Obama to Exclude U.S. Companies from $300 Million Palestinian Project

[Soul Crusher]

Obama to Exclude U.S. Companies from $300 Million Palestinian Project
 U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor ^ | Aug. 17, 2012 | Steve Peacock

Posted on Friday, August 17, 2012 4:14:55

The Obama Administration today revealed it is embarking upon a $300 million Palestinian construction project; U.S. companies, however, need not apply.

Indeed, the stated goal of this U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) project is to award program contracts solely to West Bank and Gaza-area vendors, according to presolicitation notice released today.

The Local Construction Program, or LCP, as it is known, will seek out non-governmental entities to carry out a variety of initiatives involving "local construction or rehabilitation of roads, buildings, water, wastewater, public buildings including health facilities, schools, and other infrastructure."

USAID said it expects to release a formal Request for Proposals around September 3, and will not accept bids until that time. The agency revealed few other details.

As U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor reported earlier this year, USAID began awarding contracts in a separate Palestinian project worth upwards of three-quarters of a billion dollars (see: Contracts Start Flowing in $750 Million Palestinian Infrastructure ProjectUSAID ; Monitor, Jan. 14, 2012).

Helping to create a modern Palestinian state is a top priority for the Obama White House, which explicitly has made clear its intentions to accomplish that task -- even if it means taking away business from Israel.

Indeed, as the Monitor has been reporting since last year, the Obama Administration went so far as to launch a project whose aim is to draw tourists away from Israel and re-direct them to Palestinian lands (see: $58 Million USAID Contract to Help Steer Tourists Out of Israel and into West Bank, Gaza; Monitor, Jan. 7).

Similarly, Obama via USAID wants to ensure that the Palestinians -- and the world -- appreciates U.S. involvement in that region (see: Obama Launching Appeal to Palestinians -- Media Blitz to Promote U.S. Role in 'Building' Future State); Monitor, July 25, 2011.

Source document: Solicitation #RFP-294-12-000008.

[Vince G, CSN MFT]

Obama to Exclude U.S. Companies from $300 Million Palestinian Project
 U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor ^ | Aug. 17, 2012 | Steve Peacock

Posted on Friday, August 17, 2012 4:14:55

The Obama Administration today revealed it is embarking upon a $300 million Palestinian construction project; U.S. companies, however, need not apply.

Indeed, the stated goal of this U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) project is to award program contracts solely to West Bank and Gaza-area vendors, according to presolicitation notice released today.

The Local Construction Program, or LCP, as it is known, will seek out non-governmental entities to carry out a variety of initiatives involving "local construction or rehabilitation of roads, buildings, water, wastewater, public buildings including health facilities, schools, and other infrastructure."

USAID said it expects to release a formal Request for Proposals around September 3, and will not accept bids until that time. The agency revealed few other details.

As U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor reported earlier this year, USAID began awarding contracts in a separate Palestinian project worth upwards of three-quarters of a billion dollars (see: Contracts Start Flowing in $750 Million Palestinian Infrastructure ProjectUSAID ; Monitor, Jan. 14, 2012).

Helping to create a modern Palestinian state is a top priority for the Obama White House, which explicitly has made clear its intentions to accomplish that task -- even if it means taking away business from Israel.

Indeed, as the Monitor has been reporting since last year, the Obama Administration went so far as to launch a project whose aim is to draw tourists away from Israel and re-direct them to Palestinian lands (see: $58 Million USAID Contract to Help Steer Tourists Out of Israel and into West Bank, Gaza; Monitor, Jan. 7).

Similarly, Obama via USAID wants to ensure that the Palestinians -- and the world -- appreciates U.S. involvement in that region (see: Obama Launching Appeal to Palestinians -- Media Blitz to Promote U.S. Role in 'Building' Future State); Monitor, July 25, 2011.

Source document: Solicitation #RFP-294-12-000008.

This has little to do with Obama....its a longtime federal government program, dipshit....You have to blame everyone if anyone for the program

[Kazan]

Wait a sec, where did this $300 Million come from? Oh that must be where those shovel ready jobs are

[Kazan]

No one finds this to be a problem?

[Soul Crusher]

No one finds this to be a problem?

If you are a stupid pofs 95er or communist this is a good thing.  Looting the nation and enriching those who hate us is a good thing to these clowns. 

[Kazan]

If you are a stupid pofs 95er or communist this is a good thing.  Looting the nation and enriching those who hate us is a good thing to these clowns. 

Well we all know this will go to construction projects and not weapons to attack Israel

[George Whorewell]

This has little to do with Obama....its a longtime federal government program, dipshit....You have to blame everyone if anyone for the program

Brilliant response. Obama is only the President. He has no authority over Federal Programs 

On September 22, 2010, President Barack Obama signed a classified Presidential Policy Determination (PPD) on Global Development. As described by an unclassified fact sheet, the PPD promises to elevate the role of development assistance within U.S. policy and rebuild "USAID as the U.S. Government’s lead development agency." It also establishes an Interagency Policy Committee on Global Development led by the National Security Staff and adds to U.S. development efforts an emphasis on innovation.[15] A few months later, on December 21, 2010, Secretary of State Clinton released the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR), which reaffirms the plan to re-build USAID's Foreign Service staffing while also emphasizing the increased role that staff from the State Department and domestic agencies will play in implementing U.S. assistance. In addition, it lays out a program for a future transfer of health sector assistance back from the State Department to USAID.[16]
Consistent with this evolving policy environment, USAID re-created in mid-2010 a development planning office, the Bureau of Policy, Planning, and Learning,[17] and on November 23, 2010, announced the creation of a new Bureau for Food Security[18] to lead the implementation of President Obama's Feed the Future Initiative, which was formerly managed by the State Department.