BAE Systems Protest of Army Contract Upheld

by: Phillip Martin

Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 11:10 AM CST

For now, at least, the BAE Systems plant is still alive.

The federal government's General Accountability Office has determined to uphold the protest conducted by Navistar and BAE Systems about the awarding of the defense contract to Oshkosh. They determined that the "Army's evaluation was flawed" and the proposals must be re-evaluated. However -- and this is important -- they denined many of the challenges made by BAE Systems, including challenges to Oshkosh's price.

What this means is that the contract is not necessarily staying here in Texas -- but there's still a chance. BAE Systems is now getting a fair chance at the bid, something they didn't have before due to Michael McCaul's gross negligence. Thankfully, with the help of Democrats like Chet Edwards and Bill White, BAE Systems will get another swing at the contract.

From the Bill White blog about this last week:

Last week, a day before his announcement, Bill put politics aside and joined forces with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to fight for an Army contract that could jeopardize more than 10,000 jobs (direct and indirect) and have economic impact of 1.8 billion annually to Southeast Texas region.

Bill said after the 90-minute meeting, "When it comes to matters affecting Texas, we put politics aside. That's who Texans are, at our best. Obviously, there are some who play by different rules, but that's who we are."

I'm still reading news reports as it comes out. I'll post something more this afternoon, once I get more details. For now, here's the official statement from the GAO:

We recommended that the Army: reevaluate the offerors’ proposals under the capability evaluation factor, in a manner consistent with the terms of the solicitation; conduct a new evaluation of Navistar’s past performance that adequately documents the agency’s judgments; and make a new selection decision. We also recommended that if, at the conclusion of the reevaluation, Oshkosh is not found to offer the best value, the agency should terminate Oshkosh’s contract for the convenience of the government. We further recommend that Navistar and BAE be reimbursed the costs of filing and pursuing the successful grounds of their protests related to their challenge of technical and past performance evaluation issues, including reasonable attorney fees. By statute, the Army has 60 days to inform our Office of its actions in response to our recommendations.

Navistar Defense, LLC, of Warrenville, Illinois, and BAE Systems, Tactical Vehicle Systems LP, of Sealy, Texas, protested the award of a contract to Oshkosh Corporation, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, under request for proposals (RFP) No. W56HZV-09-R-0083, issued by the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, for production of the family of medium tactical vehicles (FMTV). Navistar and BAE challenged the Army’s evaluation of the offerors’ technical and price proposals, and contend that the selection decision was flawed.

The Army received proposals and conducted negotiations with Oshkosh, Navistar, and BAE. The agency selected Oshkosh’s proposal for award on August 26, 2009, and Navistar and BAE each filed a protest with our Office on September 4 and 5, respectively, with each supplementing its protest several times thereafter. In accordance with our Bid Protest Regulations, we obtained a report from the agency and comments on that report from Oshkosh, Navistar, and BAE. Our Office also conducted a hearing on November 9 and 10, at which testimony was received from a number of Army witnesses about the record. Following the hearing, we received further comments from the parties, addressing the hearing testimony as well as other aspects of the record.

Our decision should not be read to reflect a view as to the merits of the firms' respective approaches to produce the FMTV. Judgments about which offeror will most successfully meet governmental needs are largely reserved for the procuring agencies, subject only to such statutory and regulatory requirements as full and open competition and fairness to potential offerors. Our bid protest process examines whether procuring agencies have complied with those requirements.

The decision was issued under a protective order because the decision contains proprietary and source selection sensitive information. We have directed counsel for the parties to promptly identify information that cannot be publicly released so that we can expeditiously prepare and release, as soon as possible, a public version of the decision."

Will post more as it develops...

Previous Coverage:

• Michael McCaul Drops the Ball, Loses 3,000 Texas Jobs
• Michael McCaul Drops the Ball, Part Two: The Role of a Congressman
• Michael McCaul Drops the Ball, Part Three: The BAE Systems Appeal

TX-17: Chet Edwards Reports Over $1.1 Million Cash on Hand

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 11:53 PM CDT

The total represents a record sum for the Edwards campaign and is over $200,000 more than Edwards reported at the same point during the 2008 election cycle. As of June 30th, the FEC’s last reporting period, Edwards had $869,464 cash-on-hand.  Since that time he has added an additional $256,443 in cash-on-hand.

“As of the June 30th FEC report, Chet had a huge $855,000 cash-on-hand advantage over his closest potential rival.  If Chet’s potential rivals have not significantly increased their fundraising, it will certainly raise questions about their inability to gain grassroots traction for their campaigns,” said Elizabeth Connor, Edwards’ campaign spokesperson. 

2010 should be a better electoral environement for Chet than 2008 where Edwards is the federal race on the top of the ballot, not the Obama-McCain matchup. Also, Edwards is now a more powerful incumbent in a Democratic majority where he can get more done for his district as one of the few senior members of either party left in the Texas Congressional delegation. 

"As Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, he championed the building of a much-needed, new $927 million hospital for Fort Hood soldiers and families and worked with the Veterans Administration to bring 224 new jobs to the Waco VA hospital.  That is an impressive record of accomplishment in just one year,” commented Connor. 

