PRESIDENT OBAMA, PRESIDENT BACHELET OF CHILE MAKE REMARKS BEFORE MEETING

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Remarks by President Obama and President Michelle Bachelet of Chile Before Bilateral Meeting

Oval Office

11:05 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, I want to welcome back to the Oval Office President Bachelet.  She is my second favorite Michelle.  (Laughter.)  And I’m very much pleased to see her again.  We had the opportunity to work together when I first came into office.  Since that time, President Bachelet has been extraordinarily busy doing excellent work at the United Nations, particularly around women -- an issue that the United States has been very supportive of.  And we’re very proud of the work that she did there.

She’s now back in office, and it gives us an opportunity to just strengthen further the outstanding relationship between the United States and Chile.

Let me say, first of all, congratulations to the Chilean National Football Team for an outstanding showing at the World Cup.  I know it was a tough loss, but it also showed the incredible skill and talent of the Chilean team.  This is as well, I think, as it’s ever done against a very tough Brazilian team on their home turf.  And so congratulations to them.  We play -- coming up, we’ve got a tough match as well.  So I want to wish the U.S. team a lot of luck in the game to come.

The basis for Chile’s and the United States’ strong bilateral relationship includes the fact that we have a free trade agreement that has greatly expanded commerce in both countries and has created jobs in both countries. 

We have excellent cooperation when it comes to a wide range of issues -- energy, education, people-to-people relations.  Chile has been a model of democracy in Latin America.  It’s been able to consistently transition from center-left governments to center-right governments, but always respectful of democratic traditions.  Obviously, those traditions were hard-won, and President Bachelet knows as well as anybody how difficult it was to bring about democracy.  And now, the fact that Chile across the political spectrum respects and fights for the democratic process makes it a great model for the entire hemisphere.

Today, we’re going to have an opportunity to discuss how we can deepen those relationships even further.  I know that education, for example, is an issue that is at the top of President Bachelet’s agenda.  It’s something that’s at the top of my agenda here in the United States.  For us to be able to strengthen student exchanges and compare mechanisms and ideas for how we can build skills of young people in both countries is something that we’ll spend some time on.

We’re both very interested in energy and how we can transition to a clean energy economy.  And we’ll be announcing some collaborations, including the facilitation of a construction of a major solar plant inside of Chile that can help meet their energy needs.

We’ll talk about regional issues.  Obviously, we’ve seen great progress in democratization throughout the region, in part because of Chile’s leadership, but there are obviously still some hotspots that we have to try to address, as well as issues of security in areas like Central America and the Caribbean.  And I’ll be very interested in hearing President Bachelet’s views.

And we’ll discuss international issues.  Chile, with its seat on the United Nations Security Council, can serve as a leader on a wide range of issues, from peacekeeping to conflict resolution, to important issues like climate change.  And we have great confidence that in that role Chile will continue to be a positive force for good around the world.

So I just want to say thank you for not only the friendship with President Bachelet, but more broadly, our friendship with the Chilean people.  And President Bachelet’s predecessor, he and I had an excellent relationship; she and I have had an excellent relationship.  I think that indicates that it really goes beyond any particular party.  I’m confident that my replacement after I’m gone will have an excellent relationship, because it’s based on common values and a strong respect in both countries for the value of the U.S.-Chilean relationship.

So, welcome, and I look forward to an excellent conversation.

PRESIDENT BACHELET:  Thank you, President Obama.  I want to, first of all, thank you for the invitation to visit you and your country.  And, of course, we are looking forward to enhance our cooperation in many different areas. 

As you just mentioned, Chile and the U.S. have had a very strong and mature relation for so many years, and we want to make it deeper and to enhance them in different areas.  Of course, this will be a great opportunity, as you said, to discuss some of the regional and international issues, given the fact that we’re also sitting at the Security Council.  But also, we will be able to in the bilateral dimension be able to increase our cooperation in areas that are very sensible, and for the U.S. and for Chile, such as you mentioned, education, energy, science and technology, people-to-people relation. 

We already have, as you know, a very good -- I mean, not only the bilateral way, we also have a very good Chile-California and Chile-Massachusetts programs.  We have been working very strongly and we will continue on that path. 

And we are really interested -- this year, I think we are commemorating 10 years of the free trade agreement from the U.S. and Chile.  And the U.S. is our, I would say, our most important foreign investor.  We want to continue that path, and of course, we will have also the possibility of having activities with the Chamber of Commerce and others because we really want to make our relations in all dimensions -- political, economical, social, et cetera -- stronger and stronger every day.

So I’m very happy to be here with you again, and I’m sure this will be a great meeting.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you.

END
11:12 A.M. EDT

IN OP-ED DEFENSE SECRETARY HAGEL DISCUSSES ASIA-PACIFIC-REBALANCE AND PARTNERSHIPS

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Hagel Describes Role of Partnerships in Asia-Pacific Rebalance
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2014 – In a world where security challenges do not adhere to political boundaries and economies are linked as never before, no nation can go it alone and hope to prosper, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel wrote in an op-ed article published yesterday on the Defense One website.
“Achieving sustained security and prosperity in the 21st century requires nations to work together and to meet common challenges with uncommon unity and purpose,” Hagel added.

The secretary noted that the response of more than 25 nations to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 shows how that kind of unity is increasingly visible in the Asia-Pacific, which he called one of the most critical regions for global security and the global economy. And Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines led to a massive international relief and recovery effort last fall and produced Japan’s largest overseas military deployment in the post-war period, Hagel wrote.
“In both cases, nations in the region were able to set aside rivalries and differences and instead work together,” the secretary wrote. “At the same time, both cases underscore the reality that nations must engage in more practical security cooperation ahead of time in order to work together more effectively when challenges arise.”

Deepening cooperation does not materialize on its own, Hagel wrote, but requires deliberate and sustained efforts such as those of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, to continue building a stronger regional security architecture that can address shared challenges.

These efforts have the full support of the United States and will be highlighted this week in Hawaii, at the first U.S.-hosted gathering of U.S. and ASEAN defense ministers, Hagel wrote. By hosting this meeting at the start of his fourth visit to the Asia-Pacific region -- which will include stops in Japan, China and Mongolia -- it serves to underscore the growing role ASEAN members are playing in promoting regional stability and enhanced security cooperation, he added.

The United States also has a key role to play in this endeavor, the secretary wrote.
“As a leading economic and military power in the Pacific -- one with no disputed territorial claims or ambitions in the region -- the United States is uniquely positioned to continue to help Asian nations build a vibrant regional security architecture,” he explained. “My upcoming trip emphasizes three ways in which the Department of Defense will contribute to this effort.”

First, the U.S. military will increase its role in cooperative security efforts and exercises as it continues to shift forces and operational focus to the Asia-Pacific region, Hagel wrote.

“It has been more than five years since President Barack Obama came to office determined to lead America’s rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific, and it remains front and center in our national security strategy,” he added. “The rebalance has helped to strengthen our alliances and partnerships in Asia and led to increased engagement, exercises and training on a bilateral and multilateral basis.”
The deployment of advanced military capabilities to the region has also proven indispensable, Hagel wrote, noting that the U.S. contributions to the search for Flight 370 included the world’s most advanced maritime patrol aircraft -- the P-8A Poseidon -- which was recently deployed to Japan.

Second, the U.S. military will continue to build new types of partnerships that tackle nontraditional security challenges more effectively, the secretary wrote. “The military presence we maintain in the Pacific -- including approximately 330,000 personnel, 180 ships, 2,000 aircraft, the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force and five Army brigades -- provides unparalleled capabilities,” he wrote. “But the kind of nontraditional security challenges that pose a growing threat to stability in the region, such as climate change, natural disasters and pandemic disease, cannot be resolved through military efforts alone.”

