Friday, September 05, 2008

Power Company Does 'Whatever It Takes' For Military Employees

By Sara Moore
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 5, 2008 - Dominion Resources has a simple philosophy when it comes to supporting its employees who serve part-time in the
military: "Whatever it takes, for as long as it takes." That philosophy has led to a companywide culture of support for the military and also earned Dominion the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Dominion, with headquarters in Richmond, Va., is one of 15 companies receiving the award, which recognizes employers who provide exceptional support to employees serving in the National Guard or Reserve.

Dominion has many programs to support its employees who are activated or deployed with the National Guard or Reserve, said Jim Eck, vice president of human resources. During an activation or deployment, Dominion provides a pay supplement and continues benefits for the employee for up to 60 months. In addition, the company has a designated "care package coordinator" who keeps in touch with the deployed employees and organizes care-package drives for the troops overseas, he said. All the updates from deployed employees are posted to an electronic employee forum that can be accessed companywide.

Dominion takes care of the families of deployed employees, keeping in touch with them and inviting them to company functions, Eck said. The company also sponsors send-off and welcome-home celebrations for deploying troops.

"These employees have served the company, and they are now asked to serve our country," he said. "Dominion feels a partnership in serving the country, and this is the way that we can demonstrate our support for our country and these employees and their families."

Dominion's support for him and his family during a mobilization was what motivated
Navy Cmdr. Michael Monfalcone to nominate the company for the Freedom Award. Monfalcone, executive officer of the U.S. Strategic Command Cruise Missile Support Activity, Atlantic Reserve Unit, in Norfolk, Va., was mobilized from October 2001 to August 2003 in support of Operation Noble Eagle. During that time, Dominion fully supported him and his family, he said, as the company does for all employees who serve in the military.

"Throughout the company, whenever a Guard or Reserve employee received orders to mobilize, their entire business location did everything possible to support that person and their family during the deployment," Monfalcone, who now is deployed to Iraq, said. He added that he has seen this support in action because he works in Dominion's human resources department, supporting labor relations initiatives.

Dominion has been recognized nationally for its support of
military employees, Monfalcone noted. He has worked for Dominion for seven years, and said he plans to stay with the company when he returns from his current deployment. He noted that his 19 years of experience in the Navy have helped him develop critical leadership, team-building, communication, and problem-solving skills.

"My
Navy experience has prepared me to be proactive, flexible, and adaptable and to continually seek opportunities to improve myself and my business environment," he said.

Qualities like those are what make employees with
military training and experience so valuable to Dominion, Eck said. The company actively recruits military veterans and reserve personnel, he said.

"What we find is that these candidates are focused, and are well organized to plan and deliver results," he said. "So when we look at candidates that have demonstrated an aptitude for execution, men and women from the
military rank very high based on what they have already trained to do and what they have already accomplished."

Eck said that he and the rest of the
leadership of Dominion are honored to be receiving the Freedom Award. The company plans to continue its support of military employees, he said, and will expand its long-term disability coverage to provide differential coverage for long-term disability in the event that an employee is disabled while on active duty.

"We cannot just rest on our laurels. We can continue to improve our service and support for our employees that serve in the Guard and reserve," he said.

Dominion will receive the Freedom Award Sept. 18 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center here. The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize exceptional support from the employer community.

Deadlines Approach for Absentee Voting

By Sarah J. Schmidt
Special to American Forces Press Service

Sept. 5, 2008 - With the Democratic and Republican national conventions now behind us, the 2008 presidential campaign enters the home stretch as Americans look toward Election Day, Nov. 4. Americans stationed overseas have just a few more weeks to complete voter registration in time to receive a ballot for the election. Federal Voter Assistance Program officials recommend that overseas personnel register no later than January of an election year, but voters may register up to 45 days before the election.

"That means overseas personnel have until mid-September to register, if they haven't already," Ron Holland, the voting assistance officer here, said. "But that's cutting it really close."

Holland advised against putting registration off until the deadline draws closer. "Otherwise, there's no way to guarantee you'll receive a ballot on time," he warned.

Once registered, most states also require a voter to request a ballot for the presidential election as a separate transaction, though this usually is done at the same time as filing the initial voter registration form. Additional deadlines for requesting ballots also apply in most states.

California, for example, sets a deadline of Oct. 28 for absentee voters to request ballots for the Nov. 4 election, but the completed ballots must be received in the county registrar's office by the close of business on Election Day to be counted.

