Steve Peacock's U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor

U.S. Prepares for Casualties in Africa

The extrication of U.S. Special Forces injured in African military ventures soon will provide contractors with an additional revenue stream, now that the Obama administration plans to keep such vendors on stand-by, 24/7, for cross-continent airborne mobilization.

While the Pentagon’s reliance on private vendors to support international military operations is nothing new, plans to station such providers specific to such a large swath of Africa does deviate from prior procurement actions.

The Trans-Sahara Short Take-Off and Landing Airlift Support initiative will rely on outside assistance in the event that soldiers of U.S. Special Operations Command-Africa sustain traumatic medical emergencies, thereby requiring urgent transportation out of hostile zones.

Indeed, SOCOM-Africa places such urgency on its anticipated use of such Casualty Evacuation, or CASEVAC, services that, at a minimum, contractors must be capable of launching an airborne response with only a three hour notice.

The selected vendor likewise must possess the ability to be placed on heightened response and “be airborne within one hour of notification,” according a revised Performance Work Statement released April 16 that U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor located via routine database research.

Despite this urgency, the vendor securing that contract largely will engage in cargo- and personnel airlift activities, plus a limited number of air-drop missions.

The “most likely” locations for such operations are Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia, according to the U.S. Transportation Command solicitation.

Kenya, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda also fall within the Primary Operating Area, or POA, of this endeavor, the USTRANSCOM document says.

SOCOM-Africa will enable this expedited response-capability by stationing the contractor in Burkina Faso, a landlocked West African nation, it says.

A search of prior Tactical Combat Casualty Care and CASEVAC solicitations available via the FedBizOpps system shows that USSOCOM and other Department of Defense units typically and primarily seek only training and equipment.

Rather than soliciting continent-wide provision of emergency medical and flight assistance, those contracting actions generally have sought assistance to enable combatant commands to provide themselves with such medical assistance.

One USSOCOM contracting action representative of the government’s acquisition of CASEVAC “kits” and trauma-management training, for example, described a critical need for Special Operations combat forces to obtain new techniques and technology in support of “ongoing operations worldwide.”

Another Special Ops solicitation from late last year revealed a $40 million, two-year contract extension awarded to Tribalco, LLC, a Bethesda, Maryland-based maker of CASEVAC and other “soldier-survival” equipment.

USTRANSCOM did not disclose an estimated cost of the Africa-centric CASEVAC procurement.

In other U.S. military procurement actions specific to Africa:

• The Defense Logistics Agency on April 12 issued a request for bids to provide the U.S. Air Force with 547,500 gallons of No. 2 diesel fuel “for ongoing deliveries to Niamey Airport, Niger, (Africa).”
• The U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, or NAVFAC, announced it intends to spend up to $25 million for power plant upgrades at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), Africa; however, despite acknowledging in an earlier document the estimated cost of the Caterpillar generators, a partly redacted no-bid Justification & Approval document blacked out the final award amount. It offered no explanation for the redaction .
• NAVFAC additionally began soliciting bids to build a cold-storage food warehouse and a separate galley to store P-218 anti-malarial drug reserves, representing another potential $25 million contracting endeavor at CLDJ.
• NAVFAC on April 12 revealed that it awarded a $33 million contract to Kellogg, Brown and Root to “perform base operating services at CLDJ and occasionally other locations within Africa.” Despite announcing the KBR contract this month, the Navy unit actually awarded it in December, the document shows.

This article originally appeared via WND April 28. Under prior agreement, rights have reverted back to the author, Steve Peacock.

WND: U.S. Prepares for Casualties in Africa

My latest from WND:

The extrication of U.S. Special Forces injured in African military ventures soon will provide contractors with an additional revenue stream, now that the Obama administration plans to keep such vendors on stand-by, 24/7, for cross-continent airborne mobilization.

While the Pentagon’s reliance on private vendors to support international military operations is nothing new, plans to station such providers specific to such a large swath of Africa does deviate from prior procurement actions.

