Feral Jundi

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Industry Talk: Afghanistan To Disband The APPF!

Filed under: Afghanistan,Industry Talk — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 10:45 AM

U.S. Army Col. Jane Crichton, a spokeswoman for the U.S.-led coalition, said there had been no immediate impact on security.
“We are not aware of any decisions or significant changes to support that affect the coalition in the near-term,” she said. “We are evaluating possible courses of action, including providing our own security or using contract security, among others. At present, the APPF is still providing convoy security escorts with no plan to cease.”

This is big, and good riddance. The APPF was a joke from the get go, and more than likely the money earned by this venture was squandered away by a corrupt government–hence why they are disbanding it. Also, I had been getting reports over the last couple weeks from contractors saying that APPF guards were not getting paid and that there was rumor that this was going to happen.

Now the question is, how will this security vacuum be filled? Well, that quote up top says it all. Either these clients will just pack up and go home, or if they decide to stay, they will be requiring contract security. Which I am sure there will be plenty of companies willing to step in and do this.

Although there is one caveat with that statement. The Afghan government has been seizing weapons and communications gear like crazy for the last several years, and it could be very difficult for companies to get that stuff back to do the job. So going back to the corrupt government theme, I could see lease or rental type agreements for weapons or some kind license scheme that will cost oodles of money for companies to get set up.  Who knows, but at least the APPF is going away.

If anyone has other elements to report about this development, let me know in the comments. Especially if security becomes an issue because of the way this has worked out. There is still a war going on and I imagine if APPF guys are just walking off post because they are not getting paid or are fed up with the whole thing, then that will not be cool. What a mess….

It also reminds me of the mess with the TWISS contracts in Iraq. When the Ugandans would not get paid or whatever forces being used were not getting paid, they often had walks offs and labor strikes.  Meaning guards not showing up to posts. Several times, contingencies in Iraq required military folks to step in to do these jobs as labor issues were being handled out in the field. So as this APPF thing develops, I imagine we will see similar acts if they are not getting paid and there is confusion as to who will pay them or whom they work for.

Another point is perhaps they will not like being rolled into the MOI or being made into a military unit or police unit. Perhaps the ANA or ANP will not like having to dip into their budgets to pay for these APPF salaries. Who knows…. –Matt

 

 

Afghanistan to Disband Crucial Guard Force
March 4, 2014
By Nathan Hodge
The Afghan government is moving to dissolve a crucial guard force that protects military supply convoys, international aid programs and foreign installations, creating new uncertainty over security as the U.S. and its allies withdraw.
The Afghan Ministry of Interior said in a statement Monday that Kabul would disband the Afghan Public Protection Force.
While APPF is a government agency, its services are paid for commercially by the clients, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development. It replaced a host of private security contractors.
Top Afghan officials recently issued a directive that would disband the force and fold it into the Ministry of Interior. But U.S. and coalition officials say it is unclear how, exactly, the Afghan government plans to implement this new order—and who will take over the job of protecting internationally funded reconstruction projects.

(more…)

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Industry Talk: FBO News–Numerous Private Security Contract Awards In Iraq And Afghanistan

Wow is all I have to say. Lots of security contract awards have come up recently on FBO and I figured I would put them up for the readership to check out. The companies mentioned below are Triply Canopy and Torres Advanced Enterprise Solutions for Iraq, and REED International and Olive Group for Afghanistan. Follow the highlighted links if you would like to read more about the contracts. Congrats to the winners and good luck to all who are involved. –Matt

 

Solicitation Number: SAQMMA-12-R-0231
Contract Award Date: April 27, 2012
Contract Award Number: SAQMMA-12-C-0128
Contract Award Dollar Amount: $5,024,071.83
Contractor Awarded Name: TRIPLE CANOPY INC.
Contractor Awarded DUNS: 138129692
Synopsis:
Added: Jun 07, 2012 8:11 am
The Department of State awarded an eight month sole source contract to Triple Canopy, Inc. to provide static guard services for the Chief of Mission (COM) in Basrah, Iraq from May 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. This contract was awarded pursuant to FAR 6.302-2-Unusual and Compelling Urgency. (Reference attached Justification and Approvals)
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Solicitation Number: SAQMMA-12-R-0230
Notice Type: Award Notice
Contract Award Date: April 27, 2012
Contract Award Number: SAQMMA-12-C-0127
Contract Award Dollar Amount: $4,811,054.04
Contractor Awarded Name: Triple Canopy Inc
Contractor Awarded DUNS: 138129692
Synopsis:
Added: Jun 07, 2012 7:14 am
The Department of State awarded an eight month sole source contract to Triple Canopy, Inc. to provide static guard services to the EDSC compound in Erbil, Iraq from May 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. This contract was awarded pursuant to FAR 6.302-2-Unusual and Compelling Urgency. (Reference attached Justification and Approvals)
—————————————————————-
Solicitation Number: SAQMMA12R0229
Notice Type: Award Notice
Contract Award Date: April 27, 2012
Contract Award Number: SAQMMA-12-C-0137
Contract Award Dollar Amount: $9,733,092.41
Contractor Awarded Name: Torres Advanced Enterprise Solutions, LLC
Contractor Awarded DUNS: 165272696
Synopsis:
Added: Jun 07, 2012 6:31 pm
The Department of State awarded an eight month sole source contract to Torres Advanced Solutions to provide static guard services for the Baghdad Police Academy Annex (BPAX) in Baghdad, Iraq from May 01, 2012 through December 31, 2012. This contract was awarded pursuant to FAR 6.302-2-Unusual and Compelling Urgency. (Reference attached Justification and Approvals).
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Private Security Contractor Afghanistan
Solicitation Number: H92237-12-R-0094
Agency: Other Defense Agencies
Office: U.S. Special Operations Command
Location: Headquarters Field Assistance Division
Solicitation Number: H92237-12-R-0094
Notice Type: Award Notice
Contract Award Date: June 18, 2012
Contract Award Number: H92237-12-C-0203
Contract Award Dollar Amount: $686,908.00
Contractor Awarded Name: REED International Inc

