WHITE HOUSE FACT SHEET ON PRESIDENT'S CLIMATE DATA INITIATIVE

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

FACT SHEET: Empowering America’s Agricultural Sector and Strengthening Food Resilience through the President’s Climate Data Initiative

“My administration will work with tech innovators and launch new challenges under our Climate Data Initiative, focused initially on rising sea levels and their impact on the coasts, but ultimately focused on how all these changes in weather patterns are going to have an impact up and down the United States…and how do we start preparing for that.” – President Obama, remarks on the California Drought, February 14, 2014.

In March 2014, the Obama Administration unveiled the Climate Data Initiative—a key deliverable of the President’s Climate Action Plan to cut carbon pollution in America, prepare communities for the impacts of climate change, and lead international efforts to address this global challenge. The Climate Data Initiative leverages the Federal Government’s vast and open data resources to stimulate the kinds of innovation and entrepreneurship that can empower America’s communities and businesses to take action against climate change and prepare for the future.

Today, building on the Climate Data Initiative’s initial focus on coastal resilience, the Obama Administration is unveiling the Initiative’s “Food Resilience” theme, aimed at empowering America’s agricultural sector and strengthening the resilience of the global food system in a changing climate.

The National Climate Assessment, released in May, 2014, confirms that climate disruptions to agriculture have been increasing, are projected to become more severe over this century, and that climate-change effects on agriculture will have consequences for food security, both nationally and globally, through changes in crop yields and food prices, as well as effects on food processing, storage, transportation, and retailing. 

That’s why the Obama Administration is working to connect farmers, food distributors, and agricultural businesses with the data, tools, and information they need to understand how climate change impacts—such as more intense heat waves, heavier downpours, and severe droughts and wildfires out west—are affecting their operations today and steps they can take to both prepare for and help fight climate change.

To continue momentum under the Climate Data Initiative, the Obama Administration is today renewing the President’s call to America’s private-sector innovators to leverage open government data and other resources to build tools that will make the U.S. and global food systems more resilient against the impacts of climate change. In response to this call, today’s launch includes a number of commitments by Federal agencies and private-sector collaborators to combat climate change and support food resilience through data-driven innovation.

Administration Commitments: 

• Convening Agriculture and Technology Leaders at the White House. Today, Senior Obama Administration officials are meeting at the White House with representatives of leading food, agriculture and technology businesses to discuss ways these companies are leveraging open government data, related information tools, and other innovations to improve the resilience of the U.S. and global food system and reduce the contributions of food production to climate change.
• New Features on climate.data.gov. The Obama Administration is today unveiling an expanded climate.data.gov to include new pages and features that make data about the risks of climate change to food production, supply, nutrition, and security more open and accessible to innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Through a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other Federal agency partners, hundreds of datasets, web services, and tools on these topics and more are being made accessible through climate.data.gov, including data from the Census of Agriculture, current and historical data on production, supply, and distribution of agricultural products, and data on climate-change-related risks such as storms, pests, and drought. The Administration is also expanding climate.data.gov to include datasets from climate models, projecting potential future climate impacts.
• Hosting Agriculture-Innovation Workshops. The Obama Administration will host and participate in a series of innovation workshops focused on data-driven innovation at the nexus of climate-change and agriculture, including:
  • On July 30, USDA will host two innovation workshops in Washington, DC, one with young and beginning farmers and another with food distributors, to spur the development of creative information-technology tools that can help farmers and those in the food supply chain to prepare for climate-change impacts.
  • On August 1, USDA and NYU’s Governance Lab (GovLab) will host an Open Data event in Washington, DC, focused on food resilience and climate change, as well as preparedness for food emergencies. The event will encourage dialogue between government agencies and the businesses and organizations that use their data, in support of the goals of the Climate Data Initiative.
  • On August 5, concurrent with the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Government, IBM, and partners of the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition Initiative will host a data-innovation event focused on developing technological innovations based on open data that can help address global food security and nutrition in Africa.

Private-Sector Commitments:

• Principles for Responsible Investment. The United-Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) has formed an investor group made up of Rockefeller & Co. and five European-based institutional investors (PGGM, Aberdeen Asset Management, Hermes, MN, and Nordea) to address the risks from climate change to companies with agricultural supply chains – including in the food, beverage, and apparel sectors. Using data from the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Water Risk Filter mapping tool and Pricewaterhouse Coopers’ (PwC) ESCHER model, the investor group will engage approximately 50 major companies in constructive dialogue to increase resilience to water risks and foster more informed investment decision-making. PRI and the investor group are launching an Investor Guidance Document and issuing a call to action to support the effort to PRI’s 1260 global signatories representing more than $45 trillion USD in assets.
• Microsoft. In support of the President’s Climate Data Initiative’s, Microsoft and USDA will co-host a series of workshops, webinars, and an app-athon aimed at demonstrating the value of open-data and data-driven tools to boost climate preparedness and resilience in the agricultural sector. Microsoft and USDA will also jointly launch a climate-change-focused Innovation Challenge to inspire the development of new tools and services that harness data available via data.gov, as well as an initial collection of USDA datasets that will be made available through Microsoft’s Azure Marketplace. Microsoft Research will issue a special request for proposals focused on food resilience and climate change and grant 12 months of free cloud-computing resources to 20 awardees whose proposals are submitted by Sept. 15, 2014 through the Azure for Research program.
• Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. Through the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, the U.S. dairy industry is today committing to advance a series of science-based efforts, including additional research to understand and optimize dairy’s role in a resilient, efficient, and sustainable food system, as well as testing and piloting four new Farm Smart modules—energy, feed, nutrient, and herd management—by the end of 2014.  Farm Smart is a data-driven online tool that helps dairy farmers assess their farm’s environmental footprint; explore the potential environmental value and cost-effectiveness of on-farm innovations; and communicate progress.
• The U.S. Water Partnership. Recognizing that open data can help inform actions to meet the growing water crisis in regions at home and abroad, the U.S. Water Partnership (USWP) will deploy a web-based portal called “H2InfO” during World Water Week on September 2, 2014, to increase access to high quality US-based water- and drought- information resources. In addition, the U.S. Water Partnership will develop a virtual community of practice to share data, experiences, lessons, and best practices and will convene an in-person technical dialogue for community members and other key public and private stakeholders to create a two-way exchange of expertise on drought preparedness and water resilience.
• IBM. IBM is announcing an expansion of its philanthropic World Community Grid program, which enables members of the public to donate their computer or mobile device's unused computing power to scientists. The expansion will provide scientists studying climate change topics including staple food crops and water management with free access to dedicated virtual supercomputing resources and a platform to engage the public on their research. Each researcher will have access to up to 100,000 years of computing time, a value of $60m in today's costs. IBM is inviting researchers to submit project proposals and members of the public to donate their unused computing power to these efforts at worldcommunitygrid.org. 
• GoodCompanyVentures. During the summer of 2015, GoodCompanyVentures will launch Climate Ventures 2.0, a project to source, accelerate, and deploy entrepreneurial solutions to climate-change preparedness in collaboration with the Wharton Social Impact Initiative, the Impact Hub, and the MIT Climate CoLab.  Over a nine-month period, Climate Ventures 2.0 will provide mentoring, design consulting, and access to capital for 10 high-potential teams working on ongoing climate data innovation challenges, such as those issued by NASA and MIT.  Climate Ventures 2.0 will focus on innovations that leverage scientific and government data to enhance climate change preparedness in areas such as food security, agriculture, flood, and drought.  
• The Coca-Cola Company. To help reduce the company’s environmental footprint across its value chain, the Coca-Cola Company is committing to rapidly expand the application of the Field-to-Market program and its data-driven tool to quantify water use, fertilizer use, energy use, greenhouse emissions and more. By the end of 2014, Coca-Cola will launch major initiatives with two of its four leading suppliers to implement this commitment. By the end of 2015, Coca-Cola will aim to engage farmers representing 250,000 acres, and by 2020, up to 1 million acres—equating to roughly 50% of the company’s global corn supply.
• World Wildlife Fund. In support of the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF’s) collaboration with the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), WWF is combining detailed agricultural, water, and economic data from its Water Risk Filter to help the PRI’s 1000+ signatories better assess and manage water risks in the agro-commodity supply chains of portfolio companies. WWF will work with leading technology partners to make public and leverage detailed datasets that include more than 15,000 agricultural-crop/water-basin combinations in order to empower industry, financiers, and policy-makers as they work to strengthen global water stewardship, food security, and climate resilience.
• The Agricultural Model Intercomparison & Improvement Program and the Center for Integrated Modeling of Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition Security. The Agricultural Model Intercomparison & Improvement Program (AgMIP) and the Center for Integrated Modeling of Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition Security (CIMSANS), in partnership with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), are announcing a new public-private partnership on open data and open-source code modeling to enhance the climate-resilience of food systems. The new partnership will secure the resources and expertise necessary to evaluate seven novel nutrition and sustainability metrics of global food systems, including all of the world’s important staple and non-staple foods, through the year 2050.
• Amazon Web Services. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is today launching the Amazon Climate Research Grant program and a call for proposals designed to drive innovativeclimate-change research with a focus on computational analysis. In early September 2014, AWS will award grants of free access to supercomputing resources through Amazon EC2 Spot Instances. By providing grants totaling 50 million core hours, AWS is enabling researchers to accelerate research that can result in an improved understanding of the scope and effects of climate change, and analyses that could suggest potential mitigating actions. Early results of the program will publish in November 2014. Expanding upon AWS’s participation in the Open NASA Earth eXchange (NEX), this program will also accelerate the development of open climate data and software resources. Details can be found here.
• National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center at the University of Maryland. The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) at the University of Maryland is committing to fund 25 early-career scholars to address critical, actionable research questions on the resilience of food systems to climate change. Advanced Ph.D. students and scholars fewer than two years post-Ph.D. with relevant interests will be invited to apply through an open call. Successful candidates will participate in workshops in which SESYNC and USDA computational experts guide participants in a highly interactive and dynamic process of data discovery, analysis, and visualization, and will be invited to submit proposals for interdisciplinary team projects. SESYNC will fund up to six teams as well as a postdoctoral fellow with expertise in food systems research to undertake and help coordinate research for the program.
• PepsiCo. PepsiCo is announcing the installation of a 1.7 megawatt solar photovoltaic system designed to supply 3.3 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy for the company’s Gatorade manufacturing operations in Tolleson, Arizona.  Over the 25 year life of the project, this initiative will prevent the release of approximately 50,000 tons of carbon and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. PepsiCo will use data from this solar project to help inform future solar installations and projects as the company works to meet its goal of achieving an absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. 
• Esri. Esri will work with USDA, GEOGLAM, CGIAR and others to expose and unlock authoritative data as live data feeds across dimensions of agricultural production, risk and trade.  In the fall of 2014, Esri will host an Executive White Boarding session to target the development of common information products (maps, apps and templates) needed to address specific needs in the domain of climate, society, and agriculture.  
• Michigan Agri-Business Association. In August 2014, the Michigan Agri-Business Association will launch a publicly-available web-based mapping tool for use by the state’s agriculture sector. This platform will incorporate Federal, state, and local data that could prove useful to farmers, rural businesses, conservationists and economic development professionals. Resulting maps will aggregate soil, water, meteorological and infrastructure GIS data that can be compared and visualized to meet the needs of a particular project. It is anticipated that this tool will be particularly useful for planning future agricultural activities in response to climate change in Michigan.
• Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Columbia University Earth Institute. The Sustainable Development Solutions Network is announcing a new initiative on Healthy and Sustainable Diets that will include efforts to build datasets that enable the analysis of food and nutrition security achievements across landscape-level scenarios and rural livelihoods. The Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development (CGSD) in Columbia’s Earth Institute, as a partner in the Agriculture and Food Systems group of the Network, is committing to provide this initiative with tools, research, and policy support to address these challenges in a global context.
• SWIIM System. SWIIM System, Ltd. will develop an application using USDA Quickstats data that will allow users to easily view trends in water use by irrigated agriculture as climate changes occur and as water transfers from agricultural to municipal and industrial (M&I) uses take place. This new application will allow users to explore the consequences of future climate- and water-use scenarios to water available for crop production, and will educate the user on effects of water transfer and climate change on irrigated agriculture on a localized basis. The application will be made available on the SWIIM client page and its parent website. Development is expected to commence in August 2014 and completed within approximately six months.
• Nestle. Nestlé will review and expand the scope of its public commitments on climate change leadership (detailed in the Nestlé in Society report), setting greenhouse-gas reduction targets that are based upon science and incorporating both absolute-carbon and carbon-intensity aspects. Nestlé will also incorporate climate change provisions into its responsible sourcing & traceability program, will engage in further water stewardship programs, and will extend education and training within its Farmer Connect initiative regarding good farming practices and water stewardship. Nestlé’s nutritional profiling tool (which can be used to link nutritional value calculations to calculations of environmental impact) and related data will be made available outside Nestlé through the publication of algorithms for nutritional assessments in peer reviewed scientific journals, the sharing of data on Life Cycle Inventories, and other mechanisms. 
• Rock and Wrap it Up. Rock and Wrap It Up! (RWU) is launching an updated Whole Earth Calculator, a simple mobile app that resides on a mobile-friendly website and can be used on both mobile and laptop/desktop devices. Using EPA datasets and based on information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and USDA, the Whole Earth Calculator converts the total pounds of paper products and plastics that are diverted from landfills into the amount of carbon dioxide that is not produced as a result – and then sends this information to social media (Twitter).  The tool can also be used to convert total pounds of donated food into meal equivalents and total CO2-averted equivalents.
• Monsanto. Monsanto is announcing that it will donate a multi-site/multi-year maize breeding trial dataset to open data portals maintained by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the Agricultural Model Intercomparison & Improvement Project (AgMIP). Opening these data will it make it possible for public- and private-sector scientists to improve models being used to understand how climate and water-availability changes will impact crop productivity and therefore food security. Monsanto is also partnering with a number of external scientists in the AgMIP community to improve one of the leading publicly available crop-growth simulation models (AgMaize).
• HabitatSeven and Quandl: HabitatSeven is announcing a partnership with the data platform Quandl to combine Federal climate-impact data with private-sector commodity and supply-chain data. Through this partnership, visualization tools will be developed for private-sector decision makers, investors, and commodity traders to incorporate climate risks and opportunities into commodity prices and resilience strategies.
• The Climate Corporation: The Climate Corporation has launched a free online and mobile service called Climate Basic that provides farmers with hyper-local weather information to help them identify the impact of recent and current weather conditions on their fields. To enable the development of additional data science driven tools and services to help farmers increase production to meet increasing global demand, the company helped found the Open Ag Data Alliance (OADA), an open source software project to ensure farmers have full data access across different agriculture technology platforms. The Climate Corporation is today committing resources to support OADA's work, as well as code development to enable farmers to fully leverage their data. 
• Center for Robust Decision Making on Climate and Energy Policy at the University of Chicago. The Center for Robust Decision Making on Climate and Energy Policy (RDCEP), a research center at the Computation Institute of the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory, is announcing several new tools to expand access to the data and methods used by experts to understand climate change and its impacts. The RDCEP climate emulator, enables users to work in their own web browser with output data from state-of-the-art climate models that typically require powerful supercomputers. ATLAS, which will launch this fall, will enable users to explore climate impact data on global food security and land use. Additional web tools make up RDCEP’s FACE-IT platform, which will be adapted later this year for use by researchers in seven countries, including China, Nigeria, and India, to model and understand local climate risks and vulnerabilities in food supply, agriculture, and economics. Preliminary versions of these applications will be unveiled at the African Food Systems in the Information Age forum in Ibadan, Nigeria, on August 28-30, 2014.
• Kellogg Company and University of Minnesota. The Global Landscapes Initiative at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment is committing to openly share data and maps that illustrate how climate change affects risks to major crops within the food system. In conjunction with this commitment, Kellogg Company is committing to use these agricultural data and climate-related maps to foster geographically relevant implementation in its global sourcing. Kellogg Company, the Global Landscape Initiative, and other partners will use climate data, research, and assessments to guide education and actions that help create efficient, adaptable, and sustainable supply chains, as well as identify information gaps and needs to improve the resilience of the agricultural sector to climate change.
• American Red Cross and Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre: To better help communities in East and Southern Africa prepare for climate and weather related events, the American Red Cross and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre are committing to scale up the distribution and use of their participatory games to communicate risk information. This scale-up will bring Climate Centre game designers, trainers, and facilitators to more places served by American Red Cross in the developing world. It will focus initially on a river basin in East or Southern Africa and will help to ensure that communities are better prepared to respond to flood warnings. This experience will be documented and made publicly available on the Climate Centrewebsite and the Global Disaster Preparedness Center website. 
• Mars, Incorporated: Mars, Incorporated, will continue to make major investments in science, including in areas such as food safety and plant science, to create resilienceacross its agricultural supply chains, improve safety, quality, resource management, and yields. Mars, Inc. will also continue to invest in renewable energy resources. For example, the company has recently invested in a 200 megawatt wind farm in Lamesa, Texas that will provide energy equal to the needs of its North America offices and factories.
• Walmart. Walmart is committing to the ongoing use of data to help set priorities for future actions to reduce greenhouse gases, including meeting the company’s 2020 goal of driving the production or procurement of 7 billion kWh of renewable energy globally every year and reducing the kWh/sq. ft. energy intensity required to power Walmart’s buildings globally by 20 percent compared to 2010 levels. Walmart will use data-driven tools such as the Sustainability Index to measure, track, and identify hot spots in its overall supply chain and provide buyers with transparency into the key impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions, of the products they source. In addition, Walmart recently announced a partnership with eight of the largest food companies to help ensure that tomorrow’s food supply is more sustainable, including by bringing an additional eight million acres of farmland into sustainability agriculture programs.
• UN Global Pulse: In May 2014, United Nations Global Pulse hosted its first Big Data Climate Challenge, calling for cutting-edge examples of how scientists, researchers, and citizens are using big data and analytics to address social, economic and environmental challenges. Submissions were received from 40 countries, representing over 20 disciplines, including agriculture. UN Global Pulse will fly winners of the Challenge to the upcoming Climate Summit on September 24th in New York City and their work will be showcased prominently in front of media, decision-makers and civil society. In addition, Global Pulse will work with partners to summarize the results of the Big Data Climate Challenge in a report that maps the intersection of big data and climate change to build global understanding of how big data can reveal critical insights for strengthening resilience, including in the agriculture sector. 

