SECRETARY OF STATE KERRY'S REMARKS ON INTERNATIONAL MISSION IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 
Support for the African Union International Support Mission in the Central African Republic
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 20, 2013

I am deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in the Central African Republic and the deplorable levels of violence and lawlessness that affect millions of people every day. In the continuing aftermath of the March 2013 overthrow of the government by the Seleka rebel alliance, militia groups are now organizing themselves along increasingly sectarian lines and engaging in a cycle of retaliatory abuses against civilians. At this moment, the United States sees no evidence that the CAR transitional government has the capacity or political will to end the violence, especially the abuses committed by elements of the Seleka rebel alliance that are affiliated with the government.

Pending notification to the United States Congress, the Department of State plans to provide $40 million in assistance to MISCA, the African Union-led peacekeeping mission in the CAR, to help protect civilians and provide security throughout the country. This assistance may provide logistical backing, non-lethal equipment, training, and planning support. In the immediate term, we believe that MISCA is the best mechanism to help quickly address the ongoing violence in the CAR and prevent further atrocities. MISCA is also in the best position to help establish an environment that allows for the provision of humanitarian assistance and an eventual political transition to a democratically elected government.

There are nearly 400,000 internally displaced persons and over 220,000 CAR refugees in neighboring countries, including approximately 68,000 new refugees who have fled in recent months. In the past year, the U.S. government has provided more than $24 million in humanitarian assistance to support programs that provide food, health services, and other aid in the CAR. We have also provided an additional $6 million in humanitarian assistance to specifically support new Central African refugees.

We call on the region and the international community to support and fully deploy MISCA in order to restore security in the country, and we will continue to work with others in the region and the international community to implement a credible political transition and assist the people of the CAR who have suffered so greatly in this conflict.

NSC SPOKESPERSON MAKES STATEMENT ON UK SHIFT TOWARD CLEANER ENERGY

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 
Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on UK Announcement on Clean Energy

We are delighted that the United Kingdom is joining the United States in shifting public financing toward cleaner energy sources.  This is an important component of President Obama's Climate Action Plan, and we look forward to working with the UK to encourage other countries to implement similar polices.

The President’s Climate Action Plan calls for an end to U.S. support for public financing of new coal-fired power plants overseas except for plants deploying carbon capture and sequestration technologies or in the world’s poorest countries, and encourages other countries to adopt similar policies.

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR NOVEMBER 20, 2013

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

NAVY

Pacific Architects and Engineers Applied Technologies, Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $44,577,164 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the development, testing, and installation of the SureTrak Surveillance System for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and governments in Africa under the foreign military sales program.  The SureTrak System is a state-of-the-art, fully integrated, multi-sensor, data acquisition and display system used for airspace surveillance, waterway clearance, shoreline surveillance, and environmental monitoring functions.  Work will be performed at the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md. (10 percent); NASA Wallops Test Facility, Wallops, Va. (4 percent); Vandenberg Air Force Base, Lompoc, Calif. (2 percent); Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. (2 percent); NAWC Weapons Division, Pt. Mugu, Calif. (1 percent); Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Va. (1 percent); and at various locations outside the United States (80 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2017.  No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued.  This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1).  The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-14-D-0001).

The Boeing Co., Seattle, Wash., is being awarded a $26,879,866 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-12-C-0112) to exercise an option for the diminishing manufacturing sources re-design in support of the U.S. Navy P-8A Full Rate Production Lot I aircraft.  Work will be performed in Seattle, Wash., and is expected to be completed in April 2017.  Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement, Navy contract funds in the amount of $26,879,866 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity.

Vigor Marine LLC, Portland, Ore., is being awarded a $12,954,046 firm-fixed-price contract for a 120-calendar day post shakedown availability, regular overhaul and dry-docking availability of missile range instrumentation ship the USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM 25).  Work will include fuel oil fill; transfer and overflow systems modifications; main diesel engine fuel oil service piping modifications; relocation of AC seawater pumps; docking and undocking; and underwater hull cleaning and painting.  Lorenzen’s primary mission is to monitor missile launches and collect data.  The contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $15,214,713.  Work will be performed in Portland, Ore., and is expected to be completed by April 2014.  Working capital contract funds in the amount of $12,954,046 are obligated for fiscal 2014 and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Military Sealift Command procurement page and the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received.  The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N32205-14-C-2001).

Glidepath Technologies*, Harrisburg, Pa., is being awarded a $12,205,945 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of up to 40 each AN/SPN-41B Azimuth and elevation radomes for the U.S. Navy.  The radomes provide protection for the AN/SPN-41B transmitting set from environmental conditions existing on U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and amphibious assault class ships.  Work will be performed in Harrisburg, Pa., and is expected to be completed in November 2018.  Fiscal 2012 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy contract funds in the amount of $310,806 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current year.  This contract was competitively procured as a full and open competition via an electronic request for proposals, with one offer received.  The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-14-D-0010).

General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $12,144,761 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-12-C-2400) to exercise the option for the fitting-out availability of the USS Somerset (LPD 25).  Specific efforts include engineering, planning, management, labor and material in support of the fitting-out availability.  Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by December 2014.  Fiscal 2014 shipbuilding and conversion, Navy; fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy; and fiscal 2013 other procurement, Navy funding in the amount of $730,431 will be obligated at time of award.  Contract funds in the amount of $215,383 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured with four proposals received.  The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., Defense and Space Group, Seattle Wash., is being awarded at $10,119,307 firm-fixed-price requirements contract to repair 559 items required to support the P8 aircraft.  Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2015.  No funds will be obligated at the time of award.  Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement funds will be used on task orders as they are issued.  No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This sole source contract was not competitively procured in accordance with FAR 6.302-1.  NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (N00383-14-D-006F).

General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded an $8,766,998 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to the previously awarded contract (N00024-13-C-4311) to provide a Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department in support of operational nuclear submarines at the Naval Submarine Support Facility, Naval Submarine Base, New London, Conn.  Electric Boat will continue to provide staff and operate a Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department at the Naval Submarine Base, in support of returning mission ready submarines to the fleet.  The contract will also require project management, technical analysis, engineering and planning, training, inspection and nuclear services to accomplish intermediate-level nuclear submarine maintenance, modernization, and repairs in support of operational nuclear submarines, including maintaining and modernizing government-owned facilities and equipment and providing off-hull support of submarine maintenance.  This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $163,999,997.  Work will be performed in New London, Conn., and is expected to be completed by March 2014.  Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy contract funds in the amount of $8,766,998 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.  The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded an $8,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-13-C-4308) to exercise options to provide non-nuclear submarine repair work on Groton based submarines under the New England Maintenance Manpower Initiative (NEMMI).  Under the terms of the contract, Electric Boat will provide NEMMI tasks in support of non-nuclear maintenance, modernization and repair of operational nuclear powered submarines, floating dry docks, support and service craft and plant equipment assigned to the Naval Submarine Support Facility, New London, Conn.  Work will be performed in New London, Conn., and is expected to be completed by December 2014.  Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy contract funds in the amount of $8,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Exelis Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind., is being awarded a $7,028,919 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of up to 62 radar signal simulators in support of the MH-60R and S70-B aircraft for the U.S Navy (33), the Government of Australia (27), and the Government of Brazil (2) under the foreign military sales program.  Work will be performed in Fort Wayne, Ind., and is expected to be completed in November 2017.  FMS funds in the amount of $1,093,932 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to the FAR 6.302-1.  The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-14-D-0005).

ARMY

Carothers Construction, Inc., Oxford, Miss., was awarded a $24,622,000 firm-fixed-price contract with options, case contract line item numbers (CLINs) 0001-0003 and optional CLINs 0004-0007, 0009-0010 for the construction of a replacement general purpose warehouse at New Cumberland, Pa.  Construction includes a permanent, non-combustible, general-purpose warehouse with concrete floors and 20 foot clear stacking height.  Estimated completion date is July 18, 2015.  Fiscal 2014 military construction funds in the amount of 24,622,000 were obligated.  Bids were solicited via the Internet with nine received.  Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Md. is the contracting agency (W912DR-14-C-0005).

POND – FSB (joint venture), Norcross, Ga., was awarded a $13,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery contract for architect, engineer services to support the Air Force KC-46A aircraft beddown within the continental United States.  Estimated completion date is Nov. 19, 2018.  Bids were solicited via the Internet with fifty-seven received. Funding and location will be determined with each order.  Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting agency (W91278-14-D-0001).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Sterling Foods, LLC, San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $32,785,593 modification (P00006) exercising the second one-year option period on a one-year base contract (SPM3S1-12-D-Z100) with four one-year option periods for bakery components used in the meal-ready-to-eat program.  This is a firm-fixed-price contract.  Location of performance is Texas with a Dec. 31, 2014 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 2015 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa. (Awarded Nov. 17)

Coast Citrus Distributors,* San Diego, Calif., has been awarded a maximum $15,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for fresh fruit and vegetable support.  This contract is a competitive acquisition, and two offers were received.  Location of performance is California with a May 19, 2015 performance completion date.  This contract is an 18-month base period with two 18-month option-year periods.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPE300-14-D-P230).

American Innotek Inc.*, Escondido, Calif., has been awarded a maximum $12,000,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for disposable solid waste relief bags.  This contract is a sole-source acquisition.  Location of performance is California with a Nov. 20, 2015 performance completion date.  This contract is a two-year base period with three one-year option periods.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPE8ES-14-D-0002).

Excel Garment Manufacturing LTD.**, El Paso, Texas, has been awarded a maximum $7,125,286 firm-fixed-price contract for men’s and women’s rip-stop airmen battle uniform coats and trousers, maternity coats, and slacks.  This contract is a competitive acquisition, and five offers were received. Location of performance is Texas with a Nov. 19, 2014, performance completion date.  This contract is a one-year base period with four one-year option periods. Using military service is Air Force.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2015 defense working capital funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-14-D-1054).

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES

Muscogee Nation Business Enterprise, Okmuglee, Okla., is being awarded an $8,218,006 firm-fixed-price contract for life support services to the Department of Defense Task Force for Business and Stability Operations.  These services will provide basic necessities, complex security, and personnel security details for safe travel in the immediate region around the Western Area of Responsibility in Afghanistan.  Work will be performed primarily in Herat, Afghanistan.  This contract was awarded as a sole-source acquisition.  The estimated completion date is July 31, 2014.  Washington Headquarters Services, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (HQ0034-13-C-0101).

*Small Business

**Small Business in HUBZone

GSA ADMINISTRATOR'S STATEMENT ON PROPERTY REDEVELOPMENT BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE

FROM:  U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Federal Triangle South: Redeveloping Underutilized Federal Property
Statement of Dan Tangherlini
Administrator, General Services Administration
Before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
November 19, 2013

Introduction

 Good morning Chairman Barletta, Ranking Member Carson and Members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for inviting me to appear before you today.

At a time when budgets are tightening across the government, the mission of GSA to provide value to the government and the American people is more important than ever before. The savings and services we provide allow our partner agencies to focus their important resources on their critical missions. However, the fact is that in the current fiscal environment, reduced budgets are having an undeniable effect on the public infrastructure.

Today’s hearing looks to explore increased utilization of public-private partnerships, both at GSA and across government. In a very real way, GSA’s Public Buildings Service is a public-private partnership. Approximately 92 percent of the revenue in the Federal Buildings Fund is invested right back in to the private sector. These funds pay private sector landlords for existing lease obligations, private sector service companies to operate and maintain our buildings, and private sector design and construction firms to repair and construct our buildings.

At GSA, we are dealing with a building inventory that includes some of the oldest buildings in the country, buildings that not only need repairs to keep them in working order, but often require renovations to ensure that they are up to the standards of 21st century government.

Unfortunately, in recent fiscal years, GSA has been unable to use the rent that we receive from our partner agencies to fund the high priority mission needs of partner Federal agencies and to make basic repairs to the public buildings we hold in trust. In fact, we are now faced with cuts that could force GSA to default even on our existing lease obligations. In the face of these continued challenges, I am committed to exploring all of GSA’s authorities to reduce the cost of real estate, meet our partner Federal agencies’ needs, and repair and maintain our public buildings

Savings at GSA

GSA partners with private industry to deliver needed space and service to our fellow agencies. Utilizing our consolidated buying power and real estate expertise, we are able to drive down the costs of leasing, operating, and maintaining the government’s real estate footprint. GSA negotiates leases that, on average, are more than 11 percent below market rates.

By aggregating the space needs of a variety of agencies, we are also able to aggressively utilize our public buildings. Nationally, GSA’s vacancy rate is 3.1 percent, far below the private sector average of 17.4 percent. If our vacancy rate was as high as the private sector’s, it would cost the taxpayers an additional $1 billion this year alone.

New Tools

Beyond our traditional, ongoing partnership with private industry, GSA is interested in further exploring the use of flexible authorities that do not require upfront appropriations. To that end, and with direction from Congress and this Committee in particular, this year, GSA used its authority under Section 111 of the National Historic Preservation Act to outlease the Old Post Office. We reached an agreement for the investment of $200 million in private sector funds in the restoration of this 114-year old federal building. This significant investment will allow us to convert the Old Post Office into a mixed-use development that will serve the local community, preserve the historic facility, and save taxpayer dollars. We also will receive a base rent of $250,000 per month, which escalates at the Consumer Price Index over the term of the 60-year lease. The funds that GSA receives from the Old Post Office lease can be used for repair and upkeep of historic federal buildings across GSA’s inventory, saving additional taxpayer dollars.

We are also actively exploring new approaches to leverage the value of our older, outdated buildings to get new, highly efficient space for our partner agencies. Across the country, we have put in motion several potential exchange projects, including the J. Edgar Hoover building here in Washington, D.C., and, of course, the project that is the subject of today’s hearing: Federal Triangle South.

Federal Triangle South

Federal Triangle South is a proposed exchange that looks to leverage the value of several buildings in southwest DC to fund new, highly efficient space for the agencies currently housed there. Right now, the buildings that comprise this area represent a significant challenge as well as an opportunity for both GSA and the agencies that occupy them.

The Cotton Annex is empty. The GSA Regional Office Building at 7th and D Streets Southwest is an inefficient and unattractive space that was not constructed with the modern realities of a mobile workplace in mind. The Department of Energy Building is another facility that does not accommodate its tenants’ needs for space or facility amenities and underutilizes the valuable land on which it sits. The Federal Aviation Administration buildings are in the best shape of any of these facilities, but they too are not equipped for the needs of a 21st century government agency.

On December 2, 2012, GSA issued a Request for Information to identify creative solutions to the challenges presented by these buildings, and on February 4, 2013, we received 10 responses. GSA has evaluated these responses and developed a strategy for how best to proceed, and we expect to issue a Request for Proposals in the near term.