Those changes require strong partnerships across military and civilian agencies and with the private-sector and nongovernmental organizations, he added, noting that Rajiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, is leading a session during the conference in Hawaii.

Even as the United States looks for new ways to tackle shared challenges, Hagel wrote, the U.S. military will defend its allies and consistently champion the international laws and norms that have provided the basis for regional security and prosperity for generations.

“Over the course of 10 days, I will meet with 13 defense ministers whose nations represent more than 30 percent of the global economy,” Hagel wrote. “They recognize that there can be no economic growth without stability and prosperity for their people. Continuing the positive trends in the region will depend on upholding the principles of free and open commerce, the rule of law, open access to sea lanes, air, space, and cyberspace, and resolving conflicts and disputes peacefully.

“As we have recently seen in Ukraine, threats to these principles are threats to peace and security in the 21st century,” he continued. “That’s why all nations must commit to resolving disputes peacefully, without coercion and in accordance with international law.”

For more than 60 years, Hagel wrote, the Asia-Pacific region has enjoyed relative peace and stability and become an engine for global progress and prosperity.
“The beneficiaries of this progress have been the people of the region, and that includes the American people,” he added. “The region has benefited from American leadership, and it will continue to do so. But sustaining this progress is not the work of any single nation -- it is a shared responsibility. And the more nations that embrace this responsibility and spirit of cooperation, the more confident we can be that Asia in the 21st century will be defined by security and prosperity for all its people.”

SECRETARY KERRY SAYS HE IS "DEEPLY TROUBLED" OVER THE MASS DEATH SENTENCES IN EGYPT

Mass Trials and Sentencing in Egypt

Press Statement

John Kerry
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

March 26, 2014

I am deeply, deeply troubled by the sudden and unprecedented decision by an Egyptian court to issue preliminary death sentences for 529 citizens after a quick mass trial. It simply defies logic. There are many avenues of legitimate review for this judgment and I urge the appropriate Egyptian authorities to remedy the situation. This news simply does not reflect the values and goals to which the interim government has aspired publicly and privately.

The need for due process assumed greater urgency with the start of a new trial for nearly 700 more people in the same courtroom where the earlier judgment was rendered after a two-day summary proceeding in which the defendants were tried as a group rather than on the merits of individual cases. Many of those defendants were not even in the courtroom. It is impossible to believe that such a proceeding satisfied even the most basic standards of justice.

The interim government must understand the negative message that this decision, if upheld, would send to the world about Egypt's commitment to international law and inclusivity.

For three years, Egyptians have demanded responsive leadership that protects human rights and promotes economic opportunity. Many lost their lives in that struggle. Adhering to the new constitution and maintaining a criminal justice system free of intimidation and political retribution are essential functions of a legitimate government. I urge the interim Egyptian government to reverse the court ruling and ensure due process for the accused. Anything less would dishonor the bravery of all who sacrificed their lives for democratic values.

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ISSUES STATEMENT ON UKRAINE

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Statement by the Press Secretary on Ukraine

The United States has steadfastly supported the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine since it declared its independence in 1991, and we reject the “referendum” that took place today in the Crimean region of Ukraine.  This referendum is contrary to Ukraine’s constitution, and the international community will not recognize the results of a poll administered under threats of violence and intimidation from a Russian military intervention that violates international law.

No decisions should be made about the future of Ukraine without the Ukrainian government.  Moreover, this vote was not necessary.  The Ukrainian government has made clear its willingness to discuss increased autonomy for Crimea, and the presidential elections planned for May 25 provide a legitimate opportunity for all Ukrainians to make their voices heard on the future of their country.

In addition, Ukraine, the United States, the EU, the OSCE, the UN, and others have called for Russia to allow international monitors into the Crimean peninsula to ensure that the rights of ethnic Russians in Ukraine are being upheld.  Russia has spurned those calls as well as outreach from the Ukrainian government and instead has escalated its military intervention into Crimea and initiated threatening military exercises on Ukraine’s eastern border.

Russia’s actions are dangerous and destabilizing.  The UN Security Council recognized this in a vote yesterday that only Russia opposed.  As the United States and our allies have made clear, military intervention and violation of international law will bring increasing costs for Russia – not only due to measures imposed by the United States and our allies but also as a direct result of Russia’s own destabilizing actions.

In this century, we are long past the days when the international community will stand quietly by while one country forcibly seizes the territory of another.  We call on all members of the international community to continue to condemn such actions, to take concrete steps to impose costs, and to stand together in support of the Ukrainian people and Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

HOSPITAL SYSTEM TO PAY $85 MILLION TO SETTLE ALLEGED IMPROPER PHYSICIAN REFERRAL CASE

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Florida Hospital System Agrees to Pay the Government $85 Million to Settle Allegations of Improper Financial Relationships with Referring Physicians

Halifax Hospital Medical Center and Halifax Staffing Inc. (Halifax), a hospital system based in the Daytona Beach, Fla., area, have agreed to pay $85 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to the Medicare program that violated the Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly known as the Stark Law, the Justice Department announced today.  

The Stark Law forbids a hospital from billing Medicare for certain services referred by physicians who have a financial relationship with the hospital.  In this case, the government alleged that Halifax knowingly violated the Stark Law by executing contracts with six medical oncologists that provided an incentive bonus that improperly included the value of prescription drugs and tests that the oncologists ordered and Halifax billed to Medicare.  The government also alleged that Halifax knowingly violated the Stark Law by paying three neurosurgeons more than the fair market value of their work.

“Financial arrangements that compensate physicians for referrals encourage physicians to make decisions based on financial gain rather than patient needs,” said Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division Stuart F. Delery.  “The Department of Justice is committed to preventing illegal financial relationships that undermine the integrity of our public health programs.”

In a Nov. 13, 2013, ruling, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida ruled that Halifax’s contracts with its medical oncologists violated the Stark Law.  The case was set for trial on March 3, 2014, on the government’s remaining claims against Halifax when the parties reached this settlement.

“This settlement illustrates our firm commitment to pursue health care fraud," said U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida A. Lee Bentley III.  “Medical service providers should be motivated, first and foremost, by what is best for their patients, not their pocketbooks.  Where necessary, we will continue to investigate and pursue these violations in our district.”

As part of the settlement announced today, Halifax also has agreed to enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), which obligates Halifax to undertake substantial internal compliance reforms and to submit its federal health care program claims to independent review for the next five years.

“Patients deserve to know that recommendations are based on sound medical practice, not illegal financial relationships between providers,” said Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Daniel R. Levinson.  “Halifax now also is required to hire a legal reviewer to monitor provider arrangements and an additional compliance expert to assist the board in fulfilling its oversight obligations.  Both of these independent reviewers will submit regular reports to my agency.”

The settlement announced today stems from a whistleblower complaint filed by an employee of Halifax Hospital, Elin Baklid-Kunz, pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private persons to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds of the suit.  The Act also permits the government to intervene and take over the lawsuit, as it did in this case as to some of Baklid-Kunz’s allegations.  Baklid-Kunz will receive $20.8 million of the settlement.

This settlement illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud and marks another achievement for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced in May 2009 by Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.  The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation.  One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Since January 2009, the Justice Department has recovered a total of more than $19 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $13.4 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.

The investigation and litigation was conducted by the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and HHS-OIG.  The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability, except as determined by the court’s Nov. 13, 2013, ruling.

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR MARCH 11, 2014

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Draeger Medical Inc., Telford, Pa., has been awarded a maximum $140,000,000 modification (P00067) exercising the third option period on a five-year base contract (SPM200-07-D-8003) with five one-year option periods for anesthesia machines, monitors, ventilators and related accessories.  This is a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.  Location of performance is Pennsylvania with a March 11, 2015 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, federal civilian agencies, and Department of Veterans Affairs.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

Genesis Vision, doing business as Rochester Optical*, Rochester, N.Y., has been awarded a maximum $50,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for optical frames.  This is a three-year base contract with two one-year option periods.  Location of performance is New York with a March 10, 2015 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM2DE-14-D-7559).

