CONTRACTS
ARMY
AM General, LLC, South Bend, Ind., was awarded on May 9 a $164,426,332 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of 763 various models of the High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle for two foreign military sales to Afghanistan and Jordan. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, Ind., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2012. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-10-C-0405).
Watterson Construction Co., Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on May 10 a $67,814,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the design and construction of an aircraft maintenance hangar, rotary wing parking apron, and water storage pump house facility for the Aviation Task Force on Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Work will be performed in Fairbanks, Alaska, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 20, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 11 bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-11-C-0007).
Kiewit Building Group, Inc., Omaha, Neb., was awarded on May 13 a $65,180,000 firm-fixed-price, award-fee contract. The award will provide for the construction of a high-explosive pressing facility, Pantex Plant, Amarillo, Texas. Work will be performed in Amarillo, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 1, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with nine bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, Okla., is the contracting activity (W912BV-11-C-0005).
General Dynamics Lands System, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on May 13 a $33,985,782 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The award will provide for the option of an existing contract to provide system technical support for the Abrams Tank Program. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 19, 2011. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-C-0046).
Korte-Purcell, JV, St. Louis, Mo., was awarded on May 11 a $23,898,777 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the design and construction of the Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Complex, Phase I Barracks at Fort Richardson, Alaska. Work will be performed in Anchorage, Alaska, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 1, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with nine bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-11-C-0021).
Walbridge Overaa, JV, Detroit, Mich., was awarded on May 13 a $22,856,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the design and construction of an Army Reserve Center at Concord, Calif. Work will be performed in Concord, Calif., with an estimated completion date of March 13, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 14 bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-11-C-0018).
American Mechanical, Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska, was awarded on May 10 a $16,341,855 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the construction of standard design three-company with dispatch, fire station, at Fort Greely, Alaska. Work will be performed in Fort Greely, Alaska, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 15, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with nine bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-11-C-0010).
Armtec Defense Products Co., Coachella, Calif., was awarded on May 16 a $15,511,320 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the facilities, personnel, and equipment for the manufacture of the Modular Artillery Charge System combustible case M231/M232A1. Work will be performed in Coachella, Calif., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2012. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-08-C-0437).
Primal Innovation, LLC, Sanford, Fla., was awarded on May 12 a $14,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the material and equipment to support the operational assessment of glass wave for the purpose of assisting U.S. Forces in the defeat of improvised explosive devices. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, and Sanford, Fla., with an estimated completion date of May 5, 2012. Two bids were solicited, with two bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Miss., is the contracting activity (W912HZ-11-C-0011).
Record Steel and Construction, Inc., Meridian, Idaho, was awarded on May 10 a $14,432,301 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the construction of raised and extended levees and provide a new interior drainage pump station for flood protection in the city of Devils Lake, N.D. Work will be performed in Devils Lake, N.D., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2012. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with five bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Contracting Division, St. Paul, Minn., is the contracting activity (W912ES-11-C-0006).
American Mechanical, Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska, was awarded on May 12 a $14,144,555 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the completion of unfinished site work and corrective work to primary facility housing units and supporting facilities for 110 single family housing units at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Work will be performed in Fairbanks, Alaska, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2012. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with three bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-11-C-0018).
NextiraOne Federal, LLC, Herndon, Va., was awarded on May 10 a $13,621,659 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the support of outside plant infrastructure modernization at Fort Pope, N.C. Work will be performed in Fort Pope, N.C., with an estimated completion date of April 26, 2013. Ten bids were solicited, with two bids received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, National Capital Region, Alexandria, Va., is the contracting activity (W91QUZ-06-D-0027).
Weeks Marine, Inc., Covington, La., was awarded on May 13 an $11,143,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the dredging at the mouth of the Columbia River and select Columbia River bars. Work will be performed in or around the Columbia River in both Oregon and Washington, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 15, 2011. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with two bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland, Ore., is the contracting activity (W9127N-11-C-0015).
System Studies and Simulation, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded on May 10 a $10,277,453 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the advanced aircraft flight training services at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Rucker, Ala. Work will be performed in Fort Rucker, Ala., with an estimated completion date of May 22, 2012. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with three bids received. The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Center, Fort Rucker, Ala., is the contracting activity (W9124G-11-F-0033).
The City of Aberdeen, Md., was awarded on May 13 a $10,153,152 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the yearly funding of water and sewer services for the Aberdeen Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground. Work will be performed in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., with an estimated completion date of July 7, 2024. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with two bids received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (DAAD05-99-C-0008).