We are excited with the prospect that GSA’s initiative to exchange some of our existing inefficient and outdated properties for facilities that better serve today’s needs will facilitate the District’s effort to transform the properties at Federal Triangle South to create a mixed-use neighborhood connecting the National Mall to the Southwest Waterfront as envisioned in the SW Ecodistrict Plan, a plan jointly developed by the National Capital Planning Commission, GSA, and 15 federal and District government partner agencies. We believe we can both provide for the 21st Century space needs of Federal employees and create a place in which people will want to work, live, play, and learn. By exchanging underperforming federal property for the upgrade and renovation of other federal facilities, we can help replace a cold, sterile, utilitarian, single use enclave with a vibrant, diverse, and special community of its own.

In Federal Triangle South, we will be able to reexamine how the federal government uses these buildings and also reassess how this space fits into the surrounding community. Furthermore, as we look to address the needs of our partner agencies, we also have important opportunities to contribute to the economic development and sustainability of the places they call home. As the committee has noted, Federal Triangle South is a great example of where this approach can be successful.

Conclusion

GSA is committed to meet the challenge we have been given by both President Obama and Congress to make the entire government more efficient. That will require changing the way our buildings work, but it also means shrinking the federal footprint and creating more sustainable space. The current fiscal stress means that we simply cannot afford to do business as usual. We must look for new ways to maximize the value of our assets. Working together with industry, we have a chance to shape a better, more efficient government for the 21st century, as well as fuel the transformation of a core area of Washington DC.

I thank the committee for the opportunity to testify today and look forward to answering your questions.

PRODUCE COMPANY TO PAY $4.2 MILLION TO RESOLVE CHARGES IT OVERBILLED DOD

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
FreshPoint Inc. to Pay $4.2 Million for Overbilling the Department of Defense for Produce

The Justice Department announced today that FreshPoint Inc., a Houston, Texas-based food distribution company and wholly owned subsidiary of Sysco Corp., has agreed to pay $4.2 million to resolve allegations that it overcharged the Department of Defense for fresh fruit and vegetables purchased under 15 separate contracts.  The contracts were awarded to East Coast Fruit Company and subsequently performed by FreshPoint following FreshPoint’s acquisition of East Coast Fruit Company in 2007.

“The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring the integrity of federal contracts and will pursue contractors that knowingly overcharge the government for goods or services,” said Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s Civil Division Stuart F. Delery.  “Contractors that do business with the government must do so honestly and fairly or suffer the consequences of their misconduct.”

“This settlement demonstrates one of the many types of fraud inflicted upon the American taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Edward Tarver.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will honor our commitment to vigorously enforce the False Claims Act in order to protect the financial soundness of our nation and its military.”

The settlement resolves allegations that from Dec. 17, 2007, through Sept. 11, 2009, FreshPoint overcharged the government on hundreds of sales of fresh fruit and vegetables by improperly inflating its prices to the government to reflect FreshPoint’s view of the prevailing market price of the goods at the time of sale.  The government alleged that this practice violated FreshPoint’s contracts with the government that required FreshPoint to provide the produce at cost, plus a pre-established mark-up for profit, and did not allow FreshPoint to make additional price adjustments based upon perceived changes in market prices.

The allegations arose from a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private individuals to sue on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds of any settlement or judgment.  The whistleblower in this case, former FreshPoint employee Charles Hall, will receive $798,000.

This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Defense Contract Audit Agency and the Defense Logistics Agency Office of General Counsel.  The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

TROPICAL CYCLONE 04B HEADS FOR SOUTHEASTERN INDIA

Right:  NASA's TRMM satellite saw broken bands of thunderstorms with moderate rainfall (yellow, orange) in the northern and eastern quadrants of Tropical Cyclone 04B on Nov. 19, 2013 in this image overlaid on ESA's METEO-7 Satellite.  Image Credit: NRL/NASA/ESA

FROM:  NASA 
Tropical Cyclone 04B Forms in Northern Indian Ocean
Cyclone 04B

NASA's TRMM satellite saw broken bands of thunderstorms with moderate rainfall (yellow, orange) in the northern and eastern quadrants of Tropical Cyclone 04B on Nov. 19, 2013 in this image overlaid on ESA's METEO-7 Satellite.
Image Credit: NRL/NASA/ESA.

The fourth tropical cyclone of the Northern Indian Ocean season formed and is headed for landfall in a couple of days in southeastern India. NASA's TRMM satellite saw broken bands of thunderstorms with moderate rainfall in the northern and eastern quadrants of Tropical Cyclone 04B on Nov. 19.

Tropical Cyclone 04B was located just 180 nautical miles south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, India near 15.0 north and 84.5 east at 1500 UTC/10 a.m. EST on Nov. 19. 04B had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots/40 mph/64 kph and is moving to the west at 8 knots/9.2 mph/14.8 kph.

Satellite imagery showed that the low-level center is organized and there is convection (building thunderstorms) flaring around the storm's center and there is broken bands of thunderstorms around the northern quadrant of the storm. TRMM satellite data showed rainfall rates were as high as 1.2 inches/30.4 mm per hour.
A microwave image from Nov. 19 at 1058 UTC/5:58 a.m. EST showed that the cyclone is well-defined and has curved bands of thunderstorms along the western quadrant.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC expects 04B to track slowly west slowly intensify before making landfall in India as a tropical storm. The JTWC expects landfall between Ongole south to Nellore, both cities in the southern India state of Andhra Pradesh late on Nov. 21.

ACTING ASSISTANT AG RAMAN'S SENATE TESTIMONY ON VIRTUAL CURRENCIES

FROM:   U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Monday, November 18, 2013

Statement of Mythili Raman Acting Assistant Attorney General U.S. Justice Department Criminal Division Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs United States Senate for a Hearing Entitled “Beyond the Silk Road: Potential Risks, Threats and Promises of Virtual Currencies”

Chairman Carper, Ranking Member Coburn, and distinguished Members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the Committee today to discuss the Department of Justice’s work regarding virtual currencies.   I am honored to represent the Department at this hearing and to describe for you our approach to virtual currencies, our recent successes in prosecuting criminals who use virtual currencies for illicit purposes, and some of the challenges we face as virtual currency systems continue to evolve.

            The Department of Justice recognizes that many virtual currency systems offer legitimate financial services and have the potential to promote more efficient global commerce.   We have also seen, however, that certain aspects of virtual currencies appeal to criminals and present a host of new challenges to law enforcement.

            The concept of virtual currencies is not new to the Department and, indeed, the Department has investigated and prosecuted the illicit use of virtual currencies since the late 1990s, when criminals first began using systems such as WebMoney and e-Gold to conduct their business.   Over the last 15 years, however, virtual currencies have evolved and diversified significantly, challenging the Department to adapt our capabilities to deal with new systems and threats.

            As with all emerging technologies, the Department has aggressively used our existing tools and capabilities to combat illegal activities involving virtual currencies.   The Department has two primary law enforcement interests in virtual currency:   (1) deterring and prosecuting criminals   using   virtual currency systems to move or hide money that is used to facilitate, or is derived from, criminal or terrorist acts, i.e., money laundering; and (2) investigating and prosecuting those virtual currency services that themselves violate laws aimed at illegal money transmission and money laundering.   As I will describe in my testimony, the Department is committed to using all the tools at our disposal to ensure that those law enforcement interests are met, even as virtual currency systems evolve.

            “Virtual currency” is a medium of exchange circulated over a network, typically the Internet, which is not backed by a government.   These systems can be both centralized and decentralized.

            Early centralized models, where the currency is controlled by a single private entity, have expanded and now encompass a wide range of business concepts.   Some centralized virtual currencies take the form of digital precious metals, such as e-Gold and Pecunix, where users exchange digital currency units ostensibly backed by gold bullion or other precious metals.   Others exist within popular online games or virtual worlds, such as Farmville, Second Life, or World of Warcraft.   Still others are online payment systems such as WebMoney and Liberty Reserve, which are available generally outside of specific online communities and denominate users’ accounts in virtual currency rather than U.S. Dollars, Euros, or some other national currency.   Decentralized systems such as Bitcoin, which have no centralized administrating authority and instead operate as peer-to-peer transaction networks, entered the scene relatively recently but are growing rapidly.   A network of sites and services, including exchangers who buy and sell virtual currencies in exchange for national currencies or other mediums of value, have developed around virtual currency systems, as well.

            Criminals are nearly always early adopters of new technologies and financial systems, and virtual currency is no exception.   As virtual currency has grown, it has attracted illicit users along with legitimate ones.   Our experience has shown that some criminals have exploited virtual currency systems because of the ability of those systems to conduct transfers quickly, securely, and often with a perceived higher level of anonymity than that afforded by traditional financial services.   The irreversibility of many virtual currency transactions additionally appeals to a variety of individuals seeking to engage in illicit activity, as does their ability to send funds cross-border.

            Cyber criminals were among the first illicit groups to take widespread advantage of virtual currency.   We have seen that many players in the cyber underground rely on virtual currency to conduct financial transactions.   Early users of virtual currency also included criminals involved in the trafficking of child pornography, credit card fraud, identity theft, and high-yield investment schemes.   As virtual currency became more widespread and criminals became increasingly computer savvy, other criminal groups moved to capitalize on virtual currency, as well.   There are now public examples of virtual currency being used by nearly every type of criminal imaginable.

            It is not surprising that criminals are drawn to services that allow users to conduct financial transactions while remaining largely anonymous.   And, indeed, some of the criminal activity occurs through online black markets, many of which operate as Tor hidden services.   Tor hidden services are sites accessible only through Tor, an anonymizing network that masks users’ Internet traffic by routing it through a series of volunteer servers, called “nodes,” across the globe.   Online black markets capitalize on Tor’s anonymizing features to offer a wide selection of illicit goods and services, ranging from pornographic images of children to dangerous narcotics to stolen credit card information.

            At the same time, we have seen that though virtual currency systems are growing rapidly, few systems currently exist that could easily accommodate the hundreds of millions of dollars often moved in a single large-scale money laundering scheme.   Transaction size is limited by the carrying capacity of the virtual currency systems and the exchangers.   When taken in the aggregate, however, the relatively small dollar values associated with most illicit virtual currency transactions quickly add up.   At their prime, e-Gold and Liberty Reserve, two virtual currency systems prosecuted by the Department, each moved the equivalent of over $1 billion in illegal proceeds annually.   As virtual currencies grow, the capacity for larger single transactions grows, as well.

            The Department has prosecuted several of these systems, such as e-Gold, based on evidence that they can be, and often are, intentionally designed to facilitate illegal activity.   These services typically do not conduct any meaningful customer due diligence and do not screen for transactions related to money laundering or terrorist financing.   At the same time, these complicit and illicit businesses allow users to conceal their identities and maintain high levels of anonymity during transactions.

            To be clear, virtual currency is not necessarily synonymous with anonymity.   A convertible virtual currency with appropriate anti-money laundering and know-your-customer controls, as required by U.S. law, can safeguard its system from exploitation by criminals and terrorists in the same way any other money services business could.   As virtual currency systems develop, it is imperative to law enforcement interests that those systems comply with applicable anti-money laundering and know-your-customer controls.

            Exploitation by malicious actors is a problem faced by all types of financial services and is not unique to virtual currency systems.   Although malicious actors have utilized emerging technologies to further their criminal schemes, the Department has thus far been able to apply existing tools to ensure vigorous prosecution of these schemes.

            The Department relies on money services business, money transmission, and anti-money laundering statutes to curtail this sort of unlawful activity.   Many virtual currency systems, exchangers, and related services operate as money transmitters, which are part of a larger class of institutions called money services businesses.   Money transmitters are required under 31 U.S.C. § 5330 to register   with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).   Most states also require money transmitters to obtain a state license in order to conduct business in the state.   Any money transmitter that fails to register with FinCEN or to obtain the requisite state licensing may be subject to criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 1960.   Additionally, the general money laundering and spending statutes, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957, cover financial transactions involving virtual currencies.   Finally, where virtual currencies are used in furtherance of underlying criminal activity, the Department can rely on traditional criminal statutes proscribing that activity, such as narcotics, cybercrime, child exploitation, and firearms laws.

            Some of the major prosecutions in recent years involving virtual currency services are as follows.

            The Department first took major action against an illicit virtual currency service in 2007, when it indicted e-Gold and its three principal owners on charges related to money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.   E-Gold offered digital accounts purportedly backed by physical gold bullion.   A valid e-mail address was the only information required to set up an account, allowing users to conduct highly anonymous international transactions over the Internet.   As a result, e-Gold became a popular payment method for sellers of child pornography, operators of investment scams, and perpetrators of credit card and identity fraud.   At its peak, e-Gold reportedly moved over $6 million each day for more than 2.5 million accounts.   In 2008, e-Gold and the three individuals pleaded guilty.

Following the e-Gold indictment, several similar but smaller systems and exchangers were indicted or closed themselves down to evade law enforcement detection.   According to publicly filed charging documents, an executive of one of those businesses, Arthur Budovsky, then set out to create Liberty Reserve, an improved centralized virtual currency variation allegedly designed to evade U.S. law enforcement.   Among other things, Liberty Reserve operated offshore –it was based in Costa Rica--and purportedly recommended that its customers use money exchangers located in countries without significant governmental money-laundering oversight or regulation.   Moreover, Budovsky, the principal founder of Liberty Reserve, was so committed to avoiding the reach of U.S. law that, according to the indictment, in 2011, he formally renounced his U.S. citizenship and became a Costa Rican citizen in order to avoid facing justice in the United States .
         
Despite Budovsky’s alleged efforts, earlier this year, the Department indicted Liberty Reserve and its executives, including Budovsky, for running a $6 billion money laundering operation.   In a coordinated action, the Department of the Treasury identified Liberty Reserve as a financial institution of primary money laundering concern under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act, effectively cutting it off from the U.S. financial system.

According to the indictment, Liberty Reserve allowed users to send and receive funds with a high level of anonymity by not requiring users to validate their identities and allowing users to make untraceable fund transfers in exchange for a privacy fee.   Many of the transactions were sent to or from users in the United States, but Liberty Reserve never registered with the appropriate U.S. authorities.   As revealed in the Department’s filings, Liberty Reserve became a system of choice for cyber criminals and was used in a wide array of illegal activity, including credit card fraud, identity theft, investment fraud, computer hacking, and child pornography. As a result of the Department’s action, the site was shuttered and effectively put out of business, and five defendants were arrested.   One is in custody in the United States, one has entered a guilty plea, and three others, including the lead defendant Budovsky, are pending extradition.   The case exemplifies the Department’s resolve to pursue purported major money laundering facilitators, even those who hide offshore.

