Face of Defense: Mother, Daughter Enlist in Army Reserve

By Al Laxamana
Special to American Forces Press Service

Dec. 31, 2008 - Like many high school seniors, Megan Schlotthauer wasn't sure what she wanted to do after graduation. Her grades weren't the best, and college is expensive. Searching for a purpose, the 17-year-old decided to explore her options in the Army Reserve.

"I was looking at the community colleges, and thought I would go there," she said. "Then I was talking to some people I know who are in the Navy Reserve, and some friends who have been in the military, and I thought that's what I wanted to do."

She presented the idea to her mother, Lisa Altoon, who wasn't receptive to the notion of her cheerleader daughter joining the Army.

"I was dead set against it from the beginning," she said.

Altoon, like many parents, was concerned about the possibility of Megan deploying to a combat zone. That is, until she met her daughter's recruiter, Army Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Dean of the Fremont, Calif., recruiting station. Dean proved to be a persuasive recruiter.

After learning about the Army Reserve, Altoon, a postal carrier in Fremont, decided that she, too, would become a soldier. Until recently, someone her age with no prior service would have been too old to enlist. Since the Army increased its maximum age to 42 in 2006, however, the door was wide open for the 39-year-old.

Mother and daughter enlisted in the same military occupational specialty -- computer information specialist -- and were assigned to the same unit, the 351st Civil Affairs Command in Mountain View, Calif.

Though Altoon originally was skeptical about her daughter joining, she said being in the same Reserve unit has its advantages.

"I'm a mom," she said. "This will give me a chance to protect her and keep an eye on her."

Altoon began basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., in October, followed by advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, Ga., to train as a computer specialist. Schlotthauer leaves for Fort Jackson in August.

Both soldiers said they're aware they might be deployed in support of the global war on terrorism, but insist they'll be ready if that time comes.

"Honestly, if I'm meant to go to Iraq, I'll go to Iraq," Schlotthauer said.

Her mother, and now her fellow soldier, agreed. "If it's meant for me to go, then that's what's going to happen," Altoon said.

(Al Laxamana serves in the Fresno Recruiting Battalion.)

MILITARY CONTRACTS December 30, 2008

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY CONTRACT AWARD

The Boeing Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Huntsville, Alabama, is being awarded $397,900,000 (not-to-exceed ceiling) for a cost plus award fee, cost plus fixed fee contract to continue development of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program; including Block 3 development and fielding activities for six months until a long-term, Core Completion contract for development can be awarded. The principal place of performance will be at the contractor's facility in Huntsville, Alabama. The contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This is a sole source contract under the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity (HQ0147-09-C-0008). The period of performance is from January 2009 through June 2009. FY09 research, development, test and evaluation funds (RDT&E) funds will be used.

Army

Alliant Lake City Small Caliber Ammunition Co., LLC, Independence, Mo., was awarded on Dec 29, 2008 a $49,236,000 firm fixed price requirements contract for modernization and upgrade of small caliber production equipment. Work will be performed at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, Independence, Mo., with an estimated completion date of Sep 30, 2009. One bid was solicited and one bid received. U.S. Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (DAAA09-00-D-0016).

DRS Optronics, Inc, Optronics Division, Palm Bay, Fla., was awarded on Dec 29, 2008 a $30,348,977 firm fixed price and cost plus fixed fee five-year contract that will cover spares, repairs and services for the mast-mounted sight for KIOWA and award of Order 0001 for the services for Program Year One. Award of a 5-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quality contract and issuance of orders under such contract allows the government to meet its need more rapidly and advantageously, reducing Administrative Lead-Time (ALT); thereby saving time and money. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Dec 31, 2013. One bid was solicited and one bid received. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-09-D-0001).

Weeks Marine, Inc., Covington, La., was awarded on Dec 29, 2008 a $7,844,330 firm fixed price contract for work consisting of dredging approximately 1,200,000 cubic yards of maintenance material with a deep draft pipeline dredge. Work will be performed in Harris County, Texas with an estimated completion date of Mar 31, 2009. Four bids were solicited with three bids received. USA Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HY-09-C-0004).

Air Force

The Air Force awarded a contract to the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), San Diego, California for $42,638,374. This contract includes all program management, urgent repairs and services, logistics support, configuration management, technical manual and software maintenance, engineering technical services, contractor engineering technical specialists, contractor inventory control point and spares management, depot repair, flight operations support, reliability/maintenance enhancements, and CAMS/REMIS/CEMS data collection/entry for the Predator/Reaper MQ-1 and MQ-9 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) program. At this time, $42,638,374 has been obligated. 703rd Aeronautical Systems Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8620-05-G-3028-0048).

The Air Force awarded a contract to Honeywell International Incorporated, Clearwater, Florida for $26,539,601. This contract provides for 316 EGI Production units, 58 EGI Multi-Mode Receivers, and 33 EGI Contractor Deport Repairs. At this time, $26,539,601 has been obligated. 647 AESS/PK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8626-06-C-2065-P00078).

The Air Force awarded a firm fixed price contract to the Computer Sciences Corp., (CSC), Falls Church, Virginia for $9,192,534. This will authorize CSC to provide technical support of Applications Infrastructure and Systems Supports for programs within the Mission Systems. At this time, $9,192,534 has been obligated. HQ AMC/A7KQB, Scott AFB, Illinois is the contracting activity (FA4452-09-D-0004, 0001).

The Air Force awarded a firm fixed price contract to Eaton Electrical Incorporated, Raleigh, North Carolina for $9,192, 523. This will authorize Eaton to provide an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system to sustain, filter, create redundancy and establish emergency power for mission critical equipment at the Defense Information Systems Agency. At this time, $9, 192,523 has been obligated. 84 CBSG/PK, Hill AFB, Utah is the contracting activity (FA8217-09-C-007).

The Air Force modified a contract with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.,, Sunnyvale, California for $7,189,000. This contract action authorizes Lockheed to perform two additional thermal vacuum (TVAC) cycles on the AEHF Space Vehicles 2. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing (MCSW)/PKA, El Segundo, California is the contracting activity (F04701-02-C-002, P00343).

The Air Force modified a contract with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.,, Sunnyvale, California for $9,909,270. This modification will provide feasibility studies to extend the Advanced High Frequency (AEHF) system in the Military Satellite Communications Program. At this time, $9,909,270 has been obligated. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing (MCSW)/PKA, El Segundo, California is the contracting activity (F04701-02-C-002, P00340).

The Air Force awarded a firm fixed-price contract action to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.,, Rolling Meadows, Illinois for $5,934,743. This will authorize Northrop Grumman to provide contractor logistic support for the LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod. At this time, $5, 934,743 has been obligated. 647 AESS/PK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio is the contracting activity (F33657-98-C-2020-P00104).

