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.

Air Force

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems of Linthicum, Md., is being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract with cost plus fixed fee (completion) type task order for a shared ceiling of ID/IQ contract of $41 million. This contract action for Sensors Technology Automated Recognition is to develop technologies in a wide-range of application areas that continue to advance the technical improvements to warfighters either directly or indirectly. Examples include CID, data fusion, Ground Moving Target Indication/Airborne Moving. At this time an incremental funding amount on task order 0001 of $2 million has been obligated. AFRL/PKSR, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-08-D-1447, FA8650-08-D-1447-0001).

Raytheon Co., of El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract with cost plus fixed fee (completion) type task order for a shared ceiling of ID/IQ contract of $41 million. This contract action for Sensors Technology Automated Recognition is to develop technologies in a wide-range of application areas that continue to advance the technical improvements to warfighters either directly or indirectly. Examples include CID, data fusion, Ground Moving Target Indication/Airborne Moving Target Indication, Suppression of Enemy Air Defense, countermeasures, Sensor to Decision Maker processing, Targeting, Intelligence and Battle Damage Assessment and ISR. Additional examples of specific technologies that may be encountered on this program include Electro-Optical, Infrared, Radar, Multi-Spectral, Hyperspectral, Laser Technology, and processors but are not limited to these. Improvement in these areas involves technical assessment, hardware and software modifications and development, systems engineering development and integration, Technology and/or Technology application demonstration in the laboratory or in a flight test or as a participant in a larger demonstration or exercise. The performance of the technologies developed will also be evaluated. Task Order 0001 for this contract is "Airborne Data Collection for Combat Identification." The scope of this Task Order is to utilize an airborne CID test bid to collect data with an air-to-air (A/A) CID radar waveform. The effort will involve collection, processing and delivery of both processed and unprocessed airborne target data. At this time $533,000 has been obligated (incremental funding amount on task order 0001). AFRL/PKSR, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-08-D-1446, FA8650-08-D-1446-0001).

Accenture National Security Systems, LLC, of Reston, Va., is being awarded a cost plus fixed fee contract for $22,183,000. These DNCE-M&S services will expand on existing services, develop workflows, and target deployment to warfighter environments where applicable. At this time $2,608,200 has been obligated. 753 ELSG/PK, Electronic Systems Center, Air Force Materiel Command, USAF, Hanscom AFB, Mass., is the contracting activity (FA8731-08-C-0003).

FlightSafety Services Corp., of Centennial, Colo., is being awarded a firm fixed price contract for $14,110,453. This contract is for one Weapons System Trainer. This trainer is being procured for training of pilots and crew on the MC-130W aircraft. This trainer is used to support the Aircrew Training and Rehearsal Systems contract. At this time all funds have been obligated. Department of the Air Force, OO-ALC/ACSG/PK, Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8223-08-C-0008).

The Air Force is modifying a fixed price incentive firm contract with Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Air Combat Systems, of San Diego, Calif., not to exceed $324,600,000. This contract will provide 2 RQ-4B Block 301 Global Hawk Air Vehicles, 3 RQ-4B Block 40 Air Vehicles with MP-RTIP sensor, one Mission Element, one Launch and Recovery Element, and associated equipment; option for four EISS sensor payloads. At this time $180,351,181 has been obligated. 303 AESG/PK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-07-C-4015 P00008).

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Systems Engineering Solutions, Boulder, Colo., is being awarded a task order against a GSA schedule contract for $13,752,953. This contract action is for Advisory and Assistance Services to include studies, analyses, evaluations, engineering and technical services for the Human Effectiveness Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory. At this time one million has been obligated. 88 CONS/PK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8601-08-F-0105).

L3 Communications Corp., Communications Systems West, of Salt Lake City, Utah, is being awarded a firm fixed price contract for $10,764,222. This contract is for Manufacture, test and delivery for Ku Data Link Hardware. At this time $10,764,222 has been obligated. 703 AESG/PK (Predator Contracting Group), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-05-G-3027-0020).

Army

Joint Tech Services Inc., Kailua, Hawaii, was awarded on July 24 a $5,777,507 Firm Fixed Price contract for a six-month extension for Iraqi Defense Network. Work will be performed in Iraq and is expected to be completed by Jan 24, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on July 24, and one bid was received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-08-C-D026).

Lockheed Martin MS2, Syracuse, N.Y., was awarded on Jul. 25, a $84,287,332 Firm Fixed Price, contract for accelerating the production and delivery of the twelve Enhanced AN/TPQ-36 Initial Production Radar Systems currently listed as options within contract W15P7T-06-C-T004. Work will be performed in Syracuse, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by Oct. 25, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on Mar. 23, 2008, and one bid was received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15-P7T-06-C-T004).