NAVY

Computer Systems Center Inc.*, Springfield, Va., is being awarded a $12,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the development and fielding of command, control, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting systems for Deployable Tactical Operations Center Components.  Work will be performed in Springfield, Va., and is expected to be completed in March 2018.  Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation, Navy funds in the amount of $1,200,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1.  The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-14-D-0013).

Mikel, Inc.*, Fall River, Mass., is being awarded a $6,689,497 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-11-C-6295) to exercise options for engineering and technical services for combat systems of the future.  Work will be performed in Middletown, R.I. (77 percent), Fall River, Mass. (10 percent), Manassas, Va. (10 percent); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (2 percent) and North Kingstown, R.I. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2014.  Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy funding in the amount of $365,000 will be obligated at time of award and contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured, as award is being made under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(5)-Authorized or Required by Statue 15 U.S.C. 638 (r)-Aid to Small Business.  The Naval Sea System Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

The Boeing Co., Defense, Space and Security, Kent, Wash., has been awarded a $10,814,354 modification (001) on an existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (F19628-01-D-0016) for trade studies and analysis for the Japan AWACS mission computing upgrade DMS 3.X requirements planning and hardware procurement to procure end of life hardware.  This contract action is implemented as a modification to delivery order #0097 under the AWACS modernization and sustainment support basic contract.  Work will be performed at Kent, Wash., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2014.  This is an unclassified foreign military sales contract for Japan.  Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/HBSK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity.  

*Small Business

SECRETARY KERRY'S OP-ED TITLED "WOMEN KEY TO PEACE AND SECURITY"

Women Key to Peace and Security

Op-Ed

John Kerry
Secretary of State

DipNote Blog

Washington, DC

March 6, 2014

---

International Women's Day is more than a moment marked on a calendar. It is a day not just to renew our determination to make the world a more peaceful and prosperous place -- but to recognize that a world where opportunities for women grow, is a world where the possibilities for peace, prosperity, and stability grow even more.

I see it every single day as Secretary of State. Even as the Assad regime's barrel-bombing of Aleppo continues, showing the world a brutal regime's true colors, with every act of courage and perseverance, Syria’s women show the world their true colors, as well. We heard from some of these remarkable women in Montreux just last month.

Their stories spoke to the bravery of countless other Syrian women. One woman from Idlib worked with the Free Syrian Army to ensure that the people of her village could remain in their homes and till their own land. Another woman from Aleppo got restrictions on humanitarian access lifted by offering food to regime soldiers at the checkpoints. If that isn’t courage under fire, I don’t know what is.

It's not just in Syria that women offer us hope for resolution to conflict. Women are vital to our shared goals of prosperity, stability and peace. That’s as true when it comes to ending our battles as it is jumpstarting our economies. The fact is that women bear the greatest burden in war. But their voices are too rarely heard in negotiating peace.
That has to change.

Countries that value and empower women to participate fully in decision-making are more stable, prosperous, and secure. The opposite is also true. When women are excluded from negotiations, the peace that follows is more tenuous. Trust is eroded, and human rights and accountability are often ignored.

In too many countries, treaties are designed by combatants for combatants. It should come as no surprise, then, that more than half of all peace agreements fail within the first 10 years of signature. The inclusion of women in peace building and conflict prevention can reverse that trend.

So how do we get there?
Evidence from around the world has shown that deadly conflicts are more likely to be prevented, and peace best forged and protected, when women are included as equal partners.
That’s why we are working to support women in conflict and post-conflict areas around the world.

In Afghanistan, we are advocating for the inclusion and election of women at all levels of governance. Afghan women today are marching forward in ways unimaginable just 10 years ago. They’re starting companies. They’re serving as members of parliament. They’re teaching in schools and working as doctors and nurses. They are the foundation upon which Afghanistan's future is being built.

As the people of Burma work to resolve the conflict that has plagued their nation for decades, the United States is supporting the meaningful participation of women in the peace process and inter-communal peace initiatives.

We know that the security of women is essential to their participation in peace building. That’s why we are working to ensure women get equal access to humanitarian assistance and relief, wherever we work.

The United States is also leading by example. My sister has worked for many years at the United Nations, following in the State Department footsteps of our father many years before I did myself. She's a trailblazer. But she's not alone. It’s no coincidence that some of our top diplomats and peace negotiators are women -- from National Security Advisor Susan Rice, to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, to Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom, to Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman. Today, all but one of the State Department's Regional Assistant Secretaries are women.
We celebrate their accomplishments not just because they are women, but because their work around the world will make all people -- men and women, boys and girls –- more secure.
Peace is not the absence of conflict. It is the presence of every member of society working together to promote stability and prosperity.

No country can succeed unless every citizen is empowered to contribute to its future. And no peace can endure if women are not afforded a central role. So today, we mark the miles women have traveled around the world -- but more importantly we commit to the next miles of the journey.

U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF ESTONIA ON THEIR NATIONAL DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 
On the Occasion of Estonia's National Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
February 20, 2014

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Estonia as they celebrate 96 years since the founding of their republic in 1918.

Estonia is a key ally and a recognized leader on cyber security and Internet freedom. In December 2013, Estonia and the United States formalized our commitment to continue to work together to enhance an open, secure, and reliable information and communications infrastructure while we also continue to build our law enforcement capacity, educational and cultural linkages, and civil society partnerships.

As Estonia marks its tenth anniversary in NATO, we recognize its commitment to peace and to our collective security. We particularly appreciate that Estonia continues to meet the NATO goals of committing two percent of its Gross Domestic Product on defense. We also welcome Estonia’s efforts to increase bilateral trade and investment, as well as its support for the goals of the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

As Estonians celebrate their independence with family and friends, the United States stands with them as a steadfast partner and friend. I wish all Estonian people continued peace and prosperity.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY SCAM SHUTDOWN BY FTC

FROM:  FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 
FTC Shuts Down Business Opportunity Scam

Several companies and individuals have agreed to settlements with the Federal Trade Commission that ban them from selling business or work-at-home opportunities and require them to surrender assets to the FTC.

As part of the FTC’s ongoing crackdown on scams that falsely promise business opportunities targeted to  unemployed or underemployed people, in October 2012, the FTC filed a complaint against Shopper Systems LLC, Revenue Works LLC (also doing business as Surplus Supplier), EMZ Ventures LLC, The Veracity Group LP, Brett Brosseau, Michael Moysich and Keith R. Powell.

The settlement orders resolve charges that the defendants misled consumers who were seeking to run their own business providing mystery shopping services to retailers, and tricked them into paying money to join programs with recurring monthly charges.

Along with the settlement orders announced today, a federal court approved the filing of an amended complaint adding Concept Rocket LLC and Shopper Select LLC as defendants, and Georgia Farm House Land Holdings LLC, PKP Holdings, Stephanie Powell, and Sportsmen of North America LP as relief defendants who profited from the scheme but did not participate in it.

The settlement order against Moysich, Concept Rocket, Revenue Works, Shopper Select and Shopper Systems, bans them from selling business or work-at-home opportunities, sending unauthorized text messages, and selling products or services with negative-option features.  The settlement order against Brosseau and EMZ Ventures bans them from selling business or work-at-home opportunities and sending unauthorized text messages.  The settlement orders impose a judgment of more than $40.5 million against these defendants, which will be suspended when the Moysich defendants have surrendered $55,000 in frozen assets, and the Brosseau defendants have surrendered $88,000 in frozen assets and nearly $270,000 from the sale of property in Georgia, Vermont.