UNITED STATES TRANSPORTATION COMMAND

Sealift Inc. of Oyster Bay, N.Y. 11771-2298, is being awarded a $40,952,844 fixed price requirements contract for dedicated sealift services to transport lawful cargo by U.S. flag ships between points in the Continental United States of America (CONUS) and the terminals in Antigua and Ascension Islands. This contract is expected to be completed by December 31, 2011. Orders placed against this contract will be funded at the time the cargo is booked. This contract is a 100% Small Business Set Aside acquisition with three bids received. The contracting activity is United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-09-D-0005).

NAVY

Watts Constructors, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a $25,376,000 firm fixed price contract for the construction of a Wideband Satellite Communications Operations Center at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station (NCTAMS) Pacific. The contract also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $25,909,000. Work will be performed in Wahiawa, Oahu, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by May 2010. 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 four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-09-C-1300).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., is being awarded an $18,667,585 indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract (N00019-09-D-0015) for logistics and technical engineering services in support of the U.S. Marine Corps' KC-130J aircraft. Work will be performed in Cherry Point, N.C., and is expected to be completed in December 2009. 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.

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $10,400,000 modification to a previously awarded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity delivery order contract (N68936-06-D-0024) to provide specialized technical services in support of Depot Level Maintenance (DLM) work performed at the Fleet Readiness Center, Southwest (FRC-SW) on aircraft and rework of associated components and materials. Services to be provided include modifications, in-service repairs, and all other categories of service associated with aircraft DLM and its planning. The estimated level of effort for this modification is 346,666 man-hours. Work will be performed at FRC-SW, San Diego, Calif. (78 percent); the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), Camp Pendleton, Calif. (9 percent); the Naval Air Station (NAS), Lemoore, Calif. (4 percent); the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Pt. Mugu, Calif. (2 percent); NAS Whidbey Island, Bremerton, Wash. (2 percent); MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (2 percent); MCAS Yuma, Ariz. (2 percent); and MCAS Miramar, Calif. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Appreciation of Limits, Humility Important in Facing Future Challenges, Gates Says

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Dec. 17, 2008 - In his 42 years of service in the national security arena, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, the most important insights he's gained have been an appreciation of limits and a sense of humility. "The United States is the strongest and greatest nation on Earth, but there are still limits on what it can do," Gates wrote in the January/February issue of Foreign Affairs magazine.

The U.S. military's power and global reach have been "an indispensible contributor to world peace and must remain so," Gates continued in his article, titled "A Balanced Strategy: Reprogramming the Pentagon for a New Age."

"But not every outrage, every act of aggression or every crisis can or should elicit a U.S. military response," he said.

In fact, he said the United States "should be modest" about what military force and technology can accomplish.

"The advances in precision, sensor, information and satellite technologies have led to extraordinary gains in what the U.S. military can do," Gates said. "But no one should ever neglect the psychological, cultural, political and human dimensions of warfare.

"War is inevitably tragic, inefficient and uncertain," the secretary said, "and it is important to be skeptical of systems analyses, computer models, game theories or doctrines that suggest otherwise."

He dismissed notions of future conflict that gloss over the ugly realities of war and the heavy costs involved. He warned against concepts that "imagine it is possible to cow, shock or awe an enemy into submission instead of tracking enemies down hilltop by hilltop, house by house, block by bloody block."

Gates pointed to transformations the U.S. military has made to conduct operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. What started as a smaller-scale Cold War force was able to become an effective instrument of counterinsurgency -- but only at a substantial cost and by bucking the ingrained Pentagon bureaucracy.

"For every historic and resourceful innovation by troops and commanders on the battlefield, there was some institutional shortcoming at the Pentagon they had to overcome," he wrote.

Gates called for institutional changes so "the next sets of colonels, captains and sergeants will not have to be quite so heroic or quite so resourceful."

A strong advocate of institutionalizing counterinsurgency skills and the ability to conduct stability and support operations, Gates said it's time to bring them on par with the United States' conventional and strategic capabilities.

He cited the tradition of the United States being able to fight and adapt to a diverse range of conflicts -- a capability dating back to the Revolutionary War.

The U.S. National Defense Strategy, he said, builds on this tradition, providing a balanced approach needed for the United States to meet its responsibilities and preserve America's freedom, prosperity and security.

(This is the last article in a four-part series based on Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' article, "A Balanced Strategy: Reprogramming the Pentagon for a New Age," published in the January/February 2009 issue of Foreign Affairs magazine.)

Disability Awards Shed Light on Underrepresented Workers

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

Dec. 10, 2008 - The Defense Department recognized some of its outstanding disabled employees in a ceremony here yesterday that doubled as a forum to advance the cause of disabled workers. Though federal employers should focus on disabled workers' abilities, not their limitations, that's more wishful thinking than reality, a government official said yesterday at the Defense Department's Disability Awards Ceremony here.

"People with disabilities are much more likely to be unemployed than to be hired by the federal government. And there's something wrong with that picture," said Christine M. Griffin, commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and keynote speaker at the ceremony.

Griffin characterized as "dismal" the current number of disabled employees on Uncle Sam's payroll, representing less than 1 percent of the federal work force.

"We can always do better," Griffin said. "We are at kind of an all-time low."

Of the 6,000 federal senior executives, only 35 are severely disabled, Griffin said. And disabled federal employees endure pay gaps compared to the salaries of their counterparts, she added.

"This doesn't reflect the public we serve," said Griffin, who was paralyzed in a car crash while in college and uses a wheelchair. "This is not what society looks like."

Griffin said employment correlates to one's level of life satisfaction, and she stressed that champions of disabled workers must emerge to change employers' perceptions and hiring practices.

"I know that self worth and net worth are linked together," she said. "To deny that to millions and millions of people with disabilities is wrong."

David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said the Defense Department employs about 5,000 disabled workers, or 1 percent of its civilian work force.

"While that percentage may be higher than some other agencies, we know we can do better," Chu said. "The emphasis should not be on what you can't do; the emphasis should be on what you can do."

A network of programs in the federal community helps disabled workers and their employers.

Dinah F.B. Cohen directs the Defense Department's Computer Electronic Accommodations Program, which has provided technical assistance to disabled employees for nearly 20 years. In fiscal 2008, she said, the program filled more than 10,000 requests for accommodations, almost half of which supported wounded servicemembers.

"When you see that 44 percent of those accommodations were directly related to support our men and women with devastating injuries, I feel we are making a difference," Cohen said. "We have gotten rid of that excuse, 'I can't afford to accommodate [disabled employees]."

