HOMELAND SECURITY

28 Aug 08. MVM Inc., one of the biggest security contractors used by U.S. intelligence agencies, has lost the bulk of a Central Intelligence Agency contract in Iraq after failing to provide enough armed guards, according to company emails and contractors familiar with the decision. The loss of the CIA contract, which was potentially worth more than $1bn over five years, is a big blow to closely held MVM, based in Vienna, Va. Overseas work for U.S. intelligence agencies represents a third of the company’s $200 million in annual revenue and is believed to be one of the fastest-growing areas of the contracting business. Intelligence officers needing protective services are likely to remain in Iraq even after U.S. troops leave, so demand for such services will continue or possibly increase. The CIA’s largest foreign station is in Baghdad, with hundreds of officers estimated to be based there. The loss of the contract will likely hurt MVM’s chances of winning further work with the agency. “We are disappointed to announce that the client has not chosen MVM Inc.,” Rob Whitfield, who manages MVM’s CIA work, wrote to the company’s pool of guards on Aug. 22, according to a copy of the email viewed by The Wall Street Journal. MVM declined to respond to specific questions. In a written statement, the company said it has an “outstanding performance history” working in dangerous regions and it has never failed to “secure any personnel or facilities that we have been contracted to protect.” The company also said that it is “fully compliant with all of the contractual obligations of our diverse client base.” (Source: WSJ)

27 Aug 08. The Bavarian Ministry of the Interior will purchase eight new Eurocopter EC135 P2i helicopters for the Bavarian Police Helicopter Squadron. This will enable the squadron to carry out its work using helicopters of the
latest generation. Fitted out with state-of-the-art police equipment, the EC135s are slated for delivery between September 2009 and April 2010. The EC135’s police-specific equipment includes a FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) camera, a high-resolution digital day and night vision camera, SatCOM, GPS, a digital map device, Tetra digital radio, the FLARM® collision warning system, a tactical direction finder, a digital flight management system and a GSM telephone. Suitable for operation under IFR (instrument flight rules), the helicopters are fitted with glass cockpits approved for operations with night vision goggles.