Climate Data in Action:

In addition to the food- and agriculture-focused commitments launching today, a host of new and ongoing efforts continue to broadly advance the President’s Climate Data Initiative, including:

• iSeeChange and Berkeley Atmospheric C02 Observation Network collaboration:The public media platform iSeeChange and the Berkeley Atmospheric CO₂ Observation Network (BEACO₂N) are launching a new collaborative project to develop a pilot citizen-science story-corps to help monitor carbon emissions in the San Francisco Bay area and Oakland. Combining BEACO₂N’s network of carbon sensors, most mounted atop local schools and museums in the Bay Area, and iSeeChange’s digital platform and public media partners, the collaboration will create an information network to monitor local carbon emissions, produce stories that effectively match data and local impacts over time, and more. The partnership will kick off its work at the AAAS Citizen Science Workshop scheduled for February 2014.
• UCLA Luskin Center and EDF: The UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) are releasing the newest version of the Los Angeles Solar and Efficiency Report (LASER)—a data-driven mapping tool designed to help communities identify opportunities to invest in projects that will save households money, create clean energy jobs and strengthen climate resilience. The tool illustrates existing pollution and climate change impacts at a community level, and illustrates “hot spots” ripe for rooftop solar investment and energy efficiency building potential at the parcel level.
• Trust for Public Land: The Trust for Public Land will commit new organizational resources through the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to help America's cities lessen their vulnerability to climate-related heat events. Specifically, over the next two years the Trust for Public Land will help fill national gaps in heat-risk spatial data and modeling for cities, expand its Urban Heat Risk Explorer App to new cities, and develop a heat risk reduction GIS toolkit to help cities strategically target green infrastructure for heat resilience.   
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U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR JULY 30, 2014

CONTRACTS

U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND

U.S. Transportation Command is awarding modifications to contracts exercising second year options for international commercial multimodal transportation services each valued at a maximum $513,625,650 to the following carriers: Liberty Global Logistics LLC, Lake Success, New York (modification P00013 to previously awarded contract HTC711-12-D-R008); American President Lines, LTD, Scottsdale, Arizona (modification P00013 to previously awarded contract HTC711-12-D-R009); and Farrell Lines, Inc., Norfolk, Virginia (modification P00010 to previously awarded contract HTC711-13-D-R001). Work will be performed worldwide, with an expected completion date of July 31, 2015. Fiscal 2014 and 2015 transportation working capital funds will be obligated on individual task orders. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

NAVY

Data Link Solutions, LLC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (N00039-10-D-0031) and ViaSat, Inc., Carlsbad, California (N00039-10-D-0032), are being awarded a combined $116,750,000 modification to a previously awarded multiple award contract to exercise options for systems engineering and integration for the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminal (LVT) and the MIDS Joint Tactical Radio Systems (JTRS) terminal. The MIDS-LVT provides secure, high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital data and voice communications capability for Navy, Air Force and Army platforms. MIDS JTRS is a pre-planned product improvement replacement transforming the MIDS-LVT into a four-channel, software communications architecture compliant JTRS terminal while maintaining current Link 16 and tactical air navigation capability. For Data Link Solutions, LLC, work will be performed in Wayne, New Jersey (50 percent) and Cedar Rapids, Iowa (50 percent). For ViaSat, Inc., work will be performed in Carlsbad, California. Work is expected to be completed by March 9, 2015. No funds are obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as delivery orders are issued in the future. No contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a multiple award contract via the Federal Business Opportunities and SPAWAR e-Commerce Central websites, with two proposals solicited and two offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.

DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $101,947,764 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-11-C-0033) to exercise an option for organizational level maintenance and logistics support for all aircraft and support equipment for which the Naval Test Wing Atlantic has maintenance responsibility. This includes all rotary, fixed, lighter-than-air, and unmanned aircraft on-site for project testing, transient aircraft, loaner aircraft, leased aircraft, and tested civilian aircraft assigned to the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland. In addition, this option provides supportability/safety studies, and off-site aircraft safety/spill containment patrols and aircraft recovery services. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in July 2015. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation; operations and maintenance; and working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $11,853,572 will be obligated at time of award; $3,980,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Mayport, Jacksonville, Florida, is being awarded an $54,698,937 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-4406) for a Docking Selected Restricted Availability to include structural work and extensive repairs and maintenance onboard USS Gettysburg (CG-64). This availability includes hull, machinery, electrical, electronics, ship alterations, and piping alteration and repair work. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida, and is expected to be completed by April 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $32,914,644 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Southeast Regional Maintenance Center, Mayport, Florida, is the administering contracting activity.

Defense Support Services, LLC, Marlton, New Jersey, is being awarded a $47,514,293 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-11-C-0031) for organizational level maintenance, with limited intermediate level maintenance, in support of current and future aircraft assigned to the Naval Test Wing Pacific at Point Mugu and China Lake Naval Air Stations, California. Work will be performed in China Lake, California (79 percent) and Point Mugu, California (21 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2015. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation and working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $7,672,825 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $38,199,550 delivery order (0017) under a previously awarded contract (N00383-07-D-001J) for the repair of various parts in support of the AV-8 aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and the expected completion date is June 5, 2015. Fiscal 2014 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $28,649,662 will be obligated at the time of award and these funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this non-competitive requirement in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) and one offer was received in response to this solicitation. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Virginia, is being awarded a $27,625,758 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-4308) for USS NITZE (DDG-94) fiscal 2014 and 2015 docking selected restricted availability. A docking selected restricted availability includes the planning and execution of depot-level maintenance, alterations, and modifications that will update and improve the ship's military and technical capabilities while in dry dock. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by January 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $27,625,758 will be obligated at time of award and the funds will expire at the end of fiscal year 2015. Norfolk Ship Support Activity, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

Will-Burt Advanced Composites, Inc.,* Orrville, Ohio, is being awarded a $19,465,444 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the design, fabrication and delivery of radio frequency shielded enclosures (shelters) with weatherization, and electrical and fire suppression systems to house the electronic equipment infrastructure for the Relocatable Over-The-Horizon (ROTHR) system. Work will be performed in Orrville, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by July 30, 2019. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award and these funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received in response to the solicitation.
NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Philadelphia Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00189-14-D-Z033).

Raytheon Company, McKinney, Texas, is being awarded an $18,207,740 job order which is a combination of cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price to previously awarded contract N00164-12-G-JQ66 for Common Sensor Payload (CSP) AN/AAS-53 repairs and sustainment support. CSP AN/AAS-53 repairs and sustainment support, which includes depot repair, spare analysis, program management, configuration management, software maintenance, field support repair, field support engineering support in the continental United States, engineering support, reliability and logistical support, and software support. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas (97.8 percent) and El Mirage, California (1.2 percent), and is expected to be completed by July 2015. Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement (Army) and fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) contract funds in the amount of $9,574,221 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity.

Robertson Fuel Systems, LLC, Tempe, Arizona, is being awarded a $14,779,950 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-12-C-0097) to exercise an option for the procurement of two mission auxiliary fuel tank systems for the MV-22 Osprey aircraft. Work will be performed in Tempe, Arizona, and is expected to be completed in July 2015. Fiscal 2013 and 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,779,950 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Mission Systems and Training, Manassas, Virginia, is being awarded a $10,944,817 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-11-C-6294) for fiscal 2014 Acoustic Rapid Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Insertion (ARCI) Systems Production. A-RCI is a sonar system that integrates and improves towed array, hull array, sphere array, and other ship sensor processing, through rapid insertion of COTS based hardware and software. The contract provides funding for the development and production of the A-RCI and common acoustics processing for Technology Insertion 12 through Technology Insertion 14 for the U.S. submarine fleet. This modification will purchase TI-14 Spares for 12 ships and one installation and check out kit for the Virginia Class. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia (60 percent) and Clearwater, Florida (40 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2018. Funds in the amount of $10,944,817 will be obligated at the time of award. Fiscal 2012, 2013, 2014 ship conversion (Navy) and fiscal 2014 other procurement (Navy) contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

Cessna Aircraft Co., Wichita, Kansas has been awarded a $64,493,531 firm-fixed-price contract for Interim Contractor Support (ICS) and Training. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $64,493,531. The contract provides for the ICS of 26 C-208B aircraft, six T-182T aircraft, six aircrew training devices and aircraft maintenance training. Work will be performed at Kabul International Airport, Kandahar Air Base and Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2016. This contract supports 100 percent foreign military sales for Afghanistan, and $18,965,809 will be obligated from fiscal 2013 Afghanistan Security Forces fund at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WLZI, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8617-14-C-6195).

ARMY

KIRA, Inc.,* Boulder, Colorado was awarded a $36,904,747 modification (P00161) to contract W911RZ-05-C-0009 to exercise option nine for base operations and maintenance services for the Directorate of Public Works, Fort Carson. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $1,206,947 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Sept. 29, 2015. Work will be performed at Fort Carson, Colorado. Army Contracting Command, Fort Carson, Colorado, is the contracting activity.

Source America, Vienna, Virginia, was awarded a $26,028,750 modification (P00068) to contract W9124D-11-C-0019 for facilities maintenance for the Department of Public Works, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $3,395,931 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2015. Work will be performed at Fort Knox. Army Contracting Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, is the contracting activity.

Great Lakes Dock and Materials LLC,* Muskegon, Michigan, was awarded a $24,992,668 firm-fixed-price multi-year contract to repair the Cleveland East Breakwater. Work will be performed in Cleveland, Ohio, with a completion date of Nov. 3, 2016. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $24,992,668 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo, New York, is the contracting activity (W912P4-14-C-0017).

PRIDE Industries, Roseville, California was awarded a $14,862,152 modification (P00054) to contract W9124J-09-C-0014 to support the Fort Polk Directorate of Public Works Base Operations. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $14,862,152 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is April 30, 2015. Work will be performed at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Army Contracting Command, Fort Polk, Louisiana is the contracting activity.