The settlement order against Keith R. Powell and The Veracity Group bans them from selling business or work-at-home opportunities.  It also imposes a judgment of more than $14.8 million, which will be suspended when Powell has surrendered his assets, including more than $115,000, to the FTC, and the Veracity Group has surrendered telecommunication equipment to a court-appointed receiver for liquidation.  As stipulated in all three orders, the full monetary judgments will become due immediately if the defendants are found to have misrepresented their respective financial conditions.

The Commission vote to file the proposed consent judgments and an amended complaint in December 2013 was 2-0-2, with Commissioner Ohlhausen not participating and Commissioner Wright abstaining.  The judgments were entered by the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on January 23, 2014.

To learn more about these kinds of scams, read the FTC’s Business Opportunity Scams (Estafas de Oportunidades de Negocio), Mystery Shopper Scams and Bogus Business Opportunities.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.  To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

Contact Information

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR FEBRUARY 18, 2014

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 
CONTRACTS

ARMY

EADS-NA, Herndon, Va., was awarded a $22,856,085 modification (P00766) to contract W58RGZ-06-C-0194 to acquire four UH-72A Lakota helicopters with engine inlet barrier filters and ARC-231 radios.  Fiscal 2014 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $22,856,085 were obligated at the time of the award.  Estimated completion date is March 31, 2015.  Work will be performed in Columbia, Miss.  Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.

Jacobs/Stantec, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $9,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architectural and engineering services for Army, Air Force, and other military and civil works projects primarily within the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division boundaries.  Funding and performance location will be determined with each order.  Estimated completion date is Feb. 17, 2019.  One bid was solicited with one received.  Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-14-D-0005).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Combat Medical Systems LLC*, Fayetteville, N.C., has been awarded a maximum $36,396,530 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for various medical and surgical surge, re-supply, and sustainment materials.  This contract is a competitive acquisition, and four offers were received.  This is a one-year base contract with nine one-year option year periods.  Location of performance is North Carolina with a Feb. 17, 2015 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 war-stopper funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPE2D0-14-D-0001).

Eye Safety Systems Inc., Ketchum, Idaho, has been awarded a maximum $9,804,328 modification (P00004) exercising the third option year on a one-year base contract (SPM2DE-11-D-7549) with four one-year option periods for prescription lens carriers.  This is a fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.  Location of performance is Idaho with a March 2, 2015 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.

CORRECTION:  The contract announced Feb 12, 2014 to Honeywell International, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., had an incorrect contract number. The correct contract number is SPM4A1-11-G-0010 W5A0

*Small Business

U.S. SENDS BEST WISHES TO PEOPLE OF GAMBIA ON THEIR NATIONAL DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 
On the Occasion of the Republic of The Gambia's National Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
February 17, 2014

On behalf of the American people, I send best wishes to the government and people of The Gambia as they celebrate 49 years of independence on February 18.

We celebrate with you on this joyous occasion, and look forward to working with you to build a better future for all Gambians.

The United States wishes the government and people of The Gambia a festive celebration and prosperous year.

PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA PARK GEUN-HYE MAKES REMARKS WITH SECRETARY KERRY

FROM:  STATE DEPARTMENT  
Remarks With President Park Geun-hye of South Korea
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
The Blue House
Seoul, South Korea
February 13, 2014

PRESIDENT PARK: (Via interpreter) I am delighted to meet with you again, Mr. Secretary. You last visited Korea back in April of last year, and this year you’ve also come at a very critical time, and I’m sure that today your visit will serve as an occasion for moving our relationship forward as well. And incidentally, you also bring with you good tidings with regard to President Obama’s visit, in the latter half of April. We welcome that news.

SECRETARY KERRY: Look, I didn’t want to walk in here without that. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT PARK: (Via interpreter) I have read through various media reports and I’ve received various news about how hard you’ve been working ever since you took office as Secretary of State in terms of dealing with, for instance, the Iranian nuclear issue and the proliferation of Iranian – and the proliferation aspect of Iran’s nuclear program, as well as the Syrian issue, and other – some of the world’s most difficult issues. And I read how you’ve exercised and demonstrated extraordinary caliber in dealing with these issues. I’m also very well aware of your active diplomacy. And indeed I am told that in the service of upholding peace around the world and dealing with various international entities, you’ve traveled a distance that amounts to circling the globe 13 times. (Laughter.)

SECRETARY KERRY: (Inaudible.) Now you’ve scared me. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT PARK: (Inaudible.) (Laughter.)

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, thank you. Madam President, thank you so much. First of all, I’ll tell you, it’s a great privilege to have a chance to be able to meet again. President Obama is very excited about being able to come and visit, because it’s, as you’ve said, a very, very important time. There’s a lot happening. Frankly, there’s too much tension - difficult, complicated and historical issues, and a huge need for us to be able to continue to keep our alliance as strong and effective as it has been.

I think you know that the President and all of us in America believe that this is an essential alliance, an essential partnership, and we’re very, very grateful to you for a strong 60 years behind us; now we can plan on the next 60 years. And I think North Korea, obviously, the challenge of their nuclear program remains an essential security issue. And then, of course, the other issues in the region which you and I will have a chance to talk about.

But we’re very grateful to you for your leadership and your cooperation on Afghanistan, and Syria, on Iran. And I have enjoyed enormously our relationship with (inaudible), Minister Yun, (inaudible) to conduct this conversation. And so today (inaudible) that hopefully we can map out a few things.

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK CELEBRATES 8OTH BIRTHDAY

FROM:  EXPORT-IMPORT BANK 
Ex-Im Bank celebrates 80th Anniversary

Chairman Hochberg Marks Eight Decades of Supporting American Jobs

Washington, D.C. – Today the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), the nation’s official export-credit agency, marks its 80th anniversary of promoting U.S. exports abroad and supporting U.S. jobs at home.

In its eight decades of operation, Ex-Im Bank has authorized an estimated $506 billion to finance the export of U.S. goods and services around the globe and supported millions of American jobs. In 2013, nearly 90% of the Bank’s transactions benefitted small businesses.

“Today we say happy birthday to a great American success story,” said Export-Import Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. “Over 80 years, the Export Import Bank has supported millions of American jobs and financed over $500 billion in goods stamped ‘Made in the USA,’ and we’ve done it all while generating billions of dollars in revenue for U.S. taxpayers.”

Founded in 1934 by FDR as the Export-Import Bank of Washington, the Bank was “organized with power to aid in financing and to facilitate exports and imports…” so as to boost job growth in Depression-devastated America. After an early reorganization, the Bank soon expanded its scope and approved loan packages in more than 30 countries, half of which were in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Below are some key dates in Ex-Im Bank’s transactional history.

1938… The Bank extended a $22 million loan to China for construction of the “Burma Road.”

1941… The Bank provided a line of credit for the Pan-American Highway.

1948… Ex-Im Bank administers funds for economic cooperation under the Marshall Plan.

1981… Ex-Im Bank cleared its first transaction in the People’s Republic of China. Two direct credits of $57.1 million supported the purchase of power-generation equipment manufactured by Westinghouse Electric and Combustion Engineering.

2012… Ex-Im Bank closed the largest deal of its history, a $4.975 billion direct loan to the Sadara Chemical Company of Saudi Arabia that supported approximately 18,000 U.S. jobs. Total authorizations for the same year surpassed $35.7 billion, and job support reached an estimated 255,000.

2013… Ex-Im Bank logged a record number of small-business transactions and generated more than $1 billion in earnings for the U.S. Treasury.

PRESS STATEMENT ON DEPARTURE OF U.S. AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA

FROM:  STATE DEPARTMENT 
Ambassador McFaul's Departure from Russia
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
February 4, 2014

I join President Obama in expressing my deep gratitude to one of our very best, Ambassador Mike McFaul, for his exemplary service as U.S. Ambassador to Russia. After five years promoting U.S.-Russian relations, and the past seven months separated from his family, I understand Mike’s desire to return home to California. We will all miss Mike at the State Department, but we know he’ll just be a phone call or a tweet away.

