Thursday, July 14, 2011

DTN News - U.S. FINANCIAL CRISIS: Latest Debt Talks End With No Deal - Obama Sets News Conference

Defense News: DTN News - U.S. FINANCIAL CRISIS: Latest Debt Talks End With No Deal - Obama Sets News Conference
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 14, 2011: -- A fifth meeting in five days involving President Barack Obama and top congressional leaders failed to achieve a breakthrough and no talks were planned for Friday, which the White House had called a deadline for deciding the way forward.

Obama will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. Friday to discuss efforts to reach a deal on the debt ceiling and budget cuts, according to a senior administration official.

A Republican aide familiar with Thursday's meeting at the White House said Obama told congressional leaders he expected them to find agreement over the next 24 to 36 hours on the path forward.

If the group is unable to reach a compromise, the president suggested another meeting would be called this weekend. Obama said he and his staff would be "on call" during this time, according to the aide.

According to a source familiar with the debt conversations, who spoke on condition of not being identified, there will be no meeting Friday. There was no word on when the direct negotiations would resume.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called Thursday's 80-minute session a good meeting and said, "We'll continue to discuss a way forward over the next couple of days and see what happens."

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Virginia, who had a tense exchange with Obama during Wednesday evening's meeting, said nothing at Thursday's talks, a Democratic aide said.

Debt talks end with tense exchange Debt ceiling 'a giant game of chicken' Pelosi: 'The U.S. will pay its bills' Senate Dems slam Cantor on debt ceiling

During Thursday's meeting, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned the group that the world financial markets' concerns are twofold: the debt ceiling must be raised, and leaders must put in place a plan to deal with the deficit and debt, according to the Republican aide.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) reiterated his concern that nothing the administration is offering will resolve the debt problem, the aide added.

Earlier, the White House said the negotiators will have to shift their focus to increasing the federal debt ceiling if they fail to make significant progress toward a comprehensive deficit reduction deal that would cut spending and raise taxes.

Administration officials have warned that a failure to raise the current $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by August 2 could trigger a partial default. If Washington lacks the money to pay its bills, interest rates could skyrocket and the value of the dollar could decline, among other things.

Republicans have tied their support for a debt ceiling increase to steps to reduce mounting federal deficits such as deep spending cuts and reforms to entitlement programs. Democrats agree on the need for a deficit reduction plan, but the two sides remain divided over the size and scope of a deal as time runs out for getting the debt ceiling raised to ensure the government can pay all its bills.

The seriousness of the situation was reinforced Wednesday when Moody's Investors Services -- a major rating agency -- said it would put the sterling bond rating of the United States on review for possible downgrade. Moody's said it initiated the review because of "the rising possibility" that Congress will fail to raise the debt ceiling in time.

A default "would be a calamitous outcome," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told members of the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday. "It would create a very severe financial shock that would have effects not only on the U.S. economy but the global economy."

In addition, Bernanke said, "it would be a self-inflicted wound."

Obama warned earlier this week he could not guarantee that older Americans will receive their Social Security checks next month if a deal is not reached. GOP leaders accused the president of using scare tactics.

For their part, Republicans continued to oppose Obama's call for increased tax revenue to be part of a deficit reduction deal, and promised Thursday to renew the GOP's push for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, arguing that it's necessary to achieve fiscal stability. Votes in Congress on the measure are expected next week.

"We refuse to let this president use the threat of a debt limit deadline to get us to cave on tax hikes or phony spending cuts," said McConnell, R-Kentucky. "It's time to make it clear to the American people where the two parties stand in this debate. Either you're with the president and his vision of a government that continues to live beyond its means, or you're with those of us who believe Washington needs some strong medicine."

Others said the whole debate is a sad reflection of an increasingly dysfunctional political process.

"I am very disappointed in the United States Senate," said Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee. "I am very disappointed in the White House. I am very disappointed in all of us. I am very disappointed in the childish behavior that this body has continued to exude over the course of this entire year."

The Democratic message Thursday was that a few Republicans spurred by the conservative tea party movement were preventing the possibility of a major agreement that could help address mounting federal deficits over the next decade and clear the way for Congress to increase the debt ceiling.