Broadband Discovery Systems,* Scotts Valley, California, was awarded a $9,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to build, test and assess multi-sensor stand-off person-borne improvised explosive device detection systems with an estimated completion date of July 30, 2019. One bid was solicited with one received. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. Army Contracting Command, Natick, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (W911QY-14-D-0025).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Pelican/Hardigg Industries, South Deerfield, Massachusetts, has been awarded a maximum $35,440,000 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for medical items and accessories. This contract was a competitive acquisition with six offers received. This is a five-year base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Massachusetts with a July 29, 2019, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-14-D-0004).

JOINT IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DEFEAT ORGANIZATION

CACI- Athena, Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, is being awarded a $12,646,545 time and materials contract for J-9 Operations Research Analysis (ORSA) support services. The J-9 ORSA will provide rapidly deployable ORSA expertise in all aspects of counter-improvised explosive device operations to support U.S. Forces within and outside of the continental United States. The primary location of performance is Reston, Virginia, and overseas locations. If all options are exercised, work is expected to be completed by August 2017. Fiscal 2013 overseas contingency operations funds in the amount of $3,000,000 are being obligated at award. This contract was competitively procured, with 10 bids received. The contracting activity is the Joint IED Defeat Organization Contract Operations, Arlington, Virginia (HQ0682-14-C-0005).

*Small business
 

G-7 LEADERS EXPRESS "GRAVE CONCERN" REGARDING RUSSIA'S ACTIONS IN UKRAINE

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

G-7 Leaders Statement on Ukraine

We, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission, join in expressing our grave concern about Russia’s continued actions to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.  We once again condemn Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, and actions to de-stabilize eastern Ukraine.  Those actions are unacceptable and violate international law.

We condemn the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and the deaths of 298 innocent civilians.  We demand a prompt, full, unimpeded, and transparent international investigation.  We call upon all sides to establish, maintain, and fully respect a cease-fire at and around the crash site, as demanded by UN Security Council resolution 2166, so that the investigators can take up their work and to recover the remains of all victims and their personal possessions.

This terrible event should have marked a watershed in this conflict, causing Russia to suspend its support for illegal armed groups in Ukraine, secure its border with Ukraine, and stop the increasing flow of weapons, equipment, and militants across the border in order to achieve rapid and tangible results in de-escalation.

Regrettably, however, Russia has not changed course.  This week, we have all announced additional coordinated sanctions on Russia, including sanctions on specific companies operating in key sectors of the Russian economy.  We believe it is essential to demonstrate to the Russian leadership that it must stop its support for the separatists in eastern Ukraine and tangibly participate in creating the necessary conditions for the political process.

We remain convinced that there must be a political solution to the current conflict, which is causing rising numbers of civilian casualties.  We call for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine and underline the need to implement President Poroshenko’s peace plan without any further delay.  To this end, we urge all parties to establish a swift, genuine, and sustainable general cease-fire on the basis of the Berlin Declaration of 2 July with the aim of maintaining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.  We call upon Russia to use its influence with the separatist groups and ensure effective border control, including through OSCE observers.   We support the OSCE and the Trilateral Contact Group as central players in creating the conditions for a ceasefire.

Russia still has the opportunity to choose the path of de-escalation, which would lead to the removal of these sanctions.  If it does not do so, however, we remain ready to further intensify the costs of its adverse actions.

The President Speaks on the Situation in Ukraine

U.S. EXTENDS BEST WISHES TO KING MOHAMMED VI AND MOROCCAN PEOPLE ON THEIR FEAST OF THE THRONE

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT MOROCCO NATIONAL DAY

Morocco National Day

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

July 30, 2014

---

On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I extend my best wishes to King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people as you celebrate the Feast of the Throne.
The strong and enduring friendship between our two countries grows stronger each day as we continue to expand our economic cooperation and increase trade, enhance our educational and cultural exchanges, and promote security and stability in the region. We look forward to building on our historic and proud partnership and working together to advance our common goals.

Congratulations and best wishes for peace and prosperity in the year to come. Eid Mubarak.

SECRETARY KERRY'S OP-ED ON AFGHAN ELECTIONS

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Op-Ed

John Kerry

Secretary of State

TOLOnews

Washington, DC

July 30, 2014

---

Again and again, through all my visits to your country, I've been struck by one profound fact: Afghans want and deserve a better future. You want to live without fear, to have the best possible education for your children, health care systems that provide dignity and the jobs and other opportunities that come with a stable economy.

Something else has been clear to me: Democracy is the path Afghans have chosen to achieve that better life.

For more than a decade, President Hamid Karzai has led Afghanistan through triumph and tragedy. I've worked closely with him, and I know that one of his lasting legacies will be how Afghanistan makes its first democratic, peaceful transfer of power.

Afghans took an enormous step on the road toward a stronger democracy in April and June when millions of people went to the polls to choose the country's next president. Every vote was a courageous endorsement of democracy, and an expression of hope for the future.

The United States knows from our own history the road to democracy is bumpy and the journey is not completed overnight. Democracy requires building credible institutions, overcoming divisions, building trust and working together for a brighter future.

Today, Afghanistan and its two presidential candidates face one of those bumps in the road -- a moment of decision. Their ability to overcome the obstacles and work together to honor the votes of millions of their citizens will determine the future of Afghanistan and its relationship with the international community.

The United States, the United Nations and the international community are engaged in the post-election process solely to help the Afghan election institutions restore credibility to the voting. Experts tell me that the audit under way in Kabul is the largest and most complicated election audit ever undertaken anywhere.

Few countries could meet this challenge alone.

Specialists from the UN are working side by side with their Afghan colleagues to ensure that the audit meets the laws of Afghanistan, the highest international standards and, most importantly, the expectations of Afghans. The process, which has been painstaking and slow, will accelerate with the end of Eid al-Fitr. But democracy can't be rushed and every legitimate vote deserves to be counted and respected. The Afghan Independent Election Commission, the UN and dozens of international observers are working night and day to conclude the audit.

The audit is only one part of the challenge confronting democracy in Afghanistan today. Equally important are the actions of the two candidates, Dr. Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, and their political teams.

On July 12, the two candidates shook hands and agreed to respect the results of the audit. They also agreed to build a unity government that will lead Afghanistan to a better future. The political agreement responds to a challenging situation that requires cooperation between the two leaders and their broad range of supporters.

In reaching the agreement, Dr. Abdullah and Dr. Ghani showed incredible statesmanship. In any democracy, it's very hard after an intense campaign as a presidential candidate to come to that moment where you must put your own aspirations and those of your supporters second to the greater long-term interests of your country. Both candidates managed to overcome their reservations and those of their backers. They set aside political interests in favor of the national interest. They exhibited the statesmanship we expect from great leaders.

Their challenge now is to translate that agreement into a strong working relationship in the new government, whoever wins. The time for politics is over. The time for cooperation is at hand. There is no time to waste, and I encourage both teams to work cooperatively on the critical issues facing their country even as the audit continues.

It's not for outsiders to describe the contents of the political framework both candidates accepted a few days ago. But I was there in the room, and I can tell you what is not in that one-page document.

It does not violate the Afghan constitution – it respects Afghan institutions and the role of the president as the head of government. It does not establish a parliamentary system – it creates a new position of chief executive who will report to the president until the president convenes a loya jirga to determine whether a permanent change is in the best interests of the country.

What the agreement does provide is a critical opportunity for both candidates to move beyond political competition to real statesmanship. It is a chance for them to work together to build an inclusive government that represents all sectors of Afghan society – Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras, men and women.

Yes, democracy is an evolutionary process. It isn't easy. But every democracy reaches a decisive moment where the interests of the country must outweigh the interests of politicians. Afghanistan is at that critical point today. Its leaders cannot afford to miss the chance to help bring their people the better lives they deserve and demand. And that is a challenge for two statesmen who both love Afghanistan.

DOD NEWS NOW: JULY 30, 2015

AFGHAN AIR FORCE TRAINING CONTINUES

DOJ, EPA TOUT NEW SETTLEMENT AS ELIMINATING MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF DISCHARGE INTO SAN FRANCISCO BAY

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

Monday, July 28, 2014

Historic Clean Water Act Settlement Will Prevent Millions of Gallons of Sewage Discharges into San Francisco Bay

Seven East Bay Communities, Municipal Utility District to Repair Systems, Pay Civil Penalties

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a Clean Water Act settlement requiring the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and seven East Bay communities to conduct extensive system repairs aimed at eliminating millions of gallons of sewage discharges into San Francisco Bay.  Under today’s agreement, EBMUD and the communities will assess and upgrade their 1,500 mile-long sewer system infrastructure over a 21-year period.  The work is expected to cost approximately $1.5 billion.  The entities will pay civil penalties of $1.5 million for past sewage discharges that violated federal environmental law.

Since 2009, EPA, state and local regulators and environmental groups have worked to reduce sewage discharges from East Bay communities.  During that period, interim actions required EBMUD and the East Bay communities to improve their sewer maintenance practices and gather information to identify priorities for investment.

The San Francisco Bay covers 1,600 square miles and is the largest Pacific estuary in the Americas, a host for millions of migratory birds and a hub of commerce and recreation for more than 7 million Bay Area residents.  Unfortunately, the bay is under threat from many sources of pollution, including crumbling wastewater infrastructure that allows sewage to escape from the system.  During rainstorms, in particular, older sewer systems can be overwhelmed, releasing rivers of sewage before fully treated.

