It could cost up to $100 million simply to plan and design diplomatic construction projects over the next five years, U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor has discovered.
According to a solicitation that the Monitor located via routine database research, the U.S. Department of State's Overseas Buildings Operations unit placed a $100 mil cap on the number of indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, or IDIQ, contracts: "The individual professional services to be provided include, but are not limited to, Architect, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, and Project Control engineers. The range of services required span subject matter engineering expertise to administrative and support services..."
The Obama Administration's FY 2013 State Dept. & U.S. Agency for International Development budget request is $51.6 billion -- of which $10.4 billion fall within the category of "Supporting America’s Global Presence," which is further broken down into the following:
$6.5 billion to support civilians in embassies, missions, and consulates around the world (not including the Frontline States), as well as at our headquarters in Washington. The request includes the following priorities:
o $507.4 million for public diplomacy to engage foreign audiences and win support for U.S. foreign policy goals, programs that include engaging with civil society in transition countries such as Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt (including the Frontline States, the total Public Diplomacy Request is $541.7 million).
o $1.4 billion in security for diplomatic personnel, information and facilities at our worldwide posts.
o $4.5 billion to fund other requirements, including staffing, operations and programs for our bureaus, envoys, and more than 270 posts overseas and in the United States, and funding for 121 new positions (83 Foreign Service and 38 civil service) in high priority programs and regions.
- $1.5 billion to fund USAID operations, including USAID core staffing and security requirements in the Frontline States, and funding for the Implementation and Procurement Reform Initiative of USAID Forward.
- $1.6 billion for security-related construction, major facility rehabilitation, and operational requirements at embassies, consulates, and missions worldwide. Supports the construction of new embassy compounds in Chad, the Hague, and fit-out of the U.S. Mission’s wing of the new NATO headquarters nearing completion in Brussels. Also continues the $270 million capital maintenance cost-sharing program initiated in FY 2012.
- $83.3 million for investment in essential modernization of information technology through the Department of State’s Capital Investment Fund.
- $587.0 million for exchange programs that give U.S. citizens broad exposure to the world and help foreign students better understand the United States. Scholarship programs and cultural exchanges such as the Fulbright Program advance U.S. national interests by preparing the next generation of leaders to work together to tackle global challenges.
- $200 million for activities including financial oversight work of inspector general, support of American citizens for repatriation loans, and the protection of foreign missions and officials in the United States. These programs also fund a wide-range of other activities, including support for the evacuation of American citizens from nations in crisis.
Source document: Solicitation #SAQMMA12R0351.
Comments