If overseas voters wait until the deadline, then there's little assurance their ballot will return in the mail by Election Day, Holland pointed out. "This is why it's better to act sooner, rather than later," he said.

Most absentee voters who already have registered should receive their absentee ballots in the mail soon, Holland said, as most states begin mailing ballots 30 to 45 days before an election.

Army Capt. Richard Clark, voting assistance officer at Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, noted that Oct. 12 to 18 is Absentee Voter's Week.

"This is the last 'safe' week to send in your absentee ballots in order for them to arrive on time," he said. "When you receive that ballot, don't just lay it aside on your desk and forget about it. The clock is ticking. Fill it out, seal it and get it back in the mail so it'll arrive in your home state in time to be counted."

Voters who haven't received their ballot two weeks before the election should contact their installation voting assistance officer, Clark added.

Holland stressed that every vote counts.

"Don't forget that absentee ballots played a significant role in past elections," he said. "If you don't vote, then you're allowing others to make decisions without any input from you."

The Federal Voting Assistance Program recently updated its Web site, www.fvap.gov, to provide online voter registration for servicemembers and their families, but all states are not yet participating in this online method. Voting assistance officers at all
military installations can tell voters which states allow online registration. Citizens of participating states can register online and receive a ballot, but still must meet all registration deadlines and use regular mail to send in the completed ballot.

To use the free service, go to the FVAP site and look under the column on the right side of the page titled "Quick Links." Scroll to the bottom of that column and click on "Use our new automated tool to register/request a ballot." You will then be prompted to provide your name and e-mail address.

Once you complete these fields, a user ID and password are sent to the prospective registrant's e-mail account. The voter then logs in at the same screen and make a registration request. The whole process takes about 10 minutes.

FVAP officials said they are working with the Justice Department to encourage use of these online tools by all states. Voters from states not yet participating must complete the paper version of the registration application and send it via regular mail.

(Sarah J. Schmidt works in the U.S.
Army Garrison Schinnen Public Affairs Office.)

USS Mount Whitney Brings Aid to Georgia

American Forces Press Service

Sept. 5, 2008 - USS Mount Whitney pulled into port here today, transporting humanitarian relief supplies in support of "Operation Assured Delivery." The delivery is part of the larger U.S. response to the Georgian government's request for humanitarian assistance after the conflict with Russian forces last month.

Mount Whitney will deliver more than 17 tons of aid, including 4,000 blankets donated by the U.S. Agency for International Development, juice, powdered milk and hygiene products.

In the past few weeks, USS McFaul and U.S.
Coast Guard Cutter Dallas carried more than 115 tons of humanitarian supplies to the port in Batumi, Georgia, while U.S. Navy C-9, C-40 and C-130 aircraft flew 20 continuous missions airlifting 325 tons of humanitarian aid into the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.

USS Mount Whitney has a hybrid crew of U.S.
Navy sailors and civilian mariners, and is home-ported in Gaeta, Italy.

(From a U.S. 6th Fleet news release).

Face of Defense: Air Traffic Controller Fulfills Long-Term Plans

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt
Special to American Forces Press Service

Sept. 5, 2008 - For one Iron Eagle soldier here, there was never a question of if she would serve. The only question was when. "Since I was 15, my mom started giving me the idea of serving in the
military. She is real pro-military," Army Spc. Radha Bhramdat said.

Bhramdat, of
New York City, is an air traffic controller with the 4th Infantry Division's Company F, 2nd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade.

"Then, when I was a freshmen in high school, 9/11 happened and the event had a big impact on me," she said. "I lived very close to where it happened, so joining the
military was inevitable for me."

Bhramdat begin her
Army career by serving in the New York, and then North Carolina National Guard. After four years of serving in the Guard, Bhramdat made the move to active duty. Now she coordinates aircraft movement from the Camp Taji control tower, just north of Baghdad, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"I've been doing this for about two months, and this job is more than I expected," she said while keeping close watch on the airfield. "Once you get an aircraft [on radar], you start communicating with them, and then you tell them where you want them to land. It is a lot to worry about with all the other aircraft in the area."

Bhramdat works in a company of more than 40 air traffic controllers who are responsible for safely orchestrating the take-offs and landings of all types of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Soldiers from the company are spread out in different locations in support of the Iraq mission.

With flights departing or landing day and night, air traffic controllers coordinate their movements to prevent accidents. They coordinate air movements at sites ranging from temporary landing zones to fixed-tower airfields.