Such a deal is a "holy grail," Carney told reporters, adding that it is "right here within reach. It's on the table. You just have to reach for it and grasp it and be willing to compromise to do it."

Ron Paul discusses solution for US debt Failure to raise debt limit a 'calamity' Carney: 'No plan B' for budget Tense moments at debt ceiling talks

Wednesday's negotiations ended on a tense note. Obama said the extended political wrangling and apparent lack of progress confirmed what the public considers to be the worst of Washington, according to Democratic sources familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of not being identified.

"This could bring my presidency down," sources quoted Obama as saying in reference to his pledge to veto any short-term extension of the debt ceiling -- a move suggested by Cantor. But "I will not yield on this," the president added.

Obama has insisted on one deal that will raise the amount of money the government can borrow to sufficient levels to last through 2012 -- after his campaign for re-election.

According to Cantor, Obama became "very agitated" on the state of the talks and said "something's gotta give."

Obama called for Republicans to compromise on either their insistence that a debt-ceiling hike must be matched dollar-for-dollar by spending cuts or on their opposition to any kind of tax increase, Cantor said.

"And he said to me, 'Eric, don't call my bluff.' He said 'I'm going to the American people with this,'" Cantor quoted Obama as saying.

"I was somewhat taken aback," Cantor said.

Democratic sources provided a different take on the exchange, saying Obama cut off Cantor at the end of the two-hour meeting after the GOP leader dumped his previously held position against a short-term extension.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said Thursday that "Cantor has shown he shouldn't even be at the table, and Republicans agree he shouldn't be at the table."

For his part, Boehner downplayed reports of a split between himself and Cantor. Analysts have speculated that Cantor, viewed in some circles as more conservative than Boehner, may be using the crisis to undermine GOP support for the speaker.

"We're in the foxhole" together, Boehner told reporters. "I'm glad Eric's there."

With time dwindling down, Democrats and Republicans remain at sharp odds over how to proceed. Obama has indicated a preference for a "grand bargain" that would save up to $4 trillion over the next decade through a combination of spending cuts, raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans and reforming politically popular entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Reid confirmed Thursday that he and McConnell are working on a possible debt ceiling measure that could come up in the event the broader negotiations fail to reach agreement. It is based in part on a plan McConnell unveiled this week that would set up three short-term increases in the debt ceiling while at the same time registering the disapproval of Congress for such a move.

McConnell's proposal would give Obama power to raise the debt ceiling by a total of $2.5 trillion, but also would require three congressional votes on the issue before the 2012 general election.

McConnell asserted Wednesday his proposal became necessary because an acceptable deficit reduction deal was proving unattainable and the country has to avoid a default that would be "bad for Republicans."

At the heart of Obama's call for more tax revenue would be allowing tax cuts from the Bush presidency to expire at the end of 2012 for families making more than $250,000. His plan would keep the lower tax rates for Americans who earn less.

Obama noted earlier this week he is not looking to raise any taxes until 2013 or later. In exchange, Obama said, he wants to ensure that the current progressive nature of the tax code is maintained, with higher-income Americans assessed higher tax rates.

Republicans continue to insist such a move would be economically disastrous.

At the heart of the GOP resistance is a bedrock principle pushed by conservative crusader Grover Norquist against any kind of tax increase. A pledge pushed by Norquist's group, Americans for Tax Reform, has been signed by more than 230 House members and 40 senators, almost all of them Republicans.



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DTN News - BATTLE FOR LIBYA: Libyan Rebels Retake Village In Advance On Tripoli

Defense News: DTN News - BATTLE FOR LIBYA: Libyan Rebels Retake Village In Advance On Tripoli
**Libyan rebels attempting to advance on Tripoli from the south-west launched a counter-attack on Thursday, driving regime forces out of a key village lost the day before.
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 14, 2011:The rebels retook Qawalish, a hillside village 60 miles from the capital, and pushed further on towards Gharyan, a loyalist town regarded as the gateway to Tripoli.

