Thursday, February 26, 2009

Chicago Police, FBI and Midnight Battles

Editor's Note: John Wills is a former servicemember.

On March 20, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion Special Agent John Wills, FBI (ret.) the author of Chicago Warriors Midnight Battles in the Windy City.

Program Date: March 20, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic:
Chicago Police, FBI and Midnight Battles
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/21/Chicago-Police-FBI-and-Midnight-Battles

About the Guest
Special Agent
John Wills, FBI (ret.) spent two years in the U.S. Army before serving 12 years with the Chicago Police Department. He left the Chicago Police Department to become an FBI Special Agent, working organized crime, violent crime, and drugs. He worked for 2 ½ years as an undercover agent in the FBI’s first ever steroid sting. He served in Chicago, Alexandria, VA., Detroit, and Houston. Before retiring from the FBI, he spent 7 years teaching at the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia. He has taught Street Survival domestically and internationally, as well as supervised new agent training at the Academy.

Special Agent
John Wills presently works for Advanced Interactive Systems (www.ais-sim.com) as a Field Training Manager, conducting training for police and military using the PRISim Judgment Simulator. John Wills also owns his own business, LivSafe, teaching Situational Awareness Classes. He appears on the NCAA speakers list, presenting lectures to universities on the dangers of steroids and other drugs. Special Agent John Wills is the author of Chicago Warriors Midnight Battles in the Windy City.

According to the book description of Chicago Warriors Midnight Battles in the Windy City, “
Chicago Police Officer Pete Shannon’s life is about to take a dramatic turn. His wife has a dark secret that she’s about to reveal to him; his partner’s life is about to be in jeopardy, and worst of all one of his own colleagues will present him with one of the biggest challenges of his life. Pete’s strength, both physical and spiritual, will be put to the test as he and his partner work the “graveyard shift” on the mean streets of the “Windy City.”

Fellow officer Marilyn Benson doesn't realize it yet, but her life is about to change in ways that she could have never imagined. Forces of good and evil will do battle for her soul and her faith, both of which have lain dormant for many years. It's an issue that she can no longer ignore. St. Michael the Archangel, patron saint of police officers, is about to engage in his biggest clash since throwing Satan out of Heaven.”

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is
police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in
Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Law Enforcement Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/21/Chicago-Police-FBI-and-Midnight-Battles

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Defense Secretary Confident With Proposed Budget Share

By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 26, 2009 - President Barack Obama's fiscal 2010 budget gives the Defense Department nearly $664 billion, an amount Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he's confident will be enough to sustain the department's programs. "I'm confident that this funding level will allow the department to meet its long-term institutional priorities of taking care of the troops and their families, rebalancing our capabilities for conventional and irregular warfare, completing the growth of the Army and Marine Corps and preserving essential modernization programs," Gates told Pentagon reporters at a news conference here today.

The $534 base operating budget for fiscal 2010 represents a 4 percent, or $20 billion, increase from the previous fiscal year, while $130 billion is the Pentagon's "best estimate" fixed for war costs, he said.

Gates added that the $75.5 billion left from the fiscal 2009 war cost is enough for the Pentagon to continue supporting efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan through the year.

The top-line budget figure already is being analyzed to determine next year's spending details, Gates said. The process includes efforts to realize cost efficiencies, reassess all weapons programs, and rebalance investments between current and future capabilities.

Gates didn't address specific programs, but said he recognizes the rising personnel costs, which consume the majority of the department's budget. The percentage of the defense budget that goes to health care is increasing at what he called "almost an alarming rate in terms of the future."

"We will be making tough choices to ensure that this department's budget priorities best position our military to deal with the most pressing threats and security challenges facing America today and tomorrow," he said.

Missile Defense Capable, but Needs More Testing, Pentagon Official Says

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 26, 2009 - U.S. missile defense is prepared to defend against North Korean threats, but the system needs more testing before the Pentagon can endorse its capabilities with "high confidence," the top Defense Department tester said. In three test scenarios, the missile defense system successfully destroyed threats emanating from North Korea, Dr. Charles E. McQueary, the director of Operational Test and Evaluation, told a congressional panel yesterday.

"What we showed as a consequence of the test was that, indeed, we did intercept and 'kill' a target to demonstrate that the [ground missile defense] did work in that particular [test]," he said. "To me, that was a demonstration that this system has the capability to work."

