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Sept 11, 2001

General Dynamics Network Systems in Needham, MA received a $6 million firm/fixed price contract for continuing efforts to survey, plan, design, install, and implement the Information Technology Systems and Infrastructure (ITS&I) for wedge 2-5 tenants as part of an ongoing modernization of the Pentagon IT infrastructure. Work will be performed in Arlington, VA with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/10. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. by the Pentagon Renovation & Construction Program Office in Arlington VA (MDA947-98-C-2002).

Each side of the Pentagon has multiple layers of buildings in it, and so each set of layers on a side are referred to as a wedge. Seven years ago, on Sept 11/01, American Airlines Flight 77 was flown into the Pentagon by al-Qaeda, doing extensive damage to wedges 1 and 2. A $2.1 billion renovation of the 60-year-old Pentagon had been underway since 1993, and Wedge 1 was just 5 days away from completion. Those renovations had to start all over again; fortunately the ‘new’ Wedge 1 had a number of safety improvements made that saved lives. One improvement was a new sprinkler system, which put out the Wedge 1 fires in a matter of hours. Wedge 2, with no sprinklers, burned for more than 2 days.

See the Pentagon’s 9/11 memorial web site; a new physical memorial on the grounds will be opened to the public for the first time between 7:00-9:00 am on Sept 11/08. See also Popular Mechanics excellent engineering analysis: Debunking 9/11 Myths: Why Conspiracy Theories Can’t Stand up to the Facts | Book site, incl. reviews and ongoing coverage.