Despite the unexpected setback on Wednesday, when their undermanned posts were caught by surprise by regime troops, morale was high enough to fight back immediately.


Hundreds of young men piled into pickup trucks bound for the front line, many dressed in T-shirts and flip-flops. Most were fighters from local villages, a mixture of Berbers, who are generally fiercely anti-Gaddafi, and Arab tribes.

"All the military heads from the different villages are here – from Kikla, Zintan, Jadu, Rojban," said one fighter, Osama Azumi, who came to the front line in his taxi. "We are just waiting for the order to attack."

Moktar Akhdar, chief operations field commander, said four government soldiers had been captured, of whom two were Algerians and one Somali. The fourth was Libyan.

Eight rebels were killed in the fighting on Wednesday, six from the single small mountain town of Zintan. They were buried there on Thursday.

"This does not just make us determined to fight harder, it makes us determined to finish this," said one rebel, Abdullah Ahmed With their proximity to Tripoli, the battles in Libya's western mountains are increasingly regarded as the most promising of the rebel's three main front lines, though even here they are impeded by a lack of co-ordination.

There is also a mixture of anti- and pro-Gaddafi villages in the area.


Al-Sabha, the village before Gharyan, is also traditionally loyal to the regime. Meanwhile, though the rebels are said to have been re-equipped by France, who airdropped light munitions last month, men on the ground say they have not seen a single new weapon.

In the central front, rebel forces who broke the siege of Misurata have been unable to break through the government-held town of Zlitan, while in the east, they are still trying to take the oil town of Brega where they have been stuck for several months.

The Nato alliance is keen to see an end to the four-month bombing campaign, and in Istanbul on Friday leaders including William Hague, the foreign secretary, and Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, will hear new proposals to bring the conflict to an end.

Turkey is to set out a "road map for peace", while France and the African Union have also been conducting their own negotiations, directly or through proxies.

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  • LIBYAN REBELS RETAKE VILLAGE NEAR TRIPOLI

    Voice of America - ‎1 hour ago‎
    Also, the French News Agency [AFP] quotes rebels as saying they are planning to launch an offensive on the oil town of Brega. Libyan Contact Group Meanwhile, representatives from more than 40 nations are gathering in Istanbul for the fourth Libyan ...

    LIBYA REBELS PULL BACK FROM ASSAULT ON TRIPOLI GATEWAY

    Albuquerque Express - ‎2 hours ago‎
    GUALISH, Libya (AFP) - Libyan rebels on Thursday pulled most of their fighters back from an assault on a gateway to Tripoli and set their sights on the oil city of Brega, as NATO dismissed charges of having killed more than 1100 civilians. ...

    GADDAFI'S "DAYS ARE NUMBERED", SAYS CLINTON

    Channel News Asia - ‎22 hours ago‎
    Clinton said that she hoped eventually for a ceasefire that will "give the Libyan people a way to plot their way forward." An AFP correspondent in the field said that Libyan rebels had repulsed Gaddafi loyalists in the desert hamlet of Gualish and ...

    MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD BLOSSOMS IN ARAB SPRING

    Montreal Gazette - ‎2 hours ago‎
    "Though the Muslim Brotherhood was not at centre stage during the protest movements, it is now an important part of the political spectrum in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and elsewhere," said Francois Burgat, an expert on Islamic politics. ...

    CHADIAN VICTIMS OF HABRE REPRESSION TELL THEIR STORIES

    AFP - Gael Cogne - ‎Jul 12, 2011‎
    "I was tied up and water under pressure was poured down my mouth to force me to say that I was an agent of Libya in Chad," he said. Chad was at war with the neighbouring Libya of Colonel Moamer Kadhafi in the 1980s. Transferred to the martyrs' camps, ...

    TEAR GAS, GUNFIRE USED TO BREAK UP TUNISIAN CLASHES

    Voice of America - ‎4 hours ago‎
    The unrest sparked what is known as the Arab Spring, which led to citizens calling for reforms in Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen Jordan and Libya. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. Related Articles Struggling Tunisian ...

