Feral Jundi

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Industry Talk: DOE Security Contractors List, FY 2011

Filed under: Industry Talk,Texas — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 5:08 PM

It is very interesting to me that some of the most sensitive stuff and strategically important assets of the US, are guarded by security contractors. From Nuclear Sites, to Laboratories, to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve–private security contractors are who stand guard over this stuff.

The report below is the only report I could find that actually discussed the performance of security contractors. All of the other ones are not available to the public. And most of this stuff is about safety issues.

What I was mostly drawn too is who are the players?  Well for one, Wackenhut, which is owned by G4S, has quite a few contracts with DOE. Did you know about this contract?

The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the selection of Wackenhut Services Inc., Palm Beach, Florida, to provide security services at the Savannah River Site (SRS) here.
The Cost-Plus-Award-Fee type contract has a value of $989 million over ten years, which includes a five-year base period and two option periods of three and two years.

It is also odd to me that this nation’s strategic resources are being guarded by an American company that is owned by a larger foreign company. The largest in the world. So thank you G4S….Wow.

As to jobs, I only found one that was flying and that was for a training position at Bryan Mound.

Now of course you will have to interpret the security contractors listed below. The names presented are what is listed under their organizational codes, but you get the idea. A list like this will help you to hunt down a contractor that you might want to work for, or target a region of interest. The 2005 report has a list of contractors as well, but that is not current. Check it out and if there are any security companies missing, let me know so we can make this list more accurate. –Matt

 

Private security contractors patrol the U.S. Department of Energy's Stategic Petroleum Reserve in Bryan Mound, Texas May 20, 2008.

A 2005 report on security contractors done by DOE.

————————————————–

DOE Security Contractors Fiscal Year 2011

(from injuries and illness table)

Albuquerque–Secure Transportation Div.
ABQ Sec. WSI – OST – Protective Force Tr
ABQ Sec. Innovative Tech. Partnerships
Albuquerque Security Epsilon-OST
DOE National Training Center
BWXT Sec. (Pantex) – Sec. Police Off. I
Wackenhut Services, Inc. – NV
Honeywell FM&T (Kansas) Security
LANL Security – (SOC-LA)
Wackenhut Services – Y-12 Security
Wackenhut – Y-12 Security Subs
BMPC Security Forces
NRF Security Forces–Admin
BMPC-KAPL – Kesselring Security Forces
LM-KAPL – Knolls Security Forces – Secur
Sandia Security Forces – Administration
Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab – Security
Santa Fe Protective Services (WIPP)
Argonne-East Security Force – Security P
BNL Security Forces – Security Police Of
Trinity Protection Services (Fermilab)
Paragon Tech. Serv. (HQ) – Security Offi
Jefferson Lab. Security
Ameritex (NETL) – Security Police Office
INL – BEA, LLC – Security – Security Po
Wackenhut Services – OR Security
West Valley Nuclear Services – Security
Hanford Security
Wackenhut Services, Inc. – SR
Security Subcontractor – SPR

Link to summary here.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Industry Talk: The EU’s EEAS To Spend €15mn On Private Security Firms This Year

Filed under: Industry Talk,Libya — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 11:04 AM

Ashton’s €15-million-a-year special security budget is tiny compared to what member states shell out. According to foreign office figures provided to EUobserver, the UK between mid-2006 and mid-2010 spent €196 million on private security in Iraq alone.

Excellent news for the guys across the pond. In this article they list a bunch of the PSC’s that the EU uses in it’s foreign missions. It also lists the countries that they are using private security in.

The list of companies and the countries goes as follows:

Page Group: Afghanistan

Argus: Haiti, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Control Risks: Israel. 

Saladin: Pakistan.