But McQueary told the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, which oversees the missile defense program, that additional assessments are needed before he can confirm a high level of statistical confidence in the system.

"There's simply not been enough testing done in order to be able to state it," he said. The test and evaluation office that McQueary directs provides the Defense Department with independent reviews of weapons and equipment.

The hearing comes amid reports suggesting that North Korea may be preparing an advanced version of the Taepodong-2 missile with a striking range extending to the U.S. West Coast and Alaska.

Despite the need for more evaluation, McQueary said, the United States is prepared to respond to a potential threat from the communist regime.

"We've consistently said that we need more modeling and simulation," he said. "[But] if the North Koreans launched an attack against us this afternoon, we wouldn't say we need more test data before we decided whether we were going to launch against and try to intercept that. We'd see how the system works and we'd find out."

The ground-based system is a network of interceptor missiles linked by satellites, radar and communications networks. It has destroyed targets successfully in eight of 13 tests since 1999, according to Defense Department statistics.

Army Lt. Gen. Patrick J. O'Reilly, director of the Missile Defense Agency, told the subcommittee that the agency has launched a comprehensive review of its testing plans and would complete it by May. He noted that missile defense functions as a deterrent to potential adversaries.

"The most compelling way to devalue these missiles is to show that they're ineffective because we keep intercepting them in different ways," he said. "A great strength of a robust test program is to keep intercepting in all the different fashions in which I believe our adversaries are looking at ways to defeat it."

Obama Announces More Key Defense Appointments

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 26, 2009 - President Barack Obama continued his efforts to fill key Defense Department posts, announcing plans today to nominate two more people and to have three others continue to serve in their current posts. Obama announced his intent to name Jim Miller as principal deputy undersecretary for policy, and retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Wallace "Chip" Gregson Jr. as assistant secretary for Asian and Pacific security affairs.

The White House also announced that Michael B. Donley will continue serving as Air Force secretary, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper will remain on board as undersecretary for intelligence, and Michael G. Vickers will remain as assistant secretary for special operations and low-intensity conflict and interdependent capabilities.

"I am confident that these distinguished individuals have the commitment and expertise to help guide the Department of Defense at this critical time for our nation," Obama said in a statement released by the White House.

"Under the leadership of Secretary Gates, this group will help us maintain a strong and effective military to accomplish the fundamental goals of keeping America safe, advancing our interests abroad and restoring American leadership in the world," the president said.

Miller works in national security policy, currently as senior vice president and director of studies at the Center for a New American Security, and from 2000 to 2007 as senior vice president at Hicks and Associates, Inc. He was the Defense Department's deputy assistant secretary for requirements, plans and counter-proliferation policy from 1997 to 2000.

A former assistant professor at Duke University and senior staff member for the House Armed Services Committee, Miller is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Combating WMD Panel of the Defense Department's Threat Reduction Advisory Committee.

Gregson has been a foreign policy and military affairs consultant for WCG & Associates International since 2006. He previously served as chief operating officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Gregson retired from the Marine Corps in 2005 after 37 years of service. He was commander of Marine Corps Forces Pacific and Marine Corps Forces Central Command, III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan, and 3rd Marine Division in Japan.

Before his assignments in Japan, Gregson was director of Asia-Pacific policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 1998 to 2000. He has served in the Marine Corps since his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College.

Donley has served as Air Force secretary since Oct. 17, 2008.

Clapper was confirmed by the Senate as undersecretary for intelligence April 11, 2007.

Vickers was confirmed as assistant secretary for special operations and low-intensity conflict and interdependent capabilities July 23, 2007.

MILITARY CONTRACTS February 26, 2009

NAVY

Wyle Laboratories, Lexington Park, Md., is being awarded a $34,371,379 cost plus fixed fee contract to provide program management support services for all domestic and international Integrated Product Teams within the F/A-18 and EA-18G program office. This work will support related Foreign Military Sales efforts, to include those of the nations of Australia, Canada, Kuwait, Finland, Malaysia, Spain, and Switzerland. Work will be performed in Lexington Park, Md., and is expected to be completed in Dec. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-09-C-0041).