Just last month, the Department took action against one of the most popular online black markets, Silk Road.   Allegedly operated by a U.S. citizen living in California at the time of his arrest, Silk Road accepted bitcoins exclusively as a payment mechanism on its site.   The Department’s complaint alleges that, in less than three years, Silk Road served as a venue for over 100,000 buyers to purchase hundreds of kilograms of illegal drugs and other illicit goods from several thousand drug dealers and other criminal vendors.   The site also purportedly laundered the proceeds of these transactions, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in bitcoins.   In addition to arresting the site’s operator and shutting down the service, the Department to date has seized over 170 thousand bitcoins, valued as of Friday, November 15, 2013, at over $70 million.

A separate indictment charges Silk Road’s operator with drug distribution conspiracy, attempted witness murder, and using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.   With regard to the murder-related charges, the indictment alleges that the Silk Road operator paid an undercover federal agent to murder one of the operator’s employees.

The cases I just described illustrate not only Department successes in combating illicit use of virtual currency, but also many of the challenges investigators face when they encounter these systems, some of which may ultimately require additional legal or regulatory tools.
         
Virtual currency allows users to send money across the globe without dealing with a traditional financial institution.   While this feature provides several benefits for legitimate customers, it can significantly complicate law enforcement efforts to follow the money.

Virtual currency systems have a global reach and clientele.   Virtual currency businesses can cater to U.S. clientele while operating on the other side of the world.   Investigations into illicit virtual currency businesses therefore often require considerable cooperation from international partners.   The Liberty Reserve investigation and takedown, for example, involved coordinated law enforcement action in 17 countries.

The international nature of the transactions poses an additional challenge where the overseas regulatory regime treats virtual currency differently or, as is true in some cases, fails to cover it at all.   While this challenge may diminish with the Financial Action Task Force’s recent guidance addressing the need for all countries to develop a risk-based approach to new payment products and services, incongruent regulatory regimes will likely remain a challenge when dealing with virtual currency services overseas.

Among the most significant challenges the Department faces in dealing with virtual currency is the difficulty in obtaining customer records.   Because decentralized systems lack any sort of administering authority to collect user information or receive legal process, investigators must rely on information collected by other sources, such as exchangers.   Even if the target used a centralized system or exchanger, however, accurate customer records may still be difficult to obtain, or may not exist at all.   Illicit users are typically attracted to systems with lax anti-money laundering and know-your-customer controls.   These services often attempt to evade U.S. action by operating out of countries that have poor regulatory oversight and are less willing to cooperate with U.S. law enforcement.   Even if the system at issue operates in a country with effective regulation and a cooperative relationship with the United States, the legal process for obtaining foreign records is relatively slow when compared to the near-instantaneous speed at which the virtual currency user can send the funds to another jurisdiction.

A final challenge arises from the link between virtual currency and encryption.    Decentralized virtual currencies typically rely on an encryption algorithm, rather than a central authority, to administer the currency.   These encryption-based currencies, also known as cryptocurrencies, lack a central administering authority that might otherwise possess valuable evidence.   In addition, users of these currencies often encrypt their digital wallets, complicating our efforts to seize and forfeit criminal proceeds.

The Department recognizes that virtual currency’s ability to facilitate the global movement of funds by a wide array of illicit actors necessitates a comprehensive and collaborative approach with our domestic and international partners.   To promote such coordination, the Department is an active participant in the Virtual Currency Emerging Threats Working Group (VCET).   VCET was founded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in early 2012 to mitigate the cross-programmatic threats arising from illicit actors’ use of virtual currency systems.   The group leverages the collective subject matter expertise of its members to address issues arising from illicit actors’ use of virtual currency, and deconflicts and shares information and concerns.   VCET members represent an array of U.S. Government agencies, including, within the Department, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, multiple U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and the Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section and Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.

The Department contributes to several additional interagency groups concerning virtual currencies and emerging payment systems, including the New Payment Methods Ad Hoc Working Group, a subgroup of the Terrorist Finance Working Group, led by the State Department.   The FBI specifically has issued numerous intelligence products related to virtual currency, many of which were coauthored with other members of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

The Department is committed to working with our regulatory partners to ensure appropriate coordination on regulatory issues related to virtual currency.   The Department participated in meetings and discussions with FinCEN regarding the July 2011 Final Rule on Money Services Businesses and its applicability to virtual currencies, as well as the related March 18, 2013, FinCEN guidance.   The Department regards FinCEN’s regulation of many virtual currency services as money transmitters, as well as the resulting applicability of anti-money laundering and know-your-customer requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act, as crucial tools in preventing malicious actors from exploiting virtual currency systems in furtherance of illicit activity.

The Department works closely with FinCEN and the Department of Treasury to coordinate enforcement actions when appropriate.   This relationship allowed the Department to unseal the Liberty Reserve indictment in coordination with Treasury’s announcement naming the company as a financial institution of primary money laundering concern under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act.   Such coordinated actions are integral tools in combating illicit finance.

The Department anticipates that virtual currency will continue to evolve and grow in popularity.   That growth inevitably will be accompanied by an increase in illicit transactions, which makes it critical that virtual currency services understand their legal obligations and requirements.   The Department is encouraged by the increasing prominence of legitimate virtual currency services that are attempting to comply with U.S. law.   While a number of services have registered at the federal level, many are still struggling with implementing appropriate anti-money laundering, know-your-customer, and customer due diligence programs, as well as complying with state-level regulations and licensing requirements.   As members of the U.S. financial community, virtual currency services can and must safeguard themselves from exploitation by criminals and terrorists by implementing legally required anti-money laundering and know-your-customer controls.

As the Administration’s Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime recognizes, transnational organized crime networks are increasingly involved in cybercrime, and can imperil consumers’ faith in emerging digital systems.   We must also pay close attention to the critical role of facilitators who cross both the licit and illicit worlds and provide services to legitimate customers and criminals alike.

The Department recognizes that malicious actors are often resourceful, and even legitimate virtual currency services can become unwitting conduits for illicit transactions when these actors are able to defeat or circumvent anti-money laundering controls.   Outreach to these systems, much as the Department conducts with the formal financial sector, is an important tool in combating the exploitation of the systems for criminal and terrorist purposes.   Because centralized payment systems and exchangers often interact with the traditional financial sector and hold bank accounts at major financial institutions, the range of such Department outreach extends to the financial services community at large, complementing the outreach and training efforts of FinCEN, the primary BSA regulator, and the Department of the Treasury.    Department of Justice personnel routinely provide trainings to the private sector, as well as to domestic and international law enforcement and intelligence personnel, and specifically address virtual currency.
         
Law enforcement, Congress, and regulators must remain vigilant to ensure that the U.S. legal and regulatory structure is sufficiently robust to cover decentralized virtual currencies.   The Department looks forward to working with Congress to ensure that law enforcement continues to have the tools necessary to combat the use of virtual currency for illicit purposes.

Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Coburn, I thank you for this opportunity to discuss the Department’s work on virtual currency.

I look forward to any questions that you may have.

JOINT STATEMENT FOLLOWING EU-US JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS MINISTERIAL MEETING

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Monday, November 18, 2013
Joint Statement Following the EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting

Attorney General Eric Holder and Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Rand Beers today hosted an EU/U.S. Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial with their counterparts in the European Union: Lithuanian Minister of Justice Juozas Bernatonis and Lithuanian Vice Minister of Interior Elvinas Jankevicius representing the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU; Greek Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights Charalampos Athanasiou representing the incoming Greek Presidency of the EU; and European Commission Vice President Viviane Reding and Commissioner Cecilia Malmström representing the EU Commission.

The U.S. and EU together released the following statement on the meeting:

“Our meeting was constructive and productive.  We discussed a broad array of issues critical to the European Union and the United States, including: addressing the problem of sexual abuse of children online; coordinating work on counter-terrorism and security issues; countering violent extremism; expanding cooperation in criminal matters; joint efforts in the areas of cybercrime and cybersecurity; and mobility, migration and border issues.  In addition, we discussed the rights of victims of crime, the rights of persons with disabilities and the prosecution of hate crimes.

Of special note, we discussed the threat posed by foreign fighters going to third countries, in particular Syria, and the possible response to address it.  We intend to promote close information sharing between our respective agencies, as well as coordinated initiatives in third countries.  We also discussed efforts of the U.S. and the EU in countering violent extremism, and agreed to intensify our cooperation.

Our meeting also addressed data protection, and issues related to alleged activities of U.S. intelligence agencies.  We together recognize that this has led to regrettable tensions in the transatlantic relationship, which we seek to lessen.  In order to protect all our citizens, it is of the utmost importance to address these issues by restoring trust and reinforcing our cooperation on justice and home affairs issues.

The EU and the U.S. are allies.  Since 9/11 and subsequent terrorist attacks in Europe, the EU and U.S. have stepped up cooperation, including in the areas of police and criminal justice.  Sharing relevant information, including personal data, while ensuring a high level of protection, is an essential element of this cooperation, and it must continue.

We are therefore, as a matter of urgency, committed to advancing rapidly in the negotiations for a meaningful and comprehensive data protection umbrella agreement in the field of law enforcement.  The agreement would act as a basis to facilitate transfers of data in the context of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, by ensuring a high level of personal data protection for U.S. and EU citizens. We are committed to working to resolve the remaining issues raised by both sides, including judicial redress (a critical issue for the EU).  Our aim is to complete the negotiations on the agreement ahead of summer 2014.

We also underline the value of the EU-U.S. Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement.  We reiterate our commitment to ensure that it is used broadly and effectively for evidence purposes in criminal proceedings.  There were also discussions on the need to clarify that personal data held by private entities in the territory of the other party will not be accessed by law enforcement agencies outside of legally authorized channels.  We also agree to review the functioning of the Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement, as contemplated in the Agreement, and to consult each other whenever needed.

We take stock of the work done by the joint EU-U.S. ad hoc Working Group.  We underline the importance of the ongoing reviews in the U.S. of U.S. Intelligence collection activities, including the review of activities by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) and the President’s Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technology (Review Group).  The access that has been given to the EU side of the ad hoc Working Group to officials in the U.S. intelligence community, the PCLOB, the Review Group, and U.S. congressional intelligence committees will help restore trust.  This included constructive discussions about oversight practices in the U.S.  The EU welcomes that the U.S. is considering adopting additional safeguards in the intelligence context that also would benefit EU citizens.

As these ongoing processes continue, they contribute to restoring trust, and to ensuring that we continue our vital law enforcement cooperation in order to protect EU and U.S. citizens.”

U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT AWARDS $14.7 MILLION IN GRANTS TO CURB CHILD LABOR

FROM:  U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT 
US Department of Labor awards $14.7 million to ILO for two multi-country grants to reduce child labor

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced the award of two cooperative agreements to the International Labor Organization to address the worst forms of child labor by providing direct technical assistance to governments in 20 countries and support for updating statistics related to child labor in another 100 countries.
The department awarded $7.7 million for a cooperative agreement to build the capacity of governments to reduce child labor in at least 10 countries, including Bangladesh, Paraguay, Philippines, Suriname and Uganda. The project will: support efforts to bring national legislation on child labor issues into compliance with international standards, improve monitoring and enforcement of child labor laws and policies, and improve national plans of action on child labor. The project will also enhance implementation of policies and programs to increase access to basic education, vocational training, social protection services and poverty reduction initiatives for populations vulnerable to the worst forms of child labor. The project will collaborate with key government agencies and ministries at the national, regional and local levels.

The department awarded a second cooperative agreement for $7 million to collect and analyze data on working children in 10 countries, including Armenia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Jamaica, Malawi, Morocco, Peru, Tanzania and an additional country to be identified. The project will: conduct surveys to collect data on child labor at the national or sector-level, develop policy appraisals, prepare and publish public-use data files, and build capacity of national statistical offices to conduct research and analyze data on child labor. The project will also update statistics on children's work and education for approximately 100 countries.

Since 1995, ILAB projects have rescued approximately 1.7 million children from exploitive child labor. The Labor Department has funded 269 such projects implemented by more than 65 organizations in 91 countries. ILAB currently oversees more than $220 million of active programming to combat the worst forms of child labor.

GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT AGAINST 6 INVESTORS FOR ROLES IN TAX LIEN SALE BID RIGGING

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Investigation Has Yielded 20 Charges to Date

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury in Newark, N.J., returned an indictment against six investors for their roles in a conspiracy to rig bids at auctions conducted by New Jersey municipalities for the sale of tax liens, the Department of Justice announced.

The indictment, filed today in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark, charges four individuals, Joseph Wolfson, Gregg Gehring, James Jeffers Jr. and Robert Jeffrey, and two entities, Betty Simon Trustee LLC and Richard Simon Trustee, with participating in a conspiracy to rig bids at tax lien auctions in New Jersey.  According to the indictment, from at least as early as 1998 and continuing until as late as February 2009, the investors participated in a conspiracy to rig bids at auctions for the sale of municipal tax liens in New Jersey by agreeing to allocate among certain bidders which liens each would bid on.  The indictment alleges that the investors proceeded to submit bids in accordance with the agreements and purchased tax liens at collusive and non-competitive interest rates.

Joseph Wolfson, of Margate, N.J., was a part-owner of two entities that invested in municipal tax liens, Betty Simon Trustee and Richard Simon Trustee, both of Northfield, N.J.  Gregg Gehring, of Newton, N.J., was employed by a major tax lien investment company as a vice president.  James Jeffers Jr., of Burlington, N.J., was a bidder for Crusader Servicing Corp., which pleaded guilty to its role in the conspiracy in September 2012, and also a bidder for Crusader’s successor corporation. Robert Jeffrey, of Bradenton, Fla., was a bidder for both Crusader and its successor corporation.

“The individuals and entities charged today demonstrated a blatant disregard for the competitive process by allocating the purchase of certain municipal tax liens by, from time to time, flipping a coin, drawing numbers out of a hat or drawing from a deck of cards,” said Leslie C. Overton, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division.  “The Antitrust Division remains committed to prosecuting those who thwart the competitive bidding process.”

The department said that the primary purpose of the conspiracy was to suppress and restrain competition in order to obtain selected municipal tax liens offered at public auctions at non-competitive interest rates.  When the owner of real property fails to pay taxes on that property, the municipality in which the property is located may attach a lien for the amount of the unpaid taxes.  If the taxes remain unpaid after a waiting period, the lien may be sold at auction.  State law requires that investors bid on the interest rate delinquent property owners will pay upon redemption.  By law, the bid opens at 18 percent interest and, through a competitive bidding process, can be driven down to zero percent.  If a lien remains unpaid after a certain period of time, the investor who purchased the lien may begin foreclosure proceedings against the property to which the lien is attached.  Since the conspiracy permitted the conspirators to purchase tax liens with limited competition, each conspirator was able to obtain liens which earned a higher interest rate.  Property owners were therefore made to pay higher interest on their tax debts than they would have paid had their liens been purchased in open and honest competition, the department said.