Chet isn't a liberal Democrat, but he is a Texas Democrat and one that we are proud of each time he defeats a Republican. He's well on his way to doing that once more.

Why Progressives Should Be Calling for a Town Hall with Chet Edwards

by: liberaltexan

Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 07:00 PM CDT

Health care is one of the most important issues facing Americans today, and perhaps the most significant problem in the health care system is the number of uninsured people in America. The National Coalition on Health Care notes that "nearly 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under the age of 65, were without health insurance in 2007." According to Health Affairs, due to the economic recession the number of uninsured people in America will increase by 6.9 million by 2010. Bloomberg reports that health-insurance premiums for families have risen 119 % since 1999, and in the last fifteen years America has increased the amount it spends on health care from $912 billion to $2.5 trillion and the amount of uninsured has only increased.

Edwards states that his goals are "lowering costs, maintaining competition and choice, and preserving quality health care." However, the most significant way to lower cost is to provide a public option, without a public option it is unlikely that health care reform will actually be able to significantly lower the cost of health care. Also, the idea that Edwards supports maintaining competition and choice suggests that there is current competition and choice, while for many Americans that only competition is the choice they have to make on whether or not they will actually be able to afford health insurance. It is obvious that "preserving the quality of health care" is important, but the real goal should be expanding access to the quality health care that is currently not available to many Americans. It is often said that the best quality health care can be found in the United States, however, who is that health care actually available to?

More Below the Fold...

ACTION ALERT: Do TX Congressional Leaders Support Public Option for Health Care?

by: Phillip Martin

Thu Jun 18, 2009 at 04:49 PM CDT

You want everyone in America to have access to affordable health care? Then it's time to make some calls.

We need to know which members of the Texas congressional delegation support the public option for universal health care, and which ones don't. The reason is simple, as Chris Bowers wrote, "Let’s Get Some Answers On The Public Option" --

For years, candidates for, and members of, Congress told us that we needed to elect and re-elect them in order to lower health care costs and provide universal coverage. And so, for years, we dutifully worked our collective asses off, delivering wide majorities for Democrats--who said they would lower health care costs and provide universal coverage--in both branches of Congress.

Now, when it comes time for them to deliver on health care by providing a public option--the care minimum required to reduce costs and provide universal coverage--what we are getting instead are backroom deals, flip-flops, and cop-outs.

Enough.

Everyone is on board with this plan. Health Care for America Now, Democracy for America, and dozens of progressive bloggers around the country are joining forces to ask Congress these simple questions:

Here's the list for every member of Congress -- who has made public statements, and who hasn't. Here's the current list:

• TX Democrats: Congressman Chet Edwards and Congressman Gene Green have not issued any comment about the public healthcare option. All other Texas Democrats have said "yes" -- that they support the public healthcare option.
  
  
• TX Republicans: Not one member of Texas' Republican delegation -- including Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn -- have said anything about whether or not they support a public healthcare option.

Folks, its time to make some phone calls.

Follow this link to find out where each member of the Texas Congressional delegation stands. (I've also copy and pasted the information below the fold for those members of Texas' Congressional delegation that have not yet announced their position). That link also has phone numbers and e-mail addresses for each member of Congress -- write them or call them with the questions listed above, and then let us know what they said.

You can respond in the comments with any answers you get, or e-mail me privately at phillip@burntorangereport.com.

Blue Dog Membership List Released

by: Matt Glazer

Thu Apr 02, 2009 at 10:30 AM CDT

I'll take a Blue Dog over a Republican any day in a conservative district. You can't purify what you don't own!

Rural Democrats in Texas are a tough breed.  They are always going to have a tough challenger.  They are always targeted.  They live and vote under a microscope.  They are good, proud Democrats, but they are usually under siege by both sides of the electorate-- Democratic Primary voters and Republicans.

That's one reason I expected to see a few Texans on the list of the Blue Dog Caucus released by Huffington Post 2 days ago.

In the list of 51 members, there is only 1 Democrat.  

The only Texan on the list is Henry Cuellar (TX-28), who is a Democrat who represents a very Democratic district.

In 2008 Cuellar won re-election by an impressive 40 points against Jim Fish. In 2006 Cuellar didn't even have a challenger. Cuellar will never be on the NRCC target list and that is probably even more true now that Pete Sessions is running the show.

The other surprise was not seeing Chet Edwards on the list. Edwards is having a great session already and his influence has only been bolstered by being on the Obama short list for Vice President. Perhaps that is the reason Edwards has left the Blue Dog caucus. In either case, the list is interesting for a number of reasons.

The full membership and it's leaders are below the fold.

Update: From a friend and former staffer to some Blue Dogs.

Chet has never been a blue dog, but there have been some significant blue dogs from Texas. One current congressman, ralph hall was a blue dog before he switched parties. Lampson was a blue dog on both of his runs in congress.

Also Charlie Stenholm and Max Sandlin were both Texans and Blue Dogs early on in the Blue Dog history - in fact, i believe stenholm was a founding blue dog.