On behalf of the Defense Department, Chu presented awards to the following outstanding employees with disabilities:

-- Gary Szymanski, Department of the Army;

-- Dierdre McVoy, Department of the Navy;

-- Joanne Jordan, Department of the Air Force;

-- Darrell H. Gates, Army and Air Force Exchange Service;

-- Frank William Jenkins, Jr., Defense Commissary Agency;

-- Yvonne E. Brauer, Defense Contract Management Agency;

-- Richard Allen Larue, Defense Finance and Accounting Service;

-- Michael D. Martin, Defense Information Systems Agency;

-- David E. Anders, Defense Logistics Agency;

-- Georgia Williams-Fitzpatrick, Department of Defense Education Activity;

-- Dorthea Barbour, National Guard Bureau; and

-- Paul W. Kahn, National Security Agency.

In addition, the Department of the Army took the honors for best military department, the Defense Logistics Agency accepted the award for best mid-size agency, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency earned the prize for the best small agency.

Award recipient David E. Anders works as a supply supervisor at a Defense Logistics Agency office in Columbus, Ohio. Anders, who was paralyzed from the chest down at age 16 after a car accident, uses a wheelchair in the office. Despite his injury, he's no less efficient than his coworkers.

"Actually, I move a little faster than most of them do. I get yelled at all the time for buzzing around," said Anders, who has completed five marathons, including one that he was forced to finish with a flat tire on his wheelchair.

Anders -- who calls himself not "disabled" but "super-abled" -- said a positive attitude can help one transcend a handicap and change people's perceptions.

"If you have a positive attitude, a can-do attitude, people will look past the disability," he said.

His advice to employers who are skeptical of disabled workers: "Give them a chance, and let them show you what they can and can't do."

Nominations Open for Outstanding Employers of Guardsmen, Reservists

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 26, 2008 - The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has opened nominations for its 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. National Guardsmen, reservists and their families have until Jan. 19 to nominate employers they believe have gone above and beyond requirements in their support of military employees.

"In the past, recipients of the Freedom Award have provided full salary, continuation of benefits, or care packages -- even family support -- to employees fulfilling their military obligation," said Beth Sherman, an ESGR spokeswoman.

Sherman noted that while some past Freedom Award winners have been large corporations, even small companies have proven to be especially supportive of their reserve-component employees.

"This year for example, we had Robinson Transport, ... a small, family-owned business out of Utah," she said. "They had, out of their 150 employees, five deployed."

The company purchased each of the deployed employees a laptop computer for use while they were gone and contributed $5,000 so they could upgrade their Internet connections at home. They even provided $1,000 a month to supplement their deployed employees' household incomes for the duration of their deployments.

"They also provided full life, health, and dental insurance benefits and kept everything going for them to be able to go out and do their job without having to worry about their family or their bills back home," Sherman said. "That's kind of above and beyond ... what is required by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act."

Robinson Transport was one of 2,199 employers nominated for the 2008 awards. That number represents a 97 percent increase over the number of nominations in 2007, Sherman said. Since nominations for the 2009 awards opened Nov. 3, 628 nominations have come in, putting ESGR on track to surpass last year's record number.

Recipients of the 2009 award will be announced in the spring and honored during the 14th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony Sept. 17 in Washington.

The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award was established in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize exceptional employer support.

ESGR, a Defense Department agency, was established in 1972 with a mission of gaining and maintaining support for Guardsmen and reservists by recognizing outstanding support, increasing the awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts through media.

More information about the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, as well as nomination forms, can be found at http://www.FreedomAward.mil.

Veterans Get Free Health Exams at Redskins-Sponsored Clinic

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 9, 2008 - Scores of military veterans from across the National Capital Region visited FedEx Field here yesterday, but not to watch the National Football League's Washington Redskins play. Instead, while the players were taking a week off, veterans of all ages, some with their families, entered the Redskins' burgundy-hued locker room, where they received free health exams, including tests for cholesterol level, blood pressure, body fat percentage and other preventive-care checkups.

The event also featured children's games, candy, and appearances by the team's "Hoggettes" mascots and cheerleaders.

The Redskins conducted the clinic with the help of some health care firms and veterans' groups, said Stephanie R. Baldwin, the team's client services manager.

"Partnering together is a perfect way to get people out here and get them checked out," Baldwin said. "The military veterans do so much for our country. ... It's very important to recognize them."

Army veteran Nicol D. Martin, who was a finance sergeant when she left the Army in 2001 after six years of service, said the Redskins' health clinic was a great idea, as she waited her turn to get her body fat percentage checked via computer. Martin "did well" on her test, according to examiner Ammanuel Haile-Leal.

The Redskins should be saluted for holding a health clinic "for the veterans who've served the country," Martin said.

"For one, you get to see the Redskins' locker room and then, too, you get to have the health screenings," said Martin, a 38-year-old Woodbridge, Va., resident who now works at the Pentagon.

After receiving a cholesterol-level test, retired Navy Cmdr. Robert C. Douglass, 54, and his wife, Sheila, surveyed the bustling locker room. The Douglass' 11-year-old son, Jeremy, was among several other children at an X-Box 360 computer game set just a short distance away.

The Redskins and the other sponsors are to be commended for holding the health clinic, the Navy retiree and Chantilly, Va., resident said.

"I enjoy the fact that people are concerned about veterans' health," Douglass said, adding that the multifaceted event "made it exciting for the family as a whole."

World War II Army veteran and Alexandria, Va., resident Peter P. Evanko, 84, hailed the Redskins as he finished his prostate-specific antigen level screening, a blood test that helps to assess the health of the prostate gland.

"This is a very good thing, not only for a veteran, but I think all people should be taking care of themselves," said Evanko, left the Army at the end of the war with a sergeant's rank after serving in the European theater.

The health clinic "is a great thing for those of us who were in the service, and I thank everybody who sponsored it," Evanko said.

Pharmaceutical, biological and health care company GlaxoSmithKline was one of the co-sponsors of the Redskins-hosted veterans' health clinic, said Howard K. Thomas, a senior federal program manager with the firm.

"We're an active supporter of veterans, and we're very honored to be able to in some small way give back to the people who've so bravely served our country," Thomas said. "They're the ones who protect us."

The war against terrorism has caused Americans to reflect on military veterans' contributions throughout the years and of the efforts and sacrifices of present-day servicemembers, said Bill Bradshaw, 64, a Vietnam veteran, Army retiree and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"They recognize the importance of the job that we do of taking care of America," Bradshaw said.