In addition to polluting waterways , raw and partially treated sewage can spread disease-causing organisms, metals, and nutrients that threaten public health. Sewage can also deplete oxygen in the bay, threatening fish, seals and other wildlife.

“For many years, the health of San Francisco Bay has been imperiled by ongoing pollution, including enormous discharges of raw and partially treated sewage from communities in the East Bay,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.  “Many of these discharges are the result of aging, deteriorated sewer infrastructure that will be fixed under the EPA order.”

Today’s settlement is the result of a Clean Water Act enforcement action brought by the EPA, U.S. Department of Justice, State Water Resources Control Board, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Board, San Francisco Baykeeper and Our Children’s Earth Foundation.

“This settlement will result in major reductions of sewage discharges into the San Francisco Bay,” said W. Benjamin Fisherow, Chief of Environmental Enforcement in the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.  “These improvements will help reach our goal of eliminating pollution in the neighborhoods in these cities and in the bay so that citizens may rest assured that they reside in a safe, clean environment.”

The seven East Bay communities in the EBMUD settlement are:

-        City of Alameda
-        City of Albany
-        City of Berkeley
-        City of Emeryville
-        City of Oakland
-        City of Piedmont
-        Stege Sanitary District (serving El Cerrito, Kensington, and a portion of Richmond)

“The public has been required to repair their own sewer laterals for over two years now, so it is past time that the local agencies aggressively repair their sewer systems,” said Bruce Wolfe, Executive Officer of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Board.  “This settlement spells out how the agencies will work with the public over the next 21 years to do just that and protect the bay.”

“Baykeeper will be watching the progress of these repairs closely to ensure that pollution of San Francisco Bay is reduced and eventually eliminated, and we will take action if the repairs fall short,” said Baykeeper Executive Director Deb Self.

On an annual basis, hundreds of millions of gallons of raw and partially treated sewage are discharged directly to San Francisco Bay.  Also, as much as 600,000 gallons of raw sewage from community sewer systems is first discharged onto streets and other public areas—through outlets such as manhole covers—before it drains to the bay.

As part of the agreement, EBMUD and the seven communities will:

-        repair and rehabilitate old and cracked sewer pipes;

-        regularly clean and inspect sewer pipes to prevent overflows of raw sewage;

-        identify and eliminate illegal sewer connections;

-        continue to enforce private sewer lateral ordinances; and

-        ensure proactive renewal of existing sanitary sewer infrastructure.

EBMUD will also immediately begin work to offset the environmental harm caused by the sewage discharges, which are expected to continue until these sewer upgrades are completed, by capturing and treating urban runoff and contaminated water that currently flows to the bay untreated during dry weather.

Keeping raw sewage and contaminated storm water out of the waters of the United States is one of EPA’s National Enforcement Initiatives.  The proposed settlement is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.

DOJ FILES SEX DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT AGAINST COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA AND STATE POLICE

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Sex Discrimination Against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Police

The Justice Department announced the filing of a lawsuit today against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Police, alleging that the defendants are engaged in a pattern or practice of employment discrimination against women in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.   Specifically, the lawsuit challenges the state police’s use of two physical fitness tests to screen and select entry-level state troopers.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, alleges that the physical fitness tests used by the state police between 2003 and the present excluded qualified women from consideration for hire as entry-level state troopers by testing for physical skills that are not required to perform the job.  The department also alleges that, during the relevant time period, the defendants’ use of physical fitness tests as part of a multi-step employment selection process disproportionately screened out female applicants, resulting in a disparate impact against those applicants.

Title VII prohibits both intentional discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin and religion as well as employment practices that result in a disparate impact upon a protected group, unless the practices are job-related and consistent with business necessity.   The department alleges that the defendants’ use of the challenged physical fitness tests violates Title VII because that use does not meet this standard and does not identify the best qualified applicants for entry-level state trooper jobs.

“The Department of Justice is deeply committed to eliminating artificial barriers that keep qualified women out of public safety work,” said Jocelyn Samuels, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.   “The Justice Department will continue to challenge discriminatory hiring practices that unnecessarily exclude qualified applicants on account of sex.”

In the lawsuit, the department seeks a court order that would require the Pennsylvania State Police to stop using the challenged physical fitness tests, develop hiring procedures that comply with Title VII and provide make-whole relief, including offers of hire, retroactive seniority, and back pay to individual women who have been harmed as a result of the defendants’ use of the challenged physical fitness tests.

U.S. SENDS BEST WISHES TO PEOPLE OF VANUATU ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Vanuatu Independence Day

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

July 29, 2014

---

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States of America, I send my best wishes to the people of Vanuatu as you celebrate the thirty-fourth anniversary of your nation’s independence on July 30.

Our two countries share a common commitment to democracy, rule of law, peace, and prosperity. We work closely with Vanuatu to advance women’s rights, promote peace and security, and protect fisheries and the environment while combating climate change. Through our continued cooperation, we can create a better future for generations to come.

As you celebrate your national day of independence with family and friends, please accept my warmest wishes for a peaceful and prosperous future.

NSF SUPPORTS 3-D PRINTING HUBS

FROM:  NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Local 3-D printing hubs bring manufacturing back to US

NSF-supported start-up demonstrates method for finding, printing parts locally
Imaginestics is a start-up company founded in West Lafayette, Ind., by Nainesh Rathod. At the Smart America Expo in June, Rathod was part of a team that demonstrated the potential impact of what they are calling "Smart Shape Technology."

The system Rathod and his collaborators developed lets a person take a picture of a part of a larger device with a mobile phone and then identify a local retailer where this part can be found or instantly print it at a local neighborhood 3-D printing service provider.

The demonstration showed how Smart Shape Technology--combining a novel shape-based search engine, active labels (like next-generation RFID tags), 3-D printing technologies and neighborhood smart hubs--can create local jobs and increase local skills.

"This technology doesn't have to be locked up in big business," Rathod said. "To make it available at our fingertips is within reach."

Rathod was twice a recipient of NSF's Small Business Innovation Research grants, which helped to turn his radical idea into a business with several hundred employees.

"NSF to us has been a big risk-taker," Rathod said. "When we went to them and said we're thinking about this, they didn't throw us out the door. They basically said, 'Great idea, here's some money, see what you can do.' They played, I think, a foundational role for us. Without that kind of a beginning, we wouldn't be where we are."

The Smart America Expo brought together leaders from academia, industry and government and demonstrated the ways that smarter cyber-physical systems (CPS)--sometimes called the Internet of Things--can lead to improvements in health care, transportation, energy, emergency response and other critical areas.

-- Aaron Dubrow, NSF
Investigators
Nainesh Rathod
Related Institutions/Organizations
IMAGINESTICS LLC
Rapid Direction, Inc.
University of Dayton Research Institute
Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute
Locations
Dayton , Ohio
Chicago , Illinois
Washington , District Of Columbia
West Lafayette , Indiana
Related Programs
Cyber-Physical Systems
Small Business Innovation Research Program

U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS FOR JULY 29, 2014

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

CONTRACTS

U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND

National Air Cargo Group, Inc., Orlando, Florida, is being awarded a $513,625,650 maximum ceiling modification (P00013), exercising the second option period to previously awarded contract HTC711-12-D-R010 for international commercial multimodal transportation services. Work will be performed worldwide, with an expected completion date of July 31, 2015. Fiscal 2014 and 2015 transportation working capital funds will be obligated on individual task orders. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

NAVY

K2 Energy Solutions, Inc.,* Henderson, Nevada, is being awarded a ceiling-priced $81,400,000 firm-fixed price/cost-plus fixed-fee, basic ordering agreement for the fully self-contained battery intermediate energy store system required to power a large modular capacitor bank for the electromagnetic railgun. Work will be performed in Henderson, Nevada, and is expected to be completed by December 2016. No funding will be obligated at time of award. The contract was sole sourced in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-5. This SBIR Phase III is for work that derives from, extends, or logically concludes effort(s) performed under prior SBIR funding agreements and is authorized under 15 U.S.C. § 638(r). The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-14-G-4207).

Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, is being awarded a $29,148,390 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-10-C-0020) for the procurement of Mission CareTM support for the AE1107C engine, including flight hours, and lower power engine removals and repairs, for the V-22 aircraft. Work will be performed in Oakland, California (70 percent) and Indianapolis, Indiana (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy, Special Operations Command and Air Force) funds in the amount of $29,148,390 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Virginia, is being awarded a $21,593,120 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Department of Navy, U. S. Fleet Forces Command, highly specialized, comprehensive, analytical training and technical services in direct support of their Fleet Deployment Training Program. Under this effort, the contractor will provide live, virtual, and constructive training program support, fleet training academics and instruction support, training exercise and event support. This contract contains a seven-month base period and one two-month option period, which if exercised, will bring the contract value to $27,752,969. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia (41.6 percent); Virginia Beach, Virginia (39.6 percent); San Diego, California (7.6 percent); Fallon, Nevada (5.1 percent); Suffolk, Virginia (3 percent); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (1.7 percent); Okinawa, Japan (0.9 percent); and Mayport, Florida (0.5 percent). Work is expected to be completed Feb. 28, 2015. If all options are exercised, work will continue until April 29, 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $21,593,120 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The requirement was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received in response to this solicitation. NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00189-14-C-0033).

