MBN: THE MONTE BUBBLES NETWORK

Three U.S. soldiers and two Marines have
been killed in Iraq, military officials reported, and the Defense
Department has identified nine earlier casualties.

-- Two Task Force Lightning soldiers attached to 25th Combat Aviation
Brigade were killed when a helicopter crashed in Salah Ad Din province
today. No enemy fire was observed in the area at that time. The incident
is under investigation.

-- One soldier assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, died
today from wounds suffered due to enemy action in Anbar province.

-- One Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 died today from
wounds suffered on Nov 4 due to enemy action while operating in Al Anbar
Province.

-- One Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 died Nov. 4 from
wounds suffered due to enemy action while operating in Anbar province.
The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of
next of kin.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department released the identities of nine
servicemembers killed recently supporting the global war on terrorism.

-- Army Spc. James L. Bridges, 22, of Buhl, Idaho, died Nov. 4 in
Baghdad, when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms
fire. Bridges was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd
Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Ala.

-- Army Lt Col. Paul J. Finken, 40, of Mason City, Iowa; Lt. Col. Eric
J. Kruger, 40, of Garland, Texas; and Staff Sgt. Joseph A. Gage, 28, of
Modesto, Calif., died Nov. 2 in Baghdad of injuries suffered when a
roadside bomb detonated near their vehicles. Finken and Gage were assigned
to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team,
101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky. Kruger was assigned to the
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo..

-- Army Pvt. Michael P. Bridges, 23, of Placentia, Calif., died Nov. 2
in Taji, Iraq, from a non-combat related incident. Bridges was assigned
to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry
Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

-- Army Maj. Douglas E. Sloan, 40, of Evans Mills, N.Y.; Sgt. Charles
J. McClain, 26, of Fort Riley, Kan.; and Pfc. Alex Oceguera, 19, of San
Bernardino, Calif., died of injuries suffered when a roadside bomb
detonated near their vehicle Oct. 31 in Wygal Valley, Afghanistan. All
soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd
Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

-- Army Spc. Isaiah Calloway, 23, of Jacksonville, Fla., died Oct. 30
in Marah, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered when his unit came in
contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire. Calloway was assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, Hohenfels, Germany.
 

 DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers
who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died of injuries
suffered when an IED detonated near their vehicle Oct. 31 in Wygal
Valley, Afghanistan.

Killed were:

Maj. Douglas E. Sloan, 40, of Evans Mills, N.Y.

Sgt. Charles J. McClain, 26, of Fort Riley, Kan. He later died in
Asadabad, Afghanistan.
Pfc. Alex Oceguera, 19, of San Bernardino, Calif.

Sloan and Oceguera were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry
Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum,
N.Y.

McClain was assigned to the 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade
Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. James L. Bridges, 22, of Buhl, Idaho, died Nov. 4 in Baghdad,
Iraq, when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms
fire during combat operations. Bridges was assigned to the 2nd Battalion,
1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort
Wainwright, Ala.

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers
who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Nov. 2 in
Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an IED detonated near their
vehicles.

Killed were:

Lt. Col. Paul J. Finken, 40, of Mason City, Iowa.

Lt. Col. Eric J. Kruger, 40, of Garland, Texas.

Staff Sgt. Joseph A. Gage, 28, of Modesto, Calif.

Finken and Gage were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry
Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell,
Ky. Kruger was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry
Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.
 

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers
who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died of injuries
suffered when an IED detonated near their vehicle Oct. 31 in Wygal
Valley, Afghanistan. All soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd
Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort
Drum, N.Y.

Killed were:

Maj. Douglas E. Sloan, 40, of Evans Mills, N.Y.

Sgt. Charles J. McClain, 26, of Fort Riley, Kan. He later died in
Asadabad, Afghanistan.
Pfc. Alex Oceguera, 19, of San Bernardino, Calif.

 A soldier and a Marine were killed yesterday
in Iraq, officials in Iraq reported today.

A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier died when terrorists attacked
his patrol with small-arms fire in western Baghdad.

The Marine was a member of Regimental Combat Team 7 and died from
non-hostile causes while operating in Al Anbar province.

Officials are withholding the names of both pending notification of
next of kin.

In addition, the Defense Department announced the names of two Marines
who died while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Luke B. Holler, 21, of Bulverde, Texas, died Nov. 2 while
conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned
to Marine Forces Reserve's 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine
Division, San Antonio, Texas.

Cpl. Michael H. Lasky, 22, of Sterling, Alaska, died Nov. 2 while
conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to
Marine Forces Reserve's 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine
Division, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

  Pvt. Michael P. Bridges, 23, of Placentia, Calif., died Nov. 2 in
Taji, Iraq, from a non-combat related incident.Bridges was assigned to the
1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division,
Fort Hood, Texas.

This incident is under investigation.

With National Veterans Awareness Week under
way and the national Veterans Day observance on Nov. 11, the Veterans
Affairs secretary is urging all veterans to show their pride by wearing
their military medals.

R. James Nicholson's "Veterans Pride" initiative calls on veterans to
wear the medals they earned while in uniform this Veterans Day to "let
America know who you are and what you did for freedom," he said.

The campaign is modeled after a tradition in Australia and New Zealand,
countries that honor the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, or
ANZAC, every April 25. The observance originally commemorated more than
8,000 Australians killed during the battle of Gallipoli during World War
I, but now honors all Australian and New Zealand veterans.

Last year, while attending ANZAC ceremonies in Sydney, Nicholson said
he was struck to see all the veterans and surviving family members
wearing their military medals and campaign ribbons.

"It focused public pride and attention on those veterans as individuals
with personal histories of service and sacrifice for the common good,"
he noted in a message to veterans. "That is why I am calling on
America's veterans to wear their military medals this Veterans Day, Nov. 11,
2006."

Nicholson and leaders of major veterans groups announced the initiative
during an Oct. 18 ceremony here at the VA headquarters.

Wearing their medals, he said, "will demonstrate the deep pride our
veterans have in their military service and bring Veterans Day home to all
American citizens."

"We expect Americans will see our decorated heroes unite in spirit at
ceremonies, in parades and elsewhere as a compelling symbol of courage
and sacrifice on Veterans Day, the day we set aside to thank those who
served and safeguarded our national security," Nicholson said at the
ceremony.

Nicholson and the veterans group leaders hope to start a new tradition
in which U.S. veterans wear their military medals every Veterans Day,
Memorial Day and Fourth of July.

More information about the Veterans Pride campaign is posted on the VA
Web site. The site also helps veterans determine where to go to replace
lost medals or to confirm which decorations they're entitled to wear.

 

 President Bush officially declared this week
National Veterans Awareness Week and urged all Americans to honor
veterans who "stepped forward when America needed them most."

As the president proclaimed a weeklong tribute to the nation's 25
million veterans, the U.S. Senate issued a resolution encouraging Americans
to commemorate it by teaching young people about the contributions
veterans have made through the country's history.

Bush issued a proclamation paying tribute to "America's men and women
in uniform (who) have defeated tyrants, liberated continents and set a
standard of courage and idealism for the entire world."

Military members have protected the United States through its history,
he said, placing the country's security before their own lives in a way
the country can never repay. "Our veterans represent the best of
America, and they deserve the best America can give them," he said.

The president urged Americans to pause this Veterans Day to honor it's
the country's soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen
and to remember that defending freedom involves "great loss and
sacrifice."

"This Veterans Day, we give thanks to those who have served freedom's
cause," he said. "We salute the members of our armed forces who are
confronting our adversaries abroad."

The president paid special tribute to "the men and women who left
America's shores but did not live to be thanked as veterans."

"They will always be remembered by our country," he said.

Meanwhile, a Senate resolution designating this week National Veterans
Awareness Week emphasizes the need to develop educational programs
regarding veterans' contributions to the country.

Senate Resolution 507 recognizes the tens of millions of Americans who
have served in the armed forces during the past century and the
hundreds of thousands who have given their lives in that service.

It notes that the all-volunteer force has resulted in "sharp decline"
in the number of Americans personally connected to the military and, as
a result, the decrease in young people's awareness about "the nature
and importance of the accomplishments of those who have served in the
armed forces."

Recognizing that the system of civilian control of the military "makes
it essential that future leaders ... understand the history of military
action and the contributions and sacrifices of those who conduct such
actions," the Senate resolution encourages Veterans Day activities that
focus on related educational programs.

Veterans Day School Kits for teachers as well as students are posted on
the VA Web site to support those programs.

 DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

  Spc. Isaiah Calloway, 23, of Jacksonville, Fla., died Oct. 30 in
Marah, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered when his unit came in contact
with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations.Calloway
was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, Hohenfels,
Germany.

DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who
were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Luke B. Holler, 21, of Bulverde, Texas, died Nov. 2 while
conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned
to Marine Forces Reserve's 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine
Division, San Antonio, Texas.
Cpl. Michael H. Lasky, 22, of Sterling, Alaska, died Nov. 2 while
conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to
Marine Forces Reserve's 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine
Division, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.

109th Airlift Wing Makes Historic South Pole Landing

An
LC-130 Hercules from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing
touched down at the South Pole on Oct. 30 to commemorate the first plane
landing there 50 years ago.

On Oct. 31, 1956, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Gus Shinn landed a ski-equipped R4D-5
(a Navy version of the DC-3) named "Que Sera Sera" at the South Pole.
On that landmark day, with temperatures near minus 60 degrees
Fahrenheit, Shinn kept the engines running while Navy Adm. George Dufek stepped
out of the plane and became the first person in more than four decades
to stand at the Pole.

This week, Skier 00, assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing in support of
Operation Deep Freeze and piloted by Air Force Maj. Carlyle Norman,
continued the tradition with the landing of a ski-equipped LC-130 in a
ground temperature of near minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit, 109th AW officials
said.

"This commemorative landing signifies much more than just the first
aircraft landing at the South Pole," Air Force Col. Anthony German, 109th
AW commander, said. "It is a testament that our U.S. military is
uniquely equipped to support the National Science Foundation and U.S.
Antarctic Program in its mission to explore Antarctica. The 109th Airlift Wing
is proud to be a part of this legacy."

From 1955 until 1999, the Navy's Antarctic Development Squadron 6 flew
various aircraft, including LC-130s, in support of the U.S. Antarctic
Program. In 1998, at the Navy's request, the Air Force and Air National
Guard took over command of Department of Defense support to the
program. The Navy unit continued to augment the Air National Guard with LC-130
flights until it was disestablished in March 1999.

The 109th Airlift Wing is the only unit in the world to have the
ski-equipped LC-130 aircraft with responsibility for supporting scientific
research in the northern and southern polar regions.

DoD is offering cash to teams that can build
a better robot.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency will award millions of
dollars in prize money to teams who win the Urban Challenge competition
in 2007, John J. Young, the director of defense research and
engineering, said today. The competition challenges teams to build independent
robotic ground vehicles. The vehicles will simulate military supply
missions in a mock urban area. Officials have not chosen where the
competition will be held.

Competitions like this are important to DoD because they showcase new
technologies and solutions, Young said. "They inspire scientists and
engineers to work on challenges facing the Defense Department," he said.

Such competitions also capture the imagination of the next generation
of scientists and engineers. "The competition will hopefully encourage
high school students to pursue math and science," Young said. "It's an
important objective for the department. It's not one that can be our
day-to-day pursuit, but long term it is very important to us."

The congressional action will allow the service research labs to
harness all these benefits and sponsor other competitions. "There is a range
of opportunities here," Young said. "I brainstormed it with members of
my team. We could have a challenge in the field of mine detection, we
could have a competition on alternative energy sources, or energy
efficient vehicles.

"We could have a competition on language and text translation," he
continued. "That's a real issue we face right now; the range of languages
we face is a problem."

The final event of Urban Challenge will be Nov. 3, 2007. During the
event, robotic vehicles will attempt to complete a 60-mile course through
traffic in less than six hours, operating under their own
computer-based control. To succeed, vehicles must obey traffic laws while merging
into moving traffic, navigating traffic circles, negotiating busy
intersections and avoiding obstacles.

The top three teams that complete the 60-mile course in less than six
hours will receive trophies and cash prizes. First place will receive a
$2 million prize; second is $500,000; and third, $250,000. Eighty-nine
teams are involved in the competition.