In my time as Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and now as Secretary, I’ve learned firsthand that Mike McFaul  isn’t just exceptionally talented, fiercely conscientious, and whip-smart, he really understands the dynamics in Russia better than just about anybody. He’s worked creatively and tenaciously to enlist Moscow to act not just as a great power but also as a global partner. From the New START Treaty to securing Russian cooperation on Iran’s nuclear program, to resupplying our troops in Afghanistan and expanding our trade, there’s scarcely an issue in our bilateral agenda that didn’t benefit from Mike’s steady hand and good old fashioned willpower.

Mike has a clear-eyed understanding of the realities of diplomacy, but his realism is matched by an equally deep appreciation for enduring American values and their appeal across the globe. That’s why he engaged directly with Russian civil society. That’s why he stood up for the rights of LGBT individuals. And that’s why he was a relentless advocate for rule of law and an independent media.

Where our countries disagreed, Mike has spoken up clearly – privately and publicly. All you need to do is look at his Twitter account to know that he was truly a groundbreaking Ambassador in a groundbreaking era. He grasped the importance of social media in an information age, but he also grasped a much more essential truth: that all people everywhere should be able to express themselves and, ultimately, determine how they are governed. That’s an enduring conviction, and Mike leaves behind an enduring legacy.

SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS ON MICHAEL BLOOMBERG APPOINTMENT AS SPECIAL U.N. ENVOY

FROM:  STATE DEPARTMENT 
Appointment of Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as Special Envoy to the U.N. for Climate Change and Cities
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
January 31, 2014

I congratulate former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on his appointment to serve as the United Nations’ first Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change. He has long been a champion of significant action to cut greenhouse gas emissions in cities and bring about a global clean energy economy, and I know he approaches both goals with the sense of urgency and responsibility that this challenge demands. I can’t think of a person better suited for this important new role.

This appointment comes at a pivotal moment in the global effort to address climate change. Every single year of the 21st century – including 2013 – ranks among the 15 warmest years on record. Scientific study after scientific study continues to paint a clear picture of what our world will look like if we don’t change course. The facts are clear. The world we leave to our children and grandchildren is at stake.

As Mayor Bloomberg knows well, how the world’s cities respond to climate change will make all the difference. Cities are incubators of economic growth, innovation, and social change. With roughly 5.2 billion people projected to live in the world’s urban communities by 2050, how city leaders develop building codes and electricity requirements, how they design public transportation systems, and how they manage urban land use will largely determine whether or not we can meet this global challenge.

During the 12 years he spent as mayor of the nation’s largest city, Bloomberg instituted creative programs that cut greenhouse emissions by nearly 20 percent, and his PlaNYC initiative to combat climate change on the local level has become a model for other American cities, including my hometown of Boston. As Chair of the C40 Climate Leadership Group, he also helped bring together large cities from around the world to pursue a more sustainable path forward.

Mayor Bloomberg has hands-on experience confronting climate change in one of the largest cities in the world, while, at the same time, seizing the many opportunities that sustainable city management creates. I’m looking forward to the UN’s 2014 Climate Summit in New York next fall and delighted that Mayor Bloomberg will play such an important role in that event and the UN’s effort writ large.

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR JANUARY 31, 2014

FROM:  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
CONTRACTS
 DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Lancair Corporation,* San Diego, Calif., has been awarded a maximum $15,635,562 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for jet fuel.  This contract is a sole source acquisition.  Location of performance is California with a Mar. 31, 2018 performance completion date.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2014 through fiscal year 2018 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va.; (SP0600-14-D-0008).

Bronze Star Apparel Group, Inc., ** San Juan, Puerto Rico has been awarded a maximum $11,111,611 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for various Navy working uniform blouses and trousers.  This contract is a competitive acquisition and six offers were received.  Location of performance is Puerto Rico with a Jan. 30, 2015 performance completion date.  This is a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods.  Using military service is Navy.  Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2014 through fiscal year 2015 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa.; (SPE1C1-14-D-1014).

Wolverine Services LLC,*** Anchorage, Alaska., has been awarded a maximum $6,769,722 modification (P00010) exercising the second option year on a one-year base contract (SP3300-11-C-0003) with four one-year option periods for facility maintenance and repair.  This is a firm-fixed-price with time and material line items contract.  Locations of performance are Alaska and California with a Jan. 31, 2017 performance completion date.  Using military service is federal civilian agency.  Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2014 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, New Cumberland, Pa.

*Small Business
**Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
***Small Disadvantaged Business

ARMY

General Dynamics, Sterling Heights, Mich. was awarded a $72,690,235 firm-fixed-price contract for the acquisition of twelve M1A2 System Enhanced Package v2 tanks. Fiscal 2013 other procurement funds in the amount of $15,712,969 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 31, 2015. One bid was solicited with one received. Work will be performed in Lima, Ohio; Scranton, Pa.; Anniston, Ala.; and Tallahassee, Fla. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich. is the contracting activity (W56HZV-14-C-0054).

Conti Federal Services, Inc., Edison, N.J. (W912GB-14-D-0002); Cosmopolitan Inc., Columbia, Md. (W912GB-14-D-0003); CT JV, Bargersville, Ind. (W912GB-14-D-0004); M+W U.S., Inc., Watervliet, N.Y. (W912GB-14-D-0005); Nibor Enterprises, Inc.; North Miami Beach, Fla. (W912GB-14-D-0006); Oxford Construction of Pa. Inc.,  Philadelphia, Pa (W912GB-14-D-0007) were awarded a $24,975,000 firm-fixed-price foreign military sales contract for construction projects in Israel. Funds and work performance location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is Jan. 30, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with seven received. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe is the contracting activity.

*Design West Technologies, Inc., Tustin, Calf. was awarded a $21,554,266 firm-fixed-price  indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for fourteen suspension lock-out kits and associated spare parts for the M119 Howitzer. Funding and work performance location will be determined with each o
rder. Estimated completion date is Jan. 31, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with four received. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. is the contracting activity (W15QKN-14-D-0019).

*Heckler and Koch Defense LLC, Ashburn, Va., was awarded a $19,647,426 firm-fixed-price contract for 12,400 M320 or M320A1 grenade launchers. Fiscal 2010 and 2013 other procurement funds in the amount of $19,647,426 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Jan. 13, 2016. One bid was solicited with one received. Work will be performed Columbus, Ga., Ashburn, Va., and Germany Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. is the contracting activity (W15QKN-14-C-0028).

Booze Allen Hamilton, Inc., McLean, Va. was awarded a $16,080,397 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for system engineering and technical assistance support services for the development5, implementation, and deployment for the integrated personnel and pay system. Fiscal 2013 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $14,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Jan. 31, 2015. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Va. Army Contracting Command - Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. is the contracting activity (W15QKN-14-C-0032).

Mississippi Limestone Corp., Friars Point, Miss. was awarded a $8,751,228 firm-fixed-price contract for casting 94,640 squares of articulated concrete mattress, providing all necessary supplies, labor, and transportation to complete the project. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $8,751,228 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 31, 2014. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Work will be performed at Richardson Landing, Tenn. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis, Tenn. is the contracting activity (W912EQ-14-C-0009).