CCI Solutions, LLC,* Augusta, Maine, is being awarded $10,172,160 for firm-fixed-price task order 0004 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N40085-13-D-8006) for energy upgrades and repairs to Building 291 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The work to be performed provides for energy efficiency improvements by replacing external siding and upgrading heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical and lighting systems. An addition to the building will be constructed to house mechanical equipment, and new direct digital control and sprinkler systems will be installed. Work will be performed in Kittery, Maine, and is expected to be completed by May 2018. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $10,172,160 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Public Works Department Maine, Kittery, Maine, is the contracting activity.

Remotec Inc., Clinton, Tennessee, is being awarded an $8,801,324 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for depot level repairs to the MK3 Series Remote Ordnance Neutralization Systems (RONS), and the upgrade and repair of the MK3 Mod 0 to the MK3 Mod 1 System. The MK3 Mod 1 upgrade will improve the serviceability of the robots, increase the availability of the spare parts and increase the capabilities of the robots. In situations where it is economically infeasible to upgrade or repair the MK3 Mod 0 system, the option to purchase a new RONS MK3 Mod 1 for replacement will be available under a new contract. The contract includes a one-year base period with four one-year options, which if exercised, will bring the contract value to $12,355,953. Work will be performed in Clinton, Tennessee, and is expected to be completed by August 2019. Fiscal 2013 other procurement (Navy and Army) funding in the amount of $4,500,775 will be obligated at the time of the award and contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was synopsized via the Federal Business Opportunities website as a sole source procurement 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 Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Indian Head, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00174-14-D-0027).

Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance, Stratford, Connecticut, is being awarded a $7,927,579 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0024) to exercise an option for organizational, selected intermediate, and limited depot-level maintenance for aircraft operated by adversary squadrons. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station Key West, Florida (40 percent); Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada (30 percent); and Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2014. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy Reserve) funds in the amount of $7,927,579 are being obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

ARMY

*Strock Enterprises LTD*, Cheektowaga, New York (W912P4-14-D-0001); Upstate Construction Services, Inc.,* Watertown, New York (W912P4-14-D-0002); Oddo Construction Services LLC,* Amherst, New York (W912P4-14-D-0003); Tidewater, Inc.,* Elkridge, Maryland (W912P4-14-D-0004); Great Lakes Dock and Materials LLC,* Muskegon, Michigan (W912P4-14-D-0005); Geo. Gradel Co.,* Toledo, Ohio (W912P4-14-D-0006); Morrish-Wallace Construction Co.,* Cheboygan, Michigan (W912P4-14-D-0007); Huffman Equipment Rental,* Willoughby, Ohio (W912P4-14-D-0008); and SAF, Inc.,*Akron, Ohio (W912P4-14-D-0009), were awarded a $40,000,000 firm-fixed-price, multi-year, multiple-award, task order contract for general construction throughout the lakes and rivers division with an estimated completion date of July 28, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 17 received. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo, New York, is the contracting activity.

HNTB Corp. Kansas City, Missouri was awarded a $35,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite- delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for architectural and engineering services required for planning and design for the Arlington National Cemetery southern expansion project. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with seven received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W91236-14-D-0035).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded an $8,119,209 modification (P00076) to contract W31P4Q-12-C-0048 for industrial engineering support to include Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), Block I/IA, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) M270/M270A1/M270B1/M270C1 launcher platforms and Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket (LCRRPR). Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $8,119,209 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Feb, 20, 2015. Work will be performed at Grand Prairie, Texas. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Pratt & Miller,* New Hudson, Michigan, was awarded a $6,541,220 modification (P00004 ) to contract W56HZV-13-C-0375 to complete the build, integration, and final testing and evaluation for the Occupant Centric Platform, Technology Enabled Capability Demonstrator test asset. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $6,541,220 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Jan. 31, 2016. Work will be performed in New Hudson, Michigan. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Gossner Foods, Inc.,** Logan, Utah, has been awarded a maximum $25,577,791 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for ultra-high temperature, shelf-stable milk. This contract was a competitive acquisition with one offer received. This is a five-year base contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Utah with a July 28, 2019 performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 through fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE3S1-14-D-Z201).

Graybar Electric Company, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a maximum $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, prime vendor, bridge contract for maintenance, repair, and operations for the South central zone one region. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Location of performance is Missouri with a Nov. 28, 2014 performance completion date. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE8E3-14-D-0903).

Science Application International Corporation, Fairfield, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $10,500,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, prime vendor, bridge contract for maintenance, repair, and operations for the South central zone two region. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Location of performance is New Jersey with a Nov. 28, 2014, performance completion date. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE8E3-14-D-0904).

SupplyCore Inc.,* Rockford, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $8,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, prime vendor, bridge contract for maintenance, repair, and operations for the North central region. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Location of performance is Illinois with a Nov. 28, 2014, performance completion date. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE8E3-14-D-0902).

AIR FORCE

Northrop Grumman Systems, Linthicum Heights, Maryland, has been awarded an $11,343,138 indefinite-delivery requirements contract to provide E-3 Airborne Warning and Command System Radar Maintenance Technician Initial Skills Training program to the Royal Saudi Air Force. Proposed training will be developed and conducted by the contractor, procured by the Air Education and Training Command, and presented under the auspices of the Security Assistance Training Program. This contract will span a four-year ordering period, and training will take place in Baltimore, Maryland. The work is expected to be completed July 28, 2018. This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales for Saudi Arabia; no funds will be obligated at time of award. The 338 Specialized Contracting Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA3002-14-D-0010).

L-3 Communication, San Carlos, California, has been awarded a $6,816,326 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery contract for the remanufacture of F-16 Traveling Wave Tubes. Work will be performed at San Carlos, California, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 29, 2016. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition. Two companies were solicited, one offer was received. Contract will use current year working capital funds. Air Force Sustainment Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8251-14-D-0007).

*Small business
**Woman-owned small business

REMARKS BY SECRETARY KERRY, UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KLIMKIN

FROM:  THE STATE DEPARTMENT

Remarks With Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin After Their Meeting

Remarks

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Treaty Room

Washington, DC

July 29, 2014

---

SECRETARY KERRY: Make sure it’s still morning. Good morning, everybody. Thank you for being here with us. It’s my pleasure to be able to welcome Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin to Washington, and this is the second time that he and I have had a chance to be able to meet and thoroughly discuss the issues of Ukraine, the challenges of the region, and I deeply appreciate his making time today at a critical time in the region.

We meet today less than two weeks after Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was tragically shot out of the sky in the separatist-controlled territory of Ukraine, and the victims of that crash and their families clearly deserve a thorough international investigation that is unimpeded in any respect so that people have access to the site, so that the families can know that their loved ones are being treated with the decency that any family anywhere in the world would expect in these circumstances.

The United States supports a thorough international investigation into this heinous act, and we support the efforts of the Malaysians, Dutch, and Australians to help the Ukrainians in order to secure the site so that those investigations can take place now. They’re overdue, and it is absolutely important for the separatists to stand back and permit this access to take place.
The work of the investigators is absolutely critical. It’s been 10 days since this plane went down. And investigators have still not received full, unfettered access to the crash site. And without this access, they have no way to collect debris, no way to collect other evidence from the scene in order to be able to provide the kind of examination that is necessary. They still can’t even ensure that all of the victims’ remains have been removed, and that is an unsupportable burden for any family to have to bear, and it is an unacceptable standard for behavior, period. The site has to be cordoned off. The evidence has to be preserved. And Russia needs to use its considerable influence among the separatists in order to be able to help ensure this basic approach of common decency.

Well beyond the crash site, the fighting is continuing. And as President Poroshenko has made clear repeatedly and as Foreign Minister Klimkin reiterated to me just a few minutes ago, the Ukrainians are ready to accept a mutual cease-fire now – not in the future, now. And they have proposed a peace plan that includes serious and substantive dialogue with the Russian-backed separatists with international participation because they understand that that is the only way that this crisis is going to come to an end.

This morning, I talked with Foreign Minister Lavrov and raised these concerns and agreed that there is a way to try to put some very specific proposals on the table to try to move forward. But the Russians and their so-called volunteers are continuing to ship arms and funds and personnel across the border. We see this. There is clear evidence of it. We now have clear evidence of artillery and rocket fire from Russia into Ukraine. And while the Russians have said that they want to de-escalate the conflict, their actions have not shown a shred of evidence that they really have a legitimate desire to end the violence and end the bloodshed.
As a result, the Russian-backed separatists refuse to lay down their arms and be part of the political process. They continue to fire on Ukrainian forces, even in the area just around the crash site, and they have displayed an appalling disregard for human decency. And evidently, the separatists will continue to do so unless they can feel some pressure, something real from their Russian backers.

President Putin can make a huge difference here if he chooses to. And we and our European partners will take additional measures and impose wider sanctions on key sections of the Russian economy if that is what we must do. We hope that it will not be necessary. And if Russia continues to go down this path, however, Russia will leave the international community with no choice. What is unfolding in Ukraine has already gone on for far too long. It’s well past time for the violence to stop and for the people of Ukraine to begin the process of rebuilding their country and rebuilding it in a way that can have a relationship with Russia, with the West.
I think Foreign Minister Klimkin will affirm today that we’re not asking them to choose between the two, and I think Ukrainians understand that they have strong ties to Russia. They’re prepared to have a relationship with Russia, and they understand that the future of Ukraine depends on having a strong relationship with Russia.

So it’s well past time for this violence to stop, and that is why yesterday, Vice President Biden announced nearly $7 million in rapid assistance for humanitarian and rebuilding purposes to be deployed immediately. Specifically, these funds will go towards rebuilding eastern Ukraine, including the cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, where people celebrated in the streets recently when they were liberated from separatist control.