Linguists Play Key Threat-Reduction Role, Agency Director Says

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 23, 2008 - For the past 16 years, the United States has worked with leadership in Eurasian countries to reduce the numbers of weapons of mass destruction left behind in former Soviet-bloc states after the Iron Curtain fell, an achievement made possible in part by America's cadre of skilled foreign linguists, the director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency said in an interview here. "It takes a very special person, in my mind, who can speak Russian, who's willing to live in Kazakhstan for two years and who's willing to build rapport with the community to make the 'cooperative' part of 'cooperative threat reduction' work," James Tegnelia said.

Since 1992, the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, also called the Nunn-Lugar Program after the two U.S. senators behind the initiative, drastically cut the number of leftover weapons, dismantling more than 2,000 intercontinental missiles, eliminating 1,000 missile launchers and deactivating 7,000 nuclear warheads in former Soviet Union states.

U.S. Sens. Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar launched the program amid rising fears that rogue regimes or terrorists sought the remaining stockpiles.

"Maintaining an effective set of threat-reduction activities in former Soviet Union states remains a priority for the United States," according to the DTRA Web site. "These activities are designed to address the proliferation threat stemming from large quantities of Soviet-legacy [weapons of mass destruction] and missile-related expertise and materials remaining in [former Soviet Union] states."

Top graduates from an intensive Russian language and culture course at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., may qualify for employment at DTRA. These practitioners work with their Russian counterparts in overseeing weapons facilities inspections. They act as interpreters and escorts, and often provide useful insights into the lay of the land, Tegnelia said.

"These people not only speak the language, they understand the culture, and they're expected to have read Russian novels and understand something about the Russian history, and know when you're making a social mistake to not cause those kind of problems," he said. "It's one thing to get a computer to translate your language, but it's another thing to know that you're saying the right thing and that you're not being culturally insensitive."

Under the Nunn-Lugar rubric, the United States and Russia together compelled Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan to eliminate all nuclear weapons from their territories, and in all, the program has disabled more nuclear weapons than exist in the combined arsenals of the United Kingdom, France and China.

Tegnelia credited the language institute for maintaining its high level of Russian proficiency, even as the number of missile silos, warheads and nuclear bombers in those countries has gone down.

"It would have been very easy to let that atrophy," he said. "But they maintain it; my sense is we're going to need it. They've been a very steady hand at the wheel."

The DTRA director said the agency has considered the necessity of expanding programs like the accelerated Russian language training to include other parts of the world, such as Central Asia and sections of U.S. Central Command's area of operations.

Tegnelia said the linguists fulfilling these vital on-site rolls often are young, intrepid, recent post-baccalaureate graduates.

"They've lived in the culture they've tried to learn," he said. "They come back with some real-world experience. They can live in different cultures, they speak different languages, they have a background that not a lot of people have. And oh, by the way, there's not a lot you're going to do in Siberia in the middle of winter, so you end up with some money to pay off your student loans. It's a win-win."

Judith Gilliom, Pentagon Advocate for Disabled Employees, Dies

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 16, 2008 - Judith C. Gilliom, a senior Pentagon civilian who for 25 years championed Defense Department programs for disabled employees and work force diversity, died at age 65 here yesterday, officials said. Gilliom died of respiratory and other complications during treatment at a regional hospital following an Oct. 10 stroke.

Her passing represents "a great loss," David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, stated in an e-mail. "Her indomitable spirit was an inspiration," Chu added.

Gilliom's earlier work at the U.S. Civil Servant Commission and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission included writing two of the basic documents upon which the federal affirmative-action program for people with disabilities is based.

Upon joining the Defense Department in 1983, Gilliom became the Pentagon's first department-level disability program manager.

At age 27, Gilliom was permanently paralyzed from the neck down as the result of an accident.

"Inclusion and empowerment are the things that make diversity great," Gilliom said at the Defense Department's annual disability awards ceremony in 2002. "People with disabilities are now part of the mainstream. We belong."

At the Pentagon, Gilliom served as the disability program manager on the staff of Clarence A. Johnson, principal director of the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity, formerly known as the Office of Civilian Equal Employment Opportunity.

"She was a key component in this office as our DoD disability program manager," Johnson said of Gilliom.

Johnson praised Gilliom as a tireless worker and a leader in the federal disability community. Her photo and story are featured along with those of several other distinguished DoD civilian employees at a wall-mounted display in the Pentagon's A-ring.

Gilliom established the department's disabled work force recruitment program about 12 years ago, Johnson said. She also assisted in the start-up of the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program for disabled employees, he said, and managed DoD's Asian/Pacific-American heritage program.

Gilliom had been hospitalized off and on during the last several years, Johnson said. She took ill again in January, he said, and often worked from her Wheaton, Md., home until her death.

Johnson said Gilliom was planning to return to work part-time at the Pentagon following another stint in the hospital a few weeks ago. However, he said, her health worsened after the stroke, and she died.

Gilliom specified in her will that she didn't want a funeral or a memorial service. So Burton Rothleder, her long-time friend, asked that no flowers or donations be sent, Johnson said. Gilliom did arrange, at her expense, a party for family and friends at a local restaurant. Rothleder will ensure invitees are notified when it is planned, Johnson said.

"Burt said many years ago that Judy said she didn't expect to live past 50," Johnson said. "She lived beyond age 65, and we were blessed and inspired by her presence. We will surely miss Judy."

MILITARY CONTRACTS

Army

Raytheon Co., Largo, Fla., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $21,635,359 cost plus fixed price contract for development effort for the Joint–Tactical Terminal senior upgrade kit. Work will be performed in Ontario, Canada, Linthicum, Md., and Columbia Md., with estimated and completion date of Oct. 1, 2010. Bids solicited were IBOP and one bid was received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-08-C-T210).

John C. Grimberg, Rockville, Md., was awarded on Sept. 29, 2008, a $19,959,706 firm fixed price contract for a central heating plant at Defense Distribution Depot Susquehanna, New Cumberland, Pa. Work will be performed in New Cumberland, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Jun. 30, 2011. Bids solicited were via the web and three bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-08-C-0047).

MaxFour-Weitz, JV, Englewood, Colo., was awarded on Sept. 30, 2008, a $19,921,822 construction firm fixed price contract for construction of permanent party barracks, Phase 2, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Work will be performed in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., with an estimated completion date of Mar. 30, 2010. Bids solicited were via the Web and one bid was received. Corp of Engineer, Kansas, Mo., is the contracting activity (W912DQ-07-D-0031).

Alacran/O&S, Joint Venture, Rockford, Ill., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $19,487,767 firm fixed price contract. The work consists of relocation of the metal parts and machinery operations at Riverbank Army Munitions Plant and Miss., Army Ammunition Plant to Rock Island Arsenal. Work will be performed in Rock Island, Ill., with estimated and completion date of Mar. 31, 2010. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting (W912QR-08-C-0057).

BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle Systems, Sealy, Texas, was awarded Oct. 1, 2008, a $19,000,000 firm fixed price contract for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) sustainment parts. Work will be performed in Humble, Texas, Lufkin, Texas and Houston, Texas, with estimated and completion date of Aug. 5, 2008. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. ACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-C-0010).

L-3 Communications, Linkabit Division, San Diego, Calif., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $16,546,100 cost plus fixed price contract for a fourteen-month period of performance to provide Technology refresh for the Prophet Block III Spiral I Sensor Vehicle with Satellite Communications on the Move capabilities. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., Melbourne, Fla., Scottsdale, Ariz., Austin, Texas, and Aberdeen, Md., with estimated and completion date of Dec. 1, 2010. Bids solicited were via IBOP and three bids were received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (DAAB07-C-L-539).

Cox Construction, Vista, Calif., was awarded on Sept. 29, 2008, a $15,787,000 firm fixed fee price contract for Building 1 Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) remodel at VA Medical Center, Reno, Nev. Work will be performed in Reno, Washoe, Nev., with an estimated completion date of Nov 4, 2011. Bids solicited were via the web and four bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer, Sacramento, Calif., is the contracting activity (W912BV-06-D-2019).

Tanner Heavy Equipment Co., of Leesville, La., was awarded Sept. 29, 2008, a $14,900,000 firm fixed price contract to construct and repair roads as well as drainage systems at Fort Polk, La. The work also will include military and civil projects within the Corps of Engineers' Southwestern Division. The work will be performed primarily at Fort Polk and will be completed by Sept. 29, 2012. The U.S. Army Engineer District, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W91-26G-08-D-0074).

U.S. Ordnance of Reno, Nev., was awarded Sept. 27, 2008, a $14,001,700 firm fixed price contract to purchase M2HB nonstandard machines for Afghanistan. The work is being performed at the contractor's Reno plant and was to be completed by Sept. 30, 2009. The U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command at Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-08-C-0218).

Staffco Construction Co., of Fairborn, Ohio, was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $13,938,000 contract to construct an Armed Forces Reserve Center and field maintenance shop in Springfield, Ohio. The work will be performed in Springfield and will be completed by Apr. 30, 2010. Bids were solicited via the worldwide web and five bids were received. The National Guard Bureau's office in Columbus, Ohio, is the contracting activity (W91364-08-C-0002).

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, LLC, of Oak Brook, Ill., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $13,595,100 firm fixed price contract for erosion and hurricane protection projects in Westhampton, Suffolk County, N.Y. The work will be performed there and will be completed by Mar. 30, 2009. Twenty bids were solicited and two bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CENAN-CT, in New York City is the contracting activity (W912DS-08-C-0027).

Greenleaf Construction Co., Inc, Kansas City, Mo., was awarded on Sept. 30, 2008, a $12,048,527 firm fixed fee price contract for construction of a chapel complex, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Work will be performed in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2010. Bids were solicited via the Web and two bids were received. U.S. Army Corp of Engineer, Omaha, Neb., is the contracting activity (W9128F-08-C-0037).

Alutiiq International Solution, LLC, Fort Drum, N.Y., was awarded on Sept. 29, 2008, a $11,041,307 firm fixed price contract for construction of a standard Automated Qualification Training Range on Range 44 at fort drum, N.Y. Work will be performed in Fort Drum Leray, N.Y., with an estimated completion date of Jun. 30, 2010. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. Corp of Engineer, New York City, N.Y., is the contracting activity (W912DS-08-C-0030).

Intercontinental Construction Contracting of Passaic, N.J., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $9,163,524 firm fixed price contract for construction and restoration of Michie Stadium, Phase four at West Point, N.Y. The work will be performed at the campus of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and will be completed by Mar. 31, 2010. Bids were solicited via the worldwide web and seven bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineer in New York, N.Y., is the contracting activity (W912DS-07-C-0029).

Veteran's Enterprise Technology Services, Inc., of Knoxville, Tenn., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $9,459,000 firm fixed price contract for the design and construction of an Army dining facility for 2,400 people at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. The work will be performed at Fort Leonard Wood and will be completed by Dec. 30, 2010. Bids were solicited by FedBizOps and two bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, is the contracting activity (W91236-08-D-0055).

Affolter Contracting, Ltd., of Texas City, Texas, was awarded Sept. 29, 2008, a $8,950,000 firm fixed price contract for flood control measures along the Mississippi River and its tributaries, the West Bank Mississippi River levees, as well as levee enlargement and beams. The work will be performed from Texas City and will be completed by Sept. 30, 2009. Eleven bids were received for these projects. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District, is the contracting activity (W912EE-08-C-0036).

Greenleaf/ECI Joint Venture of Kansas City, Mo., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $7,941,714 firm fixed price contract to modify firing ranges seven and eight at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. The work will be performed at Fort Leonard Wood and will be completed by Sept. 29, 2009. Four bids were solicited and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-07-0045).

The Selmer Co., of Green Bay, Wis., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $7,046,600 firm fixed price contract to construct an Army Reserve Center at Hammond, Wis. The work will be performed in Hammond and will be completed by Apr. 2, 2010. Bids were solicited via FedBizOps and six bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, is the contracting activity (W912QE-08-C-0061).

Evergreen Fire Alarm and Security of Tacoma, Wash., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $7,025,298 firm fixed price contract for Fire-alarm inspections and testing at Fort Lewis, Wash. The work will be performed on Fort Lewis and will be completed by Oct. 1, 2013. Bids were solicited via the worldwide web and three bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, is the contracting activity (W912DW-08-C-0022).

Alutiiq International Solutions, LLC, of Dallas, Texas, was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $6,965,366 indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity firm fixed price contract to design and building modular buildings for the 5th Armored Brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas, near Chaparral, N.M. The work will be performed there and will be completed by Jun. 30, 2009. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District, Little Rock, Ark., is the contracting activity (W9127S-08-C06006).

Tanner Heavy Equipment Co., of Leesville, La., was awarded Sept. 29, 2008, a $6,464,817 firm fixed price contract for construction and paving of parking lots at Fort Polk, La. The work will be performed on Fort Polk and will be completed by Apr. 1, 2009. Two bids were received for this small-business set-aside project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-08-C-0077).

K.O.O. Construction, Inc., of West Sacramento, Calif., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $6,019,642 firm fixed price contract for electrical upgrades at Dock 1 on Beale Air Force Base, Calif. The work will be performed on Beale and will complete by Jan. 3, 2010. Bids were solicited via the worldwide web and two bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District, Sacramento, is the contracting activity (W91238-08-C-0026).