*small business

AIR FORCE

Lockheed Martin Corporation, Marietta Ga., has been awarded a $105,287,400 (P00026) modification for an existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract (FA8504-06-D-0001) for the C-130J Long Term Sustainment Program.  The contract modification provides for the exercise of the third annual option, a two-year ordering period for sustainment services including logistical support, program management support, engineering services, spares, and technical data in support of C-130J sustainment.  Work will be performed at Marietta, Ga., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2016.  No funds are being obligated at time of award, but will be obligated with each task order.  Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WLKCA, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corp., Marietta, Ga., has been awarded a $48,900,000 ceiling requirements contract for C-130J Long Term Sustainment Support for the Royal Norwegian Air Force.  The estimated value of the first order is $6,908,874.  Contractor will provide the Royal Norwegian Air Force with Return and Repair support, spares support, engineering support, in country representative support, and modification support for their C-130J aircraft platform. Work will be performed at Marietta, Ga. and at Gardermoen Air Station, Norway, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2018. This award is the result of a sole source acquisition and is 100 percent foreign military sales for Norway.  Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WLKCB, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity; (FA8553-14-D-0001)

Harris Corp. Government Communication Systems, Palm Bay, Fla., has been awarded a cost- plus-Award-Fee modification (P00161) for a total face value of $13,693,104 which includes $12,751,762 in estimated cost, $281,963 in base fee, and $659,379 in potential award fee.  This modification is being issued under a previously awarded contract (FA8819-08-C-0001 Space Control Depot Support) for the exercise of an option for additional sustainment labor hours.  These hours will provide uninterrupted Contractor Logistic Support for Space and Missile Systems Center Space Superiority operational Offensive Counterspace and Defensive Counterspace ground-based systems.  The work will be performed at Palm Bay, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2015.  Fiscal 2014 Operations and Maintenance funds in the amount of $2,546,846 are being obligated at time of award.  The cumulative face value of this contract is $265,396,292.  Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC)/Space Superiority Systems Directorate, Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Jacobs Technology, Inc., Lincoln, Mass., has been awarded a $10,657,764 modification (P00019) on an existing cost-plus-fixed -fee and cost-reimbursable contract (FA8721-13-C-0006) to continue providing Engineering Technical Assistance Support Services which consists of disciplined systems/specialty engineering and technical/Information Assurance services, support, and products using established government, contractor, and industry processes.  Work will be performed at Lincoln, Mass., and is expected to be completed by May 19, 2014.  DoD Fiscal 2013 Research and Development funds in the amount of $207,000 will be obligated at time of award.  Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/PZM, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity.

Jacobs Technology, Inc., Lincoln, Mass., has been awarded a $7,712,796 modification (P00018) on an existing cost-plus-fixed -fee and cost-reimbursable contract (FA8721-13-C-0002) to continue providing Engineering Technical Assistance Support Services which consists of disciplined systems/specialty engineering and technical/Information Assurance services, support, and products using established government, contractor, and industry processes.  Work will be performed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., Peterson AFB, Colo., and Dahlgren, Va., and is expected to be completed by May 19, 2014. Fiscal 2014 Operations and Maintenance funds in the amount of $926,188.50 Research and Development funds in the amount of $601,677 and Procurement funds in the amount of $633,318 will be obligated at time of award.   Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/PZM, Hanscom AFB, Mass., is the contracting activity.

Texas Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services, Austin, Texas, has been awarded a $0 modification (P00025) on an existing indefinite delivery requirements contract (W9124J-09-D-0005) for Food Services. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $75,126,351. The contract modification provides for the increase of additional quantities under the basic requirements contract. A subsequent task order (12) in fiscal 2014 Operations and Maintenance funds will be awarded no later than Jan. 31, 2014 to order additional quantities at an estimated cost of $15,152,144 in under the scope of the basic contract. Work will be performed at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2015. Fiscal 2014 Operations and Maintenance funds 502 Contracting Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, is the contracting activity.

NAVY

CH2M HILL Constructors, Inc., Englewood, Colo., is being awarded $44,240,000 for firm-fixed-price task order JU01 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract (N62470-13-D-6019) for the design and construction of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Headquarters Recovery Restoration at Naval Support Activity Washington.  The work to be performed provides for the design and construction to restore the NAVSEA Headquarters building.  The work will provide repurposed and reconfigured areas on multiple floors to improve the efficiency and communication of NAVSEA within the facility.  The task order also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised, would increase cumulative task order value to $67,240,000.  Work will be performed in Washington, D.C., and is expected to be completed by February 2015.  Fiscal 2014 military construction, Navy contract funds in the amount of $44,240,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  One proposal was received for this task order.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded $38,103,120 for cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order 0017 under previously awarded contract (N00383-06-D-001J) for F/A-18E/F logistics support and associated material requirements.  Work will be performed at St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2015.  Fiscal 2014 Navy working capital funds in the amount of $38,103,120 will be obligated at the time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1).  The Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded $26,836,716 for firm-fixed-price delivery order 0004 under a previously awarded Basic Ordering Agreement (N00383-11-G-001H) for the repair of various parts in support of the F/A-18 aircraft.  Work will be performed at Lemoore, Calif. (55 percent); Cecil Field, Fla. (44 percent); and Philadelphia, Pa. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2016.  Fiscal 2014 Navy working capital funds in the amount of $26,836,716 will be obligated at the time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1).  The Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

KENTUCKY HOSPITAL SETTLES ALLEGATIONS OF PERFORMING MEDICALLY UNNECESSARY CARDIAC PROCEDURES

FROM:  JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Kentucky Hospital Agrees to Pay Government $16.5 Million to Settle Allegations of Unnecessary Cardiac Procedures

Saint Joseph Health System Inc. has agreed to pay $16.5 million to resolve allegations that Saint Joseph Hospital violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to the Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid programs for a variety of medically unnecessary cardiac procedures, the Justice Department announced today.  Saint Joseph Health System operates numerous hospitals statewide, including Saint Joseph Hospital, which is based in London, Ky.

“Hospitals that place their financial interests above the well-being of their patients will be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division Stuart F. Delery. “ The Department of Justice will not tolerate those who abuse federal health care programs and put the beneficiaries of these programs at risk.”

The government alleged that doctors working at Saint Joseph Hospital performed numerous invasive cardiac procedures, including coronary stents, pacemakers, coronary artery bypass graft surgeries and diagnostic catheterizations, on Medicare and Medicaid patients who did not need them, and that the hospital was aware of these unnecessary procedures.  These doctors were affiliated with Cumberland Clinic which is a physician group that entered an exclusive arrangement with Saint Joseph Hospital in 2008 to provide cardiology services to the hospital’s patients.  Cumberland Clinic is owned by two London-based cardiologists, Satyabrata Chatterjee and Ashwini Anand.

The settlement also resolves allegations that Saint Joseph Hospital violated the federal Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute by entering into sham management agreements that financially benefitted Chatterjee and Anand as an inducement for Chatterjee and Anand to direct more Cumberland Clinic patients to the hospital.

Dr. Sandesh Patil, one of the Cumberland Clinic cardiologists working at the hospital, performed many of the medically unnecessary coronary stents.  Patil has since pleaded guilty to a federal health care fraud offense and has been sentenced to serve 30 months in prison.

“We all rely on health care providers to make treatment decisions based on clinical, not financial, considerations,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky Kerry Harvey.  “The conduct alleged in this case violates that fundamental trust and squanders scarce public resources set aside for legitimate health care needs.  We will use every available tool to protect our federal health care programs and the patients who they serve.”

In connection with this settlement, Saint Joseph Hospital has agreed to enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), which obligates the hospital to undertake substantial internal compliance reforms and to commit to a third-party review of its claims to federal health care programs for the next five years.

"Cases such as this threaten both the health of patients and the financial integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs," said Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General in Atlanta Derrick L. Jackson.  "This settlement is another example of the OIG’s commitment to protecting our beneficiaries and to recovering any money that has been improperly paid as a result of medically unnecessary procedures."

In addition to the settlement with Saint Joseph Health System, the government  announced its intervention in a lawsuit alleging False Claims Act violations by Chatterjee and Anand, who referred patients for and performed the unnecessary procedures and tests, and their practice group, Cumberland Clinic, as well the practice groups each of them owned before forming Cumberland Clinic.    

