Make sure you take full advantage of the breakout sessions when you attend this year’s Warrior Expo – East. DuPontâ„¢ will utilize their mobile ThermoMan® demonstrator to show how important FR clothing is for the service member. It is very interesting to see in person, so don’t miss it. To get an idea of what you will witness, check out this video taken during SSD’s visit with DuPontâ„¢.
Tags: ADS Inc, Dupont, Warrior Expo East
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As if there was a “Now Serving Number…” sign at the Justice Department, Home Depot has joined a growing list of companies accused of illegal business practices with the Government.
In this case San Francisco-based attorney Paul Scott along with several colleagues filed a whistle blower suit against the home improvement giant alleging that Home Depot had illegally provided Chinese made products to the Government in violation of the Buy American Act. This has attracted the Justice Department’s attention but they have not decided whether to join the suit.
According to a recent Associated Press story on the subject, “In the last six years, Staples Inc., Office Depot Inc. and OfficeMax Inc. have paid a combined $22 million to settle government claims they violated the act. In 2008, the Department of Justice announced that W.W. Grainger Inc. agreed to pay $6 million to settle claims the company overcharged the government and provided it with Chinese and Taiwanese products in violation of the Buy American Act.”
In my opinion two things are driving this recent upsurge in enforcement of the Buy American Act as well as other federal acquisition laws. First, the smaller war effort means that there will be fewer purchases and that they will be more closely scrutinized. Second, the faltering economy is causing American companies to ensure that they maintain as much of a competitive edge as possible. Large companies who provide a wide variety of products will claim that it is impossible to ensure that everything they sell complies with the Buy American Act. That is pathetic. I am all for our troops getting the best that they can, but you can’t tell me that ball point pens made overseas are better than ones made here. It is about profit, pure and simple. As an American tax payer, I just don’t see how it is in our best interest to purchase products made overseas for Government use unless they offer a distinct performance advantage unavailable from domestic products or are simply not produced here. Standard commodities do not fall into either of these categories.
Congressmen Walter B. Jones (R-NC) and Larry Kissell (D-NC) co-introduced the Department of Defense Textile and Apparel Procurement Fairness Act which would close loopholes permitting DOD to get around rules in the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act meant to limit DOD purchases of clothing and textile-based military equipment from Federal Prison Industries (FPI). FPI currently enjoys procurement preferences. Their workforce is comprised of incarcerated federal prisoners. Although FPI is Government run, as you can imagine, this captive workforce allows them to maximize profit and with directed set asides from DoD they have garnered a great deal of textile related military contracts. For example, in 2010 FPI posted a $36 million profit in their apparel and textile business alone.
This means that businesses that employ law-abiding citizens are losing business to FPI and life saving equipment for our troops is being manufactured by convicted felons. In fact, several times in the past few years Personal Protective Equipment manufactured by FPI has failed testing.
“It is simply wrong for the U.S. government to administer a military procurement policy that favors giving jobs to felons over law-abiding Americans,†said Congressman Jones. “That is especially true during these difficult economic times.â€
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) also weighed in on the proposed legislation. “Swift passage of the DOD Textile and Apparel Procurement Fairness Act will create opportunities for job creation within the U.S. textile and apparel industry,†said AAFA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “As we explore every option to create and sustain jobs in the United States, our government should not put the employment of federal inmates over the employment of hardworking taxpayers.â€
According information released by the AAFA, “In 2010, the U.S. military spent more than $2 billion on uniforms, camouflage, training gear, and combat footwear for U.S. servicemen and women. Nearly $140 million of that business went to convicted felons in 24 federal prisons around the country under the auspices of Federal Prison Industries (FPI)”
HR 2312 would by limit FPI to 5% market share of any one product. It still allows them a place at the table. They just won’t sit at the head. We at SSD applaud the introduction of this legislation and look forward to its switch passage and implementation.
In his first appearance at the IDPA Carolina Cup Panteao Gun Team’s Robert Vogel dominated the match. Quickly establishing a lead at the match, by the end he had stretched his lead by over 31 seconds to take the title of Stock Service Pistol Division Champion and finished high overall in a field of over 330 shooters. In addition to his shooting acumen, Bob serves as a Police officer from Wapakoneta, Ohio and is the only 3 gun Distinguished Master in the sport of IDPA.
Bob Vogel also tried his luck on the Carolina Cup side match called “Calderone’s Return – The Hit Listâ€, based on an episode from the television series, Miami Vice. Using a stock Colt 1911 and Winchester 230 grain ball ammo, Vogel took the title of Top Hit Man 2011.
Other Panteao Gun Team members that came within the top three of their divisions included Tom Yost with 2nd Place Master in Stock Service Pistol with a time of 227.32, Mark Redl with 2nd Place Master in Custom Defense Pistol with a time of 222.26, and Tom Carpenter with 3rd Place Master in Enhanced Service Pistol with a time of 212.54. New team member Mike Talbott made his IDPA debut at the Carolina Cup, shooting his first match.
Wrapping up the Carolina Cup, the Panteao Gun Team hosted a Shooting Sports Clinic for match participants. Over 50 people attended the free clinic that was taught by Mark Redl, Tom Yost, Dave Harrington, and Bob Vogel.