Computer Sciences Corp. of Alexandria, Va., was awarded Sept. 29, 2008, a $5,727,870 contract for automation support to assist the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The work will be performed at the agency's Fort Belvoir, Va., facility and will be completed by Feb. 27, 2010. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency is the contracting activity (HDTRA1-08-C-0073).

Bluegrass Construction Corp. of Lexington, Ky., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $5,721,103 firm fixed price contract for improvements at the east-access corridor on Fort Knox, Ky. The work will be performed there and will be complete by Mar. 24, 2010. Bids were solicited via FedBizOps and three bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District, Louisville, is the contracting activity (W912QR-08-C-0060).

Science Applications International Corp., (SAIC) of Chantilly, Va., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $5,104,498 contract for acquisition of topographic data. The work will be performed at SAIC's Chantilly facility and will be completed by Sept. 29, 2009. The National Geospatial Agency, Arnold, Mo., is the contracting activity (NMA302-03-D-0006).

Dredge Technology Corp. of Wayne, N.J., was awarded Sept. 30, 2008, a $5,052,453 firm fixed price contract to acquire 2,000 free of 32-inch floating dredging hose for dredging operations on the Miss., River. Bids were solicited via the worldwide web and two bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District, Philadelphia, is the contracting activity (W912BU-08-P-0335).

Navy

Manu Kai, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a $52,983,851 fixed price, indefinite quantity cost plus fixed fee contract for range operations support and base operations support services. This contract includes a one-year base period, with nine one-year option periods which, if exercised, bring the total estimated value of the contract to $737,932,436. Work will be performed in Kauai, Hawaii, and work is expected to be completed by Sept. 2018. Contract funds in the amount of $31,700,310 will expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured through Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities website, with four offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.

Navistar Defense LLC, Warrenville, Ill, is being awarded a $35,852,606 firm fixed priced modification to delivery order #0006 under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5032) for sustainment items needed to support Category I Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) vehicles in theater. This order will also be used to support several engineering change proposals to increase the vehicles' capabilities. Work will be performed in West Point, Miss., and work is expected to be completed Apr. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Terex Corp., Stafford, Va., is being awarded an $11,703,202 firm fixed price delivery order # 0015 under previously awarded contract (M67854-05-D-5145) for 19 cranes and associated items. Work will be performed by Terex-Demag GmbH&Co.KG, Dinglerstr.24, 66482 Zweibrucken, Germany, and work is expected to be completed by May 2010. Contract funds will not expire during the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Air Force

ITT Industries Systems Division of Cape Canaveral, Fla., is having a contract modified for $10,419,168. This in-scope modification is issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract. It increases the house ordered and estimated cost for sustainment activities and adds the Defense Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process to Department of Defense Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process project requirement for several Contract Line Items Numbers on the contract. $10,419,168 has been obligated. Peterson AFB, Colo., is the contracting activity F0470-01-C-0001, Modification P00520.

Army Research Grant to Explore Communication Through Brain Waves

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 9, 2008 - The 1982 Clint Eastwood thriller "Firefox" seemed like the ultimate military science fiction story: A former Vietnam War pilot steals a state-of-the-art Soviet fighter plane armed with weapons controlled solely by thought. More than 25 years later, the Army is funding research to explore the futuristic concept of using brain waves to communicate.

The Army Research Office awarded a $4 million grant in mid-August to lay the scientific foundation it hopes will someday enable soldiers in the field to communicate through a deliberate thought process.

Elmar Schmeisser, ARO program manager, described the revolutionary concept in terms of the way today's field soldiers communicate with radios. "You'll press the button on your harness, you'll think, then you'll throw the button off," he said.

Gone will be the microphone. Gone will be the receiver. The message will go directly from the soldier's head into a computer programmed to decipher his brain waves, Schmeisser explained.

The result will be communication that's silent, secure and free of background noise.

"If I record what you are saying from your brain wave, ... it is automatically noise-free, clear and secure," he said. "No one can overhear you, because you are not saying anything out loud, so it is an absolutely secure system."

But getting to that point will require a monumental scientific breakthrough – something researchers at the University of California, Irvine, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Maryland hope to work toward with the ARO grant.

It could take 15 or 20 years before technology gets to the point to support the system. "The mathematics behind this is fierce. It is really difficult," Schmeisser said.

But if scientists are successful, they could bring tremendous capability to future soldiers, he said, while providing a huge side benefit as well. The technology could provide a way for soldiers with brain injuries – as well as civilians with neurological problems such as Lou Gehrig's Disease – to communicate without speaking or writing, he said.

Test subjects for the project will don special caps that take electroencephalography, or EEG, signals sent out by their brains. The readings register as squiggles on a computer screen. The challenge for scientists is to figure out how to translate the squiggles into messages a computer can type out or speak.

The decoded thoughts – translated brain waves – would be transmitted using a system that points to the person intended to receive the message.

But getting to that point could take decades, Schmeisser said, because of the huge amount of brain activity that takes place at the same time, and the fact that no two people have the same EEG blueprint.

"What makes this difficult is that everyone's brain is unique and everyone's EEG is unique, just like everyone's speech is unique," he said. "So it has to be individualized for every person."

But users also need to be trained to think in a way the system will understand, he said. "For this thing to have any chance of working at all, the individual has to learn to think clearly and loudly," he said.

Schmeisser compared the system to a computer-based voice-recognition program that translates speech into text. "You have to speak slowly and clearly, and at the end you have a certain amount of accuracy," he said. He noted a variety of factors that can interfere: nasal congestion, an unfamiliar accent or background noise.

"So you will have to think the same way and train the machine so it understands your particular pattern," he said.

Schmeisser dismissed claims that the technology could be used to read people's minds without their knowledge or consent. "This is not about mind reading. It doesn't even think about 'mind' at all," he said. "For this to work, you are going to have to be fully involved, and that is going to take time."

The program is among the Army's research projects intended to build the scientific foundation for future breakthroughs. "We're looking at long-term goals," Schmeisser said. "By putting research like this in place now, in 15 years you may be able to harvest that. This is not going to be operational in any real military sense for quite awhile."

The grant for the program comes from the Defense Department's Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative Program, which supports research involving more than one science and engineering discipline.

"In that synergy, you might be able to generate a breakthrough and research that will allow invention," Schmeisser said. "So this program is not focused on creating inventions. It is focused on creating the basic science foundation from which inventions flow."

Few other organizations are able invest in such high-risk ventures, despite the high payoff they could provide. "The Army is interested in these breakthrough technologies," he said. "They are high-risk, and they may not pay off, but when they do, they pay off big."

And in many cases, the payoffs not only benefit the military, but also have civilian applications. Schmeisser pointed to just a few technologies that started as Army research programs, lasers and radar among them.