The indictment alleges, among other things, that from at least as early as 1998 and continuing until as late as February 2009, prior to the commencement of certain tax lien auctions in New Jersey, the investors and their co-conspirators agreed not to compete for the purchase of certain municipal tax liens.

A violation of the Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals.  The maximum fine for a Sherman Act violation may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victim if either amount is greater than the $1 million statutory maximum.

Including today’s charges, 20 individuals and entities have been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into bid rigging or fraud related to municipal tax lien auctions in New Jersey.  To date, 11 individuals – Isadore H. May, Richard J. Pisciotta Jr., William A. Collins, Robert W. Stein, David M. Farber, Robert E. Rothman, Stephen E. Hruby, David Butler, Norman T. Remick, Robert U. Del Vecchio Sr., and Michael Mastellone – and three companies, DSBD LLC, Crusader Servicing Corp., and Mercer S.M.E. Inc., have pleaded guilty aspart of this investigation.

Today’s charge is part of efforts underway by President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.  With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud.  Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations.  Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants, including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants.  For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s New York Field Office and the FBI’s Atlantic City, N.J., office.

JPMORGAN SETTLES RMBS CASE WITH GOVERNEMNT FOR $13 BILLION

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Justice Department, Federal and State Partners Secure Record $13 Billion Global Settlement with JPMorgan for Misleading Investors About Securities Containing Toxic Mortgages

The Justice Department, along with federal and state partners, today announced a $13 billion settlement with JPMorgan - the largest settlement with a single entity in American history - to resolve federal and state civil claims arising out of the packaging, marketing, sale and issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) by JPMorgan, Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual prior to Jan. 1, 2009.  As part of the settlement, JPMorgan acknowledged it made serious misrepresentations to the public - including the investing public - about numerous RMBS transactions.  The resolution also requires JPMorgan to provide much needed relief to underwater homeowners and potential homebuyers, including those in distressed areas of the country.  The settlement does not absolve JPMorgan or its employees from facing any possible criminal charges.

This settlement is part of the ongoing efforts of President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force’s RMBS Working Group.

“Without a doubt, the conduct uncovered in this investigation helped sow the seeds of the mortgage meltdown,” said Attorney General Eric Holder.  “JPMorgan was not the only financial institution during this period to knowingly bundle toxic loans and sell them to unsuspecting investors, but that is no excuse for the firm’s behavior.  The size and scope of this resolution should send a clear signal that the Justice Department’s financial fraud investigations are far from over.  No firm, no matter how profitable, is above the law, and the passage of time is no shield from accountability.  I want to personally thank the RMBS Working Group for its tireless work not only in this case, but also in the investigations that remain ongoing.”

The settlement includes a statement of facts, in which JPMorgan acknowledges that it regularly represented to RMBS investors that the mortgage loans in various securities complied with underwriting guidelines.  Contrary to those representations, as the statement of facts explains, on a number of different occasions, JPMorgan employees knew that the loans in question did not comply with those guidelines and were not otherwise appropriate for securitization, but they allowed the loans to be securitized – and those securities to be sold – without disclosing this information to investors.  This conduct, along with similar conduct by other banks that bundled toxic loans into securities and misled investors who purchased those securities, contributed to the financial crisis.
                                   
“Through this $13 billion resolution, we are demanding accountability and requiring remediation from those who helped create a financial storm that devastated millions of Americans,” said Associate Attorney General Tony West.  “The conduct JPMorgan has acknowledged - packaging risky home loans into securities, then selling them without disclosing their low quality to investors - contributed to the wreckage of the financial crisis.  By requiring JPMorgan both to pay the largest FIRREA penalty in history and provide needed consumer relief to areas hardest hit by the financial crisis, we rectify some of that harm today.”

Of the record-breaking $13 billion resolution, $9 billion will be paid to settle federal and state civil claims by various entities related to RMBS.  Of that $9 billion, JPMorgan will pay $2 billion as a civil penalty to settle the Justice Department claims under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), $1.4 billion to settle federal and state securities claims by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), $515.4 million to settle federal and state securities claims by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), $4 billion to settle federal and state claims by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), $298.9 million to settle claims by the State of California, $19.7 million to settle claims by the State of Delaware, $100 million to settle claims by the State of Illinois, $34.4 million to settle claims by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and $613.8 million to settle claims by the State of New York.

JPMorgan will pay out the remaining $4 billion in the form of relief to aid consumers harmed by the unlawful conduct of JPMorgan, Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual.  That relief will take various forms, including principal forgiveness, loan modification, targeted originations and efforts to reduce blight.  An independent monitor will be appointed to determine whether JPMorgan is satisfying its obligations.  If JPMorgan fails to live up to its agreement by Dec. 31, 2017, it must pay liquidated damages in the amount of the shortfall to NeighborWorks America, a non-profit organization and leader in providing affordable housing and facilitating community development.

The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of California and Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Justice Department’s Civil Division, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, conducted investigations into JPMorgan’s, Washington Mutual’s and Bear Stearns’ practices related to the sale and issuance of RMBS between 2005 and 2008.

“Today’s global settlement underscores the power of FIRREA and other civil enforcement tools for combatting financial fraud,” said Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division Stuart F. Delery, co-chair of the RMBS Working Group.  “The Civil Division, working with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and our state and agency partners, will continue to use every available resource to aggressively pursue those responsible for the financial crisis.”

“Abuses in the mortgage-backed securities industry helped turn a crisis in the housing market into an international financial crisis,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California Benjamin Wagner.  “The impacts were staggering.  JPMorgan sold securities knowing that many of the loans backing those certificates were toxic.  Credit unions, banks and other investor victims across the country, including many in the Eastern District of California, continue to struggle with losses they suffered as a result.  In the Eastern District of California, we have worked hard to prosecute fraud in the mortgage industry.  We are equally committed to holding accountable those in the securities industry who profited through the sale of defective mortgages.”
                               
“Today's settlement represents another significant step towards holding accountable those banks which exploited the residential mortgage-backed securities market and harmed numerous individuals and entities in the process,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Zane David Memeger.  “These banks packaged and sold toxic mortgage-backed securities, which violated the law and contributed to the financial crisis.  It is particularly important that JPMorgan, after assuming the significant assets of Washington Mutual Bank, is now also held responsible for the unscrupulous and deceptive conduct of Washington Mutual, one of the biggest players in the mortgage-backed securities market.”

This settlement resolves only civil claims arising out of the RMBS packaged, marketed, sold and issued by JPMorgan, Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual.  The agreement does not release individuals from civil charges, nor does it release JPMorgan or any individuals from potential criminal prosecution. In addition, as part of the settlement, JPMorgan has pledged to fully cooperate in investigations related to the conduct covered by the agreement.

To keep JPMorgan from seeking reimbursement from the federal government for any money it pays pursuant to this resolution, the Justice Department required language in the settlement agreement which prohibits JPMorgan from demanding indemnification from the FDIC, both in its capacity as a corporate entity and as the receiver for Washington Mutual.  

“The settlement announced today will provide a significant recovery for six FDIC receiverships.  It also fully protects the FDIC from indemnification claims out of this settlement,” said FDIC Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg.  “The FDIC will continue to pursue litigation where necessary in order to recover as much as possible for FDIC receiverships, money that is ultimately returned to the Deposit Insurance Fund, uninsured depositors and creditors of failed banks.”

“NCUA’s Board extends our thanks and appreciation to our attorneys and to the Department of Justice, who have worked closely together for more than three years to bring this matter to a successful resolution,” said NCUA Board Chairman Debbie Matz.  “The faulty mortgage-backed securities created and packaged by JPMorgan and other institutions created a crisis in the credit union industry, and we’re pleased a measure of accountability has been reached.”

“JPMorgan and the banks it bought securitized billions of dollars of defective mortgages,” said Acting FHFA Inspector General Michael P. Stephens.  “Investors, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, suffered enormous losses by purchasing RMBS from JPMorgan, Washington Mutual and Bear Stearns not knowing about those defects.  Today’s settlement is a significant, but by no means final step by FHFA-OIG and its law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who committed  acts of fraud and deceit.  We are proud to have worked with the Department of Justice, the U.S. attorneys in Sacramento and Philadelphia and the New York and California state attorneys general; they have been great partners and we look forward to our continued work together.”

The attorneys general of New York, California, Delaware, Illinois and Massachusetts also conducted related investigations that were critical to bringing about this settlement.

“Since my first day in office, I have insisted that there must be accountability for the misconduct that led to the crash of the housing market and the collapse of the American economy,” said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Co-Chair of the RMBS Working Group.  “This historic deal, which will bring long overdue relief to homeowners around the country and across New York, is exactly what our working group was created to do.  We refused to allow systemic frauds that harmed so many New York homeowners and investors to simply be forgotten, and as a result we’ve won a major victory today in the fight to hold those who caused the financial crisis accountable.”

“JP Morgan Chase profited by giving California’s pension funds incomplete information about mortgage investments,” California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris said. “This settlement returns the money to California’s pension funds that JP Morgan wrongfully took from them.”

“Our financial system only works when everyone plays by the rules,” said Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden.  “Today, as a result of our coordinated investigations, we are holding accountable one of the financial institutions that, by breaking those rules, helped cause the economic crisis that brought our nation to its knees.  Even as the American people recover from this crisis, we will continue to seek accountability on their behalf.”

“We are still cleaning up the mess that Wall Street made with its reckless investment schemes and fraudulent conduct,” said Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.  “Today’s settlement with JPMorgan will assist Illinois in recovering its losses from the dangerous and deceptive securities that put our economy on the path to destruction.”

“This is a historic settlement that will help us to hold accountable those investment banks that played a role in creating and exacerbating the housing crisis,” said Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.  “We appreciate the work of the Department of Justice and the other enforcement agencies in bringing about this resolution and look forward to continuing to work together in other securitization cases.”

The RMBS Working Group is a federal and state law enforcement effort focused on investigating fraud and abuse in the RMBS market that helped lead to the 2008 financial crisis.  The RMBS Working Group brings together more than 200 attorneys, investigators, analysts and staff from dozens of state and federal agencies including the Department of Justice, 10 U.S. attorney’s offices, the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), HUD’s Office of Inspector General, the FHFA-OIG, the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the Federal Reserve Board’s Office of Inspector General, the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and more than 10 state attorneys general offices around the country.

The RMBS Working Group is led by five co-chairs: Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division Stuart Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division Mythili Raman, Co-Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement George Canellos, U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado John Walsh and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

IR-2013-90: IRS Warns Consumers of Possible Scams Relating to Relief of Typhoon Victims

IR-2013-90: IRS Warns Consumers of Possible Scams Relating to Relief of Typhoon Victims

SECRETARY OF STATE KERRY'S PRESS STATEMENT ON BOMB ATTACKS IN LEBANON

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 
Bomb Attacks in Lebanon
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 19, 2013

The United States strongly condemns today’s senseless and despicable terrorist bombings at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut. We extend our condolences to the victims and their families. We urge all parties to exercise calm and restraint to avoid inflaming the situation further. The United States knows too well the cost of terrorism directed at our own diplomats around the world, and our hearts go out to the Iranian people after this violent and unjustifiable attack claimed the life of at least one of their diplomats.

The details of today’s attack are not yet clear, and we support the Government of Lebanon’s commitment to conduct a thorough investigation. We call on all parties to cooperate with the Lebanese government’s investigation of this crime and urge that those responsible are brought to justice.

Acts of terror only reinforce our determination to support the institutions of the Lebanese state, including the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces, to ensure a stable, sovereign, and secure Lebanon.