The Trans-Sahara Short Take-Off and Landing Airlift Support initiative will rely on outside assistance in the event that soldiers of U.S. Special Operations Command-Africa sustain traumatic medical emergencies, thereby requiring urgent transportation out of hostile zones.

Read more at WND.com...

Indonesian Air Force Getting Dozens of USAF F-16 Jet Engines

The Obama Administration is providing twenty-eight jet engines to the Indonesian Air Force, which will use the remanufactured Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220E engines to equip its F-16 fighters.

The transfer of this technology is taking place under an Excess Defense Article, or EDA, arrangement, according to a Performance Work Statement that the U.S. Air Force posted to the FedBizOpps database on July 30.

According to the EDA page of the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency:

Working under authorities established in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act, defense articles declared as excess by the Military Departments can be offered to foreign governments or international organizations in support of U. S. national security and foreign policy objectives. Typically, EDA is transferred to support U. S. allies in their modernization efforts and to assist Latin American and Caribbean nations in their counter-narcotics programs.

Several contracts are expected to be awarded to bring this endeavor to fruition, the document said. In addition to remanufacturing and delivering the engines, separate awards will be made to contractors over a three-year period for logistics and technical support inside Indonesia.

Source document: Solicitation #FA8124-12-R-0019.

Related regional coverage:

Indonesians to Receive Master's Degrees Courtesy U.S. Taxpayers

Obama Administration Pours Millions into Indonesian Education -- Support for Islamic, Public Schools Begun by Bush Continues

 

U.S to Demilitarize & Dispose Depleted Uranium Ammo for Taiwan

The cost of removing and destroying of depleted-uranium ammunition in Taiwan may be borne by American taxpayers, as the U.S. Army is looking for industry sources capable of performing that service on behalf of the Taiwanese government.

The Demilitarization and Disposal of 20mm and 105mm Depleted Uranium Ammunition in Taiwan Project at this stage only seeks to identify “potential sources possessing the capabilities, experience, and expertise necessary” for the endeavor.

If indeed the Army fully pursues this, the selected contractor will “go to Taiwan and either perform the demilitarization service for Taiwan or instruct them in how to do it.”

The Sources Sought Notice (Solicitation # W52P1JDUDEMIL), which U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor located through routine database research, defines demilitarization, or DEMIL, as the act of:

(1) disassembling chemical or conventional military munitions for the purpose of recycling, reclamation, or reuse of subcomponents; or (2) rendering chemical or conventional military munitions innocuous or ineffectual for military use (i.e., removing the military offensive or defensive characteristics), which may include disposal of unusable components of the munitions.

If further added that DEMIL “encompasses various approved methods such as mutilation, alteration, or destruction to prevent further use for its originally intended military purpose.”

The Taiwan government needs to DEMIL and dispose of 4,000 20mm depleted uranium shells and 150 105mm depleted uranium shells, the notice said.

Hearing: “Emerging Threats and Security in the Western Hemisphere: Next Steps for U.S. Policy.”

The House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, October 13, will host a hearing titled, “Emerging Threats and Security in the Western Hemisphere: Next Steps for U.S. Policy.” The committee announced that it will examine “current trends and security challenges in Latin America, including drug trafficking, extremism, illicit financing, and the increasing influence of rogue regimes.” It will review U.S. security assistance and policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, and U.S. priorities in the region.

The following witnesses have been called to testify:

1) The Honorable William R. Brownfield, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Department of State;

2) The Honorable Philip S. Goldberg, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, U.S. Department of State;

3) The Honorable Daniel L. Glaser, Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing, Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, U.S. Department of Treasury;

4) General Douglas Fraser (Invited), Commander, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Department of Defense.

The event will be held in room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, and also will be available via live video through the committee’s website.

U.S. Air Force Releases Little About Pakistani F-16 Upgrades, Other Than Cost

The U.S. Air Force awarded a $42.3 million contract to Lockheed Martin Corp. in order to upgrade U.S.-provided F-16 fighter jets of the Pakistani Air Force. The Air Force Material Command via the FedBizOpps database on Aug. 1 made known the contract, which it awarded to the company July 29.  Though a separate solicitatation or special notice typically precedes such awards, the Air Force in this case did not make one publicly available; contrary to standard practice, it instead posted an identical number for the award announcement and solicitation: #FA861507C6032P00038. Little else was made available about the project .

