Will Dyncorp and Fluor protest the CTP task order award for LOGCAP IV
Am I the only one that thinks there SHOULD be a whole lot of this name calling going on?
There is a whole lot of speculation going on about whether Dyncorp and Fluor will protest the award of the CTP task order. The CTP task order is the first LOGCAP IV task order to be award in Iraq and was awarded to KBR This CTP task order will cover Corps Logistics Support Services (CLSS), Theater Transportation Mission (TTM), Postal Services, Ice Plant Operations, and some Air Terminal Operations to support the U.S. armed forces throughout Iraq.
This task award was very surprising to most, especially after KBR received a zero award fee for poor performance just the day before they were awarded this task order. Rumor has it even the majority of KBR was surprised, but I’m certain there were some KBR exec’s in Virginia that were aware of what was happening.
There is also an enormous amount of anger amongst members of Congress and they are demanding accountability from the Army on this decision.
All you Fluor and Dyncorp insiders, what’s the word on a protest. Fill us in.
Also, all you contract experts. What is the possibility the Army could be forced to reverse their decision on this task order award?
Ms Sparky
Other Related Posts From Ms Sparky
- Fluor protests $500M BLS award to KBR in Iraq
- Changes in store for KBR LOGCAP employees on new BLS Task Order
- KBR Press Release on LOGCAP IV Task Order 2
- KBR awarded $2.3B LOGCAP IV task order in Iraq after poor performance evaluation (updated 02/28/2010)
- Fluor awarded LOGCAP IV Task Order for Haiti-Jobs Canceled (updated 4/29/2010)
Monday, March 8th 2010 at 1:51 pm |
DynCorp has already protested at GAO B-402568.1.
Monday, March 8th 2010 at 6:36 pm |
Thanks for the info, I was able to find this but not much else:
DynCorp International LLC (W52P1J-09-R-0157)
Department of the Army : U.S. Army Materiel Command
Outcome: Not Decided Status: Case Currently Open
Filed Date: February 26, 2010
Due: June 7, 2010
Case Type: Bid Protest
GAO Attorney: Jonathan L. Kang
File Number: 402568.1
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 6:28 pm |
Surprise, surprise! DynCorp whines when they dont get contracts but they definitely DO NOT deserve one more penny of American taxpayers money. They have been audited twice and maybe the government is deciding not to get ripped off by corrupt companies. As a friend of someone killed while working for DynCorp and because they took the cheap route and provided lax safety measures he is dead. Just knowing that DynCorp didnt get this contract means less money for them and Justice for all who care about those who are killed by the negligence and disregard for employee safety.
Monday, March 8th 2010 at 8:32 pm |
PAE Group really shows how they do not want Americans in Iraq:
Job Requirement:
The successful candidate must be physically capable of performing heavy physical labor, including lifting and carrying materials and equipment and have a high school diploma or its equivalent with 0-2 years of experience in the field or in a related area. The ideal candidate shall have knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a landscaping/grounds field and experience applying these concepts in a desert environment. The candidate will demonstrate proven ability to operate all tools and equipment with competency. Additionally, a pesticide applicator’s license may be required based on position duties. Candidates with overseas experiences are highly desirable and have the ability to read and write English.
Citizenship Required
This position is open to all other than American Nationals. American Citizens need not apply.
Monday, March 8th 2010 at 11:27 pm |
PAE isn’t the only one with that statement at the bottom of their job postings. I have seen quite a few in the listings that I have been looking at.
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 11:18 am |
That is because they are hiring more South Africans, New Zealanders, Austrialians and even Brits…being that they do not have to pay medicare, social security, unemployment and a host of other benefits. American taxpayers should be outraged at these American companies hiring practices, while so many able and willing Americans are unemployed (and able to pass a drug test, background check, no tattoos or long hair – retired Marine).
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 11:30 am |
I agree that they should be hiring Americans. I have always had a problem with this. However, you need to put the blame where it belongs – The contractors have been DIRECTED IN WRITING by the US Government to hire TCN’s in all but a few positions in order to reduce costs.
If you want to raise a stink – do it with your congressperson. The contractors are only doing what they have been told to do by the US Government.
