Blackwater/Xe loses $1 Billion contract award after Dyncorp protests
Blackwater Loses Protest To DynCorp For Afghan Training
By Matthew Potter | Apr 13, 2010
It’s back to the drawing board for Blackwater.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) upheld a protest by DynCorp International (DCP) of the Army’s award to Xe Services, formerly known as Blackwater, of a $1 billion, five-year contract to train Afghanistan’s police.
DynCorp International had been providing similar services under the auspices of the State Department. The firm argued that not only was there no competition for the contract but that when the mission was transferred to the Pentagon, the Army chose the wrong contract vehicle. The contract to Xe was awarded under the Counter-Narcoterrorism Technology Program Office (CNTPO) contract. The GAO ruled that this could only pay for equipment and support, not training. DynCorp expects to compete for the new contract. The Defense Department also intends to compete further contracts to provide this type of support that could be worth up to $15 billion.
Blackwater was the most famous private company providing security and training services for the U.S. government. And probably the most controversial: It has been accused of improperly charging the government, excessive violence and other problems. The company restructured and changed its name. Still, its Congressional critics bristled when it got the Afghan contracts.
The Afghan National Police (ANP) Force is critical to the future security of the country. The force is relatively large but suffers from equipment and a lack of professionalism.
The problem is that there is only so much U.S. military and government security to go around. The private security forces provide a key role.
Ditto for training. Contractors like DynCorp and Xe provide a necessary service because the U.S. simply does not have enough troops to do all the required training. However controversial such companies are, improving the capabilities of the Afghan forces is essential if the U.S. and its Allies are eventually to leave the country in something like good order. (click HERE for original article)
Other Related Posts From Ms Sparky
- Canada’s sole source contract to bad boy security firm Blackwater aka XE Services nka ACADEMI
- Fluor protests $500M BLS award to KBR in Iraq
- DynCorp & AECOM team up & win shot at contract worth $9.7 billion
- Dyncorp Wins Afghan Police Training Contract Despite Scandals
- If Dyncorp wins contract it’s “dancing boys” for everyone!
Monday, June 28th 2010 at 11:49 am |
I’ve worked for both Blackwater and Dyncorp and I can’t wait to get back to Blackwater. The rank and file at BW are pro’s hands down and when it comes to core tasks (like training) they produce solid results. BW has been training Afghan’s now (10 trainers for 500 afghans) for almost 2 years (in small camps) and their trainees turn out better (by more then 2 to 1) over trainees from Dyncorp and other contractors and yes including the trainees from US military and NATO forces. BW was primed to expand Afgahn training in 2009 but politics (Henry Waxman never got his bribe) jacked that up and now the US is playing catch up. You want the Afghans trained fast, trained right, at a low cost and with very good results, get companies like the money-grubbing corporate fat-cats at Dyn OUT of the country. And lets try to put the politics in a bag until we can get these people (Afghans) in a position where they can stand up for themselves please.
Monday, June 28th 2010 at 1:45 pm |
Sounds like they should run you out of the business Dano…if your with Dyn why did you leave BW? I think were all better off with your likes period, (Afghans included)