U.S. DOD CONTRACTS FOR NOVEMBER 19, 2013

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
CONTRACTS

NAVY

The Navy is awarding indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contracts to 914 contractors that will provide for their competition for service requirements solicited by Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Military Sealift Command, Naval Facilities Command, Strategic Systems Programs, Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Marine Corps.  The 22 functional service areas within the scope of the contracts include: 1) research and development support, 2) engineering system engineering and process engineering support, 3) modeling, simulation, stimulation and analysis support, 4) prototyping, pre-production, model-making and fabric support, 5) system design documentation and technical data support, 6) software engineering, development, programming and network support, 7) reliability, maintainability and availability support, 8) human factors, performance and usability engineering support, 9) system safety engineering support, 10) configuration management support, 11) quality assurance support, 12) information system development, information assurance and information technology support, 13) ship inactivation and disposal support, 14) interoperability, test and evaluation, trials support, 15) measurement facilities, range and instrumentation support, 16) acquisition logistics support, 17) supply and provisioning support, 18) training support, 19) in-service engineering, fleet introduction, installation and checkout support, 20) program support, 21) functional and administrative support, and 22) public affairs and multimedia support.  These contracts are in addition to the existing 2,838 contracts previously awarded under the SeaPort Enhanced (SeaPort-e) acquisition program for services procurements.  The government estimates a maximum of $5,300,000,000 of services will be procured per year via orders issued under the SeaPort-e multiple award contracts.  The award of these contracts is a result of the SeaPort-e Rolling Admissions solicitation.  The SeaPort-e acquisition is comprised of seven regional zones in which task orders will be competed based upon the principal place of performance. These awards contain provisions to set aside requirements for small businesses, service disabled veteran owned small businesses, 8a business development program and historically under-utilized business zone small businesses.  Under these multiple award contracts, each contractor will be provided a fair opportunity to compete for individual task orders solicited within their zone or zones of performance.  The awards will have a five-month base period with one five-year option.  These contracts were competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 955 offers received and 914 contracts awarded.  Contract funds will be obligated at the time of task order award and, multiple funding types with varying expiration dates may be used, consistent with the purpose for which the funds were appropriated.  The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va., is the contracting activity (N00178-14-D-7128 -- N00178-14-D-8045).   The list of contractors involved are:  1 Source Consulting, Inc., Germantown, Md.; 2Is Inc.*, Walpole, Mass.; 4M Research Inc.*, Huntsville, Ala.; A² Systems Engineering Inc.*, El Segundo, Calif.; A2B Tracking Solutions, Inc.*, Portsmouth, R.I.; AAR Parts Trading Inc. doing business as (dba) AAR Defense Systems and Logistics, Wood Dale, Ill.; A-B Computer  Solutions, Inc.*, Mandeville, La.; Accent Controls, Inc.*, Riverside, Mo.; Access Personnel Services, Inc.*, Lancaster, Pa.; Acquisition Systems Associates, Inc.*, Great Falls, Va.; Adaptive Consulting & Training Services, LLC dba ACTS*, Stafford, Va.; Adela Technologies*, Leonardtown,, Md.; Aderas, Inc.*, Reston, Va.; Advanced Mission Systems, LLC*, Charlotte, N.C.; Advanced Professional Consulting, Inc. dba Veteran Technologists*, Aberdeen, Md.; Advanced Sciences and Technologies, LLC.*, Berlin, N.J.; Advanced Technology Services dba OptiDoc*, Marietta, Ga.; Advanced Technology Systems Co., Inc. (Of Virginia)*, Mclean, Va. ; Advantage SCI, LLC*, El Segundo, Calif.; Advent Business Co., Inc.*, Aurora , Ill.; Advent SVCS LLC*, Panama City Beach, Fla.; AED, Inc.*, Hyattsville, Md.; Affinity Fidelis Consulting and Technologies, LLC dba Affinity Fidelis *, Fredericksburg, Va.; AFGlobe Communications Inc. dba ACI Solutions*, Sterling, Va.; Agile Government Services, Inc.*, Overland Park, Kan.; Ahtna Support and Training Services, LLC*, Anchorage, Alaska; AINET Corp.*, Beltsville, Md.; Air Logistics and Engineering Consultants, LLC*, Warner Robins, Ga.; Aitheras, LLC dba Aitheras*, Rockville, Md.; Alexandria Insights, Inc.*, Fairfax Station, Va.; All U Need Temporary Services dba All U Need Personnel*, Washington, D.C.; Allen Corp. of America, Inc.*, Fairfax, Va.; Allied Reliability, Inc.*, North Charleston, S.C.; AlphaSix Corp.*, Sterling, Va.; American Computer Development Inc. dba ACDI*, Frederick, Md.; American Society for Engineering Education dba ASEE, Washington, D.C.; America's Staffing Partner, Inc.*, Bethlehem, Pa.; AMP Management Consulting LLC*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Ampcus Inc.*, Chantilly , Va.; Anderson Solutions & Associates dba ASA*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Anglicotech LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Apex Data Systems Inc.*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Apogee Engineering, LLC*, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Applied Computer Science Group, Inc.*, Bowie, Md.; Applied Visual Technology, Inc. dba AVT Simulation*, Orlando, Fla.; Aranea Solutions, Inc.*, Huntsville, Ala.; Arch Systems*, Baltimore, Md.; Ardent Technologies, Inc.*, Dayton, Ohio; Armada, Ltd*, Powell, Ohio; Art Anderson Associates, Inc.*, Bremerton, Wash.; ASP Web Solutions, LLC*, Bartlett, Tenn.; Augustine Consulting, Inc.*, Monterey, Calif.; AURA Systems Technologies*, San Dimas, Calif.; Avanco International, Inc.*, Fairfax, Va.; Avani Technology Solutions Inc.*, Rochester, N.Y.; Averalink Information Systems, LLC*, North Charleston, S.C.; Avion Solutions, Inc. dba Avion*, Huntsville, Ala.; AVOSYS Technology, Inc.*, San Antonio, Texas; AVPOL International LLC dba AIL*, Memphis, Tenn.; Axiom Resource Management, Inc. , Falls Church, Va.; B&L Machine & Fabrication*, Norfolk, Va.; Badger Defense Group Inc.*, Orlando, Fla.; Banner Staffing*, Washington, D.C.; Barba Consulting, Inc.*, Marlton, N.J.; BarnAllen Technologies, Inc.*, Rockville, Md.; Barnett Engineering & Signaling Laboratories*, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Bayfield Technology Group, Inc.*, Luray, Va. ; Bayonet Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; BFG Systems LLC dba: BFG Systems*, Saint Petersburg, Fla.; BITHOP Systems, Inc.*, Springfield, Va.; Bitterroot Services & Technology LLC dba BST*, Florence, Mont; BleuForce, LLC*, Chula Vista, Calif.; Blue Tang Solutions, Inc.*, Coronado, Calif.; Boarhog LLC*, San Diego, Calif.; Boulevard Consulting Group, LLC*, Arlington, Va.; Bowhead Professional Solutions, LLC dba BPS*, Alexandria, Va.; Bowler Pons Solutions Consultants, LLC dba Immigration Integrity Group*, Arnold, Md.; Bridge Group, LLC*, Bumpass, Va.; BuddoBot Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; Business Enterprises & Systems Technology, Inc. dba BESTech*, McLean, Va.; C Parker Consulting, Inc.*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Carolina Growler Inc.*, Star, N.C.; Catalyst Solutions, LLC*, Stafford, Va.; CATVIDEO, Inc. dba CATMEDIA*, Tucker, Ga.; Caulfield Consulting, Inc.*, Ashburn, Va.; CB Technologies, Inc., Westminster, Calif.; C-Edge Software Consultants LLC*, Saint Louis, Mo.; Center for Applied Innovation*, Yorktown, Va.; Center for Organizational Excellence, Inc.*, Rockville, Md.; Cherokee Nation Red Wing, LLC*, Tulsa, Okla.; CHP Solutions*, Stafford, Va.; Citadel Logic, LLC*, Hampton, Va.; Claxton Logistics Services, LLC*, Stafford, Va.; Cobec Consulting, Inc.*, Manassas, Va.; Comptech PC*, Fort Pierce, Fla.; Computational Physics, Inc.*, Springfield, Va.; Computer Technologies Consultants, Inc. dba CTC*, Seabrook, Md.; Concord Crossroads*, Manassas, Va.; Conetsco, Inc.*, Manassas, Va.; Consortium for Ocean Leadership Inc., Washington, D.C.; Constellation Software Engineering Corp.*, Lanham, Md.; Converge IT Solutions, LLC*, Clinton, Md.; Mager, William Grant dba Core Services Group*, Virginia Beach, Va.; CoreSys Consulting Services, LLC*, Alexandria, Va.; Coronata Systems, Inc.*, Ardmore, Tenn.; Cougaar Software, Inc.*, Vienna, Va.; Covell Solutions*, Vienna, Va.; Creative Business Solutions, Inc.*, Washington, D.C.; Crewestone Technologies, Inc.*, Chesapeake, Va.; Crown Consulting, Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; CTCA.info, LLC*, Edgewater, Md.; Customer Inspired Solutions, LLC*, King of Prussia, Pa.; Cyber Security Engineering Associates LLC dba CSEA*, Baltimore, Md.; Cyber Technology Services, Inc. dba Cytech Services*, Manassas, Va.; Daniel Eke and Associates, PC*, Silver Spring, Md.; Data Tactics Corp.*, McLean, Va.; Datalis Solutions Corp.*, Montvale, N.J.; Daylight Defense, LLC*, San Diego, Calif.; DeNovo Solutions LLC*, Centennial, Colo.; Designed Consulting LLC*, Yuma, Ariz.; DCAPS Inc.*, Shalimar, Fla.; Digital Consultants LLC*, Mclean, Va.; Dignitas Technologies LLC*, Orlando, Fla.; Dilks - Simone Enterprises, Inc.*, North Charleston, S.C.; DirectViz Solutions LLC*, Chantilly, Va.; DuChancell Engineering Consulting*, Del Mar, Calif.; Durbin Group, LLC*, Spotsylvania, Va.; Dynamic Computer Corp. dba Connecting Point Computer Center*, Farmington Hills, Mich.; Dynamic Management Associates*, Woodbridge, Va.; Dynamic Pro Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; ECLAT Integrated Software Solutions, Inc..*, Stafford, Texas; Edwards Group LLC dba Polaris Technology Solutions*, Aldie, Va.; Effecture, LLC*, San Diego, Calif.; eKuber Ventures Inc.*, Herndon, Va.; Elda and Edwina International Inc.*, Columbia, Md.; Electro Standards Laboratory Inc. dba Electro Standards Laboratories*, Cranston, R.I.; e-Management Consultants, Inc.*, Silver Spring, Md.; Emerging Technology Support LLC*, Mooresville, N.C.; Eminent IT, LLC dba Eminent*, Arlington, Va.; Energy Plus Limited dba Energy Research Consultants*, Laguna Hills, Calif.; Enformatica*, San Diego, Calif.; Engineering Solutions and Products LLC, Eatontown, N.J.; Envision, LLC.*, Saint Louis, Mo.; ENX Group, Inc.*, Fairfax, Va.; EPIC Consulting Planning & Business Information LLC*, Springfield, Va.; ESEA*, Los Altos, Calif.; Estuate Inc.*, Sunnyvale, Calif.; Etelic Inc.*, Glen Allen, Va.; eTRANSERVICES LLC*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Evanhoe & Associates, Inc. dba AIDC Solutions*, Dayton, Ohio; Evergreen Fire Alarms, LLC dba Evergreen Fire &Security*, Tacoma, Wash.; Evigilant.com Inc. dba eVigilant Security*, Lorton, Va.; Explosive Ordnance Mission Focused Defense LLC dba EOMFD*, Goose Creek, S.C.; Extreme Data Technologies LLC*, Norwalk, Conn.; EyeIT.com, Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; Fathom 4, LLC*, Charleston, S.C.; FedForce, Inc.*, Reston, Va.; Field Data Technology, LLC*, Fairfax, Va.; Flight Test Aerospace, Inc.*, Chantilly, Va.; G2SF, INC.*, Reston, Va.; GameSim Inc.*, Orlando, Fla.; Gantec Corp.*, Schaumburg, Ill.; Gartner, Inc., Stamford, Conn.; GCorp Consulting dba GKORP*, Chula Vista, Calif.; Gemini Industries Inc.*, Burlington, Mass.; GeoNorth, LLC*, Anchorage, Alaska; Germanos Defense Services, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; GET Engineering*, El Cajon, Calif.; GINIA Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; Global Services International, LLC*, Killeen, Texas; Global Solutions Group Inc.*, Detroit, Mich.; Government Contracting Services LLC*, Roy, Wash.; Government Contracting Specialists, Inc.*, Chesapeake, Va.; GRAVICOM LLC*, Elnora, Ind.; GS5, LLC*, Dumfries, Va.; Haven 365 LLC*, Stafford, Va.; HCH Enterprises, LLC*, Providence, R.I.; Heritage Services Corp.*, Cocoa, Fla.; Hester Group*, Jacksonville, Fla.; Highbury Defense Group*, San Diego, Calif.; Hosted Records Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; Howard & Co., Inc.*, Reston, Va.; HPT Advisory Services, LLC*, McLean, Va.; H.T. Innovations, L.L.C.*, Chesterfield, Va.; Hyperion Biotechnology Inc.*, San Antonio, Texas; ICS Technologies, Inc.*, McLean, Va.; Ideation Inc.*, Chantilly, Va.; Identity Management Systems, LLC*, Fredericksburg, Va.; IERUS Technologies, Inc.*, Huntsville, Ala.; Immersive Media Tactical Solutions, LLC*, Fredericksburg, Va.; INADEV Corp.*, McLean, Va.; Incident Communication Solutions, LLC*, Stevensville, Md.; Infinity Support Services*, Aldie, Va.; Infolob Solutions, Inc.*, Irving, Texas; Information Innovators, Inc., Springfield, Va.; InfoStructures, Inc.*, Rockville, Md.; Innoflight, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Innovation Business Partners, Inc.*, Lavallette, N.J.; Innovative Algorithms, LLC*, San Diego, Calif.; Innovative Services & Solutions dba ISS*, Mansfield, Texas; Innovim Defense Services LLC dba IDS*, Oxon Hill, Md.; Integrated Defense Applications, LLC dba IDA Technology*, El Paso, Texas; Integrated Financial Analysts, Ltd. dba INFINA*, Tysons Corner, Va.; InteliTrac, Inc.*, Fort Worth, Texas; Intellectual Concepts, LLC*, Atlanta, Ga.; Intelligent Automation Inc.*, Rockville, Md.; Interactive Government Holdings, LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Interdyne Corp.*, Mooresville, N.C.; International Business Sales & Services Corp. dba IBSS Corp*, Silver Spring, Md.; INTER-OP.NET Inc. dba INTER-OP*, Virginia Beach, Va.; InterOptions, LLC*, Tampa, Fla.; IPSecure Inc.*, San Antonio, Texas; ISI Telemanagement Solutions, Inc.*, Schaumburg, Ill.; ISYS Inc. dba ISYS Technologies*, Littleton, Colo.; IT Concepts, Inc.*, Ashburn, Va.; ITC Defense Corp.*, Arlington, Va.; IT-CNP, INC.*, Columbia, Md.; I-Three Solutions, LLC*, Lexington Park, Md.; ITMC Solutions, LLC*, Bristow, Va.; IWON, LLC*, Colonial Beach , Va.; Jamison Professional Services, Inc.*, East Point, Ga.; JDR Unlimited, LLC*, Melbourne, Fla.; Jered LLC dba PHR, Brunswick, Ga.; JETPUBS Inc.*, Hudson, WI; Joiner Associates LLC*, Norfolk, Va.; Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. dba Public Institutions, Washington, D.C.; JRM Enterprises, Inc. dba JRM Technologies*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Kalon, LLC*, Supply, N.C.; KAMMS Group LLC*, Woodbridge, Va.; Karsun Solutions LLC*, Herndon, Va.; KCK Technologies, LLC*, Fairfax, Va.; Kenific Group*, Fairfax, Va.; Kilda Group, LLC*, Annapolis, Md.; Kiple Acquisition Science Technology Logistics & Engineering dba Kiple Consulting*, Bel Air, Md.; Knowledge Capital Associates, LLC*, Springfield, Va.; Knowledge Management Inc.*, Tyngsboro, Maine; Kutta Technologies, Inc.*, Phoenix, Ariz.; KZF Design, Inc.*, Cincinnati, Ohio; LDM & Associates LLD dba LDM Group, LLC*, Bethesda, Md.; Leading Edge Solutions, LLC*, Fort Washington, Md.; Lee Defense Group, LLC  dba  Lee Defense Group*, Springville, Ind.; Lexicon Consulting, Inc.*, El Cajon, Calif.; Lightspeed Technologies dba LP3*, Fairfax, Va.; Links Media LLC dba Links Global*, Rockville , Md. ; Lixis Technology LLC*, Washington, D.C.; LLUCAS Corp.*, Washington, D.C.; Logistics Applications Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; LR-Associates, LLC*, Alexandria, Va.; Lukos, LLC*, Tampa, Fla.; Lumbee Resource Management Group*, Jacksonville, Fla.; Lumbee Tribe Enterprises, LLC*, Pembroke, N.C.; M1 Support Services LP, Denton, Texas; MacDonald-Bedford LLC*, Alameda, Calif.; Macray Services and Solutions, LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Mansai Corp.*, Greenbelt, Md.; MartinFederal Consulting, L.L.C.*, Auburn, Ala.; Masy Group LLC*, Alexandria, Va.; Materials Sciences Corp.*, Horsham, Pa.; McFarland Technology, Inc.*, Murrysville, Pa.; McKenna Principals, Inc.