Friday, June 12, 2009

MILITARY CONTRACTS June 13, 2009

NAVY
L-3 Communications Corp. – Communications Systems – West, Salt Lake City, Utah, is being awarded a $59,805,804 fixed-price-incentive contract for the manufacture, test, and delivery of 9 SRQ-4(Ku) radio terminal sets for ship small surface combatants and 45 ARQ-58 RTSs for the MH-60R aircraft, including technical data. These upgraded Ku-Band systems will extend existing Hawklink connectivity from small surface combatants to the aircraft carrier and increase data rates between MH-60R to surface combatants. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is expected to be completed in Jun. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under an electronic request for proposals; two offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-09-C-0059).

Watts Constructors, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a $17,335,000 firm-fixed price contract to replace fuel pipelines at the Fleet Industrial Supply Center, Pearl Harbor. The work to be performed provides for the construction of new fuel transfer pipeline systems from a fuel pier to the main fuel pumphouse and storage tanks for three fuel products, ballast water, and contaminated fuel with valve stations, pumps and appurtenances. Work will be performed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by Jul. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with six proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-09-C-1302).

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., McLean, Va., is being awarded a $7,753,379 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee performance-based type contract to provide program management support services for their C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) business operations. This contract includes additional options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated $41,249,577. Work will be performed in Charleston, S.C., and is expected to be completed by June 2010. If all options are exercised, work could continue until June 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities web site and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command E-commerce web site, with an unlimited number of proposals solicited and four offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-09-D-3808).

Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $6,404,124 modification to previously awarded contract (N00178-04-C-2004) to exercise an option for continuing engineering support for engineering expertise to support research and development, total ship system engineering, and combat system engineering initiatives for the introduction of advanced technology into advanced combat systems, and for the modernization of current combat systems for surface ship combatants. Work will be performed in Dahlgren, Va., (90 percent), and Virginia Beach, Va., (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by Oct.2009. Contract funds in the amount of $3,862,265 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division is the contracting activity.

Rolls-Royce Defense Services, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $5,780,529 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide approximately 54,432 man-hours of contractor engineering technical services in support of the Naval Air Technical Data and Engineering Service Command, San Diego, Calif., services to be provided include on-site proficiency training, technical guidance, and evaluation of unusual field problems. Work will be performed at the Marine Corps Air Station,(MCAS) Cherry Point, N.C., (50 percent) and MCAS Yuma, Ariz., (50 percent), and is expected to be completed in Jun. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-09-D-0024).

AIR FORCE
The Air Force is awarding a cost plus fixed fee contract to Wyle Laboratories, Inc,. of Huntsville, Ala., for $58,479,586. This contract will provide data collection, interoperability assessments, research, analysis, and reliability test and engineering for the Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Interoperability Project. At this time $200,000 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt AFB, Neb., is the contracting activity (HC1047-05-D-4005)09-D-0001, FA8202-09-D-0001, FA8202-09-D-0003).

The Air Force is awarding an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to University of Dayton Research Institute of Dayton, Ohio for a maximum $9,800,000. This contract is for the Quantitative Technology Assessment Program will utilize and further evolve quantitative technology assessment and systems engineering process, as needed to conduct technology assessment to aide Air Force research laboratories investment decision within high interest technology areas. At this time, $1,279,851 has been obligated. Det 1 AFRL/PKVA, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8650-09-D-3944).

The Air Force is awarding a cost plus fixed fee contract to Ga., Technical Applied Research Corp., of Atlanta, Ga., for a Maximum $9,800,000. This action will provide the Quantitative Technology Assessment Program and further evolve QTA and systems engineering process, as needed to conduct technology assessment to aide Air Force Research Laboratories investment decision within high interest technology areas. At this time, $250,000 has been obligated. Det 1 AFRL/PKVA, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8650-09-D-3945).

The Air Force is awarding a firm fixed price contract to Tatitlek Contractors, Inc., of Anchorage, Alaska for a maximum of $6,467,326. This contract action will provide for award for the construction of final denial barrier system at Hope, Lancer, Liberator, Tinker and Vance entry gate on Tinker Air Force Base. At this time, $6,467,326 has been obligated. 72d CONS, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8101-09-C-0022).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
MTP Drivetrain SVC LLC, Many, La.*, is being awarded a maximum $5,512,044 firm fixed price contract for truck transmission assembly. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There were 11 proposals originally solicited with four responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is June 10, 2014. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Warren (DSCC-ZG), Warren, Mich., (SPRDL1-09-D-0032).