Joseph B. Fay Co., Tarentum, PA, was awarded on Jul. 25, a $34,442,049.75, contract for replacement of 8 vertical lift gates, operating machinery, electrical systems and controls; fabricating and delivering three new lift gates; transporting and installing three government-furnished lift gates; modifying one existing lift gate; removing the existing vertical lift gates, gate hoist machinery, and machinery houses; modifying the dam piers to accommodate the new hydraulic gate hoist equipment, replacing embedded metal in the gate recesses of the dam piers; installing the new lift gates; and constructing new machinery houses at the Emsworth Locks and Dam, Emsworth Main Channel Dam, Ohio River,Pennsylvania. Work will be performed in the Emsworth Locks and Dam, Ohio River, Penn., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 1, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were (web) bids solicited on Apr. 14, 2008, and three bids were received. US Army Engineer District, Pittsburgh, PA is the contracting activity (W911WN-08-C-0008).

Science Application International Corp., San Diego, Calif., was awarded on Jul. 28, 2008, a $19,956,974 Firm-Fixed Price contract for maintenance and sustainment for vehicle and cargo inspection systems located in southwest Asia. Work will be performed in Southwest Asia, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 4, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on May 23, 2008, and one bid was received. TACOM-Rock Island, AMSTA-LC-CTC, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-08-D-0348).

Hodges Transportation Inc., Silver Springs, Nev., was awarded on Jul. 28, 2008, a $5,822,596 Cost-plus Fixed Fee contract for designing, fabricating and testing multiple Technology Demonstration Integration Test Beds with TRL 7 or higher Technology and delivering a detailed final report of the results and findings. Work will be performed in Silver Springs, Nev., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on Jun. 6, 2008 and one bid was received. TACOM-LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-F-0102).

McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded on Jul. 28, 2008, a $79,768,459 Firm Fixed Price, contract for the procurement of five War Replacement AH-64D Apache Longbow Aircraft. Work will be performed in Mesa, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by Apr. 30, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on Dec. 20, 2007 and onebid was received. US Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ05-C-0274).

Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin, were awarded on Jul. 28, 2008, a $103,413,788, contract for missile rounds, Command Launch Units, Battery Coolant Units, Field Tactical Trainers – Student Stations, Authorized Stockage Lists and Enhanced Productibility Basic Skills Trainers (EPBSTs); and Missile Rounds for United Arab Emirates and Oman. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., and Orlando, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Feb. 29, 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on Jul. 31, 2007, and 1 bid was received. US Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-04-C-0136).

Navy

ALFAB, Inc.*, Enterprise, Ala., is being awarded a $43,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the manufacture of three types of AM-2 matting packages, F-71, F-72, and F-73, which include end frames, stampings/markings, end sheets, and locking bars. AM-2 Matting is utilized for aircraft launch and recovery. The initial delivery order will include 1,675 F-71 AM-2 matting packages. Work will be performed in Enterprise, Ala., and is expected to be completed in July 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under an electronic request for proposals as a 100 percent small business set-aside; two offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-08-D-0025).

Psomas and Associates, Costa Mesa, Calif., is being awarded a maximum $7,500,000 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect/engineering contract for engineering services for surveying and mapping in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for surveying and mapping services such as cadastral surveys, topographic surveys, aerial surveys, geodetic surveying, construction surveys, Alta surveys, hydrographic surveys, special studies, title searches, civil site improvements drawings and specifications and GIS (geographic information system) database/mapping. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Southwest AOR including, but not limited to Calif., (87 percent); Ariz., (5 percent), Nev., (5 percent), Colo., (1 percent), N.M., (1 percent) and Utah, (1%), and work is expected to be completed Jul. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the NAVFAC e-solicitation websitewith 13 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-08-D-8640).

Architects Hawaii, Limited, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $7,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for architect-engineer services for preparation of plans and specifications for bachelor quarters and other architectural projects. The scope of work is to procure design and engineering services for preparation of engineering studies and/or project design consisting of contract documents for construction, cost estimates, design analysis, prepare request for proposal documents for design-build, geotechnical investigation, topographic survey, post construction award services, and architect-engineer quality assurance plan. Work will be performed in various locations throughout Hawaii, and the expected date of completion is Jul. 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with 15 proposals solicited and 10 offers received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62478-08-D-5003).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Akima Corp., Charlotte, N.C., is being awarded a maximum $18,701,847 firm fixed price contract for operation and maintenance services of bulk fuel facilities. Other locations of performance are Calif., Nev., Ariz., and N.M. Using service is Air Force. This proposal was originally Web solicited with nine responses. This is a five-year multiyear contract. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Sept., 1, 2013. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SPO600-08-C-5839).