Urban Challenge is an outgrowth of DARPA's 2004 Grand Challenge, which
sought a robot vehicle that could operate autonomously on-road and
off-road. Teams from industry, colleges and high schools fielded vehicles
for the event.

Young said Congress provided additional guidance on conducting prize
competitions in the fiscal 2007 National Defense Authorization Act. "The
Congress recognized the success of the DARPA Grand Challenge and
provided the Defense Department the chance to expand the use of this tool
beyond DARPA to service laboratories and agencies," he said.

Organizers of some of the 130-plus Freedom
Walks around the country that commemorated the fifth anniversary of the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and honored
America's veterans gathered here at the Pentagon today to explore ways to
make next year's event even more successful.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld thanked the organizers for making
this year's Freedom Walk observances a big success. He praised them, and
all other groups that make up the Defense Department's America Supports
You program, for their generosity and compassion. "It's an
inspiration," he said, "and you are all a part of that."

Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public
affairs who organized the first Freedom Walk in Washington in 2005, thanked
this year's organizers for building on that concept and taking it
national.

She recalled the 2005 Freedom Walk, which attracted some 15,000
participants who walked from the Washington Monument to the Pentagon. Even as
that event was still in the planning stages, Barber said Defense
Department officials already were setting their sites on expanding it to
other parts of the country.

"You made that work" and are helping establish "a new national
tradition that is becoming part of the fabric of this country," she told the
Freedom Walk organizers today.

"Thank you for understanding the importance of the Freedom Walk and of
honoring our veterans past and present and remembering what happened on
Sept. 11," she said.

Marine Col. Katie Haddock represented Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in thanking the organizers and called
their efforts "heartwarming." In her travels with Pace, Haddock said she
frequently hears troops ask the general if, five years after the Sept.
11 terror attacks, the American people are still behind them. Events
like the Freedom Walk demonstrate that they are, she said.

"Thank you for your energy in putting Freedom Walks together so we can
hold that up for the troops to show them that yes, the American people
are out there," she said.

Among participants in today's session was 9-year-old Colton Lockner,
who organized a Freedom Walk in Sebring, Ohio, that attracted some 2,000
participants. Lockner was thrilled by the opportunity to meet with
fellow Freedom Walk organizers at the Pentagon, but admitted to being torn
because he had hoped to maintain his perfect attendance record at
school until he graduates. Only when his principal assured him that his
absence wouldn't be counted against him, did Lockner decide to accept his
Pentagon invitation.

As Lockner and other Freedom Walk organizers shared their experiences,
they agreed that the Freedom Walk momentum created in September will
continue to build.

Will Schmutz, who helped organize the Chicago Freedom Walk, said cold
rain during this year's event did little to dampen the participants'
enthusiasm. "After the walk, people were coming out of the woodwork,
asking if we were going to do it again next year," he said.

Cathy Williams, an organizer for the Bellevue, Neb., Freedom Walk
agreed. "People are already talking about what we can do next year," she
said.

C. Renzi Stone, who helped plan Oklahoma City's Freedom Walk, said the
state's five military bases and the city's own history of terrorism
made it a natural fit for a Freedom Walk. "Bringing the Freedom Walk to
Oklahoma seemed like a no-brainer," he said. "We had great community
support and a very successful event."

The organizers called Freedom Walks a tangible way for people to
commemorate Sept. 11 and pay tribute to those who protected the country
through its history and continue to defend it today.

"People want to be a part of recognizing our troops and showing
support," said George Goldsmith, from Columbia, S.C. "The Freedom Walk offers
them a way to do that."

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

AmeriQual Group, LLC, Evansville, Ind., is being awarded a maximum
$167,590,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment for Meal Ready to
Eat and Humanitarian Daily Ration. Using services are Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marine Corps, and Federal civilian agencies. This is an
indefinite quantity type contract. There were 3 proposals solicited and 3
responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Date of performance completion is December 31, 2007. Contracting
activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa.
(SPM3S1-06-D-Z103).

SOPAKCO, Inc., Mullins, S.C., * is being awarded a maximum
$148,311,250 fixed price with economic price adjustment for Meal Ready to Eat and
Humanitarian Daily Ration. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marine Corps, and Federal civilian agencies. This is an indefinite
quantity type contract. There were 3 proposals solicited and 3 responded.
Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of
performance completion is December 31, 2007. Contracting activity is
the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa.
(SPM3S1-06-D-Z104).

The Wornick Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum
$140,481,250 fixed price with economic price adjustment for Meal Ready to
Eat and Humanitarian Daily Ration. Using services are Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marine Corps, and Federal civilian agencies. This is an indefinite
quantity type contract. There were 3 proposals solicited and 3
responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Date of performance completion is December 31, 2007. Contracting activity
is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa.
(SPM3S1-06-D-Z105).

AIR FORCE

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Ill., is being
awarded a $104,600,000 firm-fixed-price, time and material contract. This
contract is for LAIRCM System to equip the NATO Airborne Early Warning and
Control (AEW&C) fleet of NE-3A aircraft. The Large Aircraft Infrared
Countermeasures (LAIRCM) program is comprised of 17 Group A kits, 7 Group
B kits, 10 additional Group B kits without small laser transmitter
assemblies, and supporting spares. The scope of the contract includes
installation and checkout of the LAIRCM system in the first (trial aircraft,
NL-1 at L-3 Com in Greenville, Texas) and second (kit proof aircraft,
NL-2 at EADS in Manching, Germany). The LAIRCM System Group B line
replaceable units are being procured as non-development item. Options are
available to add enhanced built in test for sensor window heater, new
electromagnetic emissions robust sensor design (if needed), flight test of
sensor, and equipping to trainer cargo aircraft. The contract
also provides contract logistic support. At this time, $51,254,000
have been obligated. Solicitations began September 2006 and negotiations
were complete November 2006. This work will be complete December 2009.
Headquarters 551st Electronic Systems Group, Hanscom Air Force Base,
Mass., is the contracting activity (FA8704-07-F-0001).

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Carson, Calif., is being awarded a
$28,879,568 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification. The Space
Superiority Systems Wing is exercising an award term option as a new contract
to continue development architectures to support the space control
mission area, offensive counterpace, defensive counterspace, and space
situational awareness. The period of performance is 1 November 2006 through
31 October 2008. At this time, $2,000,000 have been obligated. This
work will be complete October 2008. Headquarters Space and Missile Systems
Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity
(FA8819-07-C-0002/No modification number at this time).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Fla., is being awarded a $17,500,000
firm-fixed-price contract. This action is for C-130J training, FY07
contractor logistic support, aircrew, training system support Center and
FY07 change management. At this time, $17,250,000 have been obligated.
This work will be complete September 2007. Headquarters Aeronautical
Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting
activity (FA8621-06-C-6300).

Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo., is being
awarded a $12,998,118 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The contractor will
provide a significant improvement in capacity, throughout, responsiveness,
availability and flexibility over conventional parabolic reflector
antennas, in support of satellite tracking, telemetry and commanding
operations. This Advance Technology Demonstration (ATD) will serve as a
research and development vehicle to validate the Geodesic Dorm Phased Array
Antenna (GDPAA) concept, assess its full optional for satellite
operations support, and demonstrate its operational readiness for a full size
GDPAA acquisition program as well as integration into the Air Force
Satellite Control Network. At this time, $50,000 have been obligated.
Solicitations began July 2006 and negotiations were complete October 2006.
This work will be complete November 2009. Air Force Research Laboratory,
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting
activity (FA8650-07-C-1101).

Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $10,690,890
firm-fixed-price contract modification. This requirement covers
sustaining services including logistics support, program management support,
engineering services, spares and technical data in support of he C-130J
propulsion system which includes the AE 2100D3 engine and R-391
propeller system. This work will be complete January 2007. Headquarters 330th
Aircraft Sustainment Wing, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the
contracting activity (FA8504-06-C-0004/PZ0001).

NAVY

EDO MTECH, Inc., Warminster, Pa., is being awarded a $13,296,720
modification to a previous awarded firm-fixed-price contract
(N00019-05-C-0026) to exercise an option for the procurement of 175 BRU-55/A aircraft
bomb ejector racks, lot acceptance testing, and non-recurring
engineering that consist of testing and fabrication of sub assembly test
equipment. Work will be performed in Warminster, Pa., (99 percent) and
Bohemia, N.Y., (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2008.
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.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Marietta, Ga.,
is being awarded an $8,938,017 modification to a previously awarded
firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract
(N00019-06-D-0002) to exercise an option for engineering and logistics
services in support of S-3 aircraft. Services to be provided include
in-service engineering, integrated logistics support, integrated maintenance
program for aircraft depot-level scheduled maintenance, and material
oversight. Work will be performed in Marietta, Ga., and is expected to be
completed in September 2007. 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.

* Small Business

Nov. 3, 2006 - Four soldiers and four Marines have died in
Iraq over the past two days, U.S. officials announced. And officials
identified several other servicemembers killed previously.

-- Three Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers died around 2:15 p.m.
yesterday when the vehicle they were riding in was struck by a roadside
bomb in eastern Baghdad.

-- Three Marines assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7 died yesterday
from wounds suffered due to enemy action in Anbar province.

-- One Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 died yesterday from
injuries suffered due to enemy action in Anbar province.

-- A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier died around 10:30 a.m. Nov.
1 in a non-combat-related incident north of Baghdad.

The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of
next of kin.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department released the identities of three
servicemembers killed recently supporting the global war on terror.

-- Marine Cpl. Gary A. Koehler, 21, of Ypsilanti, Mich., died Nov. 1 in
Anbar province. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment,
2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

-- Marine Lance Cpl. Minhee Kim, 20, of Ann Arbor, Mich., died Nov. 1
in Anbar province. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 1st
Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Lansing, Mich.

-- Army Sgt. Michael R. Weidemann, 23, of Newport, R.I., died Oct. 31
in Hit, Iraq, from injuries suffered when a roadside bomb detonated near
his light medium tactical vehicle. Weidemann was assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division,
Giessen, Germany.
 

  Nov. 2, 2006 - Two U.S. soldiers are among the latest
casualties in Iraq, military officials reported, and the Defense Department has identified six earlier casualties.

-- A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier died around noon yesterday
when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by a roadside bomb west of
Baghdad.

-- A soldier assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7 died due to injuries
suffered from enemy action Oct. 31 while operating in Anbar province.

The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of
next of kin.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department released the identities of six
servicemembers killed recently supporting the global war on terror.

-- Marine Pfc. Jason Franco, 18, of Corona, Calif., died Oct. 31 from a
non-hostile incident in Anbar province. He was assigned to Marine
Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine
Aircraft Wing, Miramar, Calif.

-- Army Sgt. Kenneth E. Bostic, 21, of Hawthorne, Nev., died Oct. 30 in
Baghdad from injuries suffered from contact with enemy forces using
small-arms fire. Bostic was assigned to the 204th Military Police Company,
519th Military Police Battalion, 1st Combat Support Brigade, Fort Polk,
La.

-- Army Sgt. Kraig D. Foyteck, 26, of Skokie, Ill., died Oct. 30 in
Baghdad from injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy
forces using small-arms fire. Foyteck was assigned to the 2nd Battalion,
1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort
Wainwright, Alaska.

-- Army Sgt. Michael T. Seeley, 27, of Fredericton, New Brunswick,
Canada, died Oct. 30 in Baghdad from injuries suffered when a roadside bomb
detonated near his vehicle. Seeley was assigned to the 2nd Battalion,
8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,
Fort Hood, Texas.

-- Marine Lance Cpl. Troy D. Nealey, 24, of Eaton Rapids, Mich., died
Oct. 29 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province. He was
assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment,
4th Marine Division, Lansing, Mich.

-- Army Staff Sgt. Kyu H. Chay, 34, of Fayetteville, N.C., died Oct. 28
in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered when a
roadside bomb detonated near his combat patrol. Chay was assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Minhee Kim, 20, of Ann Arbor, Mich., died Nov. 1 while
conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.He was assigned to
Marine Forces Reserve's 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine
Division, Lansing, Mich.