The company, based at Fort Hood, Texas, stood up only a year ago and is still growing. More than 80 percent of the controllers were straight out of advanced individual training when they joined the team.

Soldiers new to the company are required to perform 154 days of on-the-job training, which includes monitoring the progress of aircraft, conducting local ground control, and then becoming certified by the Federal Aviation Administration for the particular airfield where they work.

"This is her first experience at a very, very busy facility," said
Army Capt. Amanda Violette, Company F commander from Nobleboro, Maine. "Growing our own has been the biggest challenge with this company. She has shown so much potential it is unbelievable."

(
Army Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 4th Infantry Division's Combat Aviation Brigade.)

Labor Day Weekend Accident Fatalities Bring Summer Total to 115

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 5, 2008 - Five servicemembers died in off-duty accidents during the Labor Day weekend, bringing to 115 the number killed this year during the "101 Critical Days of Summer." Labor Day marked the official end to the 101 Critical Days of Summer, the period between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day that typically sees a spike in vehicular and recreational accidents.

"It's the time when more people get outside and enjoy off-duty activities and more people are traveling," said John Seibert, the Defense Department's assistant for safety, health and fire. "But unfortunately, it's also a time when we see more accidents."
The
Navy and Marine Corps reported the first Labor Day weekend in five years with no off-duty fatalities, said April Phillips from the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, Va.

But the
Army and Air Force weren't so fortunate.

Four airmen died during the Labor Day weekend: one on a motorcycle, two in a hit-and-run incident and one from injuries suffered in a previous accident, said Jewell Hicks from the
Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

In addition, one soldier died in a privately owned vehicle during the weekend, reported Terri Helus from the
Army's Combat Readiness and Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Motor vehicles remained the No. 1 cause of off-duty
military deaths throughout the 101 Critical Days of Summer, despite broad safety awareness efforts, officials reported.

Motorcycles were the biggest culprits, claiming 50 lives militarywide. Another 38 servicemembers died this summer in cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans, bringing to 88 the number killed in private motor accidents.

Last year, by comparison, 77 servicemen and –women died in private motor accidents between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.

The
Army reported 50 off-duty fatalities during the 101 Critical Days, with 43 of them involving privately owned vehicles, reported Helus. That's a 48 percent increase since last summer.

Twenty of the private-vehicle fatalities involved motorcycles, up 18 percent from the same period last year, Helus said. But the bigger jump occurred in sedans, with 13 summer fatalities representing a 63 percent increase over the eight deaths in 2007.

The one positive statistic for the
Army was a big drop in water-related fatalities. Three soldiers died this summer while swimming, fishing and boating, down from nine last year, Helus said.

In the
Navy, seven of the 29 sailors who died in off-duty accidents since May 23 were involved in four-wheeled vehicle accidents, but 14 died on motorcycles, according to Naval Safety Center statistics.

The
Marine Corps reported 20 off-duty losses since the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign launched. Five of the Marines died in four-wheeled vehicle accidents, and 11 were killed on motorcycles.

The
Air Force reported 16 off-duty deaths since Memorial Day, three fewer than last year and far fewer than the past 10-year average of 24, said Jewell Hicks from the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

Of the 16 fatalities since Memorial Day, six involved automobiles, five involved motorcycles and four were related to sports and recreational accidents. Another airman was killed when the vehicle he was working on fell on him, Hicks reported.

Officials expressed hope that increased emphasis on motorcycle safety will help bring down motorcycle fatalities in the future.

"If you took out the motorcycle numbers [from the
Navy and Marine Corps fatalities], we had a really, really good summer, safetywise," said Phillips. "We're obviously making really good strides in terms of recreational and four-wheeled private vehicles. Now that we are hitting motorcycle safety hard, we hope to see that have an effect next year, and that the positive trend will follow suit."

In addition to requiring motorcycle safety courses for all
military riders, the services also are promoting specialized training for those who ride high-performance motorcycles.

Phillips expressed hope that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's
Military Sport Bike Course, now mandatory for all sailors who ride sport bikes, will have an impact. She noted that 94 percent of the Navy's motorcycle fatalities involved high-performance sports bikes.

The course also is being offered at a growing number of
Army, Air Force and Marine Corps bases.

Nonprofits Awarded Grants for Innovative Programs

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 5, 2008 - Newsman's Own awarded a combined $75,000 in grants to 15 nonprofit organizations for their innovative volunteer efforts to improve
military quality of life during the company's ninth annual awards ceremony, held at the Pentagon here today.
Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, helped present the awards alongside executives from contest sponsors Newman's Own, Fisher House and the
military Times Media Group.