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Saturday, June 9, 2012

Space: SpaceX’s Success May Lead To Military Contracts

In this article, they mentioned ULA as the only certified company to launch military payloads. But if SpaceX can get certified, they will be the second.

The reason why I am excited about this stuff, is that for both ULA and SpaceX, they will need some heavy duty security to guard these military satellites as the rockets are being prepared, and protect the launches. So expect to see everything from basic security, all the way up to special response teams or SWAT type teams to protect this stuff. Because once you get into the realm of defense related space contracts, national security depends upon the successes of these launches and the integrity of the satellites.

I have not seen any job ads or news about this type of security, but I expect we will as time goes by.  Of course private protection forces for space launches are not a new concept, and I mentioned KSC SWAT guys protecting NASA launches a long time ago. So I will definitely keep my eyes open for space related security gigs…..and the future is now. –Matt

 

Members of the Kennedy SWAT team are ready and well equipped to keep the Space Center safe. Image credit: NASA/KSC

SpaceX’s Success May Lead To Military Contracts
By Richard Stalker
SpaceX made history 2 weeks ago becoming the very first private company to launch a capsule into space and have it dock with the International Space Station. Now that the Dragon has successfully returned to earth, SpaceX can start working on it’s contract through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The resupply contract for the International Space Station has it making 12 runs, and since it is reusable, they will have the ability to ferry items back and forth, not just trash but experiments.
This launch was the second one for the Falcon 9 and after a third successful one they will be allowed to bid for military contracts to launch satellites into space. “The new entrant criteria did say three launches are required (for Falcon 9) before certification can happen for national security payloads,” said SpaceX Communications Director Kirstin Brost Grantham.

(more…)

Monday, November 29, 2010

Industry Talk: AEGIS Defence Gets TFBSO Contract In Iraq, EODT Wins FOB Lindsey Deuce Contract In Afghanistan

    This is a quick update on some news with two companies and their contracts won.  If any readers have anything else to add to these two deals, feel free to comment below. –Matt

Contract Award Date: November 16, 2010

Contract Award Number: W91GDW-11-C-9000

Contract Award Dollar Amount: $3,037,880.14 (EST)

Contractor Awarded Name: AEGIS DEFENCE SERVICES LTD

Nov 26, 2010

The contract is to provide all resources, personnel, equipment and management necessary for the technical management, oversight, transportation of Task Force members, and security support of the TFBSO economic revitalization activities performed predominantly in the Baghdad region, or on request to other areas throughout Iraq as required. Security services include security program management, anti-terrorism support and analyses, movement/escort security, transportation support, and close personal protection. The Contractor will provide security advisors and planners to facilitate, coordinate and implement security requirements and contingency plans. The proposed period of performance for this contract will be 68 calendar days or 25 November 2010 – 31 January 2011. The estimated dollar value is $3,343,662.11

FBO link here.

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EODT Awarded Security Contract at Forward Operating Base Lindsey Deuce, Afghanistan

LENOIR CITY, TN (November 29, 2010) – EOD Technology, Inc. (EODT) has been awarded a task order by the Kandahar Regional Contracting Center to perform security services at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Lindsey Deuce in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Under this task order, EODT will conduct defensive security and surveillance operations designed to protect Coalition Forces. Security operations will be performed within the confines of FOB Lindsey Deuce.

This task order was awarded under the Area of Operations (AO) Mountain Warrior Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for providing security services in support of Coalition Force missions throughout the Mountain Warrior Area of Operation.

In addition to securing military installations in Afghanistan, EODT provides construction and mine action services, to include demining and battle area clearance, in Afghanistan and other locations worldwide.

Story here.

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