"The spinout for military technology has been here since the Bronze Age, he said, pointing to how early man first developed weapons, then turned them into tools. "Fighting and the development of military technology is something humans have been doing as far back as we can record," he said. "But the peacetime dividend of military development has been huge."

Another long-term Army-funded program, still in its infancy, is exploring how to use genetically modified viruses to produce nanocircuitry. Angela Belcher, the chief scientist behind that effort, won the 2004 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Award for her efforts.

In addition to paving the way to low-cost production of nanoscale integrated circuits and other electronic components, Belcher's program could also lead to a broad range of next-generation applications: medical implants and tissue growth, energy-efficient batteries and lighting, faster and smaller computers, detectors for hazardous agents and stronger armor for military craft, among them.

MILITARY CONTRACTS September 2, 2008

Air Force

The Air Force is exercising an option with Computer Sciences Raytheon, of Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., for $78,134,869. The Eastern Range Technical Services will provide operations, maintenance, and sustainment of critical range and launch processing systems that support the launch processing mission of the 45th Space Wing and its launch customers at Cape Canaveral Air Station. The scope of this acquisition will include all critical range systems and associated support system. Services include downrange facilities support, base and range local area network/metropolitan area network services, and other minor technical supports required for successful range mission accomplishment. The location of performance is Computer Sciences Raytheon, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. No money has been obligated at this time. Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA2521-07-C-0011).

The Air Force is modifying a contract with United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney, of East Hartford, Conn., for $30,042,543. This contract will exercise an option for three combined test force engines. The location of performance is United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney, East Hartford, Conn. At this time $30,042,543 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8611-06-C-2900).

The Air Force is modifying a time and materials contract with Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics of Fort Worth, Texas, for $7,290,485. This action will increase the T&M ceilings on the over and above contract line items 0313 and 0318 to allow the continued authorization of over and above work until the end of the calendar year. The location of performance is Lockheed Martin Corporation, Fort Worth, Texas. At this time $7,290,485 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (FA8611-08-C-2897)

The Air Force is exercising an option with Tybrin Corp., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., for $52,849,939. The Air Force is exercising option year six for software engineering support of guided weapons systems evaluations, simulations, and other services supporting research and development for the principals and customers of the Air Armament Center. The location of performance is Air Armament Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. No money has been obligated at this time. Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is the contracting activity (F08635-02-C-0034).

The Air Force is awarding a cost plus fixed fee contract to Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., of Herndon, Va., for $9,539,622. This contract action will provide Joint Functional Component Command for space J2 survivability and vulnerability analysis. The location of performance is Santa Maria, Calif., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif. At this time, $439,614 has been obligated. Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380).

The Air Force is awarding a cost plus fixed fee contract to Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., of Herndon, Va., for $21,520,038. The action will provide U.S. Marine Corps Mission Assurance Program Development with technical analysis and operation integration. The location of performance is Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Va. At this time, $4,554,591 has been obligated. Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity. (SP0700-03-D-1380)

The Air Force is awarding a contract to Booz-Allen and Hamilton, of McLean, Va., for $7,246,345. This action provides for financial sector resilience studies, analysis, and exercise. The location of performance is McLean, Va., and Washington, D.C. At this time $2,415,459 has been obligated. Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380).

Navy

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney, Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded an advance acquisition contract with an estimated value of $78,065,000 for long lead components, parts and materials associated with the lot three low rate initial production of 8 Joint Strike Fighter Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) propulsion systems for the U.S. Navy, 10 Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) propulsion systems for the U.S. Air Force, 2 CTOL propulsion systems for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and three STOVL propulsion systems for the United Kingdom Royal Navy. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Conn.,(70 percent), and Bristol, United Kingdom, (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in Jan. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($37,800,000; 48.4 percent); the U.S. Air Force ($26,900,000; 34.5 percent); the Governments of the Netherlands, ($2,025,000; 2.6 percent); and the United Kingdom, ($11,340,000; 14.5 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-08-C-0033).

Knik Construction Co., Inc., Seattle, Wash., is being awarded a maximum $50,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for paving and resurfacing projects at the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Task Order 0001 is being awarded at $4,138,785 for paving and resurfacing in the Guantanamo Bay, Housing at the time of award. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by Aug. 2009. All work on this contract will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2013. Contract funds for Task Order 0001 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with one proposal received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-08-D-1272).

ILSC Holdings LC, dba Katmai Research*, Van Nuys, Calif., is being awarded a ceiling $45,673,958 modification to previously awarded delivery order contract (M67854-08-D-2007). to perform post-deployment software support and system software support facility (SSSF) support and sustainment of the AN/TYQ-23, Tactical Air Operations Module. This contract modification will provide increased support for the design, development and implementation of Interface Change Proposals and Problem Change Requests of tactical software for the AN/TYQ-23 version four ((V)4). No funds are associated with the base contract award requirements will be identified in individual delivery orders issued under this contract. Work will be performed in Van Nuys, Calif., and is expected to be completed in May 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity

Basile Baumann Prost Cole & Associates, Inc., Annapolis, Md., is being awarded a maximum $40,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity time and materials contract for professional services in support of the Department of the Navy public-private ventures and other special programs located within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic area of responsibility. The work to be performed consists of providing research and analysis for all aspects of special venture acquisitions, including family and unaccompanied housing public private ventures, enhanced use leasing, portfolio management, program development, financial analysis, and other public-private venture opportunities. Work will be performed primarily in Va., (50 percent) and Md., (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2013. Contract funds will 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, Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N62470-08-D-2006).

Webco Roofing and Waterproofing*, Ventura, Calif., is being awarded $6,538,679 for firm-fixed-price task order #0020 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-06-D-1010) for various roofing projects at Naval Base Ventura County. The work to be performed provides for labor, materials, equipment, supervision and transportation necessary to complete roofing projects. Work will be performed in Ventura County, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division, Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

BOH Environmental, LLC, New Orleans, La., is being awarded a maximum $100,000,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment, sole source contract for specialized shipping and storage containers with accessories. Other locations of performance are in Texas and Penn. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Aug. 28, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM8ED-08-D-0251).

Army

C.W. Roberts Construction, Inc., Tallahassee, Fla., was awarded on Aug. 28, 2008, a $42,439,910 firm/fixed price contract to provide 8.5 linear miles of roadway shoulder sheet piling for shoulder and roadway protection against erosion and scour, caused from hurricane storm surge. Work will be performed in Elgin Air Force Base, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 26, 2010. Bids solicited were FEDBIZOPS and nine bids were received Corps of Engineers Mobile, Mobile Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-08-C-0048).

