Friday, September 14, 2007
U.S. military awards $475 mn. security contract to British firm
Contracts
(Washington Post) - The U.S. military confirmed yesterday that it awarded the largest security contract in Iraq to a private British firm, Aegis Defence Services, in a deal worth up to $475 million over two years. Aegis won the high-stakes derby over six other contenders, said sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the bidding process.
The deal, however, is being challenged by another British company that bid on the contract. Erinys Iraq is seeking an injunction from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to stop the Army from carrying out the contract. Erinys, which is also planning a separate appeal of the award to Aegis, had unsuccessfully sought to challenge the Army's decision in protests with the Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Members of Congress, meanwhile, continue to raise questions about the use of foreign private security forces, such as Aegis, to protect U.S. commanders and soldiers. Federal lawmakers have requested that the GAO look into the use of private security contractors in Iraq. The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction also is conducting its second audit of Aegis, based on a request from a member of Congress who has expressed concerns about the firm's chief executive, Tim Spicer. He is a retired British military officer whose previous private military company, Sandline International, had been hired to quell insurgencies in countries such as Papua New Guinea and Sierra Leone.
"We are very pleased to receive this award, which we believe is a fine reflection of both our previous performance and our ongoing commitment to serve our client, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division, to the best of our ability," Spicer said in a statement. Aegis holds the current contract, a three-year deal worth $293 million, to provide intelligence services to the Army and security for the Army Corps of Engineers on reconstruction work in Iraq.
While a military official in Baghdad confirmed Aegis as the contract winner, he did not elaborate; an announcement is expected soon. It was unclear yesterday why Aegis prevailed over what sources said was the other top contender, another British firm, ArmorGroup International. But over the past several months, sources said Aegis worked to show the military that it had a strong track record, stressing that none of its U.S. military clients had been killed in three years while traveling more than 3 million miles in Iraq. Sources also said Aegis underscored to the military that it made little sense to change contractors by bringing in another private firm to oversee a complicated security operation with offices throughout Iraq just as U.S. forces were seeking to scale back and eventually withdraw from the country.
Aegis was not the lowest bidder, but it was close in price to ArmorGroup's proposal, sources said. ArmorGroup, which is one of the largest security firms in Iraq, with more than 1,200 employees, tried to persuade the military that it was a better choice than Aegis in part by stressing its track record for protecting clients in Iraq, sources said. ArmorGroup spokesman Patrick Toyne-Sewell declined to comment.
ArmorGroup also tried to highlight some of the controversies involving Spicer and Aegis, sources said. After winning the first U.S. Army contract, Aegis quickly ran into problems. A special inspector audit found that the company failed to perform adequate background checks on some Iraqi employees. The company said it had just won the contract and immediately addressed the issue.
Erinys, which has about 1,000 employees in Iraq and provides security for some military personnel there under a separate contract, has maintained that the Army did not thoroughly review its proposal and failed to follow procurement rules. An attorney for Erinys declined to comment.
Members of Congress, meanwhile, continue to raise questions about the use of foreign private security forces, such as Aegis, to protect U.S. commanders and soldiers. Federal lawmakers have requested that the GAO look into the use of private security contractors in Iraq. The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction also is conducting its second audit of Aegis, based on a request from a member of Congress who has expressed concerns about the firm's chief executive, Tim Spicer. He is a retired British military officer whose previous private military company, Sandline International, had been hired to quell insurgencies in countries such as Papua New Guinea and Sierra Leone.
"We are very pleased to receive this award, which we believe is a fine reflection of both our previous performance and our ongoing commitment to serve our client, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division, to the best of our ability," Spicer said in a statement. Aegis holds the current contract, a three-year deal worth $293 million, to provide intelligence services to the Army and security for the Army Corps of Engineers on reconstruction work in Iraq.
While a military official in Baghdad confirmed Aegis as the contract winner, he did not elaborate; an announcement is expected soon. It was unclear yesterday why Aegis prevailed over what sources said was the other top contender, another British firm, ArmorGroup International. But over the past several months, sources said Aegis worked to show the military that it had a strong track record, stressing that none of its U.S. military clients had been killed in three years while traveling more than 3 million miles in Iraq. Sources also said Aegis underscored to the military that it made little sense to change contractors by bringing in another private firm to oversee a complicated security operation with offices throughout Iraq just as U.S. forces were seeking to scale back and eventually withdraw from the country.
Aegis was not the lowest bidder, but it was close in price to ArmorGroup's proposal, sources said. ArmorGroup, which is one of the largest security firms in Iraq, with more than 1,200 employees, tried to persuade the military that it was a better choice than Aegis in part by stressing its track record for protecting clients in Iraq, sources said. ArmorGroup spokesman Patrick Toyne-Sewell declined to comment.
ArmorGroup also tried to highlight some of the controversies involving Spicer and Aegis, sources said. After winning the first U.S. Army contract, Aegis quickly ran into problems. A special inspector audit found that the company failed to perform adequate background checks on some Iraqi employees. The company said it had just won the contract and immediately addressed the issue.