    INDONESIAN MINISTER BLAMES NEW MEDIA FOR ARAB 'TURMOIL'

    Straits Times - ‎8 hours ago‎
    In a speech to school children, Tifatul Sembiring (above) said new media had caused turmoil in the Arab world, where popular uprisings ousted the autocratic leaders of Egypt and Tunisia and brought the Libyan regime to its knees. ...

    US AMBASSADOR: BERLIN WILL DO WHAT'S NEEDED TO PRESERVE THE EURO

    GlobalPost - ‎21 hours ago‎
    Feeble Europe suggests: The Libya war has shown Europe to militarily week. How did the continent get this way - wasted budgets, lack of... Michael P Walsh suggests: A column on the expanding adoption of global citizenship in academia and nonprofit ...

    AFGHAN SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS FIVE FRENCH SOLDIERS

    AFP - Dominique Chabrol - ‎Jul 13, 2011‎
    The French military is also in action in Libya, where the air force is taking a leading role in the NATO bombing campaign against Moamer Kadhafi's regime and had dropped weapons to rebels fighting his forces. French troops also helped overthrow former ...

    UN MOVES TO EASE LIBYA SANCTIONS

    AFP - Andrew Beatty - ‎Jul 8, 2011‎
    BENGHAZI, Libya — Fearing an acute shortage of medical and other essential supplies,Libya'srival factions are in talks with the United Nations to ease international sanctions on the war-torn nation, AFP has learned. Well-placed UN officials said ...
    UN Prepares To Ease Libya Sanctions Wall Street Journal (blog)

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    DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated July 14, 2011DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated July 14, 2011

    Defense News:
    DTN News: U.S. Department of Defense Contracts Dated July 14, 2011
    (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - July 14, 2011: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Contracts issued July 14, 2011 are undermentioned;

    CONTRACTS

    ARMY

    Tantus-OnPoint ATO Systems Support LLC, Arlington, Va., was awarded a $400,000,000 indefinite-delivery / indefinite-quantity, multiple-award-task-order contract between 16 contractors. The award will provide for the information technology services necessary to support the Army enterprise infrastructure and info structure goals with information technology worldwide. Work location will be determined with each task order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 26, 2015. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 50 bids received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, National Capital Region, Alexandria, Va., is the contracting activity (W91QUZ-11-D-0021).

    Daimler Truck North America, Portland, Ore., was awarded a $44,700,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of 220 M915A5 line haul tractor trucks for Afghanistan. Work will be performed in Portland, Ore., with an estimated completion date of June 24, 2014. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-11-D-0107).

    Cubic Applications Inc., Lacey, Wash., was awarded a $36,490,538 cost-plus-award-fee contract. The award will provide for the mission support requirements of the U.S. Army Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., for soldiers that come to Fort Polk to train prior to their deployment to a combat zone. Work will be performed in Fort Polk, La., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2012. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Mission & Installation Contracting Center, Fort Polk, La., is the contracting activity (W911S0-07-C-0007).

    DRS Environmental Systems, Florence, Ky., was awarded a $21,107,269 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of 800 Joint Service Transportable Decontamination Systems. Work will be performed in Florence, Ky., with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2013. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Natick, Mass., is the contracting activity (M67004-06-D-0007).

    Language Associates LLC (doing business as Diplomatic Language Services), Arlington, Va., was awarded a $20,815,303 labor-hour contract between six contractors. The award will provide for the procurement of foreign language training support services and instruction. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 12 bids received. The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Va., is the contracting activity (W911S0-11-D-0045).

    ICA Language Services, Arlington, Va., was awarded a $20,815,303 labor-hour contract between six contractors. The award will provide for the procurement of foreign language training support services and instruction. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 12 bids received. The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Va., is the contracting activity (W911S0-11-D-0044).

    General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Fairfax, Va., was awarded a $20,815,303 labor-hour contract between six contractors. The award will provide for the procurement of foreign language training support services and instruction. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 12 bids received. The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Va., is the contracting activity (W911S0-11-D-0043).