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cpl. Gary A. Koehler, 21, of Ypsilanti, Mich., died Nov. 1 while
conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.He was assigned to
1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Kraig D. Foyteck, 26, of Skokie, Ill., died Oct. 30 in Baghdad,
Iraq, from injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy
forces using small arms fire during combat operations. Foyteck was
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade
Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

 DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Kenneth E. Bostic, 21, of Hawthorne, Nev., died Oct. 30 in
Baghdad, Iraq, from injuries suffered from contact with enemy forces using
small arms fire during check point operations. Bostic was assigned to the
204th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, 1st
Combat Support Brigade, Fort Polk, La.

 DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Michael T. Seeley, 27, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada,
died Oct. 30 in Baghdad, Iraq, from injuries suffered when an improvised
explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Seeley was assigned to the
2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

 An intensivesearch continues for Spc. Ahmed
Qusai al-Taayie, a 41-year-old U.S. Army Reserve soldier kidnapped Oct.
23 outside Baghdad's International Zone, a spokesman for Multinational
Force Iraq told reporters during a Baghdad briefing today.

Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell confirmed Taayie's identity for the
first time today and said credible intelligence indicates who might be
holding him. "At this time, we believe the ones who kidnapped Ahmed
still have him," Caldwell told reporters. "And we are vigorously pursuing
every lead."

Caldwell described the massive search under way and vowed that no stone
will be left unturned until the missing soldier and his abductors are
found. "Iraqi security forces and coalition forces are working around
the clock to return him to safety and return him to his family and also
to catch the perpetrators of this crime," he said.

More than 2,000 coalition forces, including elements of five
Multinational Division Baghdad brigade combat teams, and more than 1,000 Iraqi
security forces are directly involved in the search, which Caldwell said
is focusing east of the Tigris River between Sadr City and the Karada
peninsula.

These forces are using "all available means," including unmanned aerial
vehicles and other aviation assets, and have conducted 37 missions so
far to find Taayie, he said. These missions are based on more than 240
tips that have poured in to authorities since the soldier's abduction,
he said.

Caldwell praised the Iraqi government's role, saying it is "actively
supporting this effort and doing everything it can, too, at its level."

So far, one coalition soldier and two Iraqi security force members have
been killed in the search, and eight U.S. troops have been wounded, he
said.

Caldwell offered a warning to the soldier's abductors: "Make no
mistake. We will never stop looking for our servicemembers," he said. "An
intensive effort will continue as we pursue finding our missing soldier,
Specialist Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie."

Taayie is an Iraqi-American who moved to the United States as a
teenager and joined the Army Reserve in December 2004. Taayie was mobilized in
August 2005 and deployed to Iraq three months later, Caldwell said. He
was last seen inside Baghdad's International Zone at about 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 23, the general said. Sometime after that, he left the heavily
fortified zone to visit family members, including his Iraqi wife, whom he
married in February 2005, Caldwell said.

While Taayie was at a relative's home, three cars pulled up to the
residence, and the hostage takers handcuffed Taayie and forced him into one
of the vehicles, Caldwell said. A relative who claimed to be at the
home when the incident occurred reported receiving a call from one of the
kidnappers using the cell phone Taayie had with him when he was taken,
Caldwell said.

CONTRACTS from the United States Department of Defense

 CONTRACTS

AIR FORCE

Boeing Satellite Systems Inc., El Segundo, Calif., was awarded on Nov.
1, 2006, a $299,867,679 fixed-price-incentive contract modification.
This contract action will exercise an option for the production of
Wideband Gapfiller Satellite (WGS) Space Vehicle 4. At this time, total funds
have been obligated. This work will be complete March 2011.
Headquarters Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, Los Angeles Air Force
Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8808-06-C-0001/P00004).

Symetrics Industries, Melbourne, Fla., is being awarded a $67,352,765
firm-fixed-price contract. This action provides for production of
ALE-47 countermeasures dispensing system Line Replacement Units (LRUs) and
shop replaceable units managed by Combat Electronic Systems Directorate
at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. At this time, no funds have been
obligated. Headquarters Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force
Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8540-06-D-0002).

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Corp., King of Prussia, Pa., was awarded
on Nov. 1, 2006, a $49,900,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract
modification. This contract modification issues an undefinitized contract action
to accomplish a system design review in March 2007 and Key Decision
Point B in June 2007. This is necessary to add detailed system engineering
and design efforts to support a system design review, continue risk
reduction and provide key decision point B support. The government's
intent is to implement a system design review and continue to make progress
towards a key decision point BN in June 2007. At this time, $24,950,000
have been obligated. This work will be complete June 2007. Headquarters
Global Positioning Systems Wing, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is
the contracting activity (FA8807-04-C-0001/P00024).

L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace, Madison, Miss., was awarded on
Nov. 1, 2006, a $42,103,207 firm-fixed-price contract modification. This
action is exercising FY07 option for logistics support of the T-1A
Aircraft at Vance, Columbia, Randolph, and Laughlin Air Force Base and
Pensacola Naval Air Station. Also included are over and above, on-equipment
maintenance, data and field representatives. At this time, total funds
have been obligated. This work will be complete September 2007.
Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-99-C-0016/P00113).

Kaman Dayron, Orlando, Fla., is being awarded a $39,562,891
firm-fixed-price contract modification. This action provides for Joint
Programmable Fuze (JPF) Systems, will include the FMU-152 fuze and FZU-5
initiator, with a quantity of 18,083. This action exercises option 4 for the
JPF production contract. The JPF is a state-of-the-art fuze system used
with precision weapon systems such as the JDAM. The JPF is equipped with
variable delay settings that may be programmed manually or from the
cockpit through its in-flight reprogrammable feature. At this time, total
funds have been obligated. Solicitations and negotiations were complete
October 2006. This work will be complete December 2008. Air Armament
Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity
(F08626-98-C-0006/P00076).

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., was awarded on
Nov. 1, 2006, a $30,000,000 cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee
contract modification. The contractor shall procure, implement, integrate
and test a Dual Miniature Inertial Measurement Unit (MIMU)/Single
Startracker configuration on Defense Meteorological Systems Group Flight 19
and Flight 20. The effort will protect future spacecraft operational
readiness, reduce risk of early on-orbit failure and extend the life
expectancy of spacecraft. At this time, $8,000,000 have been obligated.
This work will be complete April 2012. Headquarters Air Force Space
Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity
(F04701-02-C-0003/P00074).

DRS Sensors and Targeting Systems Inc., Dallas, Texas, is being
awarded a $6,317,787 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This action will develop a
128X128 format hqCdTE Avalanche Photodiode (APD) Focal Plane Array
(FPA) based Near-Mid Infrared Receiver (NMIR) receiver system. Conduct a
system trade study to investigate the overall receiver system and model
FPA/ROIC trade space in terms of the performance parameters such a
Readout Integrated Circuit (ROIC) power dissipation, system noise, the
number of out put channels required for the high data rate output, etc. At
this time, $1,979,584 have been obligated. Solicitations began November
2005 and negotiations were complete October 2006. This work will be
complete February 2009. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson
Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-07-C-7703).

Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $5,667,769
firm-fixed-price contract modification. This action provides for Air
Intercept Missile (AIM-120D) production transition. At this time, total
funds have been obligated. This work will be complete March 2007.
Headquarters Medium Range Missile Systems Group, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.,
is the contracting activity (FA8675-06-C-0003/P00005).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

TW Metals, Inc., Carol Stream, Ill., is being awarded a maximum
$45,000,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment for heat-treated and
non-heat treated aluminum sheets, plate, and floor plate. Using services
are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Federal civilian agencies.
This is an indefinite delivery/quantity type contract exercising the
first of three one-year options. Proposals were web-solicited and two
responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal
year. Date of performance completion is Nov. 8, 2007. Contracting activity
is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa.
(SPM500-05-D-0146).

SNC Telecommunications LLC, Washington, D.C., (Small Disadvantaged
Business) is being awarded a maximum $23,820,000 firm fixed price contract
for Aircrew combat coats and trousers for Army. Other location of
performance is Orocovis, Puerto Rico. This is a sole source competition with
one solicited and one responded. This is an indefinite
delivery/quantity type contract. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current
fiscal year. Date of performance completion is Dec. 29, 2007.
Contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP),
Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C107D-0015).

Lean Quest, LLC, Huntington Beach, Calif., * is being awarded a
maximum $7,341,086 firm fixed price contract for implementation of lean
principles. Using service is Defense Distribution Centers, CONUS and OCONUS.
Proposals were Web-solicited and 16 responded. This is an indefinite
delivery/quantity type contract. Contract funds will not expire at the
end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is
November 5, 2007. Contracting activity is the Defense Distribution Center
(DDC), New Cumberland, Pa. (SP3100-07-D-0001).

NAVY

L-3 Communications Corp., Arlington, Texas, is being awarded an
$18,245,209 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery,
indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-04-D-0110) to exercise an option for
logistics support services for the Navy's C-40A aircraft fleet. Services to
be provided include site activation; site support; inventory management
and support; depot level support (scheduled and unscheduled); drop-in
maintenance; component repair and overhaul of Government and
contractor-owned inventory; contractor field teams; replacement of Government and
contractor-owned inventory; and engine condition monitoring. Work will
be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (22 percent); Jacksonville, Fla. (22
percent); North Island, Calif. (22 percent); Oklahoma City, Okla. (20
percent); Arlington, Texas (8 percent); and Tulsa, Okla. (6 percent),
and is expected to be completed in November 2006. The Naval Air Systems
Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity.

I E Pacific, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $12,500,000
firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a Special Operations
Force (SOF) Military Operations on Urban Terrain Training (MOUT) Complex
(Part A) at San Clemente Island. Work will be performed in San Diego,
Calif., and is expected to be completed by November 2008. Contract funds
will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was
competitively procured via the Naval Facilities Engineering Command
e-solicitation website with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities
Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting
activity (N62473-06-C-6006).

Coffman Specialties, Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded
$10,885,000 for firm-fixed price Task Order 0004 under previously awarded
indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction
contract (N68711-04-D-3036) for design and construction of two asphalt
concrete test tracks at the Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake. Tracks must
support Humvee and Semi-truck traffic located on a remote northern
range only accessible via unimproved dirt roads. Work will be performed in
China Lake, Calif., and is expected to be completed by January 2007.
Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The
basic contract was competitively procured via the Naval Facilities
Engineering Command e-solicitation website with six proposals received and
award made on May 12, 2004. The total contract amount is not to exceed
$50,000,000 (base period and four option years). The multiple
contractors (four in number) may compete for task orders under the terms
and conditions of the existing contract. Three proposals were received
for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command,
Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

* Small Business

An international conference under way in
Athens is tapping into the best minds from 35 U.S. allies and partners to
come up with better ways to work cooperatively to support current and
future warfighter needs.

The Concept Development and Experimentation Conference that wrapped up
today brought together representatives of NATO, the alliance's
Partnership for Peace initiative, the Mediterranean Dialog and other nations
interesting in working with them, German Brig. Gen. Ernst Berk, deputy
chief of NATO's Allied Command Transformation, told reporters by
teleconference from Athens today.

The conference, co-sponsored by U.S. Joint Forces Command and NATO's
Allied Command Transformation, focused on many of the high-priority
issues U.S. combatant commanders have asked JFCOM to prioritize, said Dave
Ozolek, executive director of the command's Joint Futures Lab.

These include how to build partner capacity to relieve stress on U.S.
forces, improve interagency capabilities, operate more effectively in
urban operations, and boost joint and coalition logistical capabilities,
he said.

Tomorrow, a smaller group of conference participants will begin
exploring how these and other big-picture issues discussed during the two-day
conference can be incorporated into Multinational Experiment 5, Ozolek
said.

That experiment, currently set for 2008, is expected to build on
lessons learned earlier this year during Multinational Experiment 4, the most
recent in a series of international experiments designed to promote
interagency and intergovernmental cooperation.

This week's conference offered an important forum for nations to
exchange views and explore ways to work together more cooperatively, Berk
said. It also helped identify unnecessary duplication that, if addressed,
can help stretch existing resources.

The discussions offered "very important, direct and indirect benefits
to the United States," and particularly to forces involved in current
operations, Ozolek said.