"The clever ideas, the way the ideas were brought forth, the things that were meaningful to people who had family and knew they would be meaningful to others who were family" impressed him about the entries, Cartwright said.

The vice chairman commended the innovation of the programs and said that the recipients ran the gamut from large, mature organizations to smaller, family-run groups.

Cartwright said that the various organizations' efforts were symbols that volunteerism is still alive.

"The coming together of the civilian community and the
military, the finding of family, the opportunity to acknowledge service, and to acknowledge those who are willing to serve, and the sacrifices that the families make for those who are willing to serve and do so, to see that come together" shows that volunteerism is still alive and well in America's communities, Cartwright said.

The president of Newman's Own Inc., Tom Indoe, said volunteers form the "backbone" of charities.

"As you'll see, all of these charities that we recognize today start with the volunteers," Indoe said. "They are the threads that hold the fabric of these charities together. And it's the volunteers that bring so much good and goodness to our
military families."

Indoe said that Newman's Own, a food company famous for its salad dressing, pasta sauces and popcorn, got involved with Fisher House Foundation about 10 years ago while looking to donate to a charity that helps military families. All profits from Newman's Own products are given to charities.

There were 120 entries for the 2008 contest. Judges evaluated the entries based on the organization's impact to the community, creativity and innovation. The emphasis of the competition was on organizations that support deployed servicemembers or their families, according to officials. The competition started in 2000 and has recognized 114 programs with awards totaling more than $500,000.

This year, the Freedom Calls Foundation received the top $15,000 grant award. The foundation provides videoconferencing and telephone calls free from centers in Iraq and Kuwait, connecting servicemembers to their families in the United States, England, Germany, Guam and Okinawa.

John Harlow from Morristown,
New Jersey, said he started the Freedom Calls Foundation after watching a newscast in 2003 in which he saw a report of a National Guardsman who had a $7,000 phone bill from trying to keep in touch with his family during his deployment to Iraq.

"I was shocked to hear that burden had been placed on his family," Harlow said.

After some research, Harlow said he found that it was not unusual for troops deployed to have extraordinarily high phone bills. An exclusive contract at rates of up to 44 cents per minute added up to $100 million per year in calls to families at home, he said.

"I didn't think that was right," Harlow said.

So, Harlow formed a foundation to provide phone calls and videoconferencing services to servicemembers and their families. The operation was launched in April 2004. Now the foundation delivers more than 1 million minutes per month in telephone calls and 2,000 video conferences every month to servicemembers and families. The videoconferences are mainly for "milestone" family events such as births, graduations, anniversaries, and even weddings. Harlow works with 10,000 sites across the United States and hopes to add more sites.

"It's those families and those deployed – they're the reason we do this," Harlow said. "It's been a life-changing experience to work with these families. They're some of the most giving, most humble people that I've ever met in my life ... and they deserve everything that we can do for them."

The $10,000 award winner was Operation Wounded Warrior sponsored by the American Legion Riders of Grants,
New Mexico. Operation Wounded Warrior was started by a group of American Legion Riders after a plea three years ago for comfort and hygiene items for troops who had been wounded in Iraq. The mission expanded to include family members who were at their bedside. Each year, a truck loaded with personal and comfort items is escorted by riders to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and its four Fisher Houses.

The $5,000 award winners include:

--Wounded Warrior Assistance Program sponsored by Operation First Response, Inc. of Culpeper, Va. The program supports wounded warriors and families with personal and financial needs. Financial aid varies from rent, utilities, vehicle payments, groceries, clothing, and travel expenses.

--Parent and Child Resource Center sponsored by Osan Parent Network on Osan Air Base, Korea. The network provides services for families at Osan Air Base. Activities include daily playgroups, arts and crafts and other events, daily stroller walk and runs, a breastfeeding support group, a parenting support group, a communication network and family advocacy.

--The SHARE Initiative sponsored by the Shepherd Center of Atlanta. The program assists the rehabilitation, recovery and community re-entry care for soldiers who have sustained a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury while serving on active duty in Afghanistan or Iraq.

--Snowball Express, based in
Costa Mesa, Calif. The program provides an all-expense-paid gathering for the children of servicemembers who have died since Sept. 11, 2001. In 2007, the $3.5 million dollar event provided more than 1,100 children a weekend of fun in Anaheim, Calif.