John C. Grimberg Co., Inc., Rockville, Md., is being awarded a $34,273,000 firm fixed price contract for the design and construction of an Explosive Development Facility at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, Md. The work to be performed constructs facilities and renovates two buildings. The facilities will provide the following explosives capabilities and supporting functions: melt casting, pressing, machining, a change house, and storage. The renovated facilities will also provide office, work, and laboratory space. Work will be performed in Indian Head, Md., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity (N40080-09-C-0156).

Olin/Winchester (Cage 1MR34), East Alton, Ill., is being awarded a $30,000,000 firm fixed, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for the acquisition of 9mm frangible ammunition to be used as training ammunition to support the Navy Special Warfare Ammunition Program. Work will be performed in East Alton, Ill., and is expected to be completed by Feb. 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year 2009. This contract was competitively procured. This contract was competitively procured with multipleproposals solicited and three offers received via the Federal Business Opportunities. The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-09-D-JN29).

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $16,456,956 firm fixed price modification against a previously issued delivery order under a Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-08-G-0010) for the procurement of MH-60S Armed Helicopter Mission Kits, which consist of the Integrated Self Defense (ISD) Mission Kit, (33); Weapons Kit, (30); and the B-Kit installation hardware. Work will be performed in Tallassee, Ala., (76.1 percent); Coxsackie, N.Y., (17.6 percent); Wichita, Kan., (4.3 percent); Valencia, Calif., (1 percent); and at various locations across the United States (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in Apr. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Accord MACTEC JV*, comprised of According Engineering and MACTEC Engineering and Consulting Inc., Santa Ana, Calif., is being awarded a maximum $15,000,000 firm fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity architect/engineering contract for storm water, incidental potable water, ground water, and waste water environmental compliance. The intent of this contract is to provide comprehensive services to various Navy and Marine Corps and other federal government facilities within the contract geographic area to meet statutory compliance requirements for all applicable DOD, Federal, State, local, and installation specific environment laws, regulations, and guidance pertaining to storm water and incidental potable water, groundwater, wastewater, and compliance with similar requirements as required to support other related RCRA, CERCLA, and Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC). Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps installations in Calif., (80 percent), Ariz., (10 percent), Nevada, (2 percent), N.M. (2 percent), Colo., (2 percent), Utah, (2 percent) and other federal and DOD installations (2 percent) nationwide, and work is expected to be completed Feb. 2014. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set-aside via the Federal Business Opportunities and Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with four offers received in response to the synopsis and four firms were slated for interview. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-09-D-2613).

Forrester Construction Co., Rockville, Md., is being awarded $13,748,000 for firm fixed price task order #0010 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62477-04-D-0035) for renovation to Hubbard Hall RM 9-94, and restore and modernize Building 260 at the United States Naval Academy. The work to be performed is to completely renovate Hubbard Hall, Work will be performed in Annapolis, Md., and is expected to be completed by Jul. 2011. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Wash., D.C., is the contracting activity. home of the three USNA rowing crews. This project includes repair of deteriorated foundation pilings, construction of a temporary tension fabric boat storage "shed", and repair and expansion of the existing wharf and floating docs. The scope of work includes hazardous material abatement, interior reorganization, repairs to the existing building and wharf structure, repairs to the building enclosure, expansion of the existing wharf and complete replacement of all heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing systems.

Three Phoenix Inc.*, Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $13,450,671 cost plus fixed fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-6274) for a Technology Insertion Photonics Mast Engineering Development Model (EDM). The Engineering Development Model is in support of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Topic No. 04-138 "Real Time Data Fusion and Visualization Interface for Environmental Research Data". This contract modification is to complete the engineering assessment and design and development of a non-developmental item Submarine Optronics System. Three Phoenix will procure a Technology Insertion Photonics Mast System, test and integrate this system onboard a U.S. Navy Virginia Class submarine as an EDM for evaluation purposes. Work will be performed in Wake Forest, N.C., (60 percent), Fairfax, Va., (30 percent), and Hanover, Md., (10 percent) and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2010. Contract funds for FY08 in the amount of $4,498,002 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Contract funds for FY09 will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Melwood Horticultural Training Center Inc., Upper Marlboro, Md., is being awarded an $8,565,880 modification under a previously awarded firm fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract (N40080-07-D-0381) to exercise Option two for janitorial and recycling services in the Washington, D.C., area. The work to be performed provides for all managerial, supervision, labor, tools, materials, and equipment necessary to provide janitorial and recycling services. The current total contract amount after exercise of this option is $22,585,842. Work is expected to be completed Feb. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Rockwell Collins Government Systems, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $7,024,770 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced contract (N00019-05-C-0050) to exercise an option for the FY 2009 production of the AN/ARC-210(V) Electronic Protection Radio Systems for the U.S. Air Force F-16 Block 30 aircraft. This modification provides for 90 MT-6567/ARC mounting bases; 90 ARC 210-C-12719 radio set controls; 90 RT-1851A(C)/ARC receiver-transmitters; and 90 ARC 210 RF filter diplexers. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed in Sept. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