*The EU foreign corps last year put Argus and Page, as well as French company Geos, Canadian firm GardaWorld and British company G4S on a special shortlist. The listing means that if a new job comes up, the EEAS can hire one of them in a decision which takes just two weeks, instead of a year-or-so, as with a normal EU tender.(from article below)

Very cool and I didn’t know that Argus was such a player in this game?  Here is a clip from their bio page:

Over time the company has specialized in protection, risk assessment and crisis management for international corporations and their foreign branches, but also for international organizations and diplomatic entities located in volatile countries.
Shortly before the end of the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the company established its business in Budapest, Hungary for strategic and geographic reasons. However, 97% of its activities are currently conducted outside of the European Union.
Argus Security Projects Ltd. currently has 600 staff members permanently deployed worldwide.

What I also like about this list of companies, to include the short list, is that you get an idea as to what the EU thinks is an acceptable company to work with. Both in cost, reputation, experience and capability. Although I will save my judgement on these companies, just because they could have been chosen because they are the cheapest?… It also shows what countries the EU has interest in and that they are compelled to hire private security to accomplish that mission.

The Saudi Arabia mission is obvious for it’s oil. Places like Libya have oil too, and Europe needs that oil bad. So getting into that country and securing their folks while they do their thing is a priority–all so they can influence and get a place at the ‘trough’ there. Before the revolution in Libya, Europe had a high amount of oil imports from Libya, and I imagine that they would like to get that back. Not only that, but get that source back to the level of ‘secure and dependable’. That is not easy and it takes some work in the diplomacy department to get that done. Interesting stuff. –Matt

 

Ashton to spend €15mn on private security firms
March 9, 2012
By Andrew Rettman
Catherine Ashton’s External Action Service (EEAS) is to spend €15 million on private security firms this year as part of broader efforts to protect diplomats overseas.
The money is to cover “fully integrated security services” at its outposts in Beirut, Benghazi, Islamabad, Jerusalem, Kabul, Port-au-Prince, Ryiadh, Saleh and Tripoli.
It will spend another €35 million on hiring day-to-day security staff for the rest of its 136 foreign delegations. Some other places are also considered risky (diplomats are asked not to take families to Baghdad and Monrovia), but do not qualify for the “fully integrated” treatment.
The Afghanistan mission is currently protected by armed, company-logo-wearing ex-military types, including former Nepalese Gurkhas, supplied by London-based firm Page Group. When the EU ambassador leaves his compound, he travels in a convoy of three cars with seven bodyguards. Last year, someone took a pot-shot at his office window while he was briefing staff. In 2010, he was nearly hit by a rocket at a tribal congress.

(more…)

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Law Enforcement: G4S To Run First Private Security Police Station In Britain

Filed under: Law Enforcement,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 4:18 PM

During times of cut backs and austerity, these are the things that communities do in order to save. I have talked about such moves in the US, and it is interesting to see the same thing happen in other parts of the world.

Now what I would be curious is to see how much was saved, and what problems came up, a year from the implementation of the contract? This is a ten year deal, but the cost effectiveness should present itself within the first couple of years. Interesting stuff and we will see how it goes. –Matt

 

G4S to run first private security police station
20 Feb 2012
Private security company G4S is about to sign a deal which would see it building and staffing the first British police station run by a private security contractor.
The deal with Lincolnshire Police Authority – expected to be signed within days – represents the most radical outsourcing of law enforcement so far, according to a report last week in the Financial Times .
The contract will see G4S take over jobs previously handled by police officers including custody and ID duties (but with custody sergeants still on hand), control room staffing, town enquiry officers, the crime management bureau, the criminal justice unit and firearms licensing.
But Simon Reed, vice-chair of the Police Federation, told the FT that he had some reservations about the scheme, as private employees may not have the same enshrined sense of public duty as police officers.
“Our concern is the resilience of the companies doing this,” he said. “When we have national emergencies or unforeseen events, will they be able to bring their staff in to work long hours, regardless of what their contracts say?”
The police station move is part of a £200m contract with G4S over 10 years. Other police forces are said to be considering similar moves.

