The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA has just issued four maximum $120 million firm fixed price contracts for “a variety of Shelters, Trailers and Components for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Federal Civilian Agencies.” Performance completion date is Sept. 5, 2006, and proposals were Gateway solicited with 10 responses. Winners included:
* Johnson Outdoors in Binghamton, NY (SPM100-05-D-6059).
* Small business qualifier DHS Systems LLC in Orangeburg, NY (SPM100-05-D-6060).
* Base-X Expedition Shelters in Fairfield, VA (SPM100-05-D-6063).
* Small business qualifier Alaska Structures Inc. in Anchorage, AK (SPM100-05-D-6064).
Whether this contract is a stroke of fortunate timing or not, demand for these items is extremely high right now, especially among Federal Civilian Agencies. Given the risk of additional hurricanes and the likely need for semi-permanent housing for Gulf Coast refugees, steel ISO container derived dwellings and medical/ command posts might also be worth considering. This long-term solution would offer rapid, sturdy (some can withstand up to 100mph winds without anchoring) sheltering derived from the very casings that hold incoming relief supplies. The result could offer an immediate solution for field relief posts that must be securable, leave the U.S. with upgraded disaster-response capabilities down the road, and add new military/ industrial capabilities. See this DID article for more thinking along these lines.