The government actions announced today stem in large part from a whistleblower complaint filed by three Lexington, Ky., cardiologists pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private persons to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds of the suit.  The Act also permits the government to intervene in the lawsuit and take over the allegations as it has done in this case.  Drs. Michael Jones, Paula Hollingsworth and Michael Rukavina will receive a total of $2.46 million of the $16.5 million settlement with Saint Joseph Hospital.

This settlement illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud and marks another achievement for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced in May 2009 by Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.  The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation.  One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Since January 2009, the Justice Department has recovered a total of more than $17.1 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $12.2 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, HHS-OIG, the Kentucky Office of Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Unit, the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Jones, Hollingsworth and Rukavina v. Saint Joseph Health System et al., no. 11-cv-81-GFVT (E.D.Ky.)

ATLAS V ROCKET READIED TO TAKE IMPORTANT SATELLITE INTO SPACE

FROM:  NASA 

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-L) spacecraft on board arrives at the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 41. Liftoff is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23 at 9:05 p.m. EST, the opening of a 40-minute launch window.

Live coverage on NASA TV begins at 6:30 p.m. The TDRS-L spacecraft is the second of three new satellites designed to ensure vital operational continuity for NASA by expanding the lifespan of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) fleet, which consists of eight satellites in geosynchronous orbit.

The spacecraft provide tracking, telemetry, command and high bandwidth data return services for numerous science and human exploration missions orbiting Earth. These include NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station. TDRS-L has a high-performance solar panel designed for more spacecraft power to meet the growing S-band communications requirements. TDRSS is one of NASA's three Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) networks providing space communications to NASA missionsImage Credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

FDA RECOMMENDED MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ACETAMINOPHEN PER TABLET

FROM:  FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION 

The Division of Drug Information (DDI) is CDER's focal point for public inquiries. We serve the public by providing information on human drug products and drug product regulation by FDA.

On January 14, 2014, FDA is recommending health care professionals discontinue prescribing and dispensing prescription combination drug products that contain more than 325 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen per tablet, capsule, or other dosage unit. There are no available data to show that taking more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per dosage unit provides additional benefit that outweighs the added risks for liver injury. Further, limiting the amount of acetaminophen per dosage unit will reduce the risk of severe liver injury from inadvertent acetaminophen overdose, which can lead to liver failure, liver transplant, and death.

We recommend that health care providers consider prescribing combination drug products that contain 325 mg or less of acetaminophen. We also recommend that when a pharmacist receives a prescription for a combination product with more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per dosage unit that they contact the prescriber to discuss a product with a lower dose of acetaminophen. A two tablet or two capsule dose may still be prescribed, if appropriate. In that case, the total dose of acetaminophen would be 650 mg (the amount in two 325 mg dosage units). When making individual dosing determinations, health care providers should always consider the amounts of both the acetaminophen and the opioid components in the prescription combination drug product.

In January 2011 we asked manufacturers of prescription combination drug products containing acetaminophen to limit the amount of acetaminophen to no more than 325 mg in each tablet or capsule by January 14, 2014. We requested this action to protect consumers from the risk of severe liver damage which can result from taking too much acetaminophen. This category of prescription drugs combines acetaminophen with another ingredient intended to treat pain (most often an opioid), and these products are commonly prescribed to consumers for pain, such as pain from acute injuries, post-operative pain, or pain following dental procedures.

PRESS SECRETARY'S PRESS GAGGLE ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 
Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney Aboard AF1 en route Raleigh, NC, 1/15/2014
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Raleigh, North Carolina

10:25 A.M. EST

MR. CARNEY:  Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.  Welcome aboard Air Force One for the first outing of the New Year.  I hope you look forward to it as I do.  I just wanted to say a couple of things about where we’re going and the event the President will participate in.

Today the President will visit Vacon, a company that manufactures AC drives, which are used to control the speed of electric motors to maximize energy efficiency.  At 11:35 a.m. the President will tour the R&D facility, accompanied by Dan Isaksson, Vacon vice president, and Secretary Moniz.  At 1:00 p.m. at North Carolina State University, the President will announce new steps with the private sector to strengthen the manufacturing sector, boost advanced manufacturing, and attract good jobs with good wages that a growing middle class requires.

The President will announce the selection of a North Carolina headquartered consortium of businesses and universities led by North Carolina State University to lead a manufacturing innovation institute for next generation power electronics.

President Obama has declared the year 2014 a “Year of Action.”  And while he will continue to work with Congress on new measures to create jobs and grow the economy, he will also use his executive authority to get things done.  After shedding jobs for a decade, our manufacturers have added 568,000 jobs over the past nearly four years, including 80,000 over the past five months.  Manufacturing production has grown since the end of the recession at its fastest pace in over a decade.  The President is committed to building on that progress.

With that, I’ll take your questions.

Q:    Could you respond to some of the criticisms that Judge Bates made of recommendations regarding surveillance?  He objects, for example, to the appointment of a special advocate to a rigorous procedure for national security letters, and so on.

MR. CARNEY:  Mark, as you know, we are in the final stages of wrapping up the administration’s review of our signals intelligence programs.  As we’ve been saying, we’re not going to discuss decisions and outcomes while the review is ongoing, and we wouldn’t discuss observations or assessments by others about recommendations that the President himself is considering as he makes final decisions prior to his remarks at the Justice Department on Friday.

Q:    What about the New York Times story today that the NSA is using radio waves to tap into computers around the world and monitor them?

MR. CARNEY:  As you know, I won’t discuss specific tools or processes.  But the NSA operates under heavy oversight and is focused on discovering and developing intelligence about valid and foreign intelligence targets, such as terrorists, human traffickers, and drug smugglers.  They are not interested in the personal information about ordinary Americans, nor do they use foreign intelligence capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies on behalf of, or give intelligence that we collect to U.S. companies to enhance their international competitiveness or increase their bottom line.

Q:    Do you have anything to add to your statement last night about the unemployment insurance?  Who is to blame for this?

MR. CARNEY:  I think if you look at my statement, we’re very disappointed that Republicans blocked a common-sense, compromise solution that would have extended unemployment insurance benefits to the 1.3 million Americans and their families who have been cut off from this emergency assistance.

It’s very frustrating when, again, the previous President, a Republican, signed similar extensions five times without offsets.  And Majority Leader Senator Reid has gone quite a distance to try to accommodate the concerns of Republicans who have shown a desire and an interest in extending these benefits when it comes to offsets and when it comes to offering amendments.

So we’re going to continue to work with congressional leaders, with Senate leaders to move this forward.  The need is urgent.  It should not be tied up in ideological or partisan debate.  The Americans who need this assistance are Republicans, they're Democrats, they're independents, they're unaffiliated -- they're Americans.  And Congress should act.

Q:   Will the President address the vote or the lack of votes in the Senate in his remarks today?

MR. CARNEY:  He might bring it up in his remarks, but it’s certainly not the focus of his remarks.

Q:    Agenda for his meeting with Senate Democrats?  What’s at the top of the agenda?

MR. CARNEY:  Well, it’s basically to sync our watches on the policy agenda that the President has been putting forward and will add to in his State of the Union address.  So there will be a broad array of topics, including -- as you heard him say yesterday at the Cabinet meeting -- efforts we’re undertaking to work with Congress legislatively to move the country forward and efforts that he can undertake using the unique authorities and powers that a President has to make advances on behalf of the middle class and the American economy.  And today’s event in North Carolina is a perfect example of the President using that power and that authority.

Q:    Jay, speaking of today’s event, these manufacturing institutes, as you know, were an initiative announced at the State of the Union last year, and here we are two weeks before this year’s State of the Union.  Is there any frustration that it’s taken him close to a year to announce the establishment of the first one of what’s supposed to eventually be 45 of these institutes?

MR. CARNEY:  Not at all.  I mean, I think if we had announced everything in a week, you would have said it wasn’t serious, it wasn’t real, and the assessments made about where to launch these initiatives weren’t vigorous and substantive.

