Army revises contracting testimony (KBR and LOGCAPIII)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

Army revises contracting testimony By RICHARD LARDNER, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 40 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - The Army has taken the unusual step of recanting the testimony of a senior officer who contradicted a Senate committee examining an Iraq war contract, but stopped short of admitting it improperly paid $99 million to the defense contractor handling the work.

Claude Bolton, the Army's senior acquisition official, said in a letter obtained Friday by The Associated Press that a two-star general "did not provide an accurate response" in April when he testified that the payment had not been made to defense contractor KBR Inc.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, had challenged the 2005 payment for temporary living quarters after Pentagon auditors found KBR had bought the trailers from high bidders instead of going to companies offering lower rates.

~snip~

Even though the auditors said KBR's charges couldn't be justified, Bolton did not acknowledge the payment was out of line. He attributed the flaws in Johnson's testimony to the complexity of the multibillion dollar combat support contract, known as LOGCAP III. Johnson has since moved to another assignment at Army Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Ga.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071207/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/army_recant

[stillcool]

1. Jeez..these numbers are stunning...

Since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and the subsequent war in Iraq heightened the demand for these services, the value of the contract has escalated, making it one of the most hotly contested among companies that provide logistics support. The work is now shared by KBR and two other companies who were selected earlier this year to work on what is now a $150 billion, 10-year contract.

[rockybelt]

2. Let's see

who has any connections with KBR?

Care to take a guess?