To Congressman Edwards, sorry for giving you the label.  The national online folks tend to tag Edwards with the Blue Dog label and I was wrong and passing the title.

Barack Obama Praises Chet Edwards, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

by: Matt Glazer

Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 04:57 PM CDT

Because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Congressman Edwards worked so hard to pass we are putting people t work across the country to get our economy back on track.

In Texas, $621 million from this recovery plan will be used to build a new military hospital that will treat soldiers and veterans alike. This is the kind of critical investment we must make to support our brave soldiers and veterans who have sacrificed so much for us, and this is the sort of progress that can happen if we bring Democrats and Republicans together to focus on solving the challenges we face as a nation.

(h/t to Quorum Report)

Veterans Issues: Edwards Stays in Congress, Duckworth Possible VA Secretary

by: liberaltexan

Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 06:55 PM CST

From Press Release:

"While it is an honor to have been considered for the position of U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, I believe I can make the most difference for veterans, our district and country by continuing to serve in Congress.  That is why I have informed President-elect Obama's transition team that I intend to continue representing the 17th Congressional District of Texas."

Chet Edwards Says He Will Consider VA Cabinet Appointment

by: David Mauro

Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 01:50 PM CST

After Chet Edwards made Obama's short list for VP in August, it now appears the Democratic congressman is under consideration to be named Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the AP reports.

"I would want to think long and hard," Edwards, D-Waco, told The Associated Press at a groundbreaking for a new Fort Worth veterans outpatient clinic. "I wake up every day being blessed to represent my district, representing veterans ... and we've done a lot of good things."

Edwards is chairman of the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Committee, which helped increase funding for veterans' health care and benefits by $16.3 billion the last two years.

He also said he would have to consider whether he wanted to give up his position as the second-highest ranking Democrat on the Energy and Water Appropriations Committee. Edwards also serves on the House Budget and Appropriations committees and Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.

...

"I love my present job," Edwards said. "Where could I do the most good for veterans? I'm not sure."

I would guess that if Edwards decides he really wants this job it will be his. I expect him to stay in the Congress, however, where he will have a lot of power given his seniority, committee assignments and (after the VP speculation) relationship to President-elect Obama.

Of course, if Edwards does decide to leave Congress, it would be very difficult for Democrats to hold on to his seat.

Veterans Issues: Why Rob Curnock Has Nothing on Chet Edwards

by: liberaltexan

Tue Oct 14, 2008 at 08:59 PM CDT

As a veteran I can say this will complete authority: when it comes to veterans issues Rob Curnock has nothing on Chet Edwards.

Congressman Edwards has a distinguished voting record on veterans' issues. In 2006 Edwards received voting rankings from the Disabled American Veterans of 100%, the Retired Enlisted Association of 86%, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Edwards a grade of A-. In fact Edwards has received a perfect vote ranking from the Disabled American Veterans for the last three years. As the Chairman of the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee Edwards increased veterans' health care funding to $11.8 billion and because of his seniority in Congress is able to be a strong voice for veterans.

Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Champion for Mental Health Coverage, Coming to Texas

by: Matt Glazer

Tue Oct 14, 2008 at 03:46 PM CDT

- Congressman Patrick Kennedy, on the passage of the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity Act of 2008

For decades, insurers have set "higher co-payments and deductibles and stricter limits on treatment for addiction and mental illnesses," even though mental illness is just as real, treatable and debilitating as any physical ailment. For millions of Americans, that insurance environment changed this month with the passage of the Domenici-Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act of 2008.  From the New York Times:

More than one-third of all Americans will soon receive better insurance coverage for mental health treatments because of a new law that, for the first time, requires equal coverage of mental and physical illnesses.

The requirement, included in the economic bailout bill that President Bush signed on Friday, is the result of 12 years of passionate advocacy by friends and relatives of people with mental illness and addiction disorders. They described the new law as a milestone in the quest for civil rights, an effort to end insurance discrimination and to reduce the stigma of mental illness.

Instrumental in the fight for this legislation for the past is the father-son team of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), who sponsored the legislation in the House and Senate. The fight's been a highly personal one for them, as many members of the Kennedy family have been afflicted with mental illness. Senator Ted Kennedy's sister Rosemary, who died in 2005 at the age 86, spent a life disabled and institutionalized after a lobotomy for mental illness nearly 60 years ago. Senator Kennedy was diagnosed in May with a malignant brain tumor, and in 2001 Representative Kennedy publicly talked about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Passing mental health parity legislation has been a huge priority for the Kennedys. Teaming with Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MI) (who himself has battled alcohol and drug addiction), Congressman Kennedy held a series of nationwide hearings last year on the need for mental health parity legislation. Congressman Ramstad praised Rep. Kennedy willingness to speak openly about his personal struggle with bipolar disorder, noting that "[t]he power of Patrick's personal witness has touched thousands."

The House Democratic Campaign Committee is hosting Congressman Kennedy and Congressman Chet Edwards at a fundraising reception Houston on October 22. You can find more information or buy tickets for the reception by clicking here. If you can make it, come out to honor a great legislator who has invested tremendously in improving mental health coverage for Americans who need it.