He noted that concepts discussed during the 2005 conference in Berlin
and tested during Multinational Experiment 4 already are being applied
in the field. Among those using them is NATO's International Security
Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

When the United States and its international partners put their heads
together to address new ways to approach their common challenges,
"everyone wins," Ozolek said.

"We get access to new perspectives on how to solve these operational
problems we are facing," he said. Through information sharing, "we get
access to new ideas in experimentation, coming from different cultural
perspectives, different technical background and different operational
conditions."

This expanded access to "intellectual capital" opens the door to more
potential solutions and shortcuts the path to reaching those solutions,
Ozolek said. In many cases, it also reduces the cost involved, he said.

During the conference, for example, participants learned about an
innovative model the Danes are using to improve their interagency operations
that Ozolek said "goes far beyond" current U.S. approaches.

Similarly, French participants in the conference shared creative ideas
their government is using to improve strategic planning for interagency
operations, he said.

While the United States benefits directly from perspectives offered by
its partners and allies, it also benefits through sharing its own
expertise, Ozolek said.

"Every time we improve their capacity for conducting experiments and
developing concepts and building capabilities, we improve our own," he
said. "By increasing the ability of our partners to use experimentation
and concept development to transform their own forces, we have advanced
the art and science of experimentation and have improved their ability,
not only to work with us, but also to increase the capacity of their
own forces."

 New identification cards now being issued to
some Defense Department employees will help standardize federal work
force identification and enhance security, a senior DoD official said
here today.

The new common access card is part of departmental transformation
efforts that harness common business practices to make the organization more
efficient, David S.C. Chu, the undersecretary of Defense for personnel
and readiness, told reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

"A key element of this new card is it is a more secure document" than
its predecessor, Chu noted.

The new card, he said, accomplishes three main objectives:
--
It makes the identification process more efficient;
--
It helps prevent identity theft or fraud; and
--
It better protects personal information, thus enhancing individual
privacy.

The department began issuing the new ID cards Oct. 27. They will be
provided to employees over the next three years as the old cards reach
their expiration dates.

The new card looks similar to the old one, but it features several
enhancements, said Mary Dixon, director of the Defense Manpower Data Center
in Arlington, Va. For example, the new CAC contains two fingerprints
and a digital photograph, she noted.

Additionally, "we're going to check to make sure you've had your
background checks before we issue the card," Dixon said. "That is something
we have not done in the past, but we will be doing this now."

President Bush directed that a single ID card be developed that's
interoperable across all federal agencies, Chu said. The Defense Department,
he noted, has had CACs for some years now.

"So, we're using that foundation as our stepping stone to reach the
president's goal," Chu said.

Using one common ID card throughout the federal government "builds
trust across agencies, because there is then just one credential," Chu
said.

CONTRACTS

AIR FORCE

Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a
$1,233,164,599 firm-fixed-price contract modification. This is a funding
modification to the ongoing undefinitized contract action supporting the F-22
Lot 7 Long Lead Procurement. At this time, $403,207,999 have been
obligated. This work will be complete October 2009. Headquarters
Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the
contracting activity (FA8611-06-C-2899/P00007).

Tecolote Research Inc., Goleta, Calif., and Quantech Services Inc.,
Bedford, Mass., is being awarded an $88,000,000 indefinite
delivery/indefinite quantity contract. This contract will procure the specialized
cost service for Hanscom Air Force Base for the next four years. These
services includes but are not limited to cost estimating, earned value
computations, what if calculations, etc. The Air Force can issue delivery
orders totaling up to the maximum amount indicated above, although
actual requirements may necessitate less than the amount above. At this
time, $1,242,949 have been obligated. Solicitations began June 2006 and
negotiations were complete October 2006. This work will be complete
October 2010. Headquarters Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force
Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (FA8721-07-D-0002-0001 and
FA8721-07-D-0003-0001).

ITT Industries, System Division, Canaveral, Fla., is being awarded a
$40,205,450 cost-plus-award-fee, cost-reimbursable and firm-fixed-price
contract modification. This modification provides for the option
exercise and incremental funding of the FY07 contract line item numbers for
the space lift range system contract. This action provides for the
continued support for the program management, interface management, systems
engineering and integration, depot maintenance transition, product
acquisitions and modifications, and instrument modernization for
operational systems and infrastructure including instrumentations, network,
control, and display. At this time, $18,353,907 have been obligated. This
work will be complete October 2007. Space and Missile Systems Center
Logistics Group, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting
activity (F04701-01-C-0001/P00363).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Simulation Training and Support, Orlando, Fla.,
is being awarded an $25,583,326 firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable no
fee and cost-plus-fixed fee contract modification. This action will
exercise/fund option for FY2007, in support of the C-130 Aircrew Training
Systems. At this time, total funds have been obligated. This work will
be complete September 2007. Headquarters Ogden Air Logistics Center,
Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity
(F42630-99-C-0195/P00188).

Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp., Redondo Beach,
Calif., is being awarded an $8,406,844 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract
modification. This contract action will exercise option 1 to the basic contract
and activate Phase II of the Enhanced Polar System (EPS) payload study.
Phase II will focus on further system definition efforts associated
with the payload. The study, along with a separate parallel effort to
investigate ground architecture concepts and system integration, will lay
the foundation for the future EPS system definition and production
efforts. It will also provide information necessary to support the
development of an overall EPS acquisition strategy. At this time, $6,000,000
have been obligated. This work will be complete December 2007.
Headquarters Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, Los Angeles Air Force
Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8808-06-C-0005/P00002).

Boeing Satellite Systems Inc., El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded an
$8,399,960 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification. This contract
action will exercise option 1 to the basic contract and activate Phase II
of the EPS payload study. Phase II will focus on further system
definition efforts associated with the payload. The study, along with a
separate parallel effort to investigate ground architecture concepts and
system integration, will lay the foundation for the future EPS system
definition and production efforts. It will also provide information
necessary to support the development of an overall EPS acquisition strategy. At
this time, $6,000,000 have been obligated. This work will be complete
December 2007. Headquarters Military Satellite Communications Systems
Wing, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity
(FA8808-06-C-0004/P00002).

Select Sensors and Airborne Systems Electro-Optics Ltd., Basildon,
United Kingdom, is being awarded a $6,632,108 cost-plus-award-fee and
cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification. This action provides for 1 Lot
contractor logistics support, 1 Lot over and above, contractor acquired
property and contractor furnished material, 1 Lot award fee and 1 Lot
data for the all low light television system applicable to the AC-130
Gunship. At this time, total funds have been obligated. This work will be
complete October 2007. Headquarters Warner Robins Air Logistics Center,
Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity
(F33657-95-C-0072/P00080).

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Savannah, Ga., is being awarded a
$5,484,211 firm-fixed-price contract modification. This action will exercise
one year option for continue fleet maintenance support on nine Gulfstream
aircraft owned by the Eqyptian Government. The modification extends the
contract for 12 months. At this time, total funds have been obligated.
Headquarters Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base,
Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8106-04-C-0001/P00013).

ARMY

Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Chantilly, Va., was awarded on Oct.
31, 2006, a $301,526,367 modification to a fixed-price incentive with
award fee contract for in-scope changes to the Pentagon renovation. Work
will be performed in Arlington, Va., and is expected to be completed by
Dec. 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current
fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on Jan. 19,
2001. The Pentagon Renovation & Construction Program Office, Arlington,
Va., is the contracting activity (MDA947-01-C-2001).

EADS North American Defense, Arlington, Va., was awarded on Oct. 31,
2006, a $170,562,621 modification to a firm-fixed-price, and
cost-reimbursable contract for MEDEVAC B Kits, Hoist B kits, student pilot and
maintainer training, and a procedural training device for the Light
Utility Helicopter Aircraft. Work will be performed in Columbus, Miss. (97
percent), Grand Prairie, Texas (1 percent), and Tampa, Fla. (2 percent),
and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2016. Contract funds will
not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were an unknown
number of bids solicited via the world wide web on July 26, 2005, and
five bids were received. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command,
Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-06-C-0194).

McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded on Oct. 30,
2006, a $151,963,687 modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for
war replacement AH-64D Apache Longbow Aircraft. Work will be performed in
Mesa, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2009. Contract
funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a
sole source contract initiated on July 19, 2006. The U.S. Army Aviation
and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting
activity (W58RGZ-05-C-0274).

Raytheon Co., West Andover, Mass., was awarded on Oct. 30, 2006, a
delivery order amount of $82,861,425 as part of a $683,154,082
firm-fixed-price contract for new spare procurement to support the maintain the
patriot missile system. Work will be performed in West Andover, Mass.,
and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2009. Contract funds will
not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source
contract initiated on Sept. 3, 2003. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile
Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity
(W31P4Q-05-D-0029).

Kidde Dual Spectrum, Goleta, Calif., was awarded on Oct. 31, 2006, a
delivery order amount of $12,289,797 as part of a $52,068,647
firm-fixed-price contract for automatic fire extinguishing system kits and test
sets for the M1114 Up-Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled
Vehicles. Work will be performed in Wilson, N.C., and is expected to be
completed by Nov. 30, 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. There were four bids solicited on Dec. 8, 2005,
and four bids were received. The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments
Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-D-0116).

GM GDLS Defense Group L.L.C., Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on
Oct. 27, 2006, a $16,794,304 modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee
contract for maintenance and repair of desert damaged vehicles. Work will
be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich. (90 percent), and London,
Ontario, Canada (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30,
2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal
year. This was a sole source contract initiated on July 28, 2006. The U.S.
Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, Warren, Mich., is the
contracting activity (DAAE07-02-C-B001).

Urban Associates L.P.*, El Paso, Texas, was awarded on Oct. 30, 2006,
an $11,735,664 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of
a general instructional facility. Work will be performed at Fort Bliss,
Texas, and is expected to be completed by March 30, 2008. Contract
funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were 168
bids solicited on Sept. 13, 2006, and three bids were received. The
U.S. Army Engineer District, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting
activity (W9126G-07-C-0001).

Manson Construction Co., Seattle, Wash., was awarded on Oct. 27, 2006,
a $5,250,000 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance dredging of
Channel Islands and Port Hueneme Harbor. Work will be performed in Port
Hueneme, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2007.
Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There
were an unknown number of bids solicited via the world wide web on July
27, 2006, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Engineer District, Los
Angeles, Calif., is the contracting activity (W912PL-07-C-0002).

NAVY

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Pittsfield, Mass., is
being awarded a $56,068,682 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract
modification to previously awarded contract (N00030-05-C-0051) to provide for the
FY 2006 TRIDENT II fire control omnibus contract, which includes fire
control production, operational support, field engineering services,
repair and return effort, and development. It also includes SSGN Attack
Weapons Control Systems Life Cycle Cost Control and Technology Refresh.
This contract contains options which, if exercised, will bring the total
cumulative value of this contract to $111,223,072. Work will be
performed in Pittsfield, Mass., and the expected completion date is December
2009. This contract was not competitively procured. Contract funds in
the amount of $14,133,565 will expire at the end of the current fiscal
year. Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting
activity (N00030-05-C-0051).

General Dynamics, Advanced Information Systems, Fairfax, Va., is being
awarded a $13,335,632 cost-plus-award-fee modification to previously
awarded contract (N00024-03-C-5439) for engineering and technical
services in support of the FY 07 system integrator efforts for the Surface
Electronic Warfare Improvement Program. Efforts will include program
management, systems engineering, software engineering, specialty
engineering, integration and test, integrated logistics support, training, and
installation support functions required for Block 1A, 1B1 and 1B2. Work
will be performed in Fairfax, Va., and is expected to be completed by
October 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current
fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the
contracting activity.