    JTG Inc., Vienna, Va., was awarded a $20,815,303 labor-hour contract between six contractors. The award will provide for the procurement of foreign language training support services and instruction. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 12 bids received. The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Va., is the contracting activity (W911S0-11-D-0042).

    International Center For Language Studies Inc., Washington, D.C., was awarded a $20,815,303 labor-hour contract between six contractors. The award will provide for the procurement of foreign language training support services and instruction. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 12 bids received. The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Va., is the contracting activity (W911S0-11-D-0041).

    Dictyon, Greenbelt, Md., was awarded a $20,815,303 labor-hour contract between six contractors. The award will provide for the procurement of foreign language training support services and instruction. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 12 bids received. The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Va., is the contracting activity (W911S0-11-D-0040).

    McLean Contracting Company, Glen Burnie, Md., was awarded an $18,434,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the construction of an offshore sheet pile containment wall at the Atlantic Wood Industries Superfund Site, Portsmouth, Va. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Va., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2013. T he bid was solicited through the Internet, with five bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (W91236-11-C-0043).

    Federal Program Integrators, Indian Island, Maine, was awarded a $15,300,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of two flexible test modules for the transmission test systems to test transmissions and gearboxes on AH-1, AH-64, CH-47, OH-58, UH-1N and UH-60 aircraft. Work will be performed in Indian Island, Maine, and Corpus Christi, Texas, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2013. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The Corpus Christi Army Depot, Corpus Christi, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912NW-10-C-0015).

    URS Group Inc., Metairie, La., was awarded a $12,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the engineering, design and associated engineering support services for dam inspection for the Vicksburg District and various worldwide installations. Work will be performed in Metairie, La., with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with eight bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Miss., is the contracting activity (W912EE-11-D-0014).

    Cumming Clarke, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., was awarded a $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract between two contractors. The award will provide for the construction engineering services for Army Medical Command facilities. Work location will be determined with each task order, with an estimated completion date of June 29, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with five bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-11-C-0038).

    LRS Federal LLC, Millersville, Md., was awarded a $10,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract between two contractors. The award will provide for the construction engineering services for Army Medical Command facilities. Work location will be determined with each task order, with an estimated completion date of June 29, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with five bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-11-C-0039).

    Etcon Inc. (doing business as JHL Construction), Gatesville, Texas, was awarded a $9,436,164 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the interior electrical services in permanent and mobilization buildings and exterior electrical services at Fort Hood, Texas. Work will be performed in Fort Hood, Texas, with an estimated completion date of July 12, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with eight bids received. The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Hood, Texas, is the contracting activity (W91151-10-D-0015).

    R4 Inc., Eatontown, N.J., was awarded a $9,168,500 firm-fixed-price level-of-effort contract. The award will provide for contractor logistic support on various improvised explosive device defeat/protect force equipment at approximately 60 locations. Work will be performed in Eatontown, N.J., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 16, 2011. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-10-C-0506).

    General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded an $8,907,389 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to procure 978 sets of Azimuth Motor / Brake Motors. Work will be performed in Lima, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2013. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-G-0006).

    Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Wash., was awarded a $7,988,500 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the hopper dredging services in the Galveston entrance and surrounding areas. Work will be performed in Galveston County, Texas, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2012. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with three bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-11-C-0016).

    Grunley / Goel JV D LLC, Rockville, Md., was awarded a $7,530,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the construction of an auditorium and training facility at Fort Detrick, Md. Work will be performed in Frederick, Md., with an estimated completion date of July 17, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with nine bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-11-C-0027).

    VCS CAN Joint Venture, College Station, Texas, was awarded a $7,499,160 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the construction of an Army Reserve Center at San Marcos, Texas. Work will be performed in San Marcos, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 14, 2012. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 16 bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-11-C-0031).