We are also asking Congress for approval to provide financial support and mentoring to small businesses throughout Ukraine. Through mechanisms like the public-private partnerships and export promotion initiatives, we are hoping to inject additional resources into Ukraine’s economy so that together, all Ukrainians can rebuild their lives along with their cities.

Over the past few months, the Ukrainian Government has taken a number of steps to try to bring about a better future for its people and to reform the government that had failed them so much in the past, including signing an historic association agreement with the European Union and also finalizing a vital standby arrangement with the International Monetary Fund. We strongly urge Ukrainians to continue the process of reforming their democracy, even if not particularly during this moment of crisis, because this is a troubling time where everyone is looking for those reforms to be implemented, and they can make a huge difference in rebuilding confidence and also in providing a sense in Russia that the concerns expressed by the separatists are, in fact, being listened to and being incorporated into the political process of Ukraine.

The United States stands ready to support our Ukrainian partners in this effort, because we know that ultimately, a strong democratic government and a strong economy are the keys to providing the Ukrainian people with the stability and the prosperity that they want and that they deserve.

So again, I thank Foreign Minister Klimkin for joining me today for this meeting, and I have pledged to him that we will continue to work closely together. We’re talking about the possibility of when we could find time for a visit to continue this discussion more directly with the prime minister and with President Poroshenko. I think we share high hopes for the possibilities of what a resolution of this crisis with the separatists and with Russia could bring – a strong Ukraine, the respect for their sovereignty, and the possibilities of stability for the region.
Mr. Foreign Minister, please.

FOREIGN MINISTER KLIMKIN: Good morning, everyone. Mr. Secretary of State, I would like to thank you for your commitment, for your solidarity, and for – also for your personal leadership, also in Geneva format, and for your commitment to democratic, united, and European Ukraine.
It’s my first visit since I’ve been appointed the foreign minister, and it’s, indeed, a pleasure to be here to discuss all issues of bilateral agenda, but first and foremost, the ongoing developments in Ukraine. And I’m glad we have the same vision of these developments and I am glad that I feel a real commitment, a real solidarity here. We have in Ukraine clear commitment to the settlement of the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk, and the peace plan of the president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, gives peace a chance.

It includes three main dimensions. It’s firstly about de-escalation and reaching a cease-fire. Secondly, it’s about humanitarian dimension and restoring the infrastructure disrupted on the ground. And of course, it’s about political dimension, because what counts and what is critical is reaching the bilateral cease-fire with the aim of restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Of course, we need a critical progress. We need a breakthrough on hostages. We need to release hostages as soon as possible. And it’s also the issue of human dignity.

We need, of course, the OSCE. We need the OSCE observers to be present on the ground from the very first moment of cease-fire. We paid for our commitment on two unilateral cease-fire with 30 lives and more than 100 people wounded. The unilateral cease-fire was broken more than 100 times, and now it’s about bilateral cease-fire, it’s about OSCE again to be present on the ground, but it’s also about closing down the border. It’s also about stopping the inflow of money, armed persons, weapons, and heavy weaponry across the border, because it’s critical precondition for reaching stability in Donetsk and Luhansk.

Of course, it’s also about humanitarian dimension. It’s about restoration of all disrupted infrastructure, because what we’ve been doing now, we’ve been trying to restore disrupted electricity networks, water supply, gas supply. We’ve been trying to bring normal life back to the people of Donbas. And I am particularly grateful to the Secretary of State, to the United States, for urgent help, for urgent assistance to the people of Donbas, which should be aimed at restoring infrastructure. I believe it was – has symbolic, but also extremely important practical dimension.

And of course, it’s about political process. It’s about settlement. And we are ready to (inaudible) decentralization. We are ready to give more powers to the communities, to the districts, to the regions. It’s about giving people more freedom, but also more responsibility – political responsibility and economic responsibility. And it’s about not allowing to play up any sort of issues like using the Russian language, because it would be up to every community to decide what language should be spoken.

It’s about clear idea how we can de-escalate the situation on the ground, because we are ready for local elections. We are ready that the real representative of Donbas, a real representative of Donetsk and Luhansk should take responsibility over the situation on the ground, should take responsibility over de-escalation, over economic and social development on Donbas. And in this sphere, we feel solidarity by the United States and we also have clear and targeted assistance.

And also under difficult conditions on the ground, we’ve been trying – we’ve been working around the clock on securing access to the crash site, and it’s our key priority. We’ve been working on ensuring the possibility for fully transparent and effective investigation of the causes of the tragedy with the plane of Malaysian Airlines. And of course, for us, it’s about human dignity. It’s about the possibility of recovering all bodies and body fragments from the crash site. It’s about giving back the friends and the loved ones any sort of personal belongings. It’s not just the priority; it’s an absolute priority for Ukraine at the moment.

So we have the same vision on these developments and we feel continuous support by the United States. Of course we’ve touched upon also a number of issues on our bilateral agenda and we’ve been – we’ll be working on that extremely closely. And I used the chance to invite the Secretary of State to visit Kyiv and to chair the next meeting of our Strategic Partnership Commission, where we are able to discuss all the issues of bilateral interest and all the issues of bilateral agenda. Many thanks again.

MS. PSAKI: The first question will be from Andrea Mitchell of NBC News.

QUESTION: Thank you both very much. Mr. Secretary, I want to ask you about Ukraine and about the sanctions and Vladimir Putin. But first, let me ask you about the situation in the Middle East. Overnight, two UN officials have been reported killed in Gaza. Israel has apparently hit the electric utility, the only source of electricity for much of the strip. And the Israeli media has unleashed a fierce attack on you personally, from the left and from the right, unprecedented in, frankly, any of our experience. Ari Shavit in Haaretz is quoting a senior official as saying that your diplomacy has been, quote, “a strategic terrorist attack” on Israel. Others say that if there is an escalation, you are responsible for the increasing bloodshed. At this point, there’s also a report today of a new Palestinian initiative from the Palestinian Authority, perhaps with Hamas joining in. I wanted to ask you about that. There’s a report in Al-Hayat that you have launched a new initiative as well.

So if you could clear some of this up: Is it hurting your ability to be a mediator here to have Israel, with these blind quotes from Israeli officials, attacking you so vociferously? And is there a way out here through some new cease-fire that the Palestinians may be promoting today?
Secondly on Ukraine, you said that Vladimir Putin has a choice now. Does he still have a choice? We were told that the United States, with the President’s call with the European leaders yesterday, were going to be imposing sanctions today. Are you giving him yet another chance to prove himself after everything that’s happened? Or are these sanctions actually going to finally be implemented? And can you and perhaps the minister respond to credible reports from the region, we’re told today that government forces have fired back at Russian forces – so have fired across the border. Thank you for taking all of this.

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, let me take the second part first and then I’ll come back to your first question. With respect to Ukraine, we are in the process of preparing additional sanctions with Europe. That is absolutely accurate. And what will happen will happen. But of course, President Putin still has a choice going forward with respect to his ability to be able to have an impact on the separatists. That is a choice that will be there tomorrow, the next day, and in the weeks ahead in order to resolve this. So separate the two.

Europe is working on the sanctions. We are working with them on the sanctions. We anticipate those additional sanctions, but – forthwith – but the point I’m making is that in the long road ahead here to resolve the kinds of issues of the gas deal – the gas has been cut off to Ukraine; to resolve the movement and flow of weapons and people across the border; the issue of firing from Russia into Ukraine; all of these issues – whatever happens with sanctions today or tomorrow, those issues remain and they are remaining to be the choices that President Putin has to make.

So we talked today about a political road ahead, the ways in which Ukraine can contribute to an effort to try to make it clear to President Putin that the agreements originally arrived at in Geneva about a political process are, indeed, being fully implemented. And Russia has raised on a number of occasions significant questions about whether or not that road has been sufficiently explored. And I think the foreign minister and I agree that there is more that we think can be done there, and we’re going to talk about that in the days ahead.

Now on the subject of Israel, I have talked to Prime Minister Netanyahu two, three, four times a day in the last days. We continue to talk. Last night we talked and the prime minister talked to me about an idea and a possibility of a cease-fire. He raised it with me, as he has consistently. He has consistently said that he would embrace a cease-fire that permits Israel to protect itself against the tunnels and obviously not be disadvantaged for the great sacrifice that they have made in order to be able to protect themselves thus far.

So the bottom line is that we are working very carefully and, I think, thoughtfully with our Israeli friends in order to be able to find a way to reduce the civilian loss of life, to prevent this from spiraling downwards into a place from which both sides have difficulty finding a way forward in order to address the underlying kinds of issues.

Now obviously, no one – no one in the United States, no one I know in the world condones the idea that Israel ought to be somehow subject to attack from these tunnels. We have supported from day one Israel’s right to defend itself, Israel’s right to take action, Israel’s right to live free from rockets and from tunnels that threaten it. But all we have suggested, and that President Obama has had several conversations with the prime minister about, is the need to try to find if you can resolve any of those issues through a legitimate negotiation and ultimately with less loss of life everywhere.

Now look, I’ve taken hits before in politics. I’m not worried about that. This is not about me. This isn’t about Israel and Israel’s right to defend itself, and our strong support for Israel’s right to defend itself, but about whether or not there is a way forward that could avoid the loss of soldiers for Israel and the loss of civilians in – everywhere. What we put on the table, in fact, allowed Israel – let me make this clear – allowed Israel to continue to deal with its tunnels even as they were in a short-term cease-fire to try to see if there was a way to reach a sustainable cease-fire. The UN has called for this, the international community has called for this, and Prime Minister Netanyahu himself has said that he is prepared to embrace it, providing it doesn’t prejudice Israel in its way of protecting itself. And we have made certain that we guarantee that it doesn’t.

