support to government non-recurring engineering activities. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2019. Contract funds in the amount of $4,900,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co., Portsmouth, R.I., is being awarded an $8,330,413 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to existing basic ordering agreement (N00164-12-G-GR79 job order 0002) for engineering and technical services in support of AN/SPS-73(V) surface search radar systems that will be used by the Navy and Coast Guard. The services are for program management, design engineering, system engineering, technical analysis, programmatic and technical documentation development, safety-related engineering and logistic support. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, R.I. (98 percent), and Sudbury, Mass. (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by April 2015. Funding in the amount of $8,330,413 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds in the amount $666,433 of will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity.

Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance, Stratford, Conn., is being awarded an $8,212,768 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0024) to exercise an option for organizational, selected intermediate, and limited depot-level maintenance for aircraft operated by adversary squadrons. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, Fla. (40 percent); NAS Fallon, Nev. (30 percent); and the Marine Corp Air Station, Yuma, Ariz. (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2013. Fiscal 2013 Operation and Maintenance, Navy Reserve contract funds in the amount of $10,000,000 are being obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity.

Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $7,277,056 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced contract (N00019-09-C-0069) to exercise an option for the procurement of ARC electronic radio controls and ancillary equipment for the Air Force F-15C/D aircraft. Equipment being procured includes 50 C-12719/ARC control radio sets; 50 AM-7526/ARC high power amplifiers; 50 MX-11641/ARC LNA diplexers; 50 RT-1939(C) receiver-transmitters; 6 RT-1747D/ARC receiver-transmitters spares; and 6 C-11898A/ARC control radio sets spares. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed in March 2014. Fiscal 2013 contract funds in the amount of 7,277,056 are being obligated at time of award; none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

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March 21, 2013

Military Contracts Awarded On 3.19.2013

http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=5000

Contracts valued at $6.5 million or more are announced each business day at 5 p.m. Contract announcements issued within the past 30 days are listed below.

FOR RELEASE AT
5 p.m. ET No. 157-13
March 19, 2013

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Hess Corp., Woodbridge, N.J., was awarded contract (SPE600-13-D-7531). The award is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for a maximum $57,592,508 for direct supply pipeline quality natural gas. Location of performance is New Jersey with a March 31, 2015 performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2015 service funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va.

Tennier Industries, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla.*, was issued a modification exercising the second option year on contract (SPM1C1-11-D-1071/P00022). The modification is a firm-fixed-price contract for a maximum $16,545,000 for extreme cold/wet weather jackets. Locations of performance are Florida and Tennessee with a March 25, 2014 performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2014 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

API, LLC, Camuy, Puerto Rico**, was awarded contract (SPM1C1-13-D-1037). The award is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a maximum $11,606,400 for various types of Permethrin Army combat uniform camouflage coats. Location of performance is Puerto Rico with a March 18, 2014, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2014 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

JOINT IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DEFEAT ORGANIZATION

CACI-Wexford Group International, of Vienna, Va., (HQ0682-13-C-0004) is being awarded a $17,918,192 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Joint Expeditionary Team Counter-IED (C-IED) operational support services. The contract will provide rapidly deployable expertise in all aspects of C-IED operations to support U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The locations of performance are Arlington, Va., and Afghanistan. Work is expected to be completed by December 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contracting activity is the Joint IED Defeat Organization Contract Operations, Arlington Va.

NAVY

L-3 Communications Corp., dbs Randtron Antenna Systems, Menlo Park Calif., is being awarded $6,741,252 for delivery order #7003 under previously awarded Basic Ordering Agreement (N00383-11-G-004N) for the repair of the Total Radiation Aperture Controlled Antenna (TRAC)-A Rotodome Antenna Overhaul and IFF Mode 5/S upgrade on four of the French Navy’s E-2C OE-335 A/A TRAC-A antennas as well as the TRAC-A Rotary Coupler Assemblies overhaul and IFF Mode 5/S upgrades for six rotary couplers. Work will be performed in Menlo Park, Calif., and will be completed by March 31, 2015. Contract funds in the amount of $6,741,252 will be obligated at the time of the award. This announcement involves foreign military sales and French Navy funds will be utilized. The funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for the non-competitive requirement and one offer was received in response to the solicitation in accordance with 10 U.S.C 2304 (c)(1). NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Woodbridge, Va., is being awarded a $25,692,736 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-5438) to exercise an option for the production of MK46 MOD 2 Gun Weapon Systems, including associated spares and shore based parts. This option is for the production of two gun weapon systems for the LPD 17 class and six for Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) gun mission modules designated for the LCS 5 through LCS 7. Work will be performed in Woodbridge, Va. (43 percent); Tallahassee, Fla. (20 percent); Lima, Ohio (14 percent); Westminster, Md. (11 percent); Sterling Heights, Mich. (10 percent); Scranton, Pa. (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by November 2014. Funding in the amount of $25,692,736 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington., D.C., is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is being awarded an $18,006,165 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-06-C-2303) to exercise an option for DDG 1000 class services. This modification provides additional class services associated with the detail design and construction of DDG 1000 class ships. This work will provide technical and industrial engineering in the interpretation and application of the detail design to support construction and the maintenance of the ship design. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine, and is expected to be completed by September 2013. Fiscal 2013 Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy funding in the amount of $18,006,165 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

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**Small Disadvantaged Business