Army Releases May Suicide Data

The Army released suicide data for the month of May today, reporting one confirmed suicide and 16 potential suicides among active duty soldiers. In the April report, the Army reported seven active duty potential suicides. Since that time an additional suicide was reported, for a total of eight April potential suicides, three of which have been confirmed and five remain under investigation. There have been 82 reported active duty suicides in the Army during calendar year 2009. Of these, 45 have been confirmed as suicides, and 37 are pending final determination of manner death. For the same period in 2008, there were 51 suicides among active duty soldiers.

During May 2009, among reserve component soldiers who are not on active duty, there was one confirmed suicide and seven potential suicides; to date in 2009, among that same group, there have been 16 confirmed suicides, and 21 potential suicides are currently under investigation. For the same period in 2008, there were 23 suicides among reserve soldiers who were not on active duty.

In January, the Army implemented an Army-wide effort to combat the rise of suicide in its ranks. The Army mandated a suicide prevention stand-down that involved all 1.1 million soldiers; established a Suicide Prevention Task Force; has made dozens of improvements to Army policies, procedures and resources; and recruited additional psychological and behavioral health counselors.

"We have got to do better," said Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, "It's clear we have not found full solutions to this yet. But we are trying every remedy and seeking help from outside agencies that are experts in suicide prevention. There isn't a reasonable suicide prevention tool out there the Army won't potentially employ."

The Army's Suicide Prevention Task Force is focused on rapid improvements across the spectrum of health promotion, risk reduction and suicide prevention to ensure the Army's programs in these areas are coordinated, fully-resourced, and effective.

"As hard as this problem truly is, in some ways it is also very basic, because it requires caring for soldiers, and that's something we already know how to do," said Brig. Gen. Colleen McGuire, director, Army Suicide Prevention Task Force. "We must simultaneously get back to basics and optimize current programs to set conditions for future programs to tackle this problem."

The Army has identified additional crisis intervention resources available to the Army community. Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance are strongly encouraged to contact Military OneSource or the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Outreach Center (DCoE). Trained consultants are available from both organizations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The Military OneSource toll-free number for those residing in the continental United States is 1-800-342-9647, the Military One Source Web site can be found at http://www.militaryonesource.com. Overseas personnel should refer to the Military OneSource Web site for dialing instructions for their specific location.

The DCoE Outreach Center can be contacted at 1-866-966-1020, or at http://www.dcoe.health.mil/media/DCoE_News/DCoE_Outreach_Center.aspx.

The Army's most current suicide prevention information is located at http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/.

Army's New Ground Combat Vehicle Development Underway

The Army announced today Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli will host a workshop June 15, 2009 to bring together knowledgeable individuals to offer information and opinions on a way ahead for the Army to develop a new ground combat vehicle. The Army is moving aggressively toward developing a new ground combat vehicle as part of its modernization.

"We will work to include both lessons from the current fight and what we've learned from technology and build a better vehicle," said Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey, Jr. "Our goal is to move forward."

The Army is leading the analysis effort and will hold the workshop at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. The meeting will allow multiple interested parties to present information and ideas, which will be developed and considered by a blue ribbon panel consisting of senior leaders from the Department of Defense and the Army. The panel will make a recommendation to senior Army leaders on the requirements for a new ground combat vehicle at a later date.

"The ground combat vehicle blue ribbon panel is in response to the recent decisions regarding the Future Combat Systems (FCS) manned ground vehicle program," said Gen. Chiarelli. "However, the Army is still in need of a vehicle that can protect soldiers, and cope with 21st century operational requirements. The blue ribbon panel will take a fresh look at these requirements including capabilities, technologies and lessons learned from the FCS program."

The panel's recommendations will inform U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's (TRADOC) ongoing work on operational requirements for the ground combat vehicle.

The workshop participants will represent a broad spectrum of expertise in operating environments, platforms, threats, research and development, future requirements, and network considerations. Participants will include representatives from think tanks, retired general officers, currently serving officers, senior non-commissioned officers, and program managers.

For more information contact Lt. Col. Martin Downie, martin.downie@us.army.mil or 703-697-7591.

Squad-sized 'Super Units' May Best Confront Hybrid Warfare, Leaders Say

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

June 11, 2009 - The U.S. military is studying how to improve smaller-unit capabilities to better confront enemies who practice irregular or conventional warfare, or both, a senior U.S. military officer said here today. The studies are part of U.S. Joint Forces Command's National Program for Small Unit Excellence initiative, Army Maj. Gen. Jason K. Kamiya, chief of the Norfolk, Va.,-based command's joint training directorate, and the commander of its Joint Warfighting Center, told reporters at a Pentagon roundtable meeting.