--Remote Warrior Care Program sponsored by the Madigan Foundation of Fort Lewis, Wash. The foundation places wounded, injured and ill warriors back into their hometowns to recuperate before being released from active
military service or returned to active duty.

--Family Assistance Program sponsored by the Armed Forces Foundation of Washington, D.C. The foundation's family assistance program offers direct financial assistance to servicemembers and their families. Needs range from utility bills to mortgage payments.

--Military Family Retreats sponsored by Project New Hope of Annandale, Minn. Project New Hope hosts weekend retreats for soldiers and families struggling with reintegration after deployment. The retreats are free to recipient families and focus on concerns shared by combat veterans, spouses and children. Counseling services and sessions are available, but not mandatory.

--Free Home Repairs and Modifications for Troops sponsored by Rebuilding Together's Veterans Housing Initiative of Washington, D.C. Rebuilding Together is the nation's largest nonprofit group providing home repairs and renovation services free to those in need. The organization has responded to a growing need among retired and active-duty United States
military homeowners.

--Military Family Assistance Program sponsored by USA Cares of Radcliff, Ky. USA Cares provides
military families with financial support through grants for needs such as foreclosure and eviction prevention, utility assistance and food and car payments. The program also offers counseling and mentorship through family resource coordinators with expertise in military benefits and services.

The $2,000 award winner is:

--Good Grief Camps for Survivor Children sponsored by Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1994, TAPS is a national nonprofit that provides peer-based emotional support services to those affected by the death of a
military member. TAPS assists thousands of widows, children, parents, siblings and others. It provides casework assistance, 24-hour crisis intervention and grief and trauma resources free of charge.

The $1,000 award winners are:

--The Happy Mail Club sponsored by United Cerebral Palsy of
Palm Beach and Mid-Coast Counties, Palm Beach, Fla. Members of the Happy Mail Club assemble boxes with cards, handmade crafts, high protein foods, and personal supplies to be sent to deployed American troops. They target soldiers who are stationed in the most remote locations and have the greatest need of supplies.

--CampLIFE! A non-profit benefiting children and spouses of deceased soldiers from Afghanistan and Iraq, based in
Austin, Texas. The mission of CampLIFE! is to provide free recreation, education and counseling in a camp setting to the children and spouses of recently deceased U.S. soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

--Kids Sending Hero Hugs, sponsored by Hero Hugs of Niceville, Fla. Hero Hugs was started by Bailey Reese, 7, of Niceville after she saw soldiers passing out aid to victims following a hurricane, and receiving no thanks. Bailey started Hero Hugs not only to thank the troops, but to teach kids to always appreciate the service and sacrifice of servicemembers. The packages are packed by kids from all over the country.

In a surprise donation at the event, Newman's Own Foundation Vice Chairman Robert Forrester donated $150,000 to the Fisher House Foundation. The donation took the company over the $1 million dollar mark for total donations to the Fisher House over the past 10 years.

New Leader Takes Reins of U.S. Transportation Command

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

Sept. 5, 2008 - The U.S.
military command responsible for moving troops and materiel across the globe came under new leadership today. In a change-of-command ceremony here, Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb took the reins of U.S. Transportation Command, an infrastructure that has carried out 100,000 airlift missions and transported 5 million passengers during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

McNabb replaces Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, who left the command to become the
Air Force's acting chief of staff last month.

"When [Schwartz] said, 'A promise made is a promise kept,' it [became] the foundation of the command," McNabb told reporters today, referring to his predecessor's guiding principle. "[The command] has built up over time, and what we want to do is make sure we keep that momentum."

Inside a massive airplane hangar, hundreds watched a symbolic tradition as Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates handed McNabb the Transcom flag, which features a winged seahorse -- an image that reflects the command's air, sea and land capabilities.

"With all these moving parts, and with the critical importance of every single mission, there is no doubt that this command requires a special kind of leader -- one who can maintain a focus on details within the context of massive and myriad operations," Gates said. "General McNabb is the right man for this job."

The promotions of McNabb and Schwartz come in the wake of recent turbulence in the
Air Force. The service's acquisition process came under fire in June when a congressional investigation found flaws related to a $35 billion contract for refueling tankers.

Two earlier incidents committed by the
Air Force sparked international concerns -- one involving the erroneous shipment of nuclear missile trigger components to Taiwan, and another in which a B-52 bomber flew across the United States carrying six armed nuclear cruise missiles.

By accepting their respective appointments, McNabb and Schwartz are helping the
Air Force "move forward," said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"[It] will continue to remind us that our
Air Force is the best Air Force in the history of the world," said Mullen, drawing applause from the crowd.