    U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

    Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Va. (H92222-11-D-0037) ; Dell Services Federal Government, Perot Systems Government Services Inc., Fairfax, Va. (H92222-11-D-0038); and DRS Technical Services Inc., Herndon, Va. (H92222-11-D-0039), were each awarded a $362,000,000, multiple award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-price and cost-plus fixed-fee line items for Special Operations Forces Information Technology Enterprise Contracts (SITEC) specialty services in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. Under the SITEC Specialty Services contract, the contractor will assist the government in performing the daily operations necessary to facilitate USSOCOM's ongoing ability to effectively and efficiently optimize delivery and performance of specialty services to sustain and maintain USSOCOM's global enterprise IT specialty services environment. The work will be performed primarily at MacDill AFB, Fla., with limited performance in and outside the United States. The anticipated total contract period of performance is five years. USSOCOM is the contracting activity.

    AIR FORCE

    Northrop Grumman Intelligence Systems of Chantilly, Va. is being awarded a maximum $49,800,000 indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for sustainment of capabilities of the current order of battle (OB) functionality for the Modernized Integrated Data Base (MIDB) Enterprise (DIME) including operational support to all elements of OB and related data production, dissemination and maintenance in support of war-fighter operations and theater/national production in currently fielded baselines and future ones through the period of performance of this effort. The contractor will also improve the MIDB enterprise’s capabilities for the DIME. The contracting activity is Air Force Research Laboratory/RIKE, Rome, N.Y. (FA8750-11-D-0157 0001, 0002, & 0003).

    Raytheon Company of Marlborough, Mass. is being awarded a $21,070,808 firm fixed price contract for: a wide area multilateration en-route airway surveillance system for the Republic of Kyrgyzstan in support of the United States combatant forces in Afghanistan and the Kyrgyzstan Republic; air traffic control tower construction at Manas International Airport; and relocation of exist Kyrgyz Aero Navigatzia equipment to the new tower. The contracting activity is ESC/HBAK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. (FA8730-11-C-0017).

    Raytheon Company, Missile Systems of Tucson, Ariz. is being awarded a $9,118,430 contract modification for procurement of 4 Griffin Block II A telemetry rounds, part number 2292000-25, and 74 Griffin Block II A all up rounds (Part Number 2292000-26) to include shipping, engineering services, and proposal development costs. AAC/PKES, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. is the contracting activity (FA9200-11-C-0180; PZ0003).

    NAVY

    Maersk Line, Limited, Norfolk, Va., is being awarded a 30-day $1,135,350 firm-fixed-price contract with a one-year option of $29,276,478 being exercised upon contract award for the operation and maintenance of five government-owned maritime prepositioning force ships: Military Sealift Command’s USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo, USNS Sgt. William R. Button, USNS 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez, USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus and USNS Pfc. Dewayne T. Williams. These civilian-crewed ships are deployed worldwide to strategically place equipment and supplies at sea worldwide to ensure rapid availability to the U.S. Marine Corps during wartime, humanitarian operations or other contingencies. This contract includes three additional one-year options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $125,950,531. Work will be performed at sea worldwide in support of the Marine Corps’ at-sea prepositioning program, and is expected to be completed by September 2015. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year for the 30-day performance period. This contract was competitively procured via solicitation posted to Military Sealift Command, Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities web pages, with more than 50 proposals solicited and seven offers received. The Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00033-11-C-3110).

    ViaSat, Carlsbad, Calif., is being awarded a $27,590,726firm-fixed-price delivery order under previously awarded contract (N00039-10-D-0032) for multifunctional information distribution system-low volume terminals (MIDS-LVTs). The MIDS-LVT provides secure, high capacity, jam resistant, digital data and voice communications capability for Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Army platforms. This delivery order combines purchases for the United States (97.6 percent) and the governments of Japan (2.3 percent) and Australia (0.1 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, Calif., (30 percent), in various other sites worldwide (70 percent), and work is expected to be completed by March 31, 2013. Contractfunds in the amount of $3,080,705 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under a multiple award contract (MAC) via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems E-commerce website, with two proposals solicited and two offers received. The synopsis was released via the Federal Business Opportunities website for the initial MAC awards. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