Lockheed Martin has been providing Pakistan with F-16s since 1982, when the company delivered the first shipment of jets in what is known as the Block 15 F-16A/B configuration. The label of the award notice,"CCP 3098C1 Additional Kits for the Pakistan Block 15 F-16 A/B Enhanced Modernization Program, allude to those particular aircraft. Lockheed Martin in October 2008 additionally unveiled the first of eighteen new F-16s for Pakistan.

U.S. to Ramp Up Afghan Infowar with 'Aggressive Actions' -- Contractor to Bring About 'Desired Effects' in Global Media

The next phase of a global information-warfare campaign to influence public and media perceptions about U.S. operations in Afghanistan is unfolding, according to an updated U.S. Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A) planning document that U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor has located.

“The information domain is a battlespace, and it is one in which USFOR-A must take aggressive actions to win the important battle of perception,” according to the project’s modified Performance Work Statement (PWS), dated June 7.

Consequently, the Dept. of Defense, via the U.S. Army Contracting Command-Rock Island unit, is enlisting the assistance of the private sector not only to monitor how the media reports on Afghanistan, but to sway the opinions of the Afghan people about their government:

USFOR-A requires the ability to develop and implement a comprehensive, self-sustaining, long term media operations capability, to include stand-alone studio and regional communication collection and distribution hubs. This initiative also addresses efforts to collect public information and interpret it to support senior leader decision making, specifically regarding the attitudes of the public and the media concerning political, social and economic issues. This initiative will allow Government representatives in USFOR-A to inform key audiences (media and civilian populations internationally and within the region) to achieve desired affects. (Emphasis added)

Although dozens of vendors have expressed interest in the Public Affairs Operations-Afghanistan endeavor—and though no contract award has been announced—the Arlington, Va. and Los Gatos, Cal.-based Strategic Social Holdings already is hiring specialists to carry out duties for a USFOR-A project in Kabul that mirrors the above-mentioned initiative.

The co-founder and CEO of Strategic Social is Matt Bigge, whom the corporate website describes as a former U.S. Army ranger and Harvard Business School graduate.

Among the various duties and positions that the PWS describes (and for which Strategic Social is hiring) are Afghan Linguists/Media Monitors, who would provide “a minimum of 300 media monitoring hours per week.” At least one Pashto- and one Dari-speaking linguist/monitor “should be available at all times.”

An English-speaking media monitor also would be hired for the project, for which that person will assess and summarize “international, regional, and Afghan” Internet, radio, audio, video, and print media outlets.” That position will provide at least 144 media monitoring hours per week to “supplement three media monitor military personnel” who also will perform those tasks.

The contractor also will provide a comprehensive suite of public affairs services to USFOR-A and to Afghan authorities, including the deployment of media analysts,  media monitoring website/database developer and manager, the provision of social media and new media management, and advisement on how to engage in “strategic communications.” The management and maintenance of a Defense Video Information Distribution System (DVIDS) also will fall under the purview of the contractor.

This project is critical, according to the PWS, because insurgents have succeeded in undermining the credibility of USFOR-A, the international community, and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) “through effective use of the information environment, albeit without a commensurate increase in their own credibility.”

Consequently, U.S. Forces and the GIRoA must “wrest the information initiative from the INS” in order to “maintain and strengthen the Afghan population's positive perception” of Afghan government institutions and the support that USFOR-A and the international community provide, the document says.

As a courtesy to readers and researchers, tomorrow, July 1, the Monitor will make available for download the full text of the Army's Performance Work Statement for the Public Affairs Operations-Afghanistan initiative.

FOR ADDITIONAL REGIONAL COVERAGE, PLEASE VISIT THE MONITOR'S AFGHANISTAN PAGE.

PLEASE ALSO CHECK OUT THE MONITOR'S INTELLIGENCE/SPYING PAGE.