The Air Force is awarding a firm fixed price contract to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems of San Diego, Calif., for $168,372,886. This action will provide all program management, urgent repairs and services, logistics support, configuration management, technical manual and software maintenance, engineering technical services, contractor inventory control point and spares management, depot repair, flight operations support, reliability/maintenance enhancements, data collection/entry and numbered periodic depot maintenance for the Predator/Reaper Unmanned Aircraft System program. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 703d ASG, Wright-Patterson, Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8620-05-G-3028).

The Air Force is modifying a firm fixed price contract with Rockwell Collins, Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for an estimated $73,808,391. This action will provide an additional 46 kits and Installs to support the KC-135 Global Air Traffic Management Program. At this time, no money has been obligated. OC-ALC/827 ACSG/PK, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (F33657-98-C-0036, P00106).

The Air Force is awarding a cost plus fixed fee contract to Battelle Memorial Institute of Columbus, Ohio, for an estimated $32,357,157. This action is to conduct assessments, evaluations, and studies of the material system and make recommendations to ensure the most efficient and rapid modernization of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear equipment and execute the engineering, sustainment, and training recommendations. At this time, $95,846 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is the contracting activity (SP0700-00-D-3180).

The Air Force is modifying a contract with Textron Systems Corp., of Wilmington, Massachusetts, for $9,527,490. This action will provide 30 additional Sensor Fuzed Weapons, Full Rate Production Lot 12. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 683rd ARSS/SYKA, Eglin Air Force Base is the contracting activity (FA8677-07-C-0001).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Castrol Marine Americas, Houston, Texas, is being awarded a maximum $7,759,660 fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for lubricating oils. Other locations of performance include Louisiana, N.J., Calif., and Pa. Using service is Defense Energy Support Center. There were 135 proposal originally solicited with five responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Apr. 30, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-09-D-0754).

Pepco Energy Services, Inc., Arlington, Va., is being awarded a maximum $16,571,222 firm fixed price contract for electrical services. Other location of performance is Ill. Using services are Federal Civilian Agencies. There were originally 100 proposals solicited with 5 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Dec. 31, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-09-D-8012).

ARMY

General Dynamics C4 Systems Inc., Scottsdale, Ariz., was awarded on Feb. 25, 2009, a $70,828,176 indefinite delivery indefinite quantity with firm fixed price contract in which the award basic contract and first delivery order (DO) are for the procurement of thirty-seven (37) Prophet Enhanced (PE) B-Kits, and nineteen (19) PE A-Kits, and associated spares. DO also provide for PE Quality Management, Non-Recurring Engineering and First Article Testing and Refurbishment. Overall estimated "face" value is based upon aggregate value of Dos issued over six (6) year life of the contract. Prophet is the Army's principal ground-based tactical Communications Intelligence 9COMINT)/Electronic Warfare (EW) sensor, providing force protection and technically advanced intelligence. Work will be performed at Melbourne, Fla. (66 percent), Scottsdale, Ariz., (14 percent), San Diego, Calif., (12 percent), Huntsville, Ala., (.5 percent), and Fairfax, Va., (.5 percent), with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2015. Bids were solicited on the Worldwide Web with three bids received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-09-D-W401).

WATTERSON CONSTRUCTION CO, Anchorage, Ala., was awarded on Feb. 24, 2009, a $21,330,000 firm fixed price construction contract for a project that includes construction of barracks facility at Fort Wainwright, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 28, 2010. Bids were solicited on the Worldwide Web with six bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Ala. is the contracting activity (W911KB-09-C-0005).