(more…)

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Jobs: Olympic Security Jobs With G4S, United Kingdom

Filed under: Jobs,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 8:06 AM

I thought I would put this out there for the guys across the pond. Although I am sure many have already heard about this and have acted accordingly. What is cool is that over at Close Protection World, it looks like representatives are looking for some security pros who can fill out management positions that pay a little better. The first post below describes what they are looking for and the pay. Use the email provided to send a CV or go to the forum itself to find out more information.

The other articles I posted below describe the enormity of the event. They have to fill 10,000 positions and get background checks on all of them. So lots of work is required to make sure that just the security force is squared away and actually ‘secure’. –Matt

 

Olympic Roles with G4S £12 – £17 Per Hour
3 Main roles are as follows:
Supervisor/Team Leader – £12 Per Hour
1 years security supervisor experience can be as a JNCO in the military.
This has been recruited for on this site and has had an amazing response.
Group Leader – £14 Per Hour
1 Years Management experience can be as a SNCO in the military.
Duty Manager – £17 Per Hour
1 Years Management experience, must have managed over 50 staff, can be SNCO in the military.
If any of these roles interest you please forward your CV to olympics@uk.g4s.com .

(more…)

Friday, December 16, 2011

Industry Talk: US Military Steps In To Man Gates In South Korea As G4S Struggles To Fill Slots

Filed under: Industry Talk,South Korea — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 10:22 PM

U.S. officials said Joeun Systems was paid a total of about $118 million over the past five years for its services, but G4S was the lowest acceptable bidder for the next five-year contract at a price of about $109 million.
As G4S took over gate security at most U.S. military bases in South Korea at the beginning of this month, only 60 of the 850 guards who worked for Joeun Systems had agreed to sign on with the new contractor, according to officials with the guards’ union.
On Thursday, G4S said it has hired about one-third of the 600-plus guards it will need to secure all the posts. Many of those hired are former Joeun Systems employees, G4S officials say.

Here is an interesting little story from South Korea. We have a case here where the US military rebid the contract for base security, and G4S beat out the incumbent firm named Joeun Systems Corp. From the sounds of it, it looks like this contract was another Lowest Priced, Technically Acceptable contract mechanism victim. Meaning G4S was the lowest bidder, and paying the price for being the lowest bidder. The US military is also paying the price now for going cheap.

Joen Systems Corp. of course is protesting, and all of the guards that worked for them are union and are not willing to move over to G4S to take a lower salary. Which is totally understandable.

The interesting thing here is that our military bases there are using local security folks. Which is fine, but if the US military cares to have quality folks protecting these camps, then pay the extra amount and contract with American companies to do this work. Or use the Best Value mechanism of contracting, and not necessarily go with the lowest bidder for these things. Because if you are going to use local companies or local workers, then you will more than likely be dealing with that host nation’s unions. Or folks will organize naturally to protect their salaries if they do not have a union.  We saw the same thing happen in Iraq with the TWISS contracts. LPTA is a crappy way to go, and has all sorts of problems associated with it.

Also, because they are local, they will also have more impact in the local media stations and get more sympathy from their fellow citizens.  Either way, dealing with unions and contract disputes will always be an issue when trying to modify contracts and pay less for the same services. All I have to say is that paying the industry standard is the safe way to go, because you definitely do not want disgruntled guards tasked with force protection. Especially with the threat of North Korea, or any number of other threats that are unique to overseas posts. –Matt

 

GIs still manning gates in S. Korea as contractor struggles to fill slots
By JON RABIROFF AND ASHLEY ROWLAND
December 15, 2011
U.S. soldiers continue to man the gates at U.S. military bases in South Korea more than two weeks after a new security firm failed to hire enough employees to get the job done.
Despite the fact that the firm, G4S, continues to be short-staffed and in violation of its contract, U.S. military officials say they are willing to give the company more time to get up to speed.
Both sides insist the situation will soon be resolved, that security at the bases has not been compromised and disruptions have been kept to a minimum.

(more…)

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress