San Jose @ MindSay 
san jose area
Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Chantilly, Va., is being awarded a $312,495,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design/build to collocated Military Department (MILDEP) Investigative Agencies, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va. The contract value includes contract line item 000l, base bid, three chillers enhancement, heater exchange enhancement, upgraded lobby/finish enhancement, and upgrade executive spaces enhancement. The contract is incrementally funded with the first increment of $134,066,765 being allocated at the time of award. The scope of the contract includes complete design and construction of the Collocated MILDEP Investigative Agencies, authorized under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) initiatives. This project involves the construction of a multi-story facility/facilities for the BRAC directed collocation of Military Department Investigative Agencies (MDIA) composed of the Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA), Headquarters Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), Headquarters Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Headquarters Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and the Defense Security Service (DSS). It also includes the construction of a collocated "School House" for the Joint Counterintellegence Training Academy (JCITA) and the DSS and off-site development of utilities, bridge and roadway improvements. The work will be performed at the Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va., and is expected to be complete by June 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities websites, where five proposals were received for Phase I. Three proposals were submitted under Phase II and a negotiation period followed with conclusion by submission of a final proposal. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity, contract number (N40080-08-C-0020).
McDonnell Douglas Corp., DBA the Boeing Company, St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $153,044,318 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for an Assault Breaching System (ABS) Countermine System (CMS). The CMS will use a precision guided, stand-off munition capable of delivery by Air Force (AF) bombers and Navy (USN) tactical aircraft (TACAIR). The CMS shall attack surface laid and buried mines through a controlled dispense of countermine munitions. These munitions will be designed to neutralize mines and either consume the explosive fill or to cause a detonation of the mine. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo. (40 percent); Orlando, Fla. (31 percent); Niceville, Fla. (16 percent); and Mesa, Ariz. (13 percent), and work is expected to be completed by September 2013. The contract will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division website, with multiple proposals solicited and one offer received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla. is the contracting activity (N61331-08-C-0032).
DG21 LLC, Dallas, Texas, is being awarded an estimated $28,365,264 modification P00034 under previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract with award fee provisions (N62742-06-D-4501) to exercise the second option period for Base Operating Support Services at the U.S. Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia in support of its mission in the British Indian Ocean Territory. The work to be performed provides for all management, labor, administration, supervision, materials, supplies, and equipment. After exercise of this modification, the total cumulative contract amount will be $467,728,084. Work will be performed at the U.S. Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, and is expected to be completed July 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The basic contract was competitively procured with 78 offers solicited, three proposals received, and award made to DG21 on 06 July 2006. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.
Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., is being awarded an $11,750,505 modification to delivery order #0056 under their existing previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-04-D-5016) for the installation of reducible height armor kits and survivability upgrade kits on Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) variants. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis. (70 percent); Jacksonville, N.C. (22 percent); and Oceanside, Calif. (8 percent), and work for this delivery order is expected to be completed by June 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
Tetra Tech EC, Inc. (company's name changed from Tetra Tech Foster Wheeler, Inc.), San Diego, Calif. is being awarded $7,495,141 for modification 42 to Task Order #0072 under a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N68711-98-D-5713) for base-wide radiological surveys and remediation at Hunters Point Shipyard. Work will be performed in San Francisco, Calif., and is expected to be completed June 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Northrop Grumman Technical Services Sector, Herndon, Va., is being awarded a $6,322,098 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for approximately 89,886 hours of engineering and logistics services in support of E-2C, C-2A test and E-2D System Design and Development (SDD) aircraft located at the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWO ZERO (VX-20), Patuxent River, Md. Services to be provided include modification and preparation of the aircraft for test operations, correct safety of flight discrepancies, quality control inspections, engineering investigations, and logistics and parts support. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md., and is expected to be completed in July 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-08-C-0065).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Hess Corp., Woodbridge, N.J., is being awarded a maximum $69,992,650 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for direct supply natural gas. Other locations of performance are N.Y., Mass., Pa., and N.H. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Federal civilian Agencies. There were originally 166 proposals solicited with 37 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-7508).
JCB Inc., Pooler, Ga., was awarded on Jul. 28, a $6,151,111 contract for definitizing a current UCA for the procurement of 50 Add-on-Armor B-Kits for High Mobility Engineer Excavator vehicles, and the associated integrated logistics support. Work will be performed in Pooler, Ga., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 23, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on Jan. 4, 2008. U.S. Army TACOM LCMC, Warren, MI, Deployment Acquisition Group, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-05-D-0414).
BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services, Inc, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded on Jul. 28, 2008, a $22,782,322 cost plus award fee, contract for logistical support and services consisting of the three major functional areas of maintenance, transportation and supply on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Work will be performed in Schofield Barracks, East Range, Fort Shafter, Wheeler Army Airfield, Island of Oahu; and Pohakuloa Training Area, Island of Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2017. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were 54 bids solicited on Jun. 16, 2006, and 7 bids were received. Regional Contracting Office, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (W912CN-08-C-0085).
BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services, Inc, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded on July 28, 2008, a $22,782,322 cost plus award fee, contract for logistical support and services consisting of the three major functional areas of maintenance, transportation and supply on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Work will be performed in Schofield Barracks, East Range, Fort Shafter, Wheeler Army Airfield, Island of Oahu; and Pohakuloa Training Area, Island of Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2017. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were 54 bids solicited on Jun. 16, 2006, and seven bids were received. Regional Contracting Office, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (W912CN-08-C-0085).
The Air Force is exercising an option by modifying a firm fixed price contract for $34,074,850 with Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, Ariz. This action will provide for MALD Low Rate Initial Production units (154 assets), Explosive Ordnance Disposal Trainer (5 assets), Decoy Trainers (41 assets), and Warranty for the LRIP units. At this time all funds have been obligated. 692 ARSS/PK, Eglin AFB, Fla., is the contracting activity (F08635-03-C-0002 P00079).
The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract for $7.5 million with Northrop Grumman Mission Systems/Electromagnetic Systems Laboratory of San Jose, Calif. The purpose of this action is to award the ASIP Objective Performance Incentive. At this time all funds have been obligated. USAF/AFMC, Reconnaissance Systems Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-03-C-4318 Mod Nr: P00060).
Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems, Inc., Bethesda, Md., is being awarded a $36,893,216 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-incentive-fee/cost-plus-fixed-fee, performance-based contract with provisions for firm-fixed price orders to provide Joint Medical Information Systems information assurance technical support services, including, but is not limited to, Network Operations, Network Security, Computer Network Defense, Security Life Cycle Management, Identity Management, Public Key Infrastructure Implementation and Engineering Support, Security Policy and Standards Guidance and Development, Secure Wireless Network Infrastructure Support, Secure Network Infrastructure Systems and Applications, Governance, Certification and Accreditation, Risk Management, Security Engineering, Cryptographic Repair, Crypto Modernization, and Cross Domain solutions that Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston and Naval Network Warfare Command support. This contract includes four one-year option periods, which, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated amount of $189,865,750. Work will be performed in Charleston, S.C., and work is expected to be completed by May 2009 (May 2013 with options exercised). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competitive procedures via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center E-commerce website, with six offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-08-D-6801).
Communication and Ear Protection*, Enterprise, Ala., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $25,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research Program under Topic N02-151, entitled "Passive Noise Reduction Technology to Improve Speech Intelligibility and Reduce Noise for Pilot and Deck Crew Helmet Mounted Systems." The contractor will provide services and materials for engineering tasks, including research and development, prototype and testing of the hearing protection devices. Work will be performed in Enterprise, Ala., and work is expected to be completed in May 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $451,714 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using the SBIR Program Solicitation under Topic N02-151 and 16 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-08-D-0013).
General Electric Co., Aircraft Engines Business Group, Lynn, Mass., is being awarded a $24,681,174 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0088) to exercise an option for the Fiscal Year 2008 Lot 12 procurement of seven F-414-GE-400 spare engines for the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in Lynn, Mass., (50 percent); Madisonville, Ky., (22 percent); Hooksett, N.H., (13 percent); Albuquerque, N.M., (6 percent); Rutland, Vt., (5 percent); Dayton, Ohio, (2 percent); Evandale, Ohio, (1 percent); and Bromont, Canada, (1 percent), and work is expected to be completed in Jun. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Communication & Power Industries, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., is being awarded a $12,757,800 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for major repair/remanufacture of Traveling Wave Tubes (TWTs) and new TWTs for the AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Countermeasures System. The AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Countermeasures System performs deception jamming of missile seekers and noise jamming of targeting radars. It can track multiple emitters and provides ship protection from radar-directed anti-ship missiles as well as confusing targeting radars on hostile platforms. The TWTs are integral parts of the jammer. Work will be performed in Palo Alto, Calif., and work is expected to be completed by May 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with a minimum of four proposals solicited and one offer received via Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Acquisition Department's website. The NSWC Crane, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-08-D-GR15).
Lockheed Martin-MS2, Liverpool, N.Y., is being awarded a $10,061,579 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the production and support of Multi Function Towed Arrays for the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Antisubmarine Warfare Combat Systems. MFTA is the next generation passive and active sonar receiver. It affords several enhancements to the AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array System (TACTAS) allowing greater coverage, increased capability/reliability, and reduced obsolescence. MFTA significantly contributes to the capability of surface ships to detect, localize, and prosecute undersea threats, and is a critical sensor to a combat systems suite. Work will be performed in Syracuse, N.Y., (60 percent); Baltimore, Md., (20 percent); Cleveland, Ohio, (14 percent); and Phoenix, Ariz., (6 percent), and work is expected to be complete by Dec. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with one proposal solicited and two offers received via the Federal Business Opportunities website. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-08-C-6282).
Vision Systems International*, San Jose, Calif., is being awarded a $6,235,379 firm-fixed-price, definitive-contract for the stand-up of an organic repair depot for the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System. The repair depot shall be established to provide Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane with in-house repair capability for failed Display Units. Work will be performed in Crane, Ind., and work is expected to be completed by April 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The solicitation was posted on Federal Business Opportunities website and the NSWC Crane website, with one proposal solicited and one offer received. NSWC Crane, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-08-C-JQ41).
C. Martin Co., Inc., Las Vegas, N.V., was awarded on May 8, 2008, a $12,609,094 firm-fixed price incentive fee contract for installation support services. Work will be performed in Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, and is expected to be completed by Jun. 1, 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 21 bids were solicited on Jun. 27, 2007, and three bids were received. Department of the Army, Installation Contracting Command, Dugway, Utah, is the contracting activity (W911S6-08-C-0003).
AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Md., was awarded on May 8, 2008, a $45,386,253 firm-fixed price contract for two SHADOW unmanned aerial vehicle systems and associated support equipment. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Md., and is expected to be completed by May 15, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Aug. 16, 2007. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0023).
Laughlin-Thyssen, Inc., Houston, Texas, was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $23,448,135 firm-fixed price contract for construction of a channel improvement project. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Feb. 4, 2008. U.S. Army Engineer District, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-08-C-0020).
Harper Construction Co., Inc., San Diego, Calif., was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $22,022,448 firm-fixed price contract for re-stationing of 31st Air Defense Artillery including construction of primary infrastructure and site development. Work will be performed at Fort Sill, Okla., and is expected to be completed by Mar. 1, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Sept. 21, 2007, and two bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Tulsa, Okla., is the contracting activity (@912BV-08-C-2002).
MWH Construction Inc., Broomfield, Colo., was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $15,000,000 firm-fixed price contract for design and construction of three company operation facilities. Work will be performed at Fort Sill, Okla., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 5, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Six bids were solicited on Dec. 18, 2007, and five bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-08-D-0019).
K&S Associates, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded on May 8, 2008, a $10,170,000 firm-fixed price contract for design and construction of squadron operations facilities. Work will be performed at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 2, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Mar. 3, 2008, and six bids were received. Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-08-C-0017).
Turner Denny Construction Co., Virginia Beach, Va., was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $5,811,295 firm-fixed price contract for an information systems server farm addition. Work will be performed at Fort Lee, Va., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two bids were solicited on Dec. 21, 2007, and two bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (W91236-05-D-0054).
.Imagine my surprise when I discovered that actual people live in this fairy land (and I mean that in the least offensive way possible). People who will talk to me on the phone, respond to me online, and post photos of themselves on blog-like websites. Most unusual was that these actual people allegedly living in this oddity of a place called "California" would continue conversing with me under this facade of friendship for over a year-and-a-half. After that milestone passed, I thought it might be time to meet these possibly fictitious people. Smell them out. See if we were actually the same species.
.I packed no jackets--nothing to keep me warm--because in imaginary California it is always hot with an ungodly amount of sun. I nervously passed through security like an illegal immigrant with cocaine in my bowels and continued on to my gate. Even down to boarding my flight to San Jose, I had my doubts. Who or what would greet me? Do they have a different sort of special greeting there? Should I have packed ceremonial robes of some type?
.But the plane really did land in San Jose, California. And Monique, or holythejazz, really did pick me up from the airport. No matter what she tells you, she has very nice teeth. And her mother makes excellent Indian food.
.I don't know what part of my trip to California was my favorite. I loved it all. It's one of the most unique, interesting, and amazing places I've ever been. Everywhere I went, someone was speaking in a foreign language. Everyone was moving, living, and thinking. A thinking population is incredibly important. It's rare these days.
.I saw a Rufus Wainwright show in San Francisco one night, rediscovering how much I really love him. That same night, we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge all lit up in the dark and looked out at the city from across the water. I drank Chinese beer in Chinatown and ate miniature donuts in a tourist trap. I saw a Walgreen's covered in rainbow flags and a man offered me coupons to a porn shop that sold synthetic fists. I saw the ocean for the first time in Santa Cruz on a private beach cradled by grassy cliffs. A man was wandering about in the nude and made Monique a bit uncomfortable. I walked about the streets of Berkeley hand in hand with a boy I've known for so long but never really knew. And he held me. In public. And I didn't care because I was happy. I got lost in the pretentiousness of the mock wine country of Saratoga. I rode the train from Antioch to Mountain View, changing twice (almost the length of the routes of both BART and the Caltrain). I even ate at the fabled "In N' Out."
.In the end, life was good. And, like so many vacations, I didn't want to go home. The odd thing was, it wasn't like the time you went to Disney World as a kid and wanted to ride Space Mountain until it broke from exhaustion. No, I really didn't want to go home. For a split second, I thought, "This could work. I don't have to leave. I could stay here. I could escape the place in which I live that pales in comparison." But like a crying baby nextdoor, something disturbed me and I couldn't keep dreaming forever. You see, I was right. California isn't real. The dream of the West isn't real. And I will forever be stuck in the ugly, grey, unfunny comic strip in the Sunday paper no one reads. Here. In Texas. Someone take me home.
Our tour guide: I helped visiting professors by translating his Spanish to English.
Today I served as the translator for a tour at a cultural museum, it was so much fun! I really appreciated the fact that the guide spoke loudly and clearly. Something that surprised me was that he said that bamboo for homes was cut during the last phase of the moon because there is less gravitational pull. He said that during the last phase of the moon it is easier for women to give birth, better to sew seeds, and better to harvest. I had never heard this before – and I’m not quite sure I buy it.
Our guide told us that these ceramic roof tiles were traditional shaped by a part of a woman’s body – guess which part! I couldn’t figure it out at first.
The interior of a former Costa Rican President’s home.
After the tour of the historical home of a previous Costa Rican President, we learned how to make tortillas from scratch as well as a traditional fried dessert similar to an “elephant ear.” The only thing that we didn’t do for the tortillas was grind up the corn. I loved rolling the salty tortilla dough. I tried both the El Salvadorean method (taught by Karen) and the Costa Rican method. For the El Salvadorean method you make a wheel in your hands and the Costa Rican method is to spin the dough on the table and guide a round shape by cupping your hands. I made Karen promise that if we are both in Baltimore this summer we would make tortillas.
Brenna, Karen, and I model our tortillas before they are baked.
She bakes our tortillas. These museum workers were so sweet.
One of the ladies who worked at the museum wanted to know if there were any recipes in my culture that were passed down from one generation to another. I told her the traditional American was apple pie. I also explained to her what I donut was, but she was disappointed when I told her that most people buy donuts instead of making them at home. Now I feel like I should learn to make apple pie. Currently I only know how to make my Grandma’s White Christmas Coconut pie. Yum! So much of culture revolves around food!
The pastry is rolled thin before being fried in Crisco.
A museum display of traditional Costa Rican masks used for parades and festivals.
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