    Data Link Solutions, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $23,961,928 firm-fixed-price contract delivery order under a previously awarded contract (N00039-10-D-0031) for multifunctional information distribution system-low volume terminals (MIDS-LVTs). The MIDS-LVT provides secure, high capacity, jam resistant, digital data and voice communications capability for Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Army platforms. This delivery order combines purchases for the United States (91 percent) and the governments of Australia (6 percent) and Japan (3 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Wayne, N.J. (50 percent), and Cedar Rapids, Iowa (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2013. Contractfunds in the amount of $1,015,448will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under a multiple award contract via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems E-commerce website, with two proposals solicited and two offers received. The synopsis was released via the Federal Business Opportunities website for the initial MAC awards. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

    HDR Architecture, Inc., Chicago, Ill., is being awarded a $10,000,000 modification under previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N40083-08-D-0065) to exercise option 3 for architectural and engineering services at Naval Station Great Lakes. The work to be performed provides for partial design packages; total design packages; design-build Request For Proposals packages; repairs and alterations to existing facilities, collateral equipment lists; project preliminary hazard analysis; obtaining permits and regulatory approvals; surveys (topographic and boundary); soil investigations, comprehensive interior design; contractor submittal review; construction inspection, observation and consultation; operations and maintenance support information; environmental assessments; fire protection; anti-terrorism/force protection evaluation and design; designs for phased construction; and as-built drawing preparation. Some projects will require design in the metric system. Acceptance of project-related work that requires comprehensive asbestos/lead paint surveying and provide a design that will support the removal, demolition, and disposal of these and other hazardous materials in accordance with applicable laws and regulationsis required. The current total estimated contract amount after exercise of this option will be $40,000,000. Work will be performed in Great Lakes, Ill., and work is expected to be completed July 15, 2012. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Midwest, Great Lakes, Ill., is the contracting activity.

    Neany, Inc.*, Hollywood, Md., is being awarded a $9,998,865 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to manufacture, test, evaluate, and deliver Helios unmanned aerial systems and ground control stations for the Army. In addition, the contract provides for logistics, training, and in-theater support. Work will be performed in Afghanistan (58 percent), Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., (26 percent), and Hollywood, Md. (16 percent); and is expected to be completed in January 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-2. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-11-C-0146).

    Science Applications International Corp., Virginia Beach, Va., is being awarded a $7,567,625 firm-fixed-price GSA task order under previously awarded contract (N00104-11-F-Q967) for integrated training support and execution by U.S. Fleet Forces Command, associated fleet commands and activities conducting fleet training. It is designed to provide the level of support and expertise required to assist these commands and fleet training policy, directive development, execution, assessment, and readiness reporting. Work will be performed in

    Hampton Roads areas (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth) (30 percent); Pacific Northwest area (Bremerton, Everett, Bangor, Whidbey Island) (28 percent); Newport, R.I. (6 percent); Groton Conn. (6 percent); Ingleside Texas (6 percent); San Diego, Calif. area (6 percent); Pearl Harbor Hawaii (6 percent); Yokosuka Japan (6 percent); Sasebo Japan (6 percent), and work is to be completed by Sept. 12, 2011. This requirement is sole sourced until the competitive follow-on contract can be issued. The NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pa., is the contracting activity.

    DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

    Tryco Incorporated*, Mclean, Va. was awarded contract SPM2DH-11-D-8215. The award is a fixed price with economic price adjustment contract with a maximum $18,750,000 for test equipment and analyzers. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. The date of performance completion is July 7, 2016. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

    Hutchinson Industries, Inc., Trenton, N.J., was awarded contract SPRDL1-11-D-0038. The award is a firm fixed price contract with a maximum $8,465,249 for wheel and tire assemblies. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is the Defense Logistics Agency. The date of performance completion is July 25, 2014. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land Depot Level Reparable Procurement Operations, Warren, Mich.

    The Merchants Company, Hattiesburg, Miss., was issued a modification exercising the second option year on the current contract SPM300-08-D-3242/P00023. Award is a firm fixed price, indefinite quantity contract with a maximum $20,280,000 for full line food distributor for the Mississippi/Louisiana area. Other location of performance is Jackson, Mississippi. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The date of performance completion is July 17, 2012. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

    *Small Business


    *Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources
    U.S. DoD issued No. 606-11 July 14, 2011
    *Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News
    *This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News

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