Computer Science Corp., Falls Church, Va., is being awarded an
$11,004,430 award term task order #0037 to a previously awarded task order
#0025 under previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract
(M67854-02-A-9004) for specialty engineering support, annual technical support to the
Operating Forces Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA).
Funding in the amount of $7,947,291 is being applied at the time of
award. The Contractor will provide technical support to the Operating
Forces (TSOF), a key element of the Marine Corps Systems Command
(MARCORSYSCOM), MCTSSA support for fielded tactical C4ISR systems for Marine
Corps Operating Forces (OPFORs). Technical support under this effort
include on-site/on-call support at the MCTSSA Operating Forces Tactical
Systems Support Center (OFTSSC), on-site technical representation at
specified Marine Corps Command organizations worldwide, exercise support based
upon the operational schedule of the supported units, and
support of contingency operations (e.g., hazardous duty, combat
operations, peace-keeping) on a discrete basis. Principal support activities
include on-site system administration and troubleshooting for C4ISR
local and wide area networks (LAN / WAN), technical guidance to OPFORs on
fielded Marine Corps and Joint C4ISR systems and software. Additional
support requirements include providing regional on-site technical support
for USMC Computing Platforms and Services (CPS) Systems to include
Tactical Collaborative Works Suites (TC, Defense Message System (DMS),
Marine Corps Common Hardware Suite and Marine Corps Enterprise IT Services
throughout the OPFORs, both in CONUS and OCONUS. Support will include
system administration, asset tracking/management, installation and
troubleshooting, support for exercises, technical consulting, test support
and consulting, and on-site software/hardware training on CPS software
and hardware. There is an additional requirement to support
information technology technical support services in the area of
Information Assurance, Web Server Administration, and Web Development
Support. The goal is to provide continuous and unparalleled C4ISR
support. As such, TSOF is designed to accommodate newly fielded C4ISR
systems. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be
completed in October 2007. Contract funds will expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is
the contracting
activity.
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded on
October 30, 2006, a $10,620,000 delivery order against a previously awarded
basic ordering agreement (N00019-06-G-0001) for 45 painted U.S. Marine
Corps Turned Exhaust Kits for the AH-1W. Work will be performed in
Hurst, Texas, and is expected to be completed in October 2008. 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.

BAE Systems Land & Armaments, L.P., Armament Systems Division,
Minneapolis, Minn., is being awarded an $8,673,627 fixed-price-plus-award-fee
modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-5454) for
procurement of MK 25 MOD 0 canisters, packaging, handling, storage, and
transportation equipment, reconfigurable coding plug assemblies and
explosive bolts for Navy and NATO SeaSparrow Program Office (NSPO) foreign
government requirements. MK 25 canisters for the MK 41 Vertical Launching
System store, transport in safety, and enable loading of the evolved
SeaSparrow Missile into the MK 41 Vertical Launching Systems aboard Navy
ships. This modification combines efforts for the Navy (57 percent) and
the Governments of Germany (32 percent) and Spain (11 percent) under
the foreign military sales program. Work will be performed in Aberdeen,
South Dakota, and is expected to be completed by December 2008. Contract
funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting
activity.

DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY

The following companies: Qwest Government Services, Inc. AT&T
Corporation, and Arrowhead Global Solutions, Inc. will be awarded on 31 October
06 an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Firm-Fixed Price
contracts. The maximum not-to-exceed value for the DATS contract over a 10-year
period is $3 Billion, the Government's guaranteed minimum for the three
year base period is a total of $5 Million ($1.25 Million per Region).
The goal is for some time and material contract line item numbers (CLNS)
for the four regions of the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN)
Access Transport Services (DATS). The period of performance is from 31
October 2006 through 30 October 2016 ( a three year base period and
seven one-year options). Performance will be at various locations within
the Continental United States (CONUS) which includes the 48 contiguous
states and the District of Columbia. The solicitation was issued as a
full and open competitive action. There were seven proposal
received. The Defense Information Technology Contract Organization
(DITCO), Scott AFB, IL is the contracting activity (HC1013-07-D-2005,
HC103-07-D-2006, and HC103-07-D-2007).

Diversity helps make the military
strong, and understanding cultural differences is a key to forming a
cohesive force capable of meeting today's challenges, the senior enlisted
advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.

Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey was at Army Human Resources
Command for a National American Indian Heritage Month celebration.
National American Indian Heritage Month is celebrated in November every year.

After watching a program of traditional Native American songs and
dances, Gainey noted in an interview that Native Americans have contributed
greatly to the military and the country throughout the years. About 2.1
percent of the current military is Native American, he said.

"Look at the military; walk into a room and look at the different
cultures. You'll never find one culture, one society in the military,"
Gainey said. "And we have to understand each other, because if you don't
understand each other -- your brothers and your sisters of the armed
services -- I don't think we'll ever get together; we'll never figure it
out."

Gainey, who is three-quarters Cherokee, spoke during the event about
his heritage and how proud he is to be Native American. He shared three
keepsakes that remind him of his culture -- an etching of an Indian head
made by his daughter before his first deployment to Bosnia; a feather
presented to him by an Apache Army staff sergeant after a battle in
Iraq; and a "coup stick," a special stick traditionally used by American
Indians in battle to show bravery, that was presented to him when he left
Fort Knox, Ky.

Gainey encouraged all those in the audience to get in touch with their
heritage.

"You cannot forget where you come from, because if you don't know where
you come from, you'll never know where you're going," Gainey said.
"It's very important to recognize all the different cultures that make up
this melting pot called the United States."

Robert "Swift Arrow" Rose, a dancer and representative of the Cherokee
government who performed several traditional Cherokee dances for the
celebration, said that recognizing Native American culture is important,
because it passes on a legacy of understanding and tolerance to future
generations.

"For the next generations of children, they will have this
indoctrination; they will understand this, and then will have more cohesive
societies understanding one another," Rose said. "We know it's up to us to
continue to educate and share in this way."

Army Scorpion Expert in Kuwait Stung by Insect, Irony

The irony stung worse than the scorpion.

A soldier dedicated to studying dangerous wildlife recently got
attacked by one of the aggressive fat-tailed scorpions he spent months warning
other soldiers to avoid.

Army Capt. Stephen Garvin, an entomologist with the 981st Medical
Detachment supporting 3rd Army/U.S. Army Central in Kuwait, made a routine
visit to a portable toilet at Camp Buehring around 5 a.m. on Oct. 5 when
he felt something crawling on his right ankle. Thinking it was a fly,
he smacked the offending insect with his left foot and ground it against
his ankle -- and that's when he felt the sting.

"I knew it was a scorpion as soon as it stung me," said Garvin, a
33-year-old active-duty soldier from Stillwater, Okla. "My first thought
was, 'I can't believe this is happening.'"

After stomping on the 2-inch scorpion a few times to make sure it had
died, Garvin scooped it up using toilet paper and immediately sought
medical attention. He recognized the crushed arachnid as one of the top
three deadliest scorpions in the world, capable of killing a person in
seven hours. Within an hour and a half from the venom injection, Garvin
suffered extreme nausea, headache and dizziness.

"Things happened so fast; that's when I started getting concerned. I
called the doctor over and said, 'Something's wrong,'" said Garvin, who
passed out 10 minutes later and didn't wake up until the next evening.

Garvin was quickly airlifted to Camp Arifjan, put on a respirator and
given an antivenom shot. He has slowly recovered and endured a 10-day
migraine as a result of the scorpion's sting.

He had a "classic presentation" of symptoms, said Army Maj. Dennis
Kilian, 3rd Army/U.S. Army Central force health prevention officer.

Although half of scorpion stings result in little or no venom spread to
the victim, soldiers who are stung by a scorpion have a 50-percent
chance of sharing Garvin's experience, Kilian said.

But out of the six stings reported at Camp Buehring during the last
year, Garvin stood out as the only one to get venom injected.

He also stood out because he normally works with the same
servicemembers who treated him for the sting. "They all know him, and they were all
very concerned," said Army Maj. Brian Copeland, 981st Medical
Detachment commander. Copeland also was wryly amused that an expert on scorpions
was stung by one. Now recovered, Garvin has already started receiving
nicknames, such as "Captain Scorpion" and "The Scorpion King."
Colleagues drop by with witty remarks such as, "There are better ways to make a
name for yourself," and "You don't have to get stung to be able to
teach soldiers about the effects of scorpion venom."

It's "like being something between a celebrity and a circus freak,"
Garvin said with a smile.

He only had 30 days to go before finishing his first deployment, but he
now has a story to tell and a souvenir to show. Garvin preserved the
crushed scorpion that stung him and plans to use it in further teachings
of dangers troops face in the Middle East. "We all have to take
something back," Kilian said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's
recent plan to beef up Iraq's security forces is a positive step toward
creating a force able to operate independently with minimal coalition
support, a senior U.S. official in Baghdad told reporters today.

Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, spokesman for Multinational Force
Iraq, praised Maliki's leadership in building more capability and
flexibility within "an ever-growing and increasingly capable Iraqi security
force."

Caldwell called these forces "an integral part of the coordinated
coalition and Iraqi force effort to build Iraq into a country governed by
the rule of law, with order secured by an effective and honest security
force and with a justice system administered by a free and fair
judiciary."

He pointed to specific milestones toward developing the kind of
security forces Iraq will require to continue aggressive operations against
terrorists and death squad members with minimal outside support.

These include:

-- A previously announced plan to add 12,000 troops to the Iraqi
military. This increase would bring staffing in Iraq's 112 existing combat
brigades to 110 percent of their current authorized levels, offsetting
any temporary gaps created through attrition and normal leaves, Caldwell
said.

-- An initiative, announced Oct. 31, to boost the Iraqi military by
another 18,700 troops. This measure will provide the Iraqi government
three additional command headquarters, five additional brigade
headquarters, 20 additional battalions and one additional special operations
battalion. In addition to more combat power in Iraq's most heavily contested
areas, Caldwell said these units will provide an operational reserve
able to move quickly around the country and provide redundancy within the
Iraqi army as its forces go through their regular training cycles.

-- Progress in building Iraq's security forces to the point where they
can lead operations, now at the 75 percent mark. Six Iraqi division
headquarters, 30 brigades and 91 battalions are currently in the lead,
Caldwell reported.

-- The transfer of more responsibility for geographic areas to Iraqi
forces. Earlier this week, for example, the 4th Brigade, 8th Iraqi
Division, headquarters officially assumed control of areas in Karbala
province from the U.S. 4th Infantry Division, Caldwell noted.

-- The 4th National Police Brigade's completion yesterday of phase two
of its national police transformation training. The brigade is among
nine Iraqi national police brigades to receive the training, designed to
ensure they are capable of maintaining public order and providing civil
protection to citizens in accordance with the rule of law and
international human rights standards, Caldwell said.

-- Greater cooperation toward securing Baghdad, as demonstrated this
week when checkpoints and crossing points in the city were adjusted to
create less disruption for local residents. Maliki, U.S. Army Gen. George
W. Casey Jr., commander of Multinational Force Iraq, and U.S.
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad collaborated closely on the plan, the general said.

Caldwell called these steps part of an overarching transition that
might not always progress as quickly or smoothly as hoped, but is achieving
Iraqi and coalition goals for Iraq.

"A transition is not always a pleasant thing to watch as it happens,"
he admitted. "But when common goals are achieved, speed bumps and
differences of opinion along the way are soon forgotten."

What's never changed through this transition and never will, he said,
is the U.S. and coalition commitment to Iraq. "We remain committed to
helping the Iraqis achieve our common goals -- an Iraq that can govern,
defend and sustain itself," he said.

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Jason Franco, 18, of Corona, Calif., died Oct. 31 from a
non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine
Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine
Aircraft Wing, Miramar, Calif.

The incident is currently under investigation

 On Nov. 7, the American people will be
voting to elect 33 U.S. senators, the entire U.S. House of Representatives,
37 state governors and hundreds of local officials.

The outcome of these elections will shape the future for you, your
family and our country. You, too, can and should participate in deciding
our country's future by exercising your right to vote.

You don't have to be home to vote; every voting jurisdiction has
provisions to distribute, receive and count your absentee ballot. Your ballot
will be counted, whether or not the contest is close. But time is
short. You must act now!

If you have received your state absentee ballot, vote and return it to
your local election official as soon as possible so that it arrives by
the state deadline for counting. If you are registered to vote and have
not received your state absentee ballot, use the Federal Write-In
Absentee Ballot. You can obtain a FWAB from your unit's voting assistance
officer, or from www.fvap.gov. If you are not registered to vote, your
state may allow late registration. See your voting assistance officer
now!

Many states allow voters to use electronic media to register, receive
blank ballots, and even return voted ballots. Check the Integrated
Voting Alternative Site, or IVAS, available through www.fvap.gov, to see
what electronic alternatives might be available to you.

Your unit commander, your voting assistance officer, and the Federal
Voting Assistance Program office have done everything we can to make it
possible for you to vote in this election. The rest is up to you.

Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense

How to pay for a child's college education
shouldn't be a consideration for those who lose a loved one in battle,
and one troop-support group is working to ensure it isn't.

"We provide financial assistance and college grants to the children and
spouses of the fallen ... and severely injured servicemembers," Rebecca
Campbell, founder of The Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, said.
"It's all for different needs, but (applicants) have to have a
financial need."

The Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund is a member of America
Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting ways Americans and
the corporate sector support the nation's servicemembers.

Formed in 2003, The Gaithersburg, Md.-based nonprofit group started out
with an attainable goal. "We wanted to help one child (attend
college)," Campbell said. "But we haven't stopped."

Not only is her organization offering children and spouses of the
fallen assistance with college tuition at an accredited college or
university, it's also helping with home and car repair, utility bills and many
other basic needs, Campbell said.

Financial assistance applications are reviewed once a quarter unless
there's an applicant is in an emergency situation. The college grants are
reviewed twice a year with deadlines of Oct. 31 for spring semester and
April 30 for the fall semester, she added.

The fund recently announced as recipients of financial assistance
grants:

-- Nathan Smith, son of Navy Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith,
killed in central Iraq on April 2, 2003;

-- Jenniece Fraise, wife of Army Cpl. David M. Fraise, killed in
Kandahar, Afghanistan on June 7, 2004;

-- Jeralind Wilridge, wife of Army Sgt. Kelly S. Morris, killed in
Baghdad on March 30, 2005;

-- Dylan Layfield, son of Marine Lance Cpl. Travis J. Layfield, killed
in Anbar Province, Iraq on April 6, 2004

-- Jamelah Bush, daughter of Army Pfc. Charles E. Bush Jr., killed in
Balad, Iraq on Dec. 19, 2003.

Bush also was presented with an educational award, Campbell said.

Cornell Gilmore Jr., son of Army Command Sgt. Maj. Cornell Gilmore, and
Cristie Horton, wife of Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Horton of Erie, Pa.,
were awarded fall semester college grants.

In 2005, the organization presented its first awards. The college
awards totaled $40,500, and financial assistance to families with children
under 18 totaled $39,250.

"We're trying to get the information out," Campbell said. "We have
funds set aside, and as they hear about us ... they can apply, but we've
been waiting for people to apply."

Information on eligibility requirements and applications for both
awards is available on The Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund Web site

Iraqi army forces conducted a raid today to
search for a missing U.S. soldier in Baghdad, and Iraqi police and
coalition forces detained five terrorists in operations Oct. 27 and 28,
military officials in Iraq reported.

Special Iraqi army forces, with coalition advisors, detained three
people during an operation in Sadr City, Baghdad, today.

The purpose of the mission was to search for a missing U.S. soldier and
to capture the leadership of a kidnapping cell reported to have
knowledge of the soldier's location. The soldier has been listed as "duty
status-whereabouts unknown" since he was abducted from a relative's house
in the Baghdad area Oct. 23.

Elsewhere, Iraqi policemen and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers
detained five suspected terrorists and seized weapons in Saab Al-Bour
Oct. 27 and 28.

A combined patrol of Iraqi policemen and soldiers from the 463rd
Military Police Company, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, detained a suspected terrorist Oct. 27. The patrol arrested
the individual after finding a PKC machine gun he had loaded into a
refrigerator carried on his donkey cart.

Meanwhile, soldiers from 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment,
attached to the 1st BCT, detained an Iraqi citizen Oct. 27 after being
attacked by small-arms fire and a rocket-propelled grenade. The patrol
returned fire and detained the owner of a gas station in the town where
suspected terrorists were seen firing from the roof of the building.

In a separate incident, soldiers from 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry
Regiment, 1st BCT, were attacked by small-arms fire Oct. 28. The soldiers
detained three suspected terrorists in connection with the incident

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Kyu H. Chay, 34, of Fayetteville, N.C., died on Oct. 28 in
the Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered when an
improvised explosive device detonated near his combat patrol. Chay was
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort
Bragg, North Carolina.

 DoD Identifies Marine Casualty



The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.


Lance Cpl. Troy D. Nealey, 24, of Eaton Rapids, Mich., died Oct. 29
while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was
assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment,
4th Marine Division, Lansing, Mich.

Three U.S. soldiers and a Marine are among
the latest casualties in Iraq, military officials reported, and the
Defense Department has identified three earlier casualties.

-- An 89th Military Police Brigade soldier died of wounds suffered from
enemy small-arms fire this morning in east Baghdad.

-- A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier died yesterday when a
roadside bomb struck his vehicle south of Baghdad.

-- A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier died yesterday when he was
hit by small-arms fire while conducting combat operations in western
Baghdad.

-- A Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 died Oct. 29 from
injuries suffered due to enemy action while operating in Iraq's Anbar
province.

Their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department released the identities of three
servicemembers killed recently supporting the global war on terror.

-- Army Pvt. Michael V. Bailey, 20, of Waldorf, Md., died Oct. 27 in
Salerno, Afghanistan, from non-combat-related injuries. Bailey was
assigned to 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

-- Marine Sgt. Luke J. Zimmerman, 24, of Luxemburg, Wis., died Oct. 27
from injuries suffered while conducting combat operations in Iraq's
Anbar province. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd
Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

-- Army 1st Sgt. Ricky L. McGinnis, 42, of Hamilton, Ohio, died Oct. 26
in Balad, Iraq, when a roadside bomb detonated near his dismounted
patrol in Muqdadiyah, Iraq. McGinnis was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 9th
Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.


Pvt. Michael V. Bailey, 20, of Waldorf, Md., died on Oct. 27 in
Salerno, Afghanistan, from non-combat related injuries.Bailey was assigned to
4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team,
10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York.

This incident is under investigation.

Before Marine Staff Sgt. Reina Barnett
could begin getting nervous about attempting her first marathon, she had to
complete a work assignment.

Barnett is a television reporter for the Pentagon Channel, and she had
arranged to interview 60-year-old runner Will Brown before Sunday's
Marine Corps Marathon here. Brown is a former Marine and one of only a
handful people who have completed each of the 31 Marine Corps Marathons
since the race's inception in 1976.Barnett is featuring Brown in a series
of special reports leading up to the Marine Corps' 231st birthday Nov.
10.

But when Barnett arrived at the VIP starting area, her plans changed a
bit. "I saw Mr. Brown warming up and taking off his sweats and getting
ready, so I decided not to interrupt him with an interview and just get
some 'b-roll' of him starting the race," she said.

Knowing that stories can change in an instant, Barnett had already
arranged to travel to Brown's home in Raleigh, N.C., to conduct interviews
and get the scoop on his training regimen, which includes runs of up to
100 miles.

Brown went on to finish Sunday's 26.2-mile race in 4:39:58, faster than
many runners half his age.

After introducing herself to Brown, Barnett made her way through the
record crowd of 32,000 runners to her staging area midway in the pack
based on her projected pace. Now the fear could really set in.

Barnett had reason to be nervous. She and her husband, Bobby, also a
Marine, had logged only 15 miles on their longest training run over the
summer. Most experienced runners run at least 20 miles in preparation
for a marathon. Barnett knew she wasn't completely ready. In fact, just
days before the event, she considered backing out.

"I wrote down a list of pros and cons, and in the end, the pros
outweighed the cons," she said. "I decided I was going to go for it."

Barnett and her fellow runners left the starting line at the Marine
Corps War Memorial at exactly 8:35:02 on the first day of Eastern Standard
Time. Crystal-clear blue skies, temperatures in the low 50s and a cool
northwest breeze made for perfect marathon running conditions. Their
journey would take them along the National Mall and its famous memorials,
past the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, then up a steep hill
back at the Marine Memorial to finish in the shadows of the Iwo Jima
Memorial.

Mexican Cpl. Ruben Garcia, who at one point in the race was behind the
leaders by 2 minutes, pulled ahead at mile 23 to win by more than 3
minutes in 2:21:21. Laura Thompson, from Boise, Idaho, running her first
marathon, won the women's division in 3:00:23. The race was marred by
the death of a 56-year-old Maryland man who collapsed near mile 17 after
suffering an apparent heart attack. He was airlifted to a Washington
hospital, but medical personnel were unable to revive him.

Meanwhile, 6,000 miles from the nation's capital, 109 servicemembers
took part in a sanctioned "satellite" marathon in Al Asad, Iraq. All who
crossed the finish line there will be considered official Marine Corps
Marathon finishers.

Experienced marathon runners are familiar with "the wall" -- the point
in the race, usually around mile 20, when the body runs out of
carbohydrates and desperately wants to stop. Barnett hit her wall at mile 19,
when runners head uphill to cross the Potomac River on the 14th Street
Bridge. This stretch of highway is devoid of spectator support.

"Nobody was running; everybody was walking," Barnett said.

But at mile 23, with cheering crowds in abundant supply, Barnett had a
huge smile on her face, and she was definitely running. "My legs are
hurting so bad," she said as she picked up the pace on a slight downhill.
"But I feel so happy. It must be the endorphins."

After passing the final aid station staffed by dozens of Marines,
Barnett took on the final straightaway past the Pentagon and Arlington
National Cemetery.

Then she faced the final test. "That last .2 was probably the toughest
hill I've ever climbed," she said.

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Luke J. Zimmerman, 24, of Luxemburg, Wis., died Oct. 27 from
injuries suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province,
Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine
Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

CONTRACTS

UNITED STATES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

Chenega Federal Systems, LLC (CFS) of Lorton Va., 22079-2624, is being
awarded a five year, indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract
with a ceiling of $260,000,000.00. The Psychological Operations Program
Office (PMP) of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
Intelligence and Information Systems (IIS) Program Executive Office
(PEO) requires engineering and technical support services to build, field
and sustain Psychological Operations (PSYOP) systems and other
designated IIS-PMP projects and programs in accordance with USSOCOM
requirements. The places of performance will be Lorton, Va. and Anchorage, Alaska.
The five year ordering period will be completed October 2011. The
contract number is H92222-07-D-0017.

NAVY

McDonnell Douglas Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Co.,
St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $23,174,477 modification to a
previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-04-C-0014) for the
procurement of ancillary mission equipment to support the F/A-18 E/F and
E/A-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is
expected to be completed in November 2008. 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.

BAE Systems Applied Technologies, Inc., Rockville, Md., is being
awarded a $5,231,495 modification to a previously awarded
cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-02-C-3058) for engineering and technical services
for design, development, integration, test and evaluation, installation,
fielding certification, maintenance, and logistic support of Navy Joint
National Agency C41 communications electronic equipment and systems.
Work will be performed in California, Md., (90 percent) and St. Inigoes,
Md., (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2007.
Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, St. Inigoes, Md., is the
contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a
$12,262,168 firm-fixed-price contract modification. This action is
exercising option VII (FY07), 1 Oct. 2006 through 30 Sept. 2007, in support
of C-12 contractor logistic support. At this time, total funds have
been obligated. This work will be complete September 2007. Headquarters
Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the
contracting activity (F34601-00-C-0111/P00299).

General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being
awarded a $7,496,425 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This program
objective is to investigate, develop and demonstrate high payoff thermal
management approaches to the removal of heat from multi-megawatt electric
power system and the subsequent elimination of this heat from airborne
technologies and components. The output of this trade will quantify
technical risk versus potential benefit to the thermal management system. At
this time, $1,258,000 has been obligated. Solicitations began July 2006
and negotiations were complete October 2006. This work will be complete
February 2012. Air Force Research Lab, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33615-01-D-2109 task order 0009).

A group of South Korean pastors made a
pilgrimage to the Pentagon today to show their support for the U.S.
military.

More than 50 members of the Korean-American Protestant Pastors'
Association participated in morning seminars in the Memorial Chapel and later
toured the building to view items related to the U.S.-South Korean
partnership, said Army Chaplain (Col.) Gary K. Sexton, the group's escort
officer.

The event is co-sponsored by the U.S. Army Chaplains Corps and the
Defense Department, and demonstrates "our strong support for the ongoing
American-Korean alliance," said Sexton, who's assigned to the 18th
Medical Command at Yongsan, South Korea.

The 52 South Korean pastors "have been integrally involved in honoring
the American commitment to the (Korean) peninsula," the chaplain
explained. The pastors also had helped to raise $1.3 million used to purchase
four stained-glass windows for the Pentagon Memorial Chapel after the
9/11 attacks.

The pastors' donation was "a gift to the American people in our hour of
distress," Sexton said.

Bishop Kim Hong Do, who attended the Pentagon event, is head of the
largest Methodist congregation in the world, Sexton noted.

Kim tends to more than 100,000 parishioners as head of the Kumnan
Methodist Church in South Korea, and he "has a strong vision for
strengthening and bolstering the American-Korean alliance," Sexton said.

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a stalemate. But, North Korea, which on
Oct. 9 announced it'd successfully detonated an atomic bomb, has made
no secret of its desire to one day subjugate its southern neighbor.

Today, about 25,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea to deter
possible North Korean aggression.

Kim, 68, highly values the U.S.-South Korean partnership that keeps the
peace on the Korean peninsula. "Wherever I may go I like to express my
gratitude to America," Kim said. About 120 years ago, he noted, two
American missionaries arrived in Korea.

Today, about 10 million Christians are part of South Korea's 50-million
populace, Kim said, which also includes Buddhists, as well as followers
of the Confucian faith.

The United States also sent troops to assist South Korea when the
Korean War broke out in 1950, Kim recalled. And since the end of the war
"America has helped to protect South Korea," the pastor said.

The North Korean government under dictator Kim Jong Il is a murderous
regime that has no regard for religious views or basic human rights, Kim
said.

In view of this threat, Kim said he and most of his fellow citizens are
glad that thousands of U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea.

"We can feel (the) safety," the South Korean bishop said 

CONTRACTS

NAVY

ViaSat*, Carlsbad, Calif., was awarded on October 26, 2006, a
$36,737,586 firm-fixed-price delivery order under a previously awarded contract
(N00039-00-D-2101) for Multifunctional Information Distribution
System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs). The MIDS-LVT provides secure, high
capacity, jam resistant, digital data and voice communications capability
for Navy, Air Force and Army platforms. This delivery order is for the
government of Turkey under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program.
Work will be performed in Carlsbad, Calif., (30 percent) and various
other sites worldwide (70 percent), and is expected to be completed by
January 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current
fiscal year. This requirement was a directed sole source procurement under
the FMS Program. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego,
Calif., is the contracting activity.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded an
$18,625,758 Navy modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price Army
contract (DAAH23-02-C-0006) for the manufacture and installation of armed
helo mission kit fixed provisions into 28 MH-60S aircraft including
related logistics support. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn. (92
percent) and Crestview, Fla. (8 percent) and is expected to be
completed in March 2008. 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.

L3 Communications TITAN Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a
$16,848,936 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee
level of effort contract (N00421-05-C-0009) to exercise an option for
engineering and technical support services and supplies to design, develop,
procure, prototype, modify, integrate, test and evaluate, install and
provide logistics support for telecommunication and related
communication-electronic (C-E) systems for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft
Division, Special Communications Requirements Division. Work will be
performed in Lexington Park, Md. (80 percent); and St. Inigoes, Md. (20
percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2007. Contract funds
will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air
Warfare Center Aircraft Division, St. Inigoes, Md., is the contracting
activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Propper International, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, is being awarded a
maximum $29,766,048 firm fixed price contract for airmen battle uniform,
men's coats and women's maternity coats and trouser for Air Force. This is
an indefinite delivery/quantity type contract. Other locations of
performance are Cabo Rogo, Las Marjas, Lagas, and Lajas, Puerto Rico.
Proposals were Web-solicited and 6 responded. Contract funds will not expire
at the end of the current fiscal year. date of performance completion
is April 30, 2008. Contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center
Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-07-D-0008).

American Apparel, Selma, Ala., is being awarded a maximum $21,040,800
firm fixed price contract for men and women airmen battle uniform,
coats and trousers for Air Force. Proposals were web-solicited and 12
responded. This is an indefinite delivery/quantity type contract. Contract
funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of
performance completion is April 30, 2008. Contracting activity is the DSCP,
Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-07-D-0009).

Propper International, Inc., Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, is being awarded a
maximum $11,942,988 firm fixed price contract for improved lightweight
bearing equipment system and associated spare and repair parts for
Marine Corps. This is a sole source competition with 1 solicited and 1
responded. This is an indefinite quantity type base year contract with 3
one-year option periods. Contract funds will expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is November 20, 2007.
Contracting activity is the DSCP, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-07-D-0012).

ARMY

JMR Construction Corp.*, Folsom, Calif., was awarded on Oct. 27, 2006,
an $8,495,900 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a
California-Army National Guard Readiness Center and two additional buildings.
Work will be performed in Roseville, Calif., and is expected to be
completed by Dec. 11, 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. There were 16 bids solicited on Dec. 22, 2005, and
four bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento,
Calif., is the contracting activity (W91238-07-C-0001).

Alliant Lake City Small Caliber Ammunition Company L.L.C.,
Independence, Mo., was awarded on Oct. 27, 2006, a delivery order amount of
$5,200,000 as part of a $102,819,674 firm-fixed-price contract for
modernization of a small caliber ammunition plant. Work will be performed in
Independence, Mo., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2012.
Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This
was a sole source contract initiated on Aug. 5, 2003. The U.S. Army
Field Support Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity
(DAAA09-99-D-0016).

* Small business.

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Jason Franco, 18, of Corona, Calif., died Oct. 31 from a
non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine
Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine
Aircraft Wing, Miramar, Calif.

The incident is currently under investigation

 On Nov. 7, the American people will be
voting to elect 33 U.S. senators, the entire U.S. House of Representatives,
37 state governors and hundreds of local officials.

The outcome of these elections will shape the future for you, your
family and our country. You, too, can and should participate in deciding
our country's future by exercising your right to vote.

You don't have to be home to vote; every voting jurisdiction has
provisions to distribute, receive and count your absentee ballot. Your ballot
will be counted, whether or not the contest is close. But time is
short. You must act now!

If you have received your state absentee ballot, vote and return it to
your local election official as soon as possible so that it arrives by
the state deadline for counting. If you are registered to vote and have
not received your state absentee ballot, use the Federal Write-In
Absentee Ballot. You can obtain a FWAB from your unit's voting assistance
officer, or from www.fvap.gov. If you are not registered to vote, your
state may allow late registration. See your voting assistance officer
now!

Many states allow voters to use electronic media to register, receive
blank ballots, and even return voted ballots. Check the Integrated
Voting Alternative Site, or IVAS, available through www.fvap.gov, to see
what electronic alternatives might be available to you.

Your unit commander, your voting assistance officer, and the Federal
Voting Assistance Program office have done everything we can to make it
possible for you to vote in this election. The rest is up to you.

Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense

How to pay for a child's college education
shouldn't be a consideration for those who lose a loved one in battle,
and one troop-support group is working to ensure it isn't.

"We provide financial assistance and college grants to the children and
spouses of the fallen ... and severely injured servicemembers," Rebecca
Campbell, founder of The Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, said.
"It's all for different needs, but (applicants) have to have a
financial need."

The Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund is a member of America
Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting ways Americans and
the corporate sector support the nation's servicemembers.

Formed in 2003, The Gaithersburg, Md.-based nonprofit group started out
with an attainable goal. "We wanted to help one child (attend
college)," Campbell said. "But we haven't stopped."

Not only is her organization offering children and spouses of the
fallen assistance with college tuition at an accredited college or
university, it's also helping with home and car repair, utility bills and many
other basic needs, Campbell said.

Financial assistance applications are reviewed once a quarter unless
there's an applicant is in an emergency situation. The college grants are
reviewed twice a year with deadlines of Oct. 31 for spring semester and
April 30 for the fall semester, she added.

The fund recently announced as recipients of financial assistance
grants:

-- Nathan Smith, son of Navy Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith,
killed in central Iraq on April 2, 2003;

-- Jenniece Fraise, wife of Army Cpl. David M. Fraise, killed in
Kandahar, Afghanistan on June 7, 2004;

-- Jeralind Wilridge, wife of Army Sgt. Kelly S. Morris, killed in
Baghdad on March 30, 2005;

-- Dylan Layfield, son of Marine Lance Cpl. Travis J. Layfield, killed
in Anbar Province, Iraq on April 6, 2004

-- Jamelah Bush, daughter of Army Pfc. Charles E. Bush Jr., killed in
Balad, Iraq on Dec. 19, 2003.

Bush also was presented with an educational award, Campbell said.

Cornell Gilmore Jr., son of Army Command Sgt. Maj. Cornell Gilmore, and
Cristie Horton, wife of Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Horton of Erie, Pa.,
were awarded fall semester college grants.

In 2005, the organization presented its first awards. The college
awards totaled $40,500, and financial assistance to families with children
under 18 totaled $39,250.

"We're trying to get the information out," Campbell said. "We have
funds set aside, and as they hear about us ... they can apply, but we've
been waiting for people to apply."

Information on eligibility requirements and applications for both
awards is available on The Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund Web site

Iraqi army forces conducted a raid today to
search for a missing U.S. soldier in Baghdad, and Iraqi police and
coalition forces detained five terrorists in operations Oct. 27 and 28,
military officials in Iraq reported.

Special Iraqi army forces, with coalition advisors, detained three
people during an operation in Sadr City, Baghdad, today.

The purpose of the mission was to search for a missing U.S. soldier and
to capture the leadership of a kidnapping cell reported to have
knowledge of the soldier's location. The soldier has been listed as "duty
status-whereabouts unknown" since he was abducted from a relative's house
in the Baghdad area Oct. 23.

Elsewhere, Iraqi policemen and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers
detained five suspected terrorists and seized weapons in Saab Al-Bour
Oct. 27 and 28.

A combined patrol of Iraqi policemen and soldiers from the 463rd
Military Police Company, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, detained a suspected terrorist Oct. 27. The patrol arrested
the individual after finding a PKC machine gun he had loaded into a
refrigerator carried on his donkey cart.

Meanwhile, soldiers from 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment,
attached to the 1st BCT, detained an Iraqi citizen Oct. 27 after being
attacked by small-arms fire and a rocket-propelled grenade. The patrol
returned fire and detained the owner of a gas station in the town where
suspected terrorists were seen firing from the roof of the building.

In a separate incident, soldiers from 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry
Regiment, 1st BCT, were attacked by small-arms fire Oct. 28. The soldiers
detained three suspected terrorists in connection with the incident

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Kyu H. Chay, 34, of Fayetteville, N.C., died on Oct. 28 in
the Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered when an
improvised explosive device detonated near his combat patrol. Chay was
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort
Bragg, North Carolina.

 DoD Identifies Marine Casualty



The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.


Lance Cpl. Troy D. Nealey, 24, of Eaton Rapids, Mich., died Oct. 29
while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was
assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment,
4th Marine Division, Lansing, Mich.

Three U.S. soldiers and a Marine are among
the latest casualties in Iraq, military officials reported, and the
Defense Department has identified three earlier casualties.

-- An 89th Military Police Brigade soldier died of wounds suffered from
enemy small-arms fire this morning in east Baghdad.

-- A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier died yesterday when a
roadside bomb struck his vehicle south of Baghdad.

-- A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier died yesterday when he was
hit by small-arms fire while conducting combat operations in western
Baghdad.

-- A Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 died Oct. 29 from
injuries suffered due to enemy action while operating in Iraq's Anbar
province.

Their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department released the identities of three
servicemembers killed recently supporting the global war on terror.

-- Army Pvt. Michael V. Bailey, 20, of Waldorf, Md., died Oct. 27 in
Salerno, Afghanistan, from non-combat-related injuries. Bailey was
assigned to 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

-- Marine Sgt. Luke J. Zimmerman, 24, of Luxemburg, Wis., died Oct. 27
from injuries suffered while conducting combat operations in Iraq's
Anbar province. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd
Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

-- Army 1st Sgt. Ricky L. McGinnis, 42, of Hamilton, Ohio, died Oct. 26
in Balad, Iraq, when a roadside bomb detonated near his dismounted
patrol in Muqdadiyah, Iraq. McGinnis was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 9th
Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.