Now let me just finish quickly. The fact is that because of our efforts, we were able to get a short-term 12-hour cease-fire which then was expanded to 24, but then because of confusion over the 12 hours and four hours didn’t hold. That doesn’t mean that the right approach here isn’t to try to have an appropriate way to come to the table in order to see if a negotiation can take place. Now, let me emphasize Israel itself accepted a cease-fire under the Egyptian formula of no preconditions, cease of – cessation of hostilities, negotiations to take place in Cairo. That is exactly what we have been talking about. No variation, no deviation. We’ve been in touch with the Egyptians; we have honored the Egyptian concept. If there is a negotiation, it would be in Cairo. It would be entirely without preconditions, and it would not prejudice Israel’s ability to defend itself.

So I think there’s a little bit of energy being expended here unnecessarily, and I do think we will continue to work with our very close friend and ally. And I’m not going to worry about personal attacks. I think that President Obama has it right and the international community has it right when we say that it is more appropriate to try to resolve the underlying issues at a negotiating table than to continue a tit for tat of violence that will invite more violence and perhaps a greater downward spiral, which would be much more difficult to recover from.

QUESTION: Do you think it’s still possible --

SECRETARY KERRY: Let me --

QUESTION: Do you think it’s still possible to get a cease-fire after the past two days?

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, that depends entirely on the parties at this point, Andrea. I mean, we – we’re trying to very carefully – without, as I said, diminishing Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself against tunnels and rockets – but to find a way to see if we can spare the people of Israel as well as Palestinians the possibilities of, at any moment, something going terribly wrong. When one of those rockets hits a major school in Israel or a major population center, lots of people die. The effort here is to find whether or not – I can’t vouch for it and President Obama can’t vouch for it, but we know that we owe it to everybody to try to see if you can find that way. If, after you get to a table, it proves that there is absolute reluctance to honor basic defensive needs of Israel; to deal with the rockets, to deal with the tunnels, to deal with other things, then at least you know you’ve made that effort to try to spare lives and to find a legitimate way forward. That’s our job, to try to do that. And we think we’re doing it in a way that completely reinforces Israel’s rights.

I’ve spent 29 years in the United States Senate and had a 100 percent voting record pro-Israel, and I will not take a second seat to anybody in my friendship or my devotion to the protection of the state of Israel. But I also believe, as somebody who’s been to war, that it is better to try to find a way, if you can, to solve these problems before you get dragged into something that you can’t stop. And it seems to me that this is a reasonable effort, fully protecting Israel’s rights, fully protecting Israel’s interests, and Prime Minister Netanyahu himself said to me: Can you try to get a humanitarian cease-fire for this period of time? And if it weren’t for his commitment to it, obviously, the President of the United States and I would not be trying to make this effort. Now, either I take his commitment at face value, or someone is playing a different game here, and I hope that’s not the fact.

FOREIGN MINISTER KLIMKIN: On this report, I have such a record of cases of Russian – of shelling, not just artillery fire, but also rocket-propelled grenade fire from the Russian territory; of cases of Russian helicopters intruding the Ukrainian airspace. But we never, never fired back, of course, in order not to provoke the situation, but first and foremost because we are fully committed to international law. We have our legal and political commitments, and in the sense of United Nations statute, shelling from the territory of another state constitutes an act of aggression. So we are fully committed to international law. We never fired back.

And there were also many cases when the terrorists tried to position themself exactly near the border and fire on Ukrainian forces. We also exercised an extreme restraint, trying not to fire back, not to provoke the situation, and not to break our obligation under international law. So all reports on us firing back onto Russian territory are not true.

MS. PSAKI: The final question will be from Alex Yanevskyy from VOA.

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Thank you, Mr. Foreign Minister. I have a question. Putin not showing signs that he slows down. Mr. Secretary, what exactly the United States is going to do if Russia invades Ukraine, and should Ukraine expect to become an ally of the United States? Thank you.

SECRETARY KERRY: What was the first part of that?

QUESTION: What exactly the United States is going to do if Russia invades Ukraine?

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, the President has made it clear that there are many different options, but that would be taken, needless to say, as not just a violation of all notions of international law, but an exceedingly dangerous action, which would wind up with the most severe possible kinds of isolation and sanctions possible. And Germany, France, other countries in Europe would clearly join into that in ways that would have a profound, profound impact on the Russian economy. I would believe, for the very reasons that hasn’t happened yet, that President Putin understands that, that the risks are enormous.

It doesn’t – I think that alliances are a more – I mean, it depends whether you’re talking in legal terms or in other terms. We are a partner. We are a strategic ally now. And we are working very, very closely already providing advice and materials to Ukraine, as well as other countries who are doing the same thing. And we are working very, very hard to see if we can’t find the political key to be able to provide redress for the grievances that President Putin keeps talking about through the political process in a way that will recognize that Russia has a legitimate interest, which even Ukraine has acknowledged – interests about ethnic connection, historic connection, about the religious and historical foundations of Russia, all of which can be traced back to Kyiv and to many battlefields that are now in Ukraine and so forth. All of that is understood. And what Ukraine is looking for is simply respect for its sovereignty, and hopefully the political process that is unfolding now can address the concerns in a way that will strengthen that sovereignty and address the concerns that President Putin has expressed.

But we are and Europeans who have signed now an association agreement are firmly committed to the sovereignty and independence and stability of Ukraine, and we will continue to do the things that we are doing in furtherance of that policy.

MS. PSAKI: Thank you, everyone.



SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you all.

NASA VIDEO: LANDSAT'S GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

ASSOCIATE AG WEST'S REMARKS AT JUVENILE JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Remarks by Associate Attorney General Tony West at the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council

Washington, D.C. ~ Monday, July 28, 2014

As Prepared for Delivery

Thank you, Kathi. As always, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to participate in this meeting with you, our federal and practitioner members, as we explore ways we can better address the critical needs of our nation ’ s youth and their families.

Just a few minutes ago, I had the chance to spend some time with Starcia Ague and Osbert Duoa.  You'll hear from them directly in a moment, and I think you'll find their life journeys as compelling as did I when I first read about them.  But meeting with them helped to remind me of the essence of why we've gathered here this morning.

Of course, we're here as part of the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and in particular in response to Attorney General Holder 's call to this Council four years ago that we make juvenile reentry a priority.

We're here because all of you heeded that call and have been actively engaged in the type of effective interagency collaboration that is producing real results and making a positive difference in the lives of so many youth.  Because while fewer youth are coming into contact with the justice system -- a development made possible thanks in no small measure to the efforts of folks around this table, as well as supportive private foundations such as MacArthur and Annie E. Casey -- we know that notwithstanding that, the recidivism rates for those youth who do come under systems supervision are often quite high.

We're here because, even though the last two decades have produced remarkable changes in state and local juvenile justice systems -- with juvenile arrest rates, including those for violent crimes, falling by over 50 percent from 1997 to 2011 (their lowest level in over 30 years) and youth confinement rates declining by half during that same period --- even with our success, we're here because 60,000 young people are still confined in juvenile detention and correction facilities on any given day and when they are released they will need support to successfully make that transition to productive adulthood and stable lives.

We're here because of young adults like Osbert and Starcia.  They remind us that at the end of all of the policy discussions and interagency collaborations, there are actual young lives that depend on folks around this table getting it right.  They remind us that each of these young lives has something of value to offer -- something unique to express to the world -- and through the work we do in these and other sessions -- by working to expand the support that will reduce recidivism and enhance post-juvenile systems education, job-training, parenting skills, counseling and health care -- we can maximize the opportunities for young people to express and be who they truly are; to find that inner strength, so clearly evidenced by Starcia, Osbert and so many others, to rise above circumstance and, as the English poet wrote, "open[] out a way/Whence the imprisoned splendor may escape."

So that's what brings us -- and keeps us -- around this table.  And today, we'll talk about effective strategies that should be applied as soon as youth come into contact with the juvenile and criminal justice systems and approaches that involve meaningful engagement with families and caregivers, as well as multiple service systems.

We will hear from our partners around the table, including the Council of State Governments Justice Center, regarding their activities that can help state and local juvenile justice systems to positively impact the well-being of transitioning youth.  And the department ’ s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will discuss its strategic plan to position state and local governments in their efforts to support youth transition to a healthy, crime-free, and productive adulthood.

And it's important to note that our conversations today take place against a backdrop of sustained commitment to these efforts by this Administration.  As many of you know, just last week, the White House announced the Youth Opportunity AmeriCorps program that is jointly funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and OJJDP.  It's an effort that supports the My Brother ’ s Keeper Initiative and will enroll disconnected youth in national service programs such as AmeriCorps over the next three years, backed by funding of up to $10 million.  We are pleased that Melissa Bradley and Kim Mansaray from CNCS are here with us today and we thank the Corporation for its commitment to this innovative initiative.

I started my remarks by mentioning Osbert and Starcia.  And as remarkable as those two individuals are, we know that nobody makes it in this world alone.  So I also want to acknowledge Osbert ’ s mother, Saygba Carl, and Osbert's mentor , Chef Jennifer Stott, who are both here with us today.

Thank you all for joining us.  It's now my pleasure to turn the floor over to Assistant Attorney General Karol Mason.