*, Woodbridge, Va.; McKinney & McKinney Techical Services Inc. dba M&M Technical Services*, Woodbridge, Va.; McLane Advanced Technologies, LLC, Temple, Texas; McNally Industries, LLC*, Grantsburg, WI; MCS of Tampa, Inc. dba Mission Critical Solution*, Tampa, Fla.; MDM Technical Services Corp. dba SASI Defense Technologies*, Pittsburgh, Pa.; MDW Associates, LLC*, McLean, Va.; Meridian Technologies, Inc.*, Jacksonville, Fla.; MESMO Inc. dba MESMOLSS*, Waldorf, Md.; Metasystems, Inc.*, North Royalton, Ohio; MillerWilson Consulting, LLC dba MWC*, North Charleston, S.C.; Minerva Systems & Technologies, LLC*, Lexington, KY; Mobius Consulting, LLC*, Alexandria, Va.; Mobius Industries USA, Inc.*, Kirkland, Wash.; Morgan 6, LLC*, North Charleston, S.C.; Moriarty and Associates Consulting Corp. dba Moriarty and Associates*, Fairfax, Va.; MSDS Consultant Services, LLC*, Clinton, Md.; Murtech*, Glen Burnie, Md.; NATECH Network Solutions LLC*, Plano, Texas; National Technology & Service Group LLC*, San Diego, Calif.; Navigant Consulting, Inc., Chicago, Ill.; NAVTEC, Inc.*, Chula Vista, Calif.; NetCentrics Corp.*, Herndon, Va.; NetSecurity Corp. dba Netsecurity*, Dulles, Va.; Network Runners, Inc.*, Ashburn, Va.; Nevins Software , Inc.*, Morris, Ill.; Nexagen Networks Inc.*, Aberdeen, Md.; Nexus Technology Solutions, LLC*, Panama City Beach, Fla.; Nguyen Information Consulting dba Net-Integrated Consulting*, West Des Moines, IA; NLT Corp. dba NETCOM Group*, Springfield, Va.; North Star Group LLC*, Washington, D.C.; northRamp LLC*, Reston, Va.; Novitas Global Solutions LLC dba Novitas Group*, Reston, Va.; NSC Technologies, Inc.*, Portsmouth, Va.; ODME Solutions, LLC*, San Diego, Calif.; Old Breed, LLC*, Quantico, Va.; Operational Support Group*, Virginia Beach, Va.; OpTempo, LLC*, Stafford, Va.; Optima Global Solutions, Inc.*, Lawrenceville, N.J.; Ordnance Holdings, Inc.*, Reisterstown, Md.; Orion Networking Inc.*, Great Falls, Va.; P2P Holdings LLC dba TekPartners Government Solutions*, Coral Springs, Fla.; PAC Solutions*, Stafford, Va.; Pacific Rim Aerospace Corp. dba PacRim Aero*, Kirkland, Wash.; Patriot Maritime Compliance, LLC*, Concord, Calif.; Payne Consulting Inc. dba Payne Consulting Services*, Los Lunas, N.M.; PCI Strategic Management, LLC*, Columbia, Md.; Pegasus Support Services, LLC*, Woodstock, Ga.; Perceptium Group*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Perceptix, LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Perfecta Aviation, LLC dba PAVN*, Alexandria, Va.; Persistent Systems, LLC*, New York, N.Y.; Pharos Group, Inc.*, Stafford, Va.; Phoenix Data Security Inc.*, Phoenix, Ariz.; Phoenix Soft*, Phoenix, Ariz.; Pinnakle Technologies Inc.*, Naperville, Ill.; Pioneer Corporate Services, Inc.*, Ashburn, Va.; Pioneer Technologies Corp.*, Las Vegas, Nev.; Piping Systems International, Inc.*, Bay Minette, Ala.; PKL Services Inc.*, Poway, Calif.; POGO Inc.*, Oceanside , Calif.; Portage, Inc. dba Portage Environmental Inc., Idaho Falls, Idaho; Porter Scientific, Inc. dba Porter Environmental*, Pembroke, N.C.; Positioning Systems Research*, La Jolla, Calif.; Premier Professional Systems, Inc.*, Huntsville, Ala.; Premier Solutions HI, LLC*, Honolulu, Hawaii; PrimeTech International, Inc. *, North Kansas City, Mo.; Professional Performance Development Group, Inc., San Antonio, Texas; Professional Services of America Inc. dba Professional Services of America*, Parkersburg, W.Va.; Progressive Data Systems, Inc.*, Stafford, Va.; Promethean Technical Solutions, LLC*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Provideo Management, Inc.*, Tysons Corner, Va.; QualBlazer, LLC*, Alexandria, Va.; QSI, Inc. dba Quality Solutions Consulting Group, INC.*, Carlsbad, Calif.; QuickFlex Inc.*, San Antonio, Texas; R Dorsey & Co. dba R.DORSEY+Co.*, Worthington, Ohio; Ranger Aerofab, LLC dba Ranger Enterprises, Springville, Ind.; Rapier Solutions, Inc. dba Simplified Computing Systems*, Matthews, N.C.; RCT Systems, Inc.*, Linthicum, Md.; Red Tail, LLC*, Arlington, Va.; REK Associates, LLC*, Chantilly, Va.; RETTEW Associates, Inc.*, Lancaster, Pa.; Right Sized Solutions, Inc. dba RSSI*, Sterling, Va.; RightDirection Technology Solutions, LLC*, Baltimore, Md.; Risk Mitigation Consulting, Inc.*, Destin, Fla.; RLM Communications*, Spring Lake, N.C.; Rock Creek Research, Data Management and Analysis LLC dba Rock Creek Data*, Alexandria, Va.; RoundTable Defense, LLC*, Stafford, Va.; RSL Fibersystems LLC*, E. Hartford, Conn.; Sabel Systems Technology Solutions, LLC*, Gainesville, Va.; SABRE88, LLC*, Newark, N.J.; Saint Security Services, LLC*, Springfield, Va.; Sapient Government Services Inc., Arlington, Va.; SAPTA Systems LLC*, San Antonio, Texas; SAVID LLC*, Saratoga, Calif.; SCI Consulting Services, Inc. dba Software Control International, McLean, Va.; SciTech Services dba SciTech*, Havre de Grace, Md.; SDL Federal Solutions Inc., Reston, Va.; Sealund & Associates Corp.*, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Sektor Solutions, Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; SEMAC LLC dba SEMAC*, Virginia Beach, Va.; SENTAR Inc.*, Huntsville, Ala.; Shivan Technologies, Inc.*, Fairfax, Va.; SI Organization, Inc., King of Prussia, Pa.; Silverback7, Inc.*, Woodbridge, Va.; Six Degrees of Simulation, Inc.*, Orlando, Fla.; SofTec Solutions, Inc.*, Englewood, Colo.; Spartan Business & Technology Services Inc. dba Spartan Business & Technology Consulting*, Alexandria, Va.; Spectra Tech Inc.*, Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Spin Systems, Inc.*, Sterling, Va.; Spinvi Consulting, LLC*, Alexandria, Va.; Squires Group Inc.*, Annapolis, Md.; STARA Technologies, Inc.*, Gilbert, Ariz.; Stauder Consulting, Inc., dba Stauder Technologies*, St. Peters, Mo.; SteedPetro LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Storage Strategies, Inc. dba SSI*, Springfield, Va.; Strata G Solutions Inc.*, Huntsville, Ala.; Strategic Response Initiatives, LLC *, Albany, N.Y.; Strategy and Management Services Inc. dba SAMS*, Springfield, Va.; Strike Group LLC*, Detroit, Mich.; Strong Castle, Inc.*, Washington, D.C.; Strongbridge Corp.*, Sterling, Va.; Succeed to Lead, LLC*, Dumfries, Va.; SunMan Engineering, Inc.*, San Jose, Calif.; Sunrise Beach Corp. dba M2 Services Corp.*, McKinney, Texas; Synergy Aerospace, Inc.*, Lexington Park, Md.; Syntelligent Analytic Solutions, LLC*, Falls Church, Va.; Tactical Micro, Inc.*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Takontrol, LLC*, Annandale, Va.; Tanager, Inc.*, Annapolis Junction, Md.; Tandel Systems, Inc.*, Oldsmar, Fla.; Tantivy Systems Group Technologies, Inc. dba TSG Technologies*, Melbourne, Fla.; Tech Global, Inc.*, Rockville, Md.; Technical Professional Services, Inc.*, Wayland, Mich.; Technique Solutions, Inc.*, Martinsville, Va.; Tellus Solutions, Inc.*, Santa Clara, Calif.; TENICA and Associates, LLC*, Alexandria, Va.; Threat Defense LLC dba Threat Defense*, New Orleans, La.; Tidewater, Inc.*, Elkridge, Md.; Tilson Government Services, LLC*, Portland, Maine; TIME Systems LLC*, Washington, D.C.; TM3 Solutions*, Woodbridge, Va.; TMCI - The McVey Co., Inc. dba TMCI*, Fairfax, Va.; TMGE LLC*, Remington, Va.; Tolliver Group Inc.*, Winter Park, Fla.; Tompkins Consulting LLC dba TC Defense*, Arlington , Va.; Topologe*, Burlington, Mass.; TOTE Services, Inc., Moorestown, N.J.; Trace Systems, Inc.*, McLean, Va.; Trey Software*, La Jolla, Calif.; Trimech Services, LLC dba Trimech Services*, Glen Allen, Va.; Triple Canopy, Inc., Reston, Va.; Trusted Federal Systems, Inc.*, Greenbelt, Md.; TSO Armor and Training, Inc.*, Chesapeake, Va.; United Global Group Inc. dba United Global Group*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Universal Marine Leasing, Inc. dba Universal Marine*, Seaford, Va.; Universal Solutions International, Inc. dba USI*, Newport News, Va.; Universal Strategy Group, Inc.*, Franklin, Tenn.; Unlimited Services Systems Management & Consultants dba USSMC*, Glen Allen, Va.; Valytics, LLC*, Great Falls, Va.; Varen Technologies, Inc.*, Columbia, Md.; Varsant, Inc.*, Waldorf, Md.; Vasto Technologies, Inc.*, Fairfax Station, Va.; Vector Resources, Inc., Torrance, Calif.; Vectrona, LLC*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Venatore LLC*, Tampa, Fla.; Vesa Health & Technology*, San Antonio, Texas; Vion Corp., Herndon, Va.; Visual Soft, Inc.*, Vienna, Va.; VLS IT Consulting, Inc.*, Newark, Del.; VOR Technology, LLC*, Columbia, Md.; VPC Solutions, Inc.*, Dunn Loring, Va.; vTech Solution Inc.*, Chantilly, Va.; VXD Systems, Inc.*, Morganville, N.J.; W4 Limited L.P.*, Fort Worth, Texas; Warrant Technologies LLC*, Bloomington, Ind.; Webworld Technologies, Inc.*, Springfield, Va.; Wellington Federal, LLC*, Dumfries, Va.; Westcarb Enterprises, Inc.*, Springfield, Mass.; Woodbury Technologies, Inc.*, Clearfield, Utah; WPI Services, LLC dba Worldwide PRCH Ingration Services *, Juno Beach, Fla.; XOR Security, LLC*, Fairfax, Va.; Xpect Solutions, Inc.*, Bristow, Va.; YADARI Enterprises*, Fairfield, Calif.; Zephyr Media and Communications, Inc.*, Springfield, Va.; Zurka Interactive LLC*, Vienna, Va.; Kongsberg Gallium Ltd, Kanata, Ontario; Haka Inc.*, Honolulu, Hawaii; Science Applications International, Corp. (SAIC), McLean, Va.; A. Harold and Associates, LLC dba AHA*, Jacksonville, Fla.; A2Z, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; A-T Solutions, Fredericksburg, Va.; AAC Inc.*, Vienna, Va.; AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Md.; AAMCORE Inc.*, Leesburg, Va.; Abbott On Call, Inc. dba AOC, Inc.*, Vienna, Va.; ABSG Consulting Inc., Arlington, Va.; Accenture Federal Services LLC, Arlington, Va.; Acquisition, Research and Logistics, Inc.*, Oxon Hill, Md.; ACTA, Inc.*, Torrance, Calif.; Adaptive Methods, Inc.*, Centreville, Va.; Addx Corp.*, Alexandria, Va.; Advanced Information Systems Group, Inc.*, Orlando, Fla.; Advanced Internet Marketing, Inc. dba GBS Group*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Advanced Systems Technology and Management, Inc.*, Vienna, Va.; Advanced Systems Technology, Inc.*, Lawton, Okla.; Affordable Engineering Services LLC, Coronado, Calif.; Agile Defense, Inc. dba Webster Data Communication*, Fairfax, Va.; ALEX-Alternative Experts, LLC*, Chantilly, Va.; Alpha Solutions Corp.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; ALTRON, Inc.*, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; AM Pierce & Associates, Inc.*, Lexington Park, Md.; Amee Bay LLC*, Anchorage, Alaska; American Electronics, Inc.*, California, Md.; American Technical Services, Inc.*, Norco, Calif.; Amron Corp.*, McLean, Va.; Amyx, Inc.*, Reston, Va.; Analysis Modeling and Programming Sciences, Inc.*, Poway, Calif.; Analytic Solutions LLC*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Anchor Innovation, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Andromeda Systems Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Antech Systems, Inc.*, Chesapeake, Va.; AOC Global Services, LLC*, Chantilly, Va.; Apextech, LLC.*, Arlington, Va.; Apogee Solutions, Inc.*, Chesapeake, Va.; Applied Engineering Management Corp.*, Herndon, Va.; Applied Logistics Services, Inc.*, Odon, Ind.; Applied Management Corp. dba AM*, Arlington, Va.; Applied Research Associates, Inc., Albuquerque, N.M.; Applied Technical Systems, Inc.*, Silverdale, Wash.; Applied Technology, Inc.*, King George, Va.; A-P-T Research, Inc. dba APT Research*, Huntsville, Ala.; Arinbe Technologies, Inc.*, Falls Church, Va.; Artisan Electronics, Inc.*, Gosport, Ind.; ASM Research, Inc., Fairfax, Va.; AT&T Government Solutions, Inc. dba AT&T, Vienna, Va.; Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC dba  ATK Tactical Propulsion and Control, Rocket Center, W.Va.; Atkinson Aeronautics & Technology*, King Geroge, Va.; Atlantic CommTech Corp.*, Norfolk, Va.; Atlas Executive Consulting, LLC*, North Charleston, S.C.; AUSGAR Technologies, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Ausley Associates, Inc.*, Lexington Park, Md.; Automation Precision Technology, LLC dba A P T*, Norfolk, Va.; Avaya Government Solutions, Inc., Fairfax, Va.; AVIAN Engineering, LLC*, Lexington Park, Md.; Aviation Systems Engineering Co., Inc. dba ASEC*, Lexington Park, Md.; Avineon, Inc.*, McLean, Va.; AVW Technologies Inc.*, Chesapeake, Va.;  BAI, Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio; BGI, LLC*, Akron, Ohio; BLS Consultants, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Brandes Associates, Inc.*, Lone Tree, Colo.; Baum, Romstedt Technology Research Corp. dba BRTRC, Fairfax, Va.; BSC Systems, Inc.*, Chantilly, Va.; Burr Business Solutions, LLC*, Enola, Pa.; CAE USA Inc., Tampa, Fla.; CALNET, Inc., Reston, Va.; Calvert Systems Engineering*, Prince Frederick, Md.; Camber Corp., Huntsville, Ala.; Cameron Bell Corp. dba Gov Solutions Group*, Daniel Island, S.C.; Capstone Corp., Alexandria, Va.; Cardno EM-Assist, Inc., Folsom, Calif.; Carley Corp.*, Orlando, Fla.; Carter-Lambert Divisions, LLC*, Waldorf, Md.; Celeris Systems, Inc.*, Anaheim, Calif.; Centerscope Technologies Inc. dba CenterScope*, Elkridge, Md.; Centurum Technical Solutions, Inc., Marlton, N.J.; CEXEC, Inc.*, Reston, Va.; CGI Federal, Inc., Fairfax, Va.; CGW Technologies, Inc.*, Great Mills, Md.; CJSeto Support Services, LLC*, Ventura, Calif.; Client Solution Architects LLC*, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Client/Server Software Solutions, Inc. dba CSSS.NET*, Bellevue, Neb.; Coalition Solutions Integrated Inc.*, California, Md.; CodeLynx, LLC*, North Charleston, S.C.; Coherent Technical Services, Inc.*, Lexington Park, Md.; COLE Technology Corp.*, Fort Worth, Texas; COLSA Corp., Huntsville, Ala.; Command Decisions Systems & Solutions, Inc. dba CDS2*, Stafford, Va.; CommIT Enterprises Inc.*, Hughesville, Md.; Compass Systems, Inc.*, Lexington Park, Md.; Compliance Corp.*, Lexington Park, Md.; Concurrent Technologies Corp., Johnstown, Pa.; CORTEK, Inc.*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Cruz Associates Inc.*, Yorktown, Va.; CSSI, Inc., Washington, D.C.; Culmen International, LLC*, Alexandria, Va.; Cydecor, Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; D&L Services, LLC*, California, Md.; D&S Consultants Inc. dba DSCI, Eatontown, N.J.; D3 Technologies, Inc., San Diego, Calif.; Daniel H Wagner Associates, Inc.*, Exton, Pa.; DasNet Corp.*, Bohemia, N.Y.; Data Solutions & Technology Inc.*, Lanham, Md.; DataSource, Inc.*, McLean, Va.; Davis Defense Group*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Dawnbreaker, Inc.*, Rochester, N.Y.; Decision Technologies, Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; Decisive Analytics Corp., Arlington, Va.; Defense Holdings, Inc.*, Manassas Park, Va.; DEL REY Systems and Technology, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Diamond Data Systems, LLC*, Metairie, La.; Diverse Technologies Corp.*, Upper Marlboro, Md.; DKW Communications, Inc.*, Washington, D.C.; Domenix Corp.*, Chantilly, Va.; DRPA Inc.*, Knoxville, Tenn.; Dyncorp International, LLC, Fort Worth, Texas; E. L. Hamm & Associates, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Eagle Systems, California, Md.; Eastern Research Group, Inc., Lexington, Mass.; ECS Federal, Inc. dba E C S, Fairfax, Va.; EHS Technologies Corp.*, Moorestown, N.J.; EMSolutions, Inc. dba EMSolutions*, Arlington, Va.; EMW, INC.*, Herndon, Va.; Engineering Support Personnel Inc. dba ESP*, Orlando, Fla.; Enterprise Information Services, Inc. dba ESI, Vienna, Va.; Enterprise Resource Performance, Inc. dba ERPI*, Leesburg, Va.; EOIR Technologies, Inc., Fredericksburg, Va.; E S H Group Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; ESRG Government Services, LLC dba ESRG*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Exceptional Software Strategies, Inc.*, Linthicum Heights, Md.; EXCET, INC., Springfield, Va.; Exelis, Inc., Herndon, Va.; Facchina Global Services, LLC, La Plata, Md.; Falconwood*, Arlington, Va.; Flatter & Associates, INC.*, Stafford, Va.; Forward Slope*, San Diego, Calif.; Fulcrum Corp.*, Arlington, Va.; Fulcrum IT Services, LLC, Centreville, Va.; G2 Software Systems*, San Diego, Calif.; Geographic Information Services, Inc. dba GIS*, Birmingham, Ala.; Geologics Corp., Alexandria, Va.; George Consulting, Ltd.