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 1:12 pm |
First of all I strongly agree – let’s hire Americans! This has always been one of my pet peeves. However, you need to put the blame where it belongs and that is not with any of the contractors.
The US Government has directed in WRITING that the contractos hire TCN’s in all but a limited number of positions (generally those that require a security clearance) in order to reduce the cost of the contracts.
So if you (we) want to get this changed we need to contact our congresspeople and get the direction changed.
Let’s bring these $$ back to the US where they will help our economy.
Sunday, April 25th 2010 at 11:14 am |
“and even Brits…”
“no tattoos or long hair”
You sound intolerant, and anti-social. I’m glad your not working on this project with me Troy.
Saturday, October 9th 2010 at 5:48 am |
So you object to Brits being hired, Can’t remember You objecting to them going to war with you guys.
What ashame you didn’t voice your opinions then
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 1:14 am |
If I may take artistic license to speak in the vernacular, things just keep getting interestinger and interestinger, and the more things change, the more they stay the same.
A couple of things I have learned since getting involved with LOGCAP way back when, is that as so eloquently stated in the sage observation espoused by Lou Reed, “Don’t believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear”, and that “The more things change, the more they stay the same” – a proverb making the observation that turbulent changes do not affect reality on a deeper level other than to cement the status quo.
And we all know that war being the highly contingent, fluid and dynamic environment in which flexibility and the ability to improvise, adapt and overcome on a myriad of diverse levels, necessitates that an impetus be put upon the high operational tempo of LOGCAP with all its subsequent demands, within an environment in which as Booker T. Washington so aptly states, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life…as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed”.
Another well known sagacious expression which seems particularly applicable in light of the announcement of Task Orders recently awarded to KBR which was largely believed by many to be out of the LOGCAP game, is “The opera ain’t over till the fat lady sings”.
To that end, consider the following in respect to sustaining the continued need for qualified civilian contractors on the battlefield:
As the political feelings change, will lucrative and high-paying (due to higher risk) jobs in Afghanistan continue to be available to civilian and military contractors?
While no one can predict the future, I’ve rounded up five essential reasons why I think working in Afghanistan is going to remain a viable and financially smart idea for years to come.
#5: Just Look at Pakistan.
At the moment, there is a big north American push on Pakistan, whose secret service and government has been responsible (indirectly) for funding a lot of the mess that has gone on in Afghanistan (depending on who you talk to). As Pakistan comes around to the US-centered point of view, it will create further opportunity in Afghanistan due to the massive changes Pakistan can enact.
#4: The Elections Did Not Go As Planned.
Sadly, democratic elections in Afghanistan are still something that we’ll have to hope for in the future — a lot of money was spent just getting to where we’re at now, and a lot more will be spent — and further jobs created — as we try and make future elections (or re-dos) much fairer.
#3: Contractors Continue to Head Over.
While public support of the Afghanistan mission has been flagging worldwide, the realities on the ground are such that everyone involved — from General McChrystal to Obama to all the deployed soldiers — understand that leaving Afghanistan now, or by the time of the 2010 midterm elections, would be an absolute disaster. Thus, while the public perception is that plans for the country might not be ambitious, the reality is that a ’surge’ in both soldiers and contractors working in Afghanistan is already taking place.
#2: All Directions Point to More Work Being Necessary.
Unfortunately the situation in Afghanistan is far from a great success so far. Even though Iraq has become slightly more normal from what it was at the peak of the insurgency in 2006, Afghanistan has been allowed to slip into further chaos in some crucial areas. If the American government decides to leave the country, it would make no sense for its further Middle East strategy. As such, it’s very likely they’ll stay.
#1: It’s True — Risk is High, and Thus So Is The Compensation.
What’s the point of beating around the bush? Afghanistan is not an inherently safe place. Neither is Pakistan. The entire situation is fraught with risks, and as such, the US government, when working on jobs through the LogCap program, ensures that compensation matches the risks that one must take as a contractor. This does not look to change, anytime soon.
Are you thinking about applying for one of the many defense jobs available? LOGCAP is always going to need good people to support the troops irrespective of corporate woes. Find out more about working on LOGCAP at LogCap4Jobs.com.
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 8:04 am |
Welcome to the world of IDIQ contracting.