BAE Systems Ordnance System, Inc., Kingsport, Tenn., was awarded on May 12 a $10,062,500 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of propellants. Work will be performed in Radford, Va., with an estimated completion date of May 12, 2011. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with two bids received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-11-D-0013).
American Mechanical, Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska, was awarded on May 10 a $7,821,868 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the construction or organizational storage building and recreational vehicle parking area, and the demolition of two buildings. Work will be performed in Fairbanks, Alaska, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 27, 2012. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with seven bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-11-C-0006).
Dixie Construction Co., Inc., Churchville, Md., was awarded on May 16 a $7,680,737 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the option of an existing contract for paving, drainage and civil site work at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Work will be performed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, with an estimated completion date of May 17, 2012. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with three bids received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91ZLK-07-D-0104).
De Arteaga-Miron, JV, LLC, Neenah, Wis., was awarded on May 13 a $7,564,138 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the construction of Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Phase II, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Work will be performed in Fort McCoy, Wis., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 16, 2012. Nine bids were solicited, with nine bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-11-C-0013).
Alutiiq International Solutions, LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on May 13 a $7,138,550 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the design of a tactical equipment maintenance facility, which is part of the Aviation Battalion Complex. Work will be performed in Fort Riley, Kan., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 15, 2012. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with three bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Mo., is the contracting activity (W912HN-08-D-0032).
Four Bears/TCI JC, LLC, Elroy, Wis., was awarded on May 13 a $6,843,300 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the design and construction of an annual training/mobilization barracks, Fort McCoy, Wis. Work will be performed in Fort McCoy, Wis., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 12, 2012. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with nine bids received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-11-C-0012).
University of Texas, Austin, Texas, was awarded on May 12 a $6,750,000 cost-no-fee contract. The award will provide for the execution of a long-term research effort in pulsed power, electrodynamics and hypervelocity physics to overcome technical barriers, and exploit technical breakthroughs. Work will be performed in Austin, Texas, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2012. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Adelphi Contracting Division, Adelphi, Md., is the contracting activity (W911QX-07-D-0002).
AIR FORCE
KNWEBS, Inc., Oklahoma, Okla., is being awarded a $43,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for all personnel, supervision, and services necessary to accomplish organizations unique communications and information systems support for all Aeronautical Systems Center directorates at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, for information technology functions considered to be outside the definition to routine help desk support. At this point, $150,000 has been obligated. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. ASC/PKEIS, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8604-11-D-7452).
Array Information Technology, Inc., Greenbelt, Md., is being awarded a $43,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for all personnel supervision and services necessary y to accomplish communications and information systems support for all Aeronautical Systems Center directorates at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, for information technology functions considered to be outside the definition to routine help desk support. At this point, $508,979 has been obligated. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. ASC/PKEIS, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8604-11-D-7453).
Solutions Through Innovative Technologies, Inc., Tulsa, Okla., is being awarded a $43,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract for all personnel, supervision, and services necessary to accomplish organizations unique communications and information systems support for all Aeronautical Systems Center directorates at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, for information technology functions considered to be outside the definition to routine help desk support. At this point, $50,000 has been obligated. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. ASC/PKEIS, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8604-11-D-7454).
NAVY
Marotta Controls, Inc.*, Montville, N.J., is being awarded a $14,276,000 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-06-D-0021) to exercise an option for the procurement of up to 400 pure air generating systems for integration into the LAU-7/127 missile launchers. Work will be performed in Montville, N.J., and is expected to be completed in November 2011. 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
Also, some parts of the planet have faults and fractures in rifts where there is a weakness or a split in the crust like the New Madrid Seismic Zone in Central U.S. This rift zone is a bit unusual since it’s in the middle of a plate, but it was created about 600 hundred million years ago then weakened 200 hundred million years ago when Pangea broke up. (Pangea graphic from 
Liquefaction is a process by which water-saturated sediment temporarily loses strength and acts as a fluid, like when you wiggle your toes in the wet sand near the water at the beach. In other words, the shaking of an earthquake jiggles the sand and squeezes the water trapped between grains so much that the layer begins to act like a muddy liquid. Because liquefaction occurs in saturated soil, its effects are most commonly observed in low-lying areas near bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, bays, and oceans. (liquefaction graphic from 