*, Daniel Island, S.C.; Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp., Atlanta, Ga.; Global Business Solutions, Inc. dba GBSI*, Pensacola, Fla.; Global Services Corp., Fayetteville, N.C.; Global Systems Technologies dba GST*, Yardley, Pa.; Global Technology and Management Resources, Inc. dba GTMR*, Leonardtown, Md.; Goldbelt Hawk, LLC dba GBHAWK*, Newport News, Va.; Gnostech, Inc.*, Warminster, Pa.; GPA Technologies, Inc.*, Ventura, Calif.; Greenfield Engineering Corp.*, Leonardtown, Md.; Greenpak Development, Inc.*, Parkersburg, W.Va.; Greystones Consulting Group LLC dba Greystones Group*, Washington, D.C.; Grove Resource Solutions, Inc. dba GRSI*, Frederick, Md.; GSTEK Inc.*, Chesapeake, Va.; Harlan Lee & Associates*, Vienna, Va.; Harmonia Holdings Group LLC*, Blacksburg, Va.; Harry Kahn Associates, Inc.*, Hagerstown, Md.; HART Technologies Inc.*, Manassas, Va.; HDT Engineering Services, Inc., Fredericksburg, Va.; HEBCO, INC.*, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Herdt Consulting, Inc. dba Herdt*, Chelsea, Ala.; HI-TEST Laboratories, Inc.*, Arvonia, Va.; Holmes-Tucker International, Inc.*, Lexington Park, Md.; Homeland Security Solutions, Inc., Hampton, Va.; Honeywell Technology Solutions dba Honeywell, Columbia, Md.; HP Enterprise Services, LLC, Herndon, Va.; Hughes Associates, Baltimore, Md.; I-Prise Communications, Inc.*, Oxnard, Calif. ; IBASET*, Foothill Ranch, Calif.; II Corps Consultants, Inc. dba II Corps Consultants*, Locust Grove, Va.; ICF Inc., L.L.C., Fairfax, Va.; Imagine One Technology and Management LTD*, Colonial Beach, Va.; Information Planning Associates, Inc.*, Falls Church, Va.; Info Soft Systems Inc.*, Potomac, Md.; InfoReliance Corp., Fairfax, Va.; Information Management Resources*, Aliso Viejo, Calif.; Information Research Corp.*, Bridgeport, W.Va.; InnovaSystems International LLC, San Diego, Calif.; Innovative Aviation Services, Inc.*, Woodbridge, Va.; Innovative Decisions, Inc.*, Vienna, Va.; Innovative Logistics Support Services Corp.*, New Orleans, La.; IMS-Chas*, North Charleston, S.C.; Innovative Reasoning LLC*, Orlando, Fla.; Integrated Consultants Inc. dba ICI Integrated Consultants*, San Diego, Calif.; Integrated Systems Analyst dba ISA*, Alexandria, Va.; INTEKRAS, Inc.*, Sterling, Va.; Intelligent Decision Systems Inc.*, Centreville, Va.; intelliSolutions, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Intergraph Government Solutions Corp. dba IGS, Madison, Ala.; International Business Machines Corp. dba IBM, Bethesda, Md.; International Systems Management Corp.*, Boyds, Md.; Interoptek, Inc.*, Huntsville, Ala.; ISPA Technology*, Centreville, Va.; ITA International LLC*, Yorktown, Va.; IZ Technologies, Inc.*, Sterling, Va.; J. M. Waller Associates, Inc., Fairfax, Va.; J.F. Taylor, Inc., Lexington Park, Md.; J5 Systems*, San Diego, Calif.; Jahn Corp.*, Lexington Park, Md.; Janus Research Group, Inc., Appling, Ga.; Jardon and Howard Technologies*, Orlando, Fla.; JBR Resources, LLC*, Carlisle, Pa.; JC3 Global, Inc.*, La Plata, Md.; Joint Research and Development, Inc.*, Stafford, Va.; Juno Technologies*, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; KAEGAN Corp.*, Orlando, Fla.; Kalman and Co., Inc., Virginia Beach, Va.; Kay and Associates, Inc., Buffalo Grove, Ill.; Ki Ho Military Acquisition Consulting, Inc. dba KIHOMAC*, Fairfax, Va.; King Technologies, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Klett Consulting Group*, Virginia Beach, Va.; KMS Solutions, LLC*, Melbourne, Fla.; Knight Networking and Web Design, Inc. dba Knight Networking*, Marlton, N.J.; Knowledge Engineers, Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; KOAM Engineering Systems, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services, Inc., San Diego, Calif.; Liberty Business Associates, LLC*, North Charleston, S.C.; LinQuest Corp., Los Angeles, Calif.; Linxx Global Solutions, Inc., dba Linxx Security*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Logistics Management Institute dba LMI, McLean, Va.; Logis-Tech, Inc.*, Manassas, Va.; Logistic Services International, Inc. dba LSI, Jacksonville, Fla.; Logistics Support Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; Long Wave Inc.*, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Loyola Enterprises Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; LTM Inc.*, Havelock, N.C.; M.C. Dean, Inc., Dulles, Va.; M2 Consulting Corp*, San Diego, Calif.; MAC Consulting Services, Inc.*, Fairfax, Va.; MacAulay-Brown Inc., Dayton, Ohio; Main Sail, LLC*, Cleveland, Ohio; Maintenance Inspection Services, Inc.*, Morganton, N.C.; Management & Engineering Technologies International, Inc. dba METI*, El Paso, Texas; Management Consulting Inc. dba MANCON, Virginia Beach, Va.; MANDEX Inc.*, Fairfax, Va.; Manufacturing Engineering System, Inc dba MES*, Rockville, Md.; Manufacturing Techniques, Inc. dba M-TEQ, Kilmarnock, Va.; Marine Acoustics*, MIddletown, R.I.; Maritime Applied Physics Corp.*, Baltimore, Md.; MARKON, Inc.*, Falls Church, Va.; Marlin Alliance Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Marshall Communications Corp.*, Ashburn, Va.; MCR Federal LLC, McLean, Va.; Merdan Group, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Metamorphosis Group Inc.*, Vienna, Va.; Metron Inc.*, Reston, Va.; Metson Marine Services, Inc.*, Ventura, Calif.; MI Technical Solutions*, Chesapeake, Va.; MicroTechnologies, LLC dba Microtech, Vienna, Va.; Mid Atlantic Engineering Technical Services, Inc.*, Chesapeake, Va.; Mikel*, Fall River, Mass.; MIL Corp., Bowie, Md.; Millennium Corp.*, Arlington, Va.; Milli Micro Systems, Inc. dba Mms Tactical*, Northridge, Calif.; MILVETS Systems Technology*, Orlando, Fla.; Minerva Engineering*, Mesa, Ariz.; Modern Technology Solutions, Inc., Alexandria, Va.; Momentum Inc.*, Camp Hill, Pa.; MPR Associates, Inc., Alexandria, Va.; MTG Services, Inc.*, Lakehurst, N.J.; MTS Technologies*, Arlington, Va.; Mutual Telecom Services Inc. dba Black Box Network Services, Needham, Mass.; MYMIC*, Portsmouth, Va.; KSH Solutions Inc.*, San Antonio, Texas; Nakuuruq Solutions LLC*, Herndon, Va.; Nathan Kunes, Inc.*, Coronado, Calif.; National Sourcing, Inc.*, Tampa, Fla.; Naval Systems, Inc.*, Lexington Park, Md.; NCI Information Systems, Inc., Reston, Va.; Netzer Russell Consulting, LLC*, Ridgecrest, Calif.; Next Wave Systems, LLC*, Pekin, Ind.; Oak Grove Technologies LLC*, Raleigh, N.C.; Object CTalk*, King of Prussia, Pa.; Odyssey Systems Consulting Group LTD., Wakefield, Mass.; Oldenburg Group Inc. dba Oldenburg Lakeshore, Kingsford, MI; Omnitech Solutions, Inc.*, Bethesda, Md.; Opal Soft Inc.*, Sunnyvale, Calif.; Organizational Strategies Inc. dba OSI*, Arlington, Va.; Overlook Systems Technologies, Inc.*, Vienna, Va.; P3I, Inc., Hopkinton, Mass.; PAL Services*, O Fallon, Mo.; Parsons Government Services Inc., Pasadena, Calif.; Patrona Corp. dba Patrona*, Arlington, Va.; PCCI Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; PC Engineering, Inc.*, Panama City, Fla.; Penobscot Bay Media LLC dba Pen Bay Media*, Rockland, Maine; Phacil. Inc., Arlington, Va.; Phoenix Group Of Virginia, Inc. dba PGV*, Chesapeake, Va.; PAL Technologies Inc. dba Pal-Tech*, Arlington, Va.; Potomac-Hudson Engineering Inc.*, Gaithersburg, Md.; Prairie Quest Consulting*, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Precise Systems*, Lexington Park, Md.; Predicate Logic*, San Diego, Calif.; Preferred Systems Solutions, Vienna, Va.; Prism Maritime LLC*, Chesapeake, Va.; Professional Solutions1, LLC dba Professional Solutions, Alexandria, Va.; Professional Systems Associates, Inc.*, Panama City, Fla.; Progeny Systems, Manassas, Va.; Programs Management Analytics & Technologies, Inc. dba PMAT*, Norfolk, Va.; Prometheus Co.*, Lexington Park, Md.; PSI PAX INC.*, California, Md.; Puritan Research Corp.*, Vienna, Va.; Quadelta*, Arlington, Va.; Quantum Professional Services*, San Diego, Calif.; R & D Training and Technical Services, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; R&K Solutions, Inc.*, Roanoke, Va.; Radiance Technologies, Inc., Huntsville, Ala.; Research Analysis and Engineering, LLC*, Arlington, Va.; RAM Laboratories*, San Diego, Calif.; RBC*, Alexandria, Va.; Regis & Associates, PC*, Washington, D.C.; Reliability & Performance Technologies LLC dba RP Technologies*, Dublin, Pa.; Reliable Government Solutions Inc.*, Beltsville, Md.; Renaissance Sciences Corp.*, Chandler, Ariz.; Rentfrow Inc.*, Ventura, Calif.; Research and Engineering Development, LLC, Lexington Park, Md.; RGS Associates, Arlington, Va.; RNB Technologies, Inc., Stafford, Va.; ROH Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; Rohrbach Group, Inc.*, Poway, Calif.; ROI Consulting LLC*, Mullica Hill, N.J.; Rollout Systems, LLC*, California, Md.; S4 Inc.*, Burlington, Mass.; Saalex Corp dba Saalex Solutions*, Camarillo, Calif.; Sabre Systems, Inc., Warrington, Pa.; SAM Inc.*, College Park, Md.; San Diego Community College District dba San Diego City College, San Diego, Calif.; Savvee Consulting, Inc.*, Chantilly, Va.; Sayres and Associates*, Washington, D.C.; SBG Technology Solutions*, Stafford, Va.; Schafer Corp. dba WJ Shafer and Associates, Chelmsford, Mass.; SDS International Inc.*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Secure Mission Solutions, LLC. Dba SMS, N. Charleston, S.C.; Sentek Consulting Inc. dba Sentek Global*, San Diego, Calif.; Serrano IT Services*, Omaha, Neb.; ShadowObjects LLC*, Leonardtown, Md.; Sierra Management and Technologies, Inc.*, California, Md.; Silver Bullet Solutions Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; Simulation Systems Technologies, Inc. dba SSTI*, Voohees, N.J.; SITE, LLC dba Systems Intgrtion Tech Evltion*, Arlington, Va.; Smartronix, Inc., Hollywood, Md.; Solution Engineering Associates, Inc. dba SEAI*, Lexington Park, Md.; Sotera Defense Solutions Inc., Herndon, Va.; Sound & Sea Technology, Inc. dba Sound & Sea Technology*, Lynnwood, Wash.; Southwest Research Institute dba SWRI, San Antonio, Texas; Spalding Consulting, Inc.*, Lexington Park, Md.; Spatial Integrated Systems Inc. dba SIS*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Specialty Systems*, Toms River, N.J.; Spectrum Technology Group, Inc.*, Gaithersburg, Md.; SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif.; Standard Calibrations, Inc.*, Chesapeake, Va.; Stargates Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; STG Inc., Reston, Va.; STIMULUS Engineering Services, Inc.*, Loogootee, Ind.; Strategic Analysis, Inc., Arlington, Va.; Strategic Data Systems dba SDS*, San Diego, Calif.; Strategic Technology Institute Inc. dba STI*, Rockville, Md.; Stratom Inc.*, Boulder, Colo.; Subsidium, Inc.*, Luray, Va.; Summit Technical Solutions, LLC*, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Sunset Design & Programming Inc. dba Sunset Design*, Oxnard, Calif.; Support Systems Associates, Inc.*, Melbourne, Fla.; Survice Engineering Co., Belcamp, Md.; Symvionics Inc.*, Arcadia, Calif.; Synergy Software Design, LLC*, Washington, D.C.; Systems Documentation, Inc.*, Piscataway, N.J.; Systems Engineering & Management Co. dba SEMCO*, Vista, Calif.; Systems Engineering Support  dba SESCO*, San Diego, Calif.; Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., Alexandria, Va.; Systems Plus, Inc.*, Rockville, Md.; SRA International Inc. dba SRA, Fairfax, Va.; Sysytems Technology Forum, Limited*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Tactical Engineering & Analysis, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Target Media Mid Atlantic Inc. dba Target Systems*, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Technical Software Services, Inc.. dba TECHSOFT*, Pensacola, Fla.; Tech Wizards, Inc.*, Newburg, Md.; Technical and Project Engineering, LLC dba TAPE*, Alexandria, Va.; Technology and Management International, LLC dba TAMI*, Toms River, N.J.; Technology Associates International Corp. dba TAIC, Carlsbad, Calif.; Technology Security Associates Inc.*, California, Md.; Technomics*, Arlington, Va.; Tekla Research Inc.*, Dumfries, Va.; Teleconsultants Inc.*, Chesapeake, Va.; TELESIS Corp.*, Beltsville, Md.; Tetra Tech EMC, Inc. dba Tetra Tech EMC, Camarillo, Calif.; Thornberry Consulting, LLC*, Mount Airy, Md.; TIE Today, Inc.*, Oviedo, Fla.; Technology Program Services Associates, Inc.*, Whiting, N.J.; Transformation Systems Inc.*, Arlington, Va.; TRANSTECS Corp.*, Wichita, Kan.; Tri-Force Consulting Services Inc.*, Lansdale, Pa.; Triton Services, Inc.*, Annapolis, Md.; Triumph Enterprises, Inc.*, Fairfax, Va.; Trofholz Technologies, Inc.*, Rocklin, Calif.; Truston Technologies, Inc.*, Broussard, La.; T-Solutions, Inc.*, Chesapeake, Va.; Turner Strategic Technologies, LLC*, Norfolk, Va.; TWM Associates, Inc.*, Falls Church, Va.; Unconventional Concepts, Inc.*, Mary Esther, Fla.; Unified Industries Inc.*, Springfield, Va.; Unisys Corp. dba Federal Systems, Reston, Va.; Universal Consulting Services, Inc.*, Fairfax, Va.; Universal Technical Resource Services, Inc. dba UTRS, Cherry Hill, N.J.; Valkyrie Enterprises, LLC*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Vaughn Management & Services, Inc.*, Camarillo, Calif.; VectorCSP, LLC*, Elizabeth City, N.C.; Veteran Enterprise Technology Services, LLC dba VETS*, Vienna, Va.; Vision Point Systems, Inc.*, Blacksburg, Va.; Visual Concepts LLC*, Ventura, Calif.; Vox Optima, LLC*, Albuquerque, N.M.; VT AEPCO Inc., Alpharetta, Ga.; W R Systems, Ltd., Fairfax, Va.; Washington Technology Group, Inc.*, Silver Spring, Md.; Web Business Solutions Inc.*, Fredericksburg, Va.; Whitney, Bradley & Brown Inc., Reston, Va.; WGS Systems LLC*, Frederick, Md.; Wyle Laboratories, Inc., Huntsville, Ala.; X-Feds, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Zekiah Technologies, Inc.*, La Plata, Md.; Zimmerman Associates, Inc. dba ZAI, Fairfax, Va.; Accelerated Development & Support Corp. dba ADS*, Arlington, Va.; Applied Computing Technologies, Inc.*, Alexandria, Va.; Artemis Consulting, LLC*, San Diego, Calif.; BTP Systems, LLC*, Ludlow, Mass.; Caelum Research Corp.*, Rockville, Md.; Cape Henry Associates, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va.; Collins Consulting, Inc.*, Schaumburg, Ill.; Craig Technical Consulting, Inc. dba Craig Technologies*, Cape Canaveral, Fla.; Dynamic Analytics and Test, LLC*, Arlington, Va.; GCC Technologies, LLC*, Oakland, Md.; Global Defense, Inc. dba GDI*, Arlington, Va.; J3S, Inc.*, Georgetown, Texas; KPMG LLP, McLean, Va.; Kros-Wise*, San Diego, Calif.; Marine Systems Corp.*, Boston, Mass.; Monroe Defense Industry Consulting, Inc.*, Colonial Beach, Va.; Natural SPI Inc.*, Tucson, Ariz.; Navmar Applied Sciences Corp., Warminster, Pa.; NS Software Services Inc. dba Stiltmart Learning Management Services*, Pensacola, Fla.; Ohm Systems, Inc.*, Horsham, Pa.; Orqid Consulting & Associates, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Pacific Science & Engineering Group, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Quality Innovative Solutions, Inc. dba QI-Solutions, QISI*, Oxnard, Calif.; Referentia Systems Inc.*, Honolulu, Hawaii; S & K Technologies, Inc.*, Saint Ignatius, Mont.; Sedna Digital Solutions, LLC*, Manassas, Va.; Softcomm Inc. dba Softcomm*, San Diego, Calif.; Solers, Inc., Arlington, Va.; SOLUTE dba SOLUTE Consulting*, San Diego, Calif.; STS International, Inc.*, Berkeley Springs, W.Va.; System Planning Corp., Arlington, Va.; Systems Technologies, Inc., West Long Branch, N.J.; TechFlow, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Tecolote Research, Inc., Goleta, Calif.; Tek Source USA, Inc.*, Tampa, Fla.; Wakelight Technologies, Inc.*, Honolulu, Hawaii; Analysis Group, LLC, Falls Church, Va.; Salient Federal-SGIS, Inc. dba SGIS, San Diego, Calif.; Vector Planning and Services, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif.; Investment Management Enterprise Inc.*, Richmond, Va.; iO Technologies, Inc.*, Dahlgren, Va.; Electromagnetic Compatibility Management Concepts dba EMC Management Concepts*, Sterling, Va.