I think that we have seen extremely positive growth in our manufacturing sector.  We’ve seen areas with huge potential for further growth, especially in advanced manufacturing, in technologies and businesses that the United States can dominate, and by doing so can create high-paying jobs that support middle-class families here at home.

This is something the President is very committed to, and he’s very excited about today’s event.

Q:    “Year of Action” -- his economic issues can we see -- expect action on more health care actions, immigration, other issues on the President’s domestic agenda?

MR. CARNEY:  The answer is, yes.  I think the point that the President has been making and others have made on his behalf is that in many ways the American economy, as it has emerged from the recovery, has grown steadily and created 8.2 million jobs, is on a precipice of even greater strides forward.  And we want to do everything we can, using our authorities, the President's authorities to take action through the executive and through the power of the pen and the power of the phone, as well as take action through and with Congress legislatively on immigration reform and so many other issues that we can work together on.

It bears notice that, despite all of our differences, despite our disappointment and frustration with the decision by Republicans to block UI benefits thus far, that there has also been steady progress on the omnibus legislation that is the product of a bipartisan compromise on a budget deal.  And that omnibus legislation, that funding bill protects some of the President's key priorities, including in manufacturing, SelectUSA, including in early childhood education and others.

So there's a lot of positive things that can happen and are happening on behalf of the economy and the middle class and the American people, and we just need to keep moving forward.  So the President is going to talk a lot about, in the days ahead and in the State of the Union address, ways that we can use all the tools available to us to grow the economy and create jobs that middle-class families can depend on.

Q:    Can you talk about the significance of the phrase “Year of Action” compared to previous years, which seemed were also years of action?  Why are you pointing out that this year is a year of action?

MR. CARNEY:  Well, that’s a profound question, Zack.  The fact of the matter is this President has throughout his time in office utilized the tools available to him.  But we're going to reinvigorate that process.  We're going to continue to look for creative and innovative ideas to do things like advance the cause of developing high-tech and other advanced manufacturing centers across the country; to expand access to early childhood education; to move forward with rebuilding our infrastructure.

One other positive outcome of the omnibus legislation that’s moving through the Congress now is that it provides significant funds for TIGER investments -- for TIGER grants.  And that goes right to the infrastructure needs that we have in this country.  And as you know, investment in infrastructure, as had been recognized by both Democrats and Republicans over the years, provide an immediate jolt to the economy, immediate job creation, as well as long-term positive benefits because of improved infrastructure.

Q:    Jay, can I ask about Iran?  As you know and have reacted to, Iran's foreign minister laid a wreath at the grave of a Hezbollah leader who was involved in a terrorist attack against Americans.  And we spoke yesterday about these reports of a Russian-Iran oil-for-goods deal.  You’ve made the case repeatedly of why you think Congress should wait and give diplomacy a chance.  Are you concerned that events like these, which you can't control, could have a negative effect and sort of weaken the argument that you're making with folks on the Hill that, look, you need to give us a window of time to try to get a deal done?

MR. CARNEY:  Well, I’d say a couple things.  On the matter of the Iranian foreign minister honoring Imad Mugniyah, the United States condemns the decision taken by the Iranian foreign minister to place a wreath at the grave of a former leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah responsible for heinous acts of terrorism that killed hundreds of innocent people, including Americans.  The inhumane violence that Mugniyah perpetrated and that Lebanese Hezbollah continues to perpetrate in a region with Iran’s financial and materiel support has had profoundly destabilizing and deadly effects for Lebanon and the region.

The decision to commemorate an individual who has participated in such vicious acts and whose organization continues to actively support terrorism worldwide sends the wrong message and will only exacerbate tensions in the region.

Now, I think this speaks to the fact that through the P5-plus-1 and the agreements that have been negotiated, and the process moving forward, we are addressing with our international partners the profound and important challenge of ensuring that Iran does not develop and obtain a nuclear weapon.  There are a host of vital national security interests at stake here, as well as the national security interests of our allies and friends.

Even as we pursue that and do it in a way that demands transparency and verifiability from the Iranians, we do not let up in our views and our positions when it comes to other activities, including the support of terrorist organizations that Iran engages in.

On the matter of the reports about the oil-for-goods deal with Iran that Russia may be engaged in, we've been very clear that we're concerned about that.  When we saw those reports, press reports, it was immediately raised at the highest levels by Secretary Kerry, with Foreign Minister Lavrov.  And I can tell you that if that deal moves forward it would raise serious concerns as it would be inconsistent with the terms of the P5-plus-1 agreement with Iran and could potentially trigger U.S. sanctions against the entities and individuals involved in any such transactions.

So our disposition has not changed on these matters.  And that's why it’s so important to be clear that the actions that Iran takes, the steps it takes to either comply with or not comply with commitments it makes are what we judge Iran by -- not by statements meant for a domestic audience or by promises rather than action.  So we’re going to press forward.

When it comes to the need to implement the Joint Plan of Action and engage in negotiations through the P5-plus-1 with the Iranians, it is absolutely the right thing to do to test whether or not we can resolve the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear program peacefully.

The President retains all options, including military options, to fulfill his policy goal.  But it is absolutely preferable to him, to the American people, and to all those who demand that Iran forsake nuclear weapons that this be resolved peacefully.

Q:    The Senate Intelligence Committee has released a declassified report on Benghazi that found that -- or concluded that the attacks there were preventable and based on known security shortfalls, and the explanations for what caused the attack were -- inaccurately referred to the protests without sufficient eyewitness accounts or intelligence to base that on.  Is there any response to those findings today?

MR. CARNEY:  Well, you know the administration has made extraordinary efforts to work with seven different congressional committees investigating what happened before, during, and after the Benghazi attacks, including testifying at 13 congressional hearings, participating in 50 staff briefings, and providing over 25,000 pages of documents.

Today’s report largely reaffirms the findings reached by the independent Benghazi Accountability Review Board, and a number of the recommendations are consistent with the work the State Department has taken to improve diplomatic security, including upgrading security cameras, improving fire-protective equipment, and increasing Marine security guard presence.

I’d refer you to the State Department for the status on implementing each of those recommendations.  But as you know, the administration is focused on two pieces:  bringing to justice those responsible for the deaths of four Americans; and making sure that we take the steps necessary to improve the security at vulnerable facilities so that our men and women serving overseas in diplomatic positions are -- rather, to improve their security, as I said.

So I think this reinforces what other investigations have found, which is that there was not enough security to protect the four Americans who lost their lives and that there are things that we must do and that we are doing to ensure that we do everything we can to protect the security of Americans serving overseas, often in difficult circumstances and dangerous circumstances.

Q:    Jay, any details on the First Lady's 50th birthday party?

MR. CARNEY:  No, I don’t have anything on that.  I’d refer you to the East Wing.

Q:    No Jay-Z, Beyoncé dance party?  (Laughter.)

Q:    Are you going?

MR. CARNEY:  Again, I'd refer you to the East Wing.

Q:    Have you been invited?

MR. CARNEY:  I'd refer you to the East Wing.  (Laughter.)

Q:    Do you dance?

MR. CARNEY:  I do.  Anybody else?

Q:    One other thing.  Can you confirm that the President is going to nominate Maria Contreras-Sweet to head the SBA?

MR. CARNEY:  I can.  The President will do that this afternoon --

Q:    In his remarks?

MR. CARNEY:  No, upon return to the White House.  And I think if you look at her remarkable career, you will see that she is an excellent candidate for this position.  And the President is grateful that he will be able to nominate her today.

Q:    One more for you.  What do the lobbying efforts look like from the White House on the fast-track TPA bill?

MR. CARNEY:  It’s a priority of the President’s, his entire trade agenda, and we’re working with Congress to move that forward.

Q:    Thank you.

MR. CARNEY:  Thanks.

END