Erinys, which has about 1,000 employees in Iraq and provides security for some military personnel there under a separate contract, has maintained that the Army did not thoroughly review its proposal and failed to follow procurement rules. An attorney for Erinys declined to comment.
Labels: Aegis Defense Services, Armorgroup, Erinys Iraq, GAO, GRD, Iraq, security contract, Tim Spicer, U.S. military, USACE
Friday, August 10, 2007
Mosul dam in danger of imminent collapse
(Voices of Iraq) - A major disaster is looming in northern Iraq because the wall of the Mosul Dam that holds back the Tigris river north of Mosul city is in danger of imminent collapse, a report by the Independent newspaper said on Wednesday. Quoting experts, the newspaper said that flood waters could destroy 70% of Ninewa province and "inflict heavy damage 190 miles (300km) downstream along the Tigris."
According to the report, "This would mean heavy damage to cities such as Tikrit and Samarra and the floods could reach as far as Baghdad." Citing "fundamental and irreversible flaws existing in the dam's foundation," a recent report by the US Army Corps of Engineers indicated that the safety of the dam against a potential catastrophic collapse "cannot be guaranteed.
"Suggesting possible solutions, the report said "The main method used to strengthen the foundations of the Mosul dam is pumping liquid cement into it or grouting. But a US-funded study concluded that grouting would not save the dam, although it did need to be continued and enhanced 'to reduce the probability of failure.'"
"An international panel of experts called in by the Ministry of Water Resources in Baghdad concluded that a limit should also be placed on the level of the water in the reservoir - that was done in April last year," read the report. The Mosul Dam, built between 1980 and 1984, has long been known to be in a "dangerous condition because of unstable bedrock," the newspaper said.
Labels: collapse, Ministry of Water Resources, Mosul Dam, USACE
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
British firms emerge as finalists for largest U.S. security contract in Iraq
Contracts, Reconstruction
(Washington Post) - Two British firms have emerged as finalists to win the largest U.S. security contract in Iraq, according to sources familiar with the matter. In what has become a contentious competition, Aegis Defence Services and ArmorGroup International are considered top contenders for a contract worth up to $475 million to provide intelligence services to the U.S. Army and security for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on reconstruction work in Iraq. Aegis won the initial contract in 2004, a three-year, $293 million deal.
The Army has eliminated another British firm, Erinys Iraq, but that company is contesting the decision in sealed documents filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, said sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract review process is confidential. It was unclear yesterday whether the Army had chosen other finalists, but two other firms confirmed that they, too, are out of the running -- Control Risks of Britain and Blackwater Security Consulting of North Carolina.
The battle for the lucrative contract has drawn the attention of members of Congress who have questioned the use of private security contractors, about 20,000 of whom operate in Iraq, and whether the military should be outsourcing such critical tasks as security and intelligence to private firms. Based on a request from a member of Congress, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction is conducting its second audit of Aegis.
Meanwhile, federal lawmakers have requested that the Government Accountability Office, Congress's investigative arm, also look into the use of private security contractors in Iraq. The GAO has begun to review contractors there, building on previous reports, spokesman Paul Anderson said. "We're still early in the process."
"The Army's decision to once again remove Erinys from the bidding process is bad economics and demonstrates the fundamental flaws in this procurement," said an Erinys spokesman. "We are taking steps to ensure that our proposal is given fair treatment on a level playing field, in accordance with applicable government laws and regulations."
ArmorGroup spokesman Patrick Toyne Sewell declined to comment. ArmorGroup already is one of the largest security firms in Iraq, with more than 1,200 employees. Aegis, which also has about 1,200 contractors in Iraq, declined as well to comment on the new contract, but Kristi M. Clemens, the firm's executive vice president, touted its work on the current contract.
The Army is expected to make a final decision soon. "We are proceeding with discussions and preparation for award," said Chuck D. Martino, deputy chief of staff of the Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan in Baghdad.
The Army has eliminated another British firm, Erinys Iraq, but that company is contesting the decision in sealed documents filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, said sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract review process is confidential. It was unclear yesterday whether the Army had chosen other finalists, but two other firms confirmed that they, too, are out of the running -- Control Risks of Britain and Blackwater Security Consulting of North Carolina.
The battle for the lucrative contract has drawn the attention of members of Congress who have questioned the use of private security contractors, about 20,000 of whom operate in Iraq, and whether the military should be outsourcing such critical tasks as security and intelligence to private firms. Based on a request from a member of Congress, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction is conducting its second audit of Aegis.
Meanwhile, federal lawmakers have requested that the Government Accountability Office, Congress's investigative arm, also look into the use of private security contractors in Iraq. The GAO has begun to review contractors there, building on previous reports, spokesman Paul Anderson said. "We're still early in the process."
"The Army's decision to once again remove Erinys from the bidding process is bad economics and demonstrates the fundamental flaws in this procurement," said an Erinys spokesman. "We are taking steps to ensure that our proposal is given fair treatment on a level playing field, in accordance with applicable government laws and regulations."
ArmorGroup spokesman Patrick Toyne Sewell declined to comment. ArmorGroup already is one of the largest security firms in Iraq, with more than 1,200 employees. Aegis, which also has about 1,200 contractors in Iraq, declined as well to comment on the new contract, but Kristi M. Clemens, the firm's executive vice president, touted its work on the current contract.
The Army is expected to make a final decision soon. "We are proceeding with discussions and preparation for award," said Chuck D. Martino, deputy chief of staff of the Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan in Baghdad.
Labels: Aegis Defense Services, Armorgroup, Blackwater Security Consulting, Chuck D. Martino, contracts, Control Risks, Erinys Iraq, GAO, Iraq, Iraq reconstruction, USACE
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
IAP awarded $75 mn. contract by USACE at Camp Taji
Contracts
(Orlando Business Journal) - IAP Worldwide Services Inc. (International American Products)has been awarded a task order contract worth up to $75 million over two years by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Cape Canaveral company will renovate, construct and potentially operate and maintain various facilities and functions at Iraq's Taji National Depot, a complex that will be used by the Iraqi army for its depot functions.
The complex is adjacent to the U.S. Army's Camp Taji. IAP's subsidiary, RMS, currently provides the U.S. Army with department of public works support on its side of the complex.
Since 2003, IAP has installed and maintained more than 5,000 modular billet rooms at the camp, constructed and operated prime power plans, and maintained infrastructure and utilities.
The complex is adjacent to the U.S. Army's Camp Taji. IAP's subsidiary, RMS, currently provides the U.S. Army with department of public works support on its side of the complex.
Since 2003, IAP has installed and maintained more than 5,000 modular billet rooms at the camp, constructed and operated prime power plans, and maintained infrastructure and utilities.
Labels: Camp Taji, Dave Swindle, Dwight Clark, IAP Worldwide Services Inc., MATOC, RMS, USACE
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Versar awarded $200,000 contract for training in Iraq
Reconstruction contracts
(Iraq Updates) - Versar, Inc. announced today it was awarded a $200,000 contract by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division to provide construction quality assurance training in Iraq to an audience of American, Third Country National and Iraqi engineers that oversee construction projects throughout the country.
This training will be performed in Iraq by Versar's growing international subsidiary, VIAP, Inc. It will add to the U.S Government's focus and commitment to improving the quality of construction and developing the national capacity of the Iraqi engineering and construction management professions, according to the company announcement.
Versar President and CEO Dr. Ted Prociv said: "Versar is proud of our continuing partnership with the U.S. government, and the offering of targeted training programs to assist emerging governments with their reconstruction and capacity development process. This reflects the company's superb reputation for construction management and professional services."
(Iraq Updates) - Versar, Inc. announced today it was awarded a $200,000 contract by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division to provide construction quality assurance training in Iraq to an audience of American, Third Country National and Iraqi engineers that oversee construction projects throughout the country.
This training will be performed in Iraq by Versar's growing international subsidiary, VIAP, Inc. It will add to the U.S Government's focus and commitment to improving the quality of construction and developing the national capacity of the Iraqi engineering and construction management professions, according to the company announcement.
Versar President and CEO Dr. Ted Prociv said: "Versar is proud of our continuing partnership with the U.S. government, and the offering of targeted training programs to assist emerging governments with their reconstruction and capacity development process. This reflects the company's superb reputation for construction management and professional services."
Labels: construction quality assurance training, Dr. Ted Prociv, USACE, Versar Inc., VIAP Inc.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Louis Berger, Versar Inc. awarded large contracts in Iraq
Contracts
(FedBizOpps) - Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions has awarded a contract for $342,901,758, for INMA (Growth) intended to improve agricultural productivity and provide agricultural business development services to USAID beneficiaries in the 18 governorates in Iraq.
(Washington Business Journal) - Versar Inc. has received $20.3 million in orders to provide management services to support the Army's reconstruction efforts in Iraq. The new delivery orders come from the first option year of Versar's existing contract to provide services for about 360 personnel involved in construction management in Iraq. The Army Corps of Engineers awarded the orders to Springfield-based Versar, a program management company.
Versar said that these delivery orders increase the company's work by nearly 50 percent from what was originally planned. The orders are expected to be completed by April 2008. Performing the work is VIAP, Versar's international division in Iraq. Ted Prociv, president and CEO of Versar (AMEX: VSR), said the company's work in Iraq should result in more business opportunities overseas.
Versar said that these delivery orders increase the company's work by nearly 50 percent from what was originally planned. The orders are expected to be completed by April 2008. Performing the work is VIAP, Versar's international division in Iraq. Ted Prociv, president and CEO of Versar (AMEX: VSR), said the company's work in Iraq should result in more business opportunities overseas.
Labels: Louis Berger Group, reconstruction contracts, Ted Prociv, USACE, USAID, Versar Inc., VIAP