To answer your question, the likelihood of the Army reversing its award decision is very, very, very low. First of all, GAO sustains a very low percentage of protests to begin with. But one of the hardest protests of all to win is for a task order under a multiple award IDIQ contract (Such as LOGCAP IV.) It would have to be something very blatant. If it is something over a contracting officer’s subjective decision, forget about it.
Normal evaluation criteria (such as found in FAR 6 and 15) do not apply to the source selection in these TOs because theoretically, these criteria have already been applied in the contract itself. (A task order is not the same as a contract.) Also, contracting officers are compelled to evaluate the past performance of the previous task orders under the same contract. For this contract, (LOGCAP IV), KBR has none. And from the sound of things, Fluor and Dyncorp ain’t settin’ the world on fire. (No pun intended.) So perhaps the past performance among the three contractors leveled themselves out.
Either way, I would be very surprised if this gets overturned. Even if GAO sustains the protest, that doesn’t mean the award will be overturned. Also, most people don’t know that GAO decisions are not binding to government agencies. Technically, they are recommendations. But they don’t have the same binding authority of the FCCA or the Federal Courts.
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 1:58 pm |
I would also like to point out one other contract factor that may have influence on the awards. The
LCIV contracts contain the following”
B.4 The Maximum amount of each contract will be $5 Billion per year.
This was done to ensure that one contractor did not receive all of the awards. Depending on what has already been awarded to Dyn and Fluor there is the possibility that they would have exceeded the ceiling amount of their contracts had they been awarded this task order.
Again – only pointing out what the contracts say – not defending any awards or decissions.
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 6:23 pm |
Just want to express my appreciation for the level of fact-based analysis and authoritative insights succinctly articulated within this forum by educated, experienced, and extremely well informed SME’s.
A blog is only as good as its readership, and this is very, very good.
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 7:13 pm |
I agree with you 100%.
Friday, March 12th 2010 at 12:37 pm |
When I devevloped the strategy for LOGCAP IV, we put some standard task order award evaluation criteria into the basic contract. These are past performance (as Sevilleqtr ntes above) and cost. We also allowed for special criteria to meet the conditions of the task order. I do not know what the criteria were for LOGCAP IV Iraq.
The GAO will primarily ask “Was award made in accordance with the evaluation criteria?” IF the Army did this it will be very hard to overturn the award. I do believe that the Combatant Commander in Iraq did not want to do a transition, especially with the current troop drawdown schedule. Performance by DynCorp and Fluor in Afghanistan would not help their cause.
KBR would like this award to go through quickly, as they have a higher profit margin on LOGCAP IV, than on LOGCAP III.
I do anticipate some Congressional reaction to all this in the very near future.
Let me also express my appreciation for the high standard of adherence to facts on these comments.
Sunday, March 21st 2010 at 6:32 am |
My sources tell me Dyncorp has officially withdrawn their protest and with it past the time that award protests can be filed it is offical. KBR is the official winner of the CTP task order award for LOGCAP IV.
Speaking of Dyncorp….rumor has is there is a BIG CAR (maybe even a Level IV)in the making for Southern Afghanistan. Has anyone else heard that? If I’m not mistaken, their task order is up for renewal on July 31, 2010 ( I will have to check on that date) I will be curious to see if it is renewed.
Wednesday, March 31st 2010 at 2:13 am |
I heard something about that someone had recieved a big fat CAR, i am sure they will try and blame it on KBR for reason or another. Fluor will have all of Afghanistan, but they are getting CARS too oh well. The Bell tolls for some.
Monday, October 25th 2010 at 3:21 am |
I have been in contact with management in Afghanistan, and have been told they are NOT expecting to win this upcoming renewed contract.
I could fill pages with facts on why they should not and will not win this award. Simple fact is, they are without the proper leadership from the very top all the way down. There are great people working for DynCorp but as I have always said, if you don’t have good management, you have nothing.
I have seen first hand DOS dictating who will and WILL NOT work for DynCorp simply based on personal issues; likes and dislikes. If anyone has met some of these I-COR people assisting with the Dyn contracts, then you will agree that they too are ill-suited for their jobs. From sexual harassment of MANY women to cover-ups, to straight up lying, this whole project is like any other political game/agenda.