Pvt. Michael V. Bailey, 20, of Waldorf, Md., died on Oct. 27 in
Salerno, Afghanistan, from non-combat related injuries.Bailey was assigned to
4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team,
10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York.

This incident is under investigation.

Before Marine Staff Sgt. Reina Barnett
could begin getting nervous about attempting her first marathon, she had to
complete a work assignment.

Barnett is a television reporter for the Pentagon Channel, and she had
arranged to interview 60-year-old runner Will Brown before Sunday's
Marine Corps Marathon here. Brown is a former Marine and one of only a
handful people who have completed each of the 31 Marine Corps Marathons
since the race's inception in 1976.Barnett is featuring Brown in a series
of special reports leading up to the Marine Corps' 231st birthday Nov.
10.

But when Barnett arrived at the VIP starting area, her plans changed a
bit. "I saw Mr. Brown warming up and taking off his sweats and getting
ready, so I decided not to interrupt him with an interview and just get
some 'b-roll' of him starting the race," she said.

Knowing that stories can change in an instant, Barnett had already
arranged to travel to Brown's home in Raleigh, N.C., to conduct interviews
and get the scoop on his training regimen, which includes runs of up to
100 miles.

Brown went on to finish Sunday's 26.2-mile race in 4:39:58, faster than
many runners half his age.

After introducing herself to Brown, Barnett made her way through the
record crowd of 32,000 runners to her staging area midway in the pack
based on her projected pace. Now the fear could really set in.

Barnett had reason to be nervous. She and her husband, Bobby, also a
Marine, had logged only 15 miles on their longest training run over the
summer. Most experienced runners run at least 20 miles in preparation
for a marathon. Barnett knew she wasn't completely ready. In fact, just
days before the event, she considered backing out.

"I wrote down a list of pros and cons, and in the end, the pros
outweighed the cons," she said. "I decided I was going to go for it."

Barnett and her fellow runners left the starting line at the Marine
Corps War Memorial at exactly 8:35:02 on the first day of Eastern Standard
Time. Crystal-clear blue skies, temperatures in the low 50s and a cool
northwest breeze made for perfect marathon running conditions. Their
journey would take them along the National Mall and its famous memorials,
past the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, then up a steep hill
back at the Marine Memorial to finish in the shadows of the Iwo Jima
Memorial.

Mexican Cpl. Ruben Garcia, who at one point in the race was behind the
leaders by 2 minutes, pulled ahead at mile 23 to win by more than 3
minutes in 2:21:21. Laura Thompson, from Boise, Idaho, running her first
marathon, won the women's division in 3:00:23. The race was marred by
the death of a 56-year-old Maryland man who collapsed near mile 17 after
suffering an apparent heart attack. He was airlifted to a Washington
hospital, but medical personnel were unable to revive him.

Meanwhile, 6,000 miles from the nation's capital, 109 servicemembers
took part in a sanctioned "satellite" marathon in Al Asad, Iraq. All who
crossed the finish line there will be considered official Marine Corps
Marathon finishers.

Experienced marathon runners are familiar with "the wall" -- the point
in the race, usually around mile 20, when the body runs out of
carbohydrates and desperately wants to stop. Barnett hit her wall at mile 19,
when runners head uphill to cross the Potomac River on the 14th Street
Bridge. This stretch of highway is devoid of spectator support.

"Nobody was running; everybody was walking," Barnett said.

But at mile 23, with cheering crowds in abundant supply, Barnett had a
huge smile on her face, and she was definitely running. "My legs are
hurting so bad," she said as she picked up the pace on a slight downhill.
"But I feel so happy. It must be the endorphins."

After passing the final aid station staffed by dozens of Marines,
Barnett took on the final straightaway past the Pentagon and Arlington
National Cemetery.

Then she faced the final test. "That last .2 was probably the toughest
hill I've ever climbed," she said.

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Luke J. Zimmerman, 24, of Luxemburg, Wis., died Oct. 27 from
injuries suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province,
Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine
Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

CONTRACTS

UNITED STATES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

Chenega Federal Systems, LLC (CFS) of Lorton Va., 22079-2624, is being
awarded a five year, indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract
with a ceiling of $260,000,000.00. The Psychological Operations Program
Office (PMP) of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
Intelligence and Information Systems (IIS) Program Executive Office
(PEO) requires engineering and technical support services to build, field
and sustain Psychological Operations (PSYOP) systems and other
designated IIS-PMP projects and programs in accordance with USSOCOM
requirements. The places of performance will be Lorton, Va. and Anchorage, Alaska.
The five year ordering period will be completed October 2011. The
contract number is H92222-07-D-0017.

NAVY

McDonnell Douglas Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Co.,
St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $23,174,477 modification to a
previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-04-C-0014) for the
procurement of ancillary mission equipment to support the F/A-18 E/F and
E/A-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is
expected to be completed in November 2008. 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.

BAE Systems Applied Technologies, Inc., Rockville, Md., is being
awarded a $5,231,495 modification to a previously awarded
cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-02-C-3058) for engineering and technical services
for design, development, integration, test and evaluation, installation,
fielding certification, maintenance, and logistic support of Navy Joint
National Agency C41 communications electronic equipment and systems.
Work will be performed in California, Md., (90 percent) and St. Inigoes,
Md., (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2007.
Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, St. Inigoes, Md., is the
contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a
$12,262,168 firm-fixed-price contract modification. This action is
exercising option VII (FY07), 1 Oct. 2006 through 30 Sept. 2007, in support
of C-12 contractor logistic support. At this time, total funds have
been obligated. This work will be complete September 2007. Headquarters
Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the
contracting activity (F34601-00-C-0111/P00299).

General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being
awarded a $7,496,425 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This program
objective is to investigate, develop and demonstrate high payoff thermal
management approaches to the removal of heat from multi-megawatt electric
power system and the subsequent elimination of this heat from airborne
technologies and components. The output of this trade will quantify
technical risk versus potential benefit to the thermal management system. At
this time, $1,258,000 has been obligated. Solicitations began July 2006
and negotiations were complete October 2006. This work will be complete
February 2012. Air Force Research Lab, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33615-01-D-2109 task order 0009).

A group of South Korean pastors made a
pilgrimage to the Pentagon today to show their support for the U.S.
military.

More than 50 members of the Korean-American Protestant Pastors'
Association participated in morning seminars in the Memorial Chapel and later
toured the building to view items related to the U.S.-South Korean
partnership, said Army Chaplain (Col.) Gary K. Sexton, the group's escort
officer.

The event is co-sponsored by the U.S. Army Chaplains Corps and the
Defense Department, and demonstrates "our strong support for the ongoing
American-Korean alliance," said Sexton, who's assigned to the 18th
Medical Command at Yongsan, South Korea.

The 52 South Korean pastors "have been integrally involved in honoring
the American commitment to the (Korean) peninsula," the chaplain
explained. The pastors also had helped to raise $1.3 million used to purchase
four stained-glass windows for the Pentagon Memorial Chapel after the
9/11 attacks.

The pastors' donation was "a gift to the American people in our hour of
distress," Sexton said.

Bishop Kim Hong Do, who attended the Pentagon event, is head of the
largest Methodist congregation in the world, Sexton noted.

Kim tends to more than 100,000 parishioners as head of the Kumnan
Methodist Church in South Korea, and he "has a strong vision for
strengthening and bolstering the American-Korean alliance," Sexton said.

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a stalemate. But, North Korea, which on
Oct. 9 announced it'd successfully detonated an atomic bomb, has made
no secret of its desire to one day subjugate its southern neighbor.

Today, about 25,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea to deter
possible North Korean aggression.

Kim, 68, highly values the U.S.-South Korean partnership that keeps the
peace on the Korean peninsula. "Wherever I may go I like to express my
gratitude to America," Kim said. About 120 years ago, he noted, two
American missionaries arrived in Korea.

Today, about 10 million Christians are part of South Korea's 50-million
populace, Kim said, which also includes Buddhists, as well as followers
of the Confucian faith.

The United States also sent troops to assist South Korea when the
Korean War broke out in 1950, Kim recalled. And since the end of the war
"America has helped to protect South Korea," the pastor said.

The North Korean government under dictator Kim Jong Il is a murderous
regime that has no regard for religious views or basic human rights, Kim
said.

In view of this threat, Kim said he and most of his fellow citizens are
glad that thousands of U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea.

"We can feel (the) safety," the South Korean bishop said 

CONTRACTS

NAVY

ViaSat*, Carlsbad, Calif., was awarded on October 26, 2006, a
$36,737,586 firm-fixed-price delivery order under a previously awarded contract
(N00039-00-D-2101) for Multifunctional Information Distribution
System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs). The MIDS-LVT provides secure, high
capacity, jam resistant, digital data and voice communications capability
for Navy, Air Force and Army platforms. This delivery order is for the
government of Turkey under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program.
Work will be performed in Carlsbad, Calif., (30 percent) and various
other sites worldwide (70 percent), and is expected to be completed by
January 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current
fiscal year. This requirement was a directed sole source procurement under
the FMS Program. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego,
Calif., is the contracting activity.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded an
$18,625,758 Navy modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price Army
contract (DAAH23-02-C-0006) for the manufacture and installation of armed
helo mission kit fixed provisions into 28 MH-60S aircraft including
related logistics support. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn. (92
percent) and Crestview, Fla. (8 percent) and is expected to be
completed in March 2008. 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.

L3 Communications TITAN Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a
$16,848,936 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee
level of effort contract (N00421-05-C-0009) to exercise an option for
engineering and technical support services and supplies to design, develop,
procure, prototype, modify, integrate, test and evaluate, install and
provide logistics support for telecommunication and related
communication-electronic (C-E) systems for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft
Division, Special Communications Requirements Division. Work will be
performed in Lexington Park, Md. (80 percent); and St. Inigoes, Md. (20
percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2007. Contract funds
will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air
Warfare Center Aircraft Division, St. Inigoes, Md., is the contracting
activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Propper International, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, is being awarded a
maximum $29,766,048 firm fixed price contract for airmen battle uniform,
men's coats and women's maternity coats and trouser for Air Force. This is
an indefinite delivery/quantity type contract. Other locations of
performance are Cabo Rogo, Las Marjas, Lagas, and Lajas, Puerto Rico.
Proposals were Web-solicited and 6 responded. Contract funds will not expire
at the end of the current fiscal year. date of performance completion
is April 30, 2008. Contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center
Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-07-D-0008).

American Apparel, Selma, Ala., is being awarded a maximum $21,040,800
firm fixed price contract for men and women airmen battle uniform,
coats and trousers for Air Force. Proposals were web-solicited and 12
responded. This is an indefinite delivery/quantity type contract. Contract
funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of
performance completion is April 30, 2008. Contracting activity is the DSCP,
Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-07-D-0009).

Propper International, Inc., Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, is being awarded a
maximum $11,942,988 firm fixed price contract for improved lightweight
bearing equipment system and associated spare and repair parts for
Marine Corps. This is a sole source competition with 1 solicited and 1
responded. This is an indefinite quantity type base year contract with 3
one-year option periods. Contract funds will expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is November 20, 2007.
Contracting activity is the DSCP, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-07-D-0012).

ARMY

JMR Construction Corp.*, Folsom, Calif., was awarded on Oct. 27, 2006,
an $8,495,900 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a
California-Army National Guard Readiness Center and two additional buildings.
Work will be performed in Roseville, Calif., and is expected to be
completed by Dec. 11, 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. There were 16 bids solicited on Dec. 22, 2005, and
four bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento,
Calif., is the contracting activity (W91238-07-C-0001).

Alliant Lake City Small Caliber Ammunition Company L.L.C.,
Independence, Mo., was awarded on Oct. 27, 2006, a delivery order amount of
$5,200,000 as part of a $102,819,674 firm-fixed-price contract for
modernization of a small caliber ammunition plant. Work will be performed in
Independence, Mo., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2012.
Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This
was a sole source contract initiated on Aug. 5, 2003. The U.S. Army
Field Support Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity
(DAAA09-99-D-0016).

* Small business.