The admiral said he endorses the latter part of an old maxim that says, "Amateurs worry about strategy, dilettantes worry about tactics, but professionals worry about logistics."

"All of us who have participated in these operations for the last six-plus years, have only been able to do that and accomplish our mission because of this command, and the so many tens of thousands of people who make those operations possible," he added.

The ceremony's speakers also cited the humanitarian, disaster relief and medical missions coordinated through Transcom, like the recent relief effort following Hurricane Gustav, which lashed the Louisiana coast this week.

"Whether providing relief operations to Pakistan's earthquake victims in 2005 or delivering hundreds of tons of aid supplies to the Republic of Georgia just last month, Transcom's reach extends the world over to help those in need," Gates said.

The command, which was established in 1987, also has transported more than 50,000 sick or injured troops out of current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Due in large part to Transcom's efficiency, a medical evacuation back to the United States takes only a fraction of the amount of time it took in Vietnam, McNabb said.

"That is one of the true transformational impacts we've had," the new commander said. "In Vietnam it took 30 to 40 days to get somebody from the theater back to home. Today that average is three days, and it can be [done] in 18 hours if we need to bring them all the way back."

MILITARY CONTRACTS September 5, 2008

Army

AM General, LLC, South Bend, Ind., was awarded on Sept. 3, 2008, a
$76,029,475 firm/fixed price contract for the purchase 560 each M1152A1B2 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, Ind., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2009. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. TACOM Warren, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-01-C-S001).

Army Armaments Incorporated, Hunt Valley, Md., was awarded on Sept. 3, 2008, a $242,090,132 firm/fixed price contract for the purchase of 17 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle systems and associated support equipment. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Md., with an estimated completion date of Mar. 15, 2010. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58GRGZ-08-C-0023).

Navistar Defense LLC, Warrenville, Ill., was awarded on Sept. 3, 2008, a $ 70,040,677 firm/fixed price contract for 10-ton general transport truck and spare parts to support the general transport trucks. Work will be performed in New Carlisle,
Ohio, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2009. Bids were solicited via Sole Source and one bid was received. TACOM, AMSTA-AQ-ADBA, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-C-0489).

Navistar Defense, Warrenville, Ill., was awarded on Sept. 2, 2008, a $21,722,937 firm/fixed price contract for 120, 6x4 trucks and 35 ton trailer combinations with corresponding spare parts. Work will be performed in Warrenville, Ill., with an estimated completion date of Jun. 1, 2010. Bids were solicited Foreign
Military Sales sole source designated and one bid was received. TACOM, AMSTA-AQ-ADBA Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-Z137).

Army Armaments Incorporated, Hunt Valley, Md., was awarded on Sept. 4, 2008, a $6,100,145 cost/plus/fixed fee contract. This modification exercises options for engineering services for tactical communications data link and airborne control equipment II health & usage monitoring in support of the Shadow 200 unmanned aircraft system. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Md., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 28, 2009. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0033).

John Bowman Inc, Colorado Springs, Colo. was awarded on Sept. 4, 2008, a $13,383,966 firm/fixed price contract to upgrade academic facility, Phase 4B, U.S.
Air Force Academy, Colo. Work will be performed in Omaha, Neb., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 10, 2010. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. U.S. Army Corp of Engineering, Omaha, Neb., is the contracting activity (W9128F-07-D-0001).

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Rockwell Collins,
San Jose, Calif., is being awarded a $8,396,116 cost plus fixed fee contract to develop and demonstrate a new generation of emissive micro-displays with high brightness, long lifetime, good electrical efficiency, and low cost. Work will be performed in San Jose, Calif., (27 percent), Carlsbad, Calif., (48 percent), Goleta, Calif., (20 percent), Austin, Texas, (3 percent), and Santa Clara, Calif., (2 percent), and is expected to be completed Dec. 2009. Funds being obligated at award ($4,570,613) will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. DARPA issued a solicitation in Federal Business Opportunities on Oct. 11, 2007, and four proposals were received. The contracting activity is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., (HR0011-08-C-0140).

Air Force

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., of Herndon, Va., is being awarded a cost plus fixed fee contract for $5,797,046. This action will provide arms, ammunition, and Explosive and Science & Technology Analysis, Assessments, Studies, and Strategic Planning. At this time $48,309 has been obligated. 55th Contracting Squadron, 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt AFB, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380, Delivery Order: 0275).