Poll: Citizens Say U.S. Military Too Involved Around Globe

The Hill reports on an interesting, but unsurprising, poll it conducted about the breadth of U.S. military involvement around the world. The results? Most people say we are doing too much in too many places and at too great a cost.

Separately, the Monitor today will again begin posting original articles on a near-daily basis after a brief break.

Navy to Fund 'Tactical Surveillance' Research Project

A new research project of the U.S. Navy hopes to develop an advanced, autonomous means of gathering and processing data for tactical and battlefield situations. The Autonomous Persistent Tactical Surveillance program of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) will provide about  $41.5 million over five years to researchers who submit “white papers” or proposals for innovative projects leading to the potential development of “major advancements” in this area.

“United States (US) Forces are being placed in environments where they are required to function with increased autonomy,” the Navy says in Broad Agency Announcement # 11-023. “The need is stronger than ever to be able to autonomously maintain persistent surveillance of activities and entities over a region of interest on a continuing (24 hrs / 7 days a week) basis, as well as automated tasking of these assets…”

Among the various shortfalls of existing Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance capabilities that the BAA identifies include:

There is a lack of sharing knowledge of unfolding events across mission threads.  

There is a lack of timely exploitation of useful theater and national sensor data. There are gaps in alerting Forces to danger.  

There is a lack of mobile tools for field users to gather information. There is a lack of means for reporting soft biometric data on at-risk individuals or groups engaged in suspicious activity.  

Many sensors fail to deliver relevant information to users outside their stovepipes… Sensor data overwhelms the distribution, analysis, storage, and assimilation capabilities.

Proposals are due Sept. 12. ONR anticipates making a decision about awards on or around Oct. 11.

State Dept. Arranges Delivery of Bullet-Proof Vests to Pakistani Government (NEWS BRIEFS)

U.S. Department of State

A $518,000 contract to provide 1,200 bullet-resistant vests to the Government of Pakistan was awarded to the Alexandria, Va.-based Surveillance Equipment Group, Inc., a company operated by former U.S. and South American military and intelligence officials. The threat-level III vests are made to sustain shots from ammunition as deadly as .44 magnum hollow-point bullets. The cost of the competitively awarded State Dept. contract, which was revealed on Monday, includes shipping to the Port of Karachi, Pakistan. (Solicitation #PR1120395; Contract Award #SGE50011F0175)

The State Dept. awarded a $61.4 million contract to CHS Middle East LLC to “establish a network of Contractor operated facilities in three regional support areas” across Iraq. The project is specific to the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, where the responsibility to provide health care to about 17,000 personnel working under the authority of the U.S. Ambassador, “which includes U.S. Government civilians, military and local national employees; and supporting Contractors (U.S., third country, and local national),” will transfer from the U. S. Department of Defense to the State Dept.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

USAID is recruiting candidates for Senior Acquisition & Assistance Specialist to oversee the agency’s $1.2 billion portfolio of contract awards being implemented in Nigeria. The annual salary range for the position is $71,674 to $110,104. The selected candidate will be stationed in Abuja, Nigeria. USAID will offer a two-year contract, with three renewable one-year options up to a maximum five-year period. (Solicitation #620-11-011)

The development of new and improved methods for identifying the prevalence of poverty among households is the goal of USAID’s Poverty Assessment Tools III (PAT III) initiative. The agency says the five-year project will help U.S. missions and partner organizations to better estimate “the share of their clients who are ‘very poor’,” according to the Statement of Work. (RFP #APP-EGAT-11-000003). The agency says that previously developed PATs must be “updated and improved.” It did not disclose the estimated cost of the project. (Solicitation #APP-EGAT-11-000003)

U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA)

The proposal deadline to conduct a feasibility study on the upgrade of Pakistani urban bus fleets to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been extended to June 15. As previously reported (Monitor, 04/07/2011), USTDA is offering a $482,000 grant to carry out the study and market survey as the first step toward integrating “LPG into the transportation sector in and surrounding seven major Pakistani cities.”