BAE Systems, Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., was awarded on Aug. 29, 2008, a $11,638,114 firm/fixed price contract. This contract requirement is for the incorporation of the approved engineering change proposal on the Bradley automated fire extinguishing system (AFES) for 419. Work will be performed in York, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 29, 2009. Aug. 31, 2009. One was bid solicited and one bid was received. US Army TACOM LCMC Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-05-G-0005).

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Co., Bedford, Mass., was awarded on Aug. 28, 2008, a $6,239,038 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract fiscal year 2008 engineering services contract option award for 11,195 man–hours of effort. Work will be performed in Burlington, Mass., Huntsville, Ala., Andover, Mass., Tewksbury, Mass., El Paso, Texas, and Norfolk, Va., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2009. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. US Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-04-C-0020).

Sheets T.A. Mechanical Contractors, Inc., Norfolk, Va., was awarded on Aug. 28, 2008, a $5,664,000 firm/fixed price contract design and construction of fiscal year 2008 permanent party chapel complex at Fort Lee, Petersburg, Va. Work will be performed in Fort Lee, Va., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 29, 2010. Bids were solicited via Internet and one bid was received. US Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Neb., is the contracting activity (W9128F-08-C-0019).

Recent Cyber Attacks Serve as Lesson, General Says

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 24, 2008 - Recent cyber attacks against government information systems overseas should serve as a lesson that the United States needs to continue to strengthen its defenses against those who would target the country's financial, business and military systems, the commander of U.S. Northern Command said today. Appearing on C-Span's "Newsmakers," Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., who leads both NorthCom and North American Aerospace Defense Command, cited recent cyber attacks against the former Soviet republic of Georgia in which government Web sites were intermittently knocked offline, as well as last year's cyber attacks against government computer systems in the Baltic nation of Estonia.

"We need to ensure that we learn the lessons of those two events, and that we continue to strengthen an integrated process to defend ourselves against these kinds of intrusion," Renuart said.

Since early this month, hackers have attacked Georgian servers and Web sites, forcing the government to relocate the sites to other servers. Some sites were defaced, while others were simply rendered unavailable.

The general said NorthCom relies on space- and land-based sensors to identify threats, and that intrusions into its computer networks could disrupt the command's ability to provide warning of an attack.

"It's critical to our mission that we are comfortable that we have a secure network, that it's resilient to probes and attacks, and that it will be able to sustain good decision-making ... for the nation's leaders," Renuart said.

Renuart said that though there is ample funding to combat the threat, efforts to do so have been somewhat "segmented."

The Department of Homeland Security has the mission for the cyber-defense of the nation, and its role is to integrate the other elements of government into that effort, the general said. But cyber threats are not just a government problem, he said. Private industries -- finance, health care, business and others – have a stake, Renuart noted.

"All of those have to come together in a unified effort if we are to maintain adequate defense against those who might intrude to our networks and try to disrupt them. It's a big challenge," Renuart said. He said better integration among the agencies is critical to success.

"If you are going to be successful at defending it, you have to have strong and close integration among the various agencies," Renuart said.

The general stopped short of saying additional legislation is needed from Congress to better integrate the agencies, calling that a discussion for top U.S. leaders.

"Because this is such a broad area and it touches so many different elements of our society – business, medical care, information, certainly military and economic – many of those same organizations are struggling with 'How do you pull them together in a more coherent fashion?'" Renuart said.

Renuart said that the departments of Homeland Security and Defense are working "aggressively" together alongside many private partner corporations. He also said that many in the private sector are "further advanced" than the Defense Department in some areas. He cited the banking and investing industries, which have advanced protections built into their systems, and said the government should partner with the private sector so that defense systems are compatible.

During the question-and-answer session with journalists on the program, the general was asked if he considers Russia a threat to the United States. Renuart called Russia a growing power. The country emerged from the Cold War struggling politically and economically, but now is stable economically and is expanding its sphere of influence, he said.

Russia also is becoming more active militarily, the general noted, sending its nuclear submarines and long-range bombers further from its shores. The country has also held recent tests of its intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Still, Renuart said, he is not yet concerned that the United States and Russia will face off within the international community any time soon.

"I'm not as worried that a Cold War relationship is returning so much," Renuart said. "Those are things we have to pay attention to, but I think it is important not to swing the pendulum too much in an alarmist fashion."

He said that the Russian military movements involving the U.S. military have been conducted "professionally" and in compliance with U.S. requests.

Renuart was also asked about the Arctic region and its increasing significance in national security. An increase in navigable water in the region has resulted in increased traffic by military, research and tourist vessels.

Renuart said his concerns are how to ensure adequate search and rescue capability, maintain a presence that can monitor movement of other military forces in the region, and ensure that the United States is involved in discussions and negotiations about military movement in the region.

NORAD monitors the air space over the Arctic.

"I don't see a threat to the nation coming from the Arctic," Renuart said. "But I do see security concerns that will arise as you have nations compete for resources, as you have nations compete for passage, as you have commercial interests competing for passage through the area. All of those have a security element, and I think we just have to have a good discussion about it."

Tunnel systems along the U.S.-Mexican border also came up in the questioning. The tunnels are used by criminals for drug and weapons smuggling, and U.S. officials have long feared they also could be used by terrorists. Renuart said his command is "increasingly successful" at finding the tunnels and passing the information on to law enforcement officials, who investigate and monitor them.

Technology used first in Afghanistan now is helping to pinpoint border tunnels, or potential tunnel locations. But Renuart called the tunnels a "reality and a challenge" and said the narcotics traffickers are "learning adversaries."

"As you close one route, they'll open another," Renuart said.

Renuart said that as officials are successful interdicting by the air, traffickers move to the sea. As U.S. officials stop more by sea, traffickers go underground.

"If we believed we have solved the problem, we are almost guaranteeing it will come back. You can't take your eye off the ball in this kind of a situation," Renuart said.

The general said his command works closely with other agencies in its efforts on the border and across the United States. He called NorthCom's relationship with its 60 federal partners extremely "close and solid."

"We are seeing a team now that is closer-knit than maybe ever before," Renuart said.

Forty-five of the agencies have assigned senior officials to NorthCom's headquarters. They are integrated in the planning and operations and interagency coordination process. Renuart said the days of frictions among governmental agencies are over.

"Those days are gone. We are working hand in hand," he said. "We are seeing now a synergy that is really strong."

This type of interagency cooperation is critical as NorthCom tries to focus efforts across an array of potential threats to the United States, Renuart said. Every day his command monitors threats overseas, develops roles of missile defense, looks for air threats inside U.S. borders and provides military support relief efforts after natural and man-made disasters and threats.

"On any given day, one of them will be our highest priority," Renuart said.

"What keeps me awake is making sure that our team is focused on the many threats out there, and not taking any one for granted, not leaving any one unobserved," he said.