BSC Partners LLC,* Binghamton, N.Y., is being awarded a $30,456,711 firm-fixed-price Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III contract under Topic #03-190 entitled Helicopter Operations Aircrew/Crew Chief Trainer.  The objective of this SBIR effort is to design, fabricate, install, and test four MH-60R Naval Aircrew Training Systems and three MH-60S Aircrew Virtual Environment Trainer (AVET) devices and upgrade the original SBIR Phase III delivered AVET S/N 1 to the AVET S/N2 baseline configuration for commonality.  This effort also includes training, contractor field services, contractor phone support and spares for all devices.  Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla. (45 percent); Binghamton, N.Y. (30 percent); San Diego, Calif. (13 percent); Norfolk, Va. (6 percent); Jacksonville, Fla. (3 percent); and Mayport, Fla. (3 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2019.  Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement, Navy contract funds in the amount of $30,456,711 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-5.  The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61340-14-C-0002).

PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., is being awarded an $8,916,209 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-price task orders to provide paints, coatings, solvents, preservation products, and engineering/technical services for Military Sealift Command (MSC).  PPG Industries Inc., shall provide paint products and services for MSC ships and any other government-owned or government-chartered ships designated by MSC.  This contract includes four 12-month option periods, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $44,516,439.  Work will be performed worldwide and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2014.  If all option periods are exercised, work will continue to September 2018.  Working capital contract funds are subject to availability of fiscal 2014 funding, and funds will expire at the end of that fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via solicitation posted to the Military Sealift Command’s procurement website and the Federal Business Opportunities website, with and four offers received.  The Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00033-14-D-8010).

Emprise Corp., Ledyard, Conn., is being awarded an $8,739,750 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with cost-plus-fixed-fee task orders for support services in the areas of maintenance, reliability and system engineering services, and engineering and technical services.  This contract will provide support services to Military Sealift Command vessels, as well as other U.S. Navy and government owned vessels worldwide.  This contract includes one 12-month option period and two six-month option periods, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $26,719,053.  Work will be performed in Ledyard, Conn., and on board vessels located worldwide, and work is expected to be completed Nov. 19, 2014.  If all option periods are exercised, work will continue through November 2016.  Working capital contract funds in the amount of $100,000 are obligated for fiscal 2014, and will expire at the end of the fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via solicitation posted to the Military Sealift Command, Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities websites, with more than 170 companies solicited and two offers received.  The Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00033-14-D-8005).

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace and Defense Co., Simsbury, Conn, is being awarded an $8,650,874 firm-fixed-priced contract for five sizes of low-hazard linear shaped charges.  The low-hazard flexible linear shaped charges are used to produce a linear cutting action in various applications where remote, fast and reliable cutting of obstacles and other targets is required.  Work will be performed in Nortonville, Ky., and is expected to be completed by November 2018.  Fiscal 2013 procurement of ammunition, Air Force contract funds in the amount of $553,500 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-14-D-JR10).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

American Regent, Shirley, N.Y., has been awarded a maximum $28,074,324 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for various pharmaceutical products in support of the corporate exigency contract program to provide medical/surgical surge, re-supply, and sustainment material.  This contract is a competitive acquisition, and thirty-one offers were received.  Location of performance is New York with a Nov. 17, 2014 performance completion date.  This contract is a one-year base with seven one-year option periods.  Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.  Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 warstopper funds.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM2D0-14-D-0001).

AIR FORCE

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $300,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for development and production of multiple foreign military sales test vehicles and equipment, mission planning, mission operational flight program, test support, logistics support, sustainment, and non-recurring engineering.  Work will be performed at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla., and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Troy, Ala., with an expected completion date of Nov. 19, 2018.  This contract involves foreign military sales with Finland and Australia.  This contract was a sole-source acquisition.  The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8682-13-D-0049).

Bering Straits Logistics Services, Anchorage, Alaska has been awarded a $12,274,457 modification (P00012) to previously awarded FA810012C0002 as the 76th Maintenance Wing material support integrator. The contractor shall maintain day-to-day operations to include all labor, supervision, materials, tools, equipment, personnel protective equipment, interim storage, transportation, and incidentals.  The contractor shall be responsible for obtaining material and supply agreements with individual vendors to provide all the PPE and materials required for this program.  The contractor shall provide program management, strategic analysis for future needs, recommendations to increase efficiencies, improve cost savings, and ensure compliance with applicable laws, directives, and regulatory requirements.  Work will be performed at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. with an expected completion date of Dec. 18, 2014.  Fiscal 2014 Depot Maintenance Activity Group funds in the amount of $12,274,457 are being obligated at time of award.  The Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB, Okla., is the contracting activity.

Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC., Thousand Oaks, Calif., was awarded a $8,409,250 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Knowledge Representation in Neural Systems program.  The objective of the program is to develop new theories that explain how conceptual knowledge is represented in the human brain and test those theories by demonstrating the ability to predict and interpret concept-related patterns of neural activity measured non-invasively.  Work will be performed at Thousand Oaks, Calif., with an expected completion date of Jan. 16, 2017.  Fiscal 2013 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,072,169 are being obligated at time of award.  This contract was a competitive acquisition, and 13 offers were received.  The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-14-C-7357).

S&K Aerospace LLC, Saint Ignatius, Mont., has been awarded an estimated $7,126,828 modification (P00005) on an existing firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable-no-fee contract (FA8505-12-D-0002) for foreign military sales Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 classified items Third Party Logistics Repair & Return management services. This modification adds 13 months period of performance to the basic contract. Work will be performed at Warner Robins, Ga., and multiple certified sources of repair located throughout the continental United States, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 19, 2014.  This contract is 100 percent Foreign Military Sales for Saudi Arabia.  Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WWKA, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity.


*Small Business