Senior U.S. military leaders believe that highly trained, smaller units would be better able to battle future foes that practice irregular warfare, Kamiya said, as well as enemies that wage hybrid warfare, a combination of irregular and conventional warfare.

An example of such squad-sized "super" units can be found in the special operations realm, Kamiya said, where the diverse and honed talents and capabilities of 11-member teams make them more powerful than some larger, conventional military units.

As part of imparting more flexibility to these envisioned smaller-sized units, Kamiya said, decision-making authority necessarily would be pushed down to the lower echelons of leadership.

Dispersed smaller, enhanced-capability units as envisioned also would be able to combine themselves to take on larger-sized conventional forces, he said.

"In a very seamless way, these small, super-empowered units can quickly aggregate if the threat against them becomes more of a conventional-type threat," Kamiya explained, "and can quickly disaggregate, again, when they're faced with a more hybrid [or] irregular threat."

The Army and Marine Corps already are moving toward fielding forces with full-spectrum capabilities, Kamiya pointed out.

"We believe that there's already a good foundation of adaptability to build upon; so, this [small-unit excellence program] is not in any way to infer that whatever the services are doing is not of value," Kamiya emphasized.

However, the small unit excellence program, he said, has "a very, very close affiliation" with U.S. Special Operations Command.

"And we are studying what they do [and] how they do it, to see what lessons we can derive that can be reasonably adapted to the conventional force," Kamiya said.

MILITARY CONTRACTS June 12, 2009

ARMY
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on Jun. 8, 2009 a $60,434,958 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of four UH-60L aircraft uniquely configured of the Brazilian Air Force (FMS Case BR-B-UTZ). Work is to be performed in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2012. One bid solicited with one bid received. Aviation & Missile Command Contracting Center, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (DAAH23-02-C-0006).

Taos Industries Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded on Jun. 08, 2009 a $30,161,952 firm-fixed-price contract for a Foreign Military Sales requirement. This award will result in a firm-fixed-price contract for 33,400,938 rounds of various non standard ammunition for the republic of Iraq. Work is to be performed in Huntsville, Ala., with an estimated date of Oct. 29, 2010. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with three bids received. Rock Island Contracting Center, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-09-C-0026).

IAP Worldwide Services, Irmo, S.C., was awarded on Jun. 8, 2009 a $21,276,221 service, firm-fixed-price contract to provide electrical power distribution service to Forward Operating Base Leatherneck in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The service is required to distribute power from a leased power plant in order to maintain the life support of the camp. Work is to be performed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan with an estimated completion date of Jun 07, 2010. Seven bids were solicited with four bids received. Kandahar Air Field Regional Contracting Center, Afghanistan is the contracting activity (W91B4L-09-C-0045).

Avon Protection Systems, Inc., Cadillac, Mi., was awarded on Jun. 9, 2009 a $20,710,568 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract to procure 726,834 Chemical B canister for the Joint Service General Purpose Mask Program. Work is to be performed in Cadillac, Mich., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2010. One bid solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Research and Development Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W911SR-05-D-0011).

The Korte Co., Saint Louis, Mo., was awarded on Jun. 9, 2009 a $14,496,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of an Army Forces Reserve Center. Work is to be performed in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico with an estimated completion date of Apr. 3, 2011. Forty-six bids were solicited with 24 bids received. Corp of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-09-C-0031).

Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc., El Segundo, Calif., was awarded on Jun. 10, 2009 a $13,790,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The primary objective of the program is to carry our Phase 2 of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Fast Access Spacecraft Testbed (FAST) program. The objective of the FAST program is the development and demonstration of a high power generation subsystem that, when combined with state-of-the-art electric propulsion systems, would form the technological basis for a light weight, high power, highly mobile spacecraft platform, generating as much as 50-80 kw for operational users, but at high specific power levels (130 W/kg or better). Work is to be performed in El Segundo, Calif., (69.53 percent), San Diego, Calif., (17.14 precent), Albuquerque, N.M., (5.59 precent), Carpentaria, Calif., (3.38 precent), Foothills, Calif., (2.77 precent), West Hills, Calif., (0.89 precent), and College Station, Texas, (0.25 precent) with an estimated completion date of Sept. 1, 2010. Two bids solicited with two bids received. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR0011-08-C-0086).