Congrats Bob!
American Technologies Network, makers of military, law enforcement, security and outdoor night vision and thermal applications, has announced that they are bringing Chris Shugart aboard as ATN’s new Marketing and Advertising Manager. He brings a great deal of marketing experience to the job.
Shugart previously owned and operated an advertising agency providing clients with full-service, in-house capabilities. As an entrepreneur, Shugart also teamed up with his father, Al Shugart, founder and CEO of Seagate Technology to establish and promote Carmel Bay Publishing. It was during this period that Shugart also dabbled in political marketing including creating campaign materials and website design. Shugart’s early experience in the political arena led him to start a radio show, Uncommon Sense, the basis of the show helped found the American Association of Independent Voters, a non-profit political action organization.
“I’ve been involved in marketing and advertising virtually all of my professional life. My hands-on experience covers just about every facet of strategy, design and production,” Chris Shugart commented. Chris brings an extensive set of talents and skills to any project, with a solid background in a variety of mediums and venues. He also has a diverse knowledge of products and services, covering a wide range of industries serving both the consumer and the business sector. “Sometimes it seems like there’s nothing I haven’t done—at least once, anyway.”
James Munn, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for ATN, added, “We are very pleased to have someone with such an extensive background in marketing join ATN. Chris Shugart recognizes that compelling promotional campaigns are ultimately not about the technology, but about the content. And creating effective content requires expertise and know-how best left to those who have mastered the creative techniques of business communications.â€
Congrats Chris!
This video hosted by Icebreaker Founder Jeremy Moon gives you a great insight into their supply chain. It’s important for those outside industry to get an idea of how much goes into those garments you wear. While New Zealand-based Icebreaker specializes in merino wool, a similar tale can be told for most any product you use. The more complex the product, the larger the supply chain.
Icebreaker tactical products are available from Mission Ready Equipment.
I hadn’t heard of ROMO Productions until just a few days ago. Turns out, they are a Woman/Minority-Owned and Operated Small Business with over 35 years of manufacturing highly technical garments for the Surf and Active Sports Industry. Then, three years ago, they took that experience and applied it to the Military contracting world.
They currently serve as Prime Contractor for the USMC Physical Training Uniform and have successfully delivered over 600,000 units, with zero returns so far. That’s pretty impressive. By far, the USMC running suit is the envy of all of the services and in a recent meeting with military bloggers Sergeant Major of the Army Chandler related that there was interest within the Army leadership to take a look at their running suit and look at ways to improve it.
They have done such a great job on the USMC running suit that we thought it would be good to let folks know about them.
They offer development and technical design engineering capabilities, are multi-lingual and utilize and develop automated technology, practice lean production techniques, offer 24 hour real time inventory access so you can view what is going on with your product materials, work-in-progress reports, purchase orders, etc. Also, they practice in-line accountability at each step of the manufacturing process to eliminate errors and waste. This also mitigates bottle necks in all departments including production, sourcing, logistics and administration.
Co-Owners Rhonda Valles, President/CEO and Monica Salci, VP/Client Relations, stated that, “Loyalty and values are everything to us. We are partners/teammates, not just contract sewers, and our processes are systematic, efficient, lean and intuitive, assuring a comprehensive, fluid and symbiotic co-managing environment. We are looking to establish ourselves as valued partners as a government apparel vendor and build those relationships on a foundation of trust and old fashioned work ethic so that we add ‘value’ to your business, procurement and supply chainâ€.
From what we’ve gathered, ROMO Productions offers two advantages; quality, scaled production and woman owned small business. This means Government buyers can meet their small business set aside needs and receive well built products that are delivered on schedule.
To learn more, visit www.ROMOProductions.com.
The Department of Justice recently announced that Ultralife Corporation has agreed to pay $2.7 million to resolve allegations that the battery manufacturer violated the False Claims Act.
In an investigation conducted by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the DCIS, and the US Army Criminal Investigation Command it was found that Ultralife employees knowingly provided failed to provide current, accurate and complete cost and pricing data related to three contracts with the US Army to provide Ultralife’s lithium-manganese dioxide non-rechargeable batteries that are used in a variety of military applications. They gave government contracting personnel with false certifications concerning the company’s cost and pricing information, which was not current, accurate and complete as required by law. As a result of the defective price disclosures, the Army paid inflated prices for the batteries it purchased.
“Contractors who improperly pass inflated costs on to the American taxpayers undermine the public’s trust,†said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This case demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to holding accountable contractors who attempt to overcharge the government for purchases.â€
“Those who work for the government as contractors have a duty of honesty to the American taxpayers, said US Attorney for the Western District of New York William J. Hochul Jr. “We will continue to use the False Claims Act and all other civil legal tools at our disposal to address contractors that seek to avoid their disclosure obligations when selling products to the United States government.â€
“The American taxpayer expects the Department of Defense and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service to be champions of fiscal accountability and acquisition integrity,†said Edward T. Bradley, Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Northeast Field Office. “Today’s settlement is evidence of the commitment of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service to vigorously investigate procurement fraud allegations.”