Optimetrics, Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich., was awarded on Jun. 9, 2009 a $9,787,433 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the research and development services entitled "Applied Simulation and Analysis for CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear)". Work is to be performed in Ann Arbor, Mich., with an estimated completion date of Jun. 30, 2012. One bid solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Research and Development Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W911SR-09-C-0022).

DRS Defense Solutions, LLC., Bethesda, Md., was awarded on Jun. 9, 2009 a $5,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the proposal that was submitted in response to the Topographic Engineering Center (TEC) Broad Agency Announcement Topics, TEC-33 imagery exploitation and TEC-34 surveillance. The contractor shall demonstrate and deliver an airborne hyperspectral imaging system capable of detecting/locating improvised explosive devices. Work is to be performed in Merrimack N.H., with an estimated completion date of Jun. 09, 2010. Bids were solicited using the Broad Agency Announcement with one bid received. Engineer Research and Development Center, Contracting Office, Contracting Office, Major Systems Branch, Alexandria, Va., is the contracting activity (W9132V-09-C-0008).



NAVY
Armtec Countermeasures Co., Coachella, Calif., is being awarded a $46,540,500 five-year firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the manufacture of RR-196/AL NSN 5865-01-553-7532 and RR-196/AL (T-1) chaff cartridges, NSN 5865-01-553-1536. The cartridges are used on the attack fighter (F/A) aircraft (ACFT) to defeat or launched threats targeting radar signature and emissions. Work will be performed in Lillington, N.C., and work will be completed Dec. 15, 2014. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Inventory Control Point in Mechanicsburg, Pa., is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Services, Inc., Greenville, S.C., is being awarded a $49,595,204 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract (N00019-05-D-0013) for P-3C sustainment, modification and installation program to provide for special structural inspection kit installation. Work will be performed in Greenville, S.C., and is expected to be completed in Jul. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Services, Inc., Greenville, S.C., is being awarded a $20,985,539 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract (N00019-05-D-0013) for additional lower wing Zone 5 material structures replacement on five P-3C aircraft. Work will be performed in Greenville, S.C., and is expected to be completed in Mar. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $10,883,701 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-09-D-0008) to provide joint performance based logistics Phase 1.5 integrated logistics support to improve component reliability of the Marine Corps (MV-22) and Air Force (CV-22) tilt rotor aircraft during the production and deployment phase of the V-22 program. Work will be performed in Ft. Worth, Texas, (72 percent) and Philadelphia, Pa., (28 percent) and is expected to be completed in May 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy, ($9,883,701; 91 percent) and the U.S. Air Force, ($1,000,000; 9 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Information Technology, McLean, Va., was awarded a $6,312,945 hybrid firm-fixed-price/cost/cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (NS09) under a previously awarded contract (FA8771-04-D-0004) on Jun. 9, 2009, for delivery and installation of tactical switching increment II spiral B1 equipment, including program management; configuration management; logistics; hardware and software updates; configuration management support; testing support; and on-site technical support. NGIT will enhance the enterprise network management system capabilities located at the two Regional Network Operations and Security Centers (RNOSCs) to remotely monitor, manage and control more of the systems and networks within the areas of responsibility of each RNOSC. This contract includes no options. Work will be performed in various locations, including San Diego, Calif., (10 percent); Portsmouth, Va., (10 percent); Wahiawa, Hawaii, (25 percent); Naples, Italy, (10 percent); Bahrain, (10 percent) and Norfolk, Va., (35 percent), and is expected to be completed by Mar. 15, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This delivery order has an exception to the fair opportunity process pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2304c (b)(3), as implemented by FAR 16.505(b)(2)(iii) and DFARS PGI 216.505-70(2). The Space and Nav! al Warfa re Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command awarded this delivery order on behalf of its organizational partner, the Navy's Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence.

AIR FORCE
The Air Force is awarding an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to the following contractors: McDonnell Douglas Corp., of Saint Louis, Miss., Lockheed Martin-Systems Integration of Owego, N.Y., and Northrop Grumman Technical Services, Inc., of Herndon, Va. This contract provides a multiple-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract vehicle to sustain and modernize all A-10 weapon system configuration. At this time, $1,718,529 has been obligated. 538 ACSG/PK, Hill Air Force Base, Utah is the contracting activity (FA8202-09-D-0001, FA8202-09-D-0001, FA8202-09-D-0003).

The Air Force is awarding a firm fixed price contract to the following contractors: Lockheed Martin Corp., of Moorestown, N.J., Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., of Linthicum, Miss., and Raytheon Co., of Sudbury, Mass., for $30,000,000 each of three awards. This contract action will provide for Space Fence Phase A system design review, plans trades analysis and data, systems engineering planning; architecture planning; prototyping, modeling and simulation systems trades and analyses; risk management life cycle cost estimate and technical data. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 784 CBSG/PK, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8213-09-C-0051).

The Air Force is modifying a firm fixed price contract with Lockheed Martin Corp., of Orlando, Fla., for $14,811,316. This action will provide C-130J aircrew training system program contractor logistics support for various training devices including database generation, engineering support, courseware development and instruction. At this time the entire amount has been obligated. 558 ACSG/PK, Hill Air Force Base, Utah is the contracting activity (F42630-99-C-0095, P00252).

The Air Force is awarding a cost plus fixed fee contract to Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., of Herndon, Va., for $14,384,117. This contract action will provide maritime security analysis and capability assessments to the Chief of Naval Operations Plans, Policy, and Operations. At this time, $652,174 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380).

The Air Force is awarding a firm fixed price contract to Goldbelt Falcon, LLC of Newport News, Va. This action will provide 25 transportable field calibration units Series II, Data 25, with five year extended warranties. At this time, $8,320,000 has been obligated. 526 CSG, Heath, Ohio is the contracting activity (FY2333-09-D-0001).

The Air Force is awarding a cost plus award fee contract to Raytheon Co., of Marlborough, Mass. This action will provide the Minuteman MEECN program terminal upgrade and ECP by the Raytheon Co., will be procured which will result in the contractor obtaining a NSA Type 1 certification in software upgrades including design documentation to show UIC security compliance and related boundary activities. At this time, $2,000,000 has been obligated. 653 SNNG/PK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (FA8726-08-C-0004, P00012).

Law Gives Military Renters More Protection Against Foreclosures

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
Special to American Forces Press Service

June 11, 2009 - President Barack Obama's latest efforts to look after home renters gives military members additional protection if the homes they rent are foreclosed, a Defense Department official said today. The president's Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009 was signed into law on May 20. The legislation ensures that renters aren't forced out of their homes if foreclosure occurs and a new landlord takes over.

Renters in every state now have more time to find new homes. The new law greatly benefits the military, as the vast majority of active duty servicemembers rent homes throughout the United States, said Army Col. Shawn Shumake, director of legal policy in the Pentagon's personnel and readiness office.

While about 65 percent of the U.S. population own their homes, only about 25 percent of servicemembers are homeowners, so, foreclosure of rented homes potentially can affect most of the military, Shumake said.

"We've got a lot of folks out there that find that they are in really difficult positions, because their landlords are foreclosed on," he explained in a Pentagon Channel interview. "This law provides them a measure of security and protection they didn't previously have."

The legislation gives renters the right to stay in their homes throughout the duration of their lease, he said, unless the new owner is moving into the home or if the renter is renting under a month-to-month lease. Still, the new law gives renters at least 90 days before they can be evicted, he noted.

"This act is a protection that's really powerful and important, and a great help to our servicemembers," the colonel said. "This provides renters some particular [and] some important rights so they're not kicked out on the street with no notice."

Before the law went into effect, only individual state protection was available, or none at all, Shumake said. There was no consistency from state to state in the rights people had to fight immediate eviction after foreclosure.

The inconsistency may have been difficult on military members, many of whom are transferred from one state to another every two to three years. The federal law now provides a baseline of protection for all renters, no matter where they live in the United States, he said.

"There was no uniformity or anything you could count on," Shumake said. "[The law] now makes things the same across the country, and it at least gives you some basics that you know are there. At the very least, you know you're going to get that 90 days of protection."

The act is one of several laws that ensure military members are taken care of as they move from state to state to new duty stations, Shumake said. He noted the Joint Federal Travel Regulation, which defines financial benefits awarded to servicemembers upon changing duty stations.

The regulation was amended in July because of the rising foreclosure rates to allow the federal government to financially support local moves by military members. So, if one of the two exceptions occurs and servicemembers are forced to move from their home, the government may pay for the move, he said.

The regulation and Obama's new legislation go "hand in glove," Shumake said.

Military members faced with such uncertainty are in the best possible position with the two protections, he said.

For more information, servicemembers should contact their local legal office.