Pentagon drops Germans, gives paint job to US firm

Forbes ^ | 08.07.03, 9:37 PM ET | Reuters

[yonif]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon has awarded a $1 million contract to paint its headquarters to a small Ohio company after initially giving the job to a German firm, U.S. Congressman Steve LaTourette announced Thursday.

LaTourette, an Ohio Republican, had questioned why a Germany company would get a Pentagon contract at a time when German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was among the most vocal opponents of the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

LaTourette said he had convinced the Pentagon in June to re-examine the awarding of the initial contract to the German company Keimfarben after ChemMasters Specialty Construction Co., based in Madison, Ohio, complained that it was not given a "fair opportunity to compete" for the business.

The lawmaker said the Pentagon notified him late on Wednesday that the contract had been awarded to ChemMasters.

"It took a lot of guts for this small company to take on the Pentagon, and the Pentagon deserves a great deal of praise for taking the time to review this and make sure the process was fair," LaTourette said in a statement.

The contract will mean about $1 million in business for ChemMasters, the statement said.

The German company has supplied paint for prestigious buildings around the world, including the White House, England's Windsor Castle and Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre.

When Keimfarben's contract with the Pentagon was first questioned, director Peter Neri told Reuters that he was dismayed by the use of a political spat to try to sabotage a business deal.

But Neri added that he should probably send the Americans a "thank you note" because the dispute was making his company well known.

"I never would have dreamed of all this free advertising," he said.

[anniegetyourgun]

Try as they might, the Germans cannot reduce their having gone out of the way to stab the U.S. in the back to a "political spat."

[MCRD]

YOU'RE WELCOMEN!

[BOBTHENAILER]

But Neri added that he should probably send the Americans a "thank you note" because the dispute was making his company well known. "I never would have dreamed of all this free advertising," he said.

I think Mr. Neri is whistling through the graveyard.

[Greenpees]

If the German company was "awarded" the contract, then I assure you, we will be paying both contractors, even thought the Germans will have done nothing to earn it.

Once a contract is awarded, that's as good as telling a firm to put it on the accounts receivable. The German firm has grounds to sue for the whole amount of expected profits and salaries, etc.

I'm glad the American firm will get the work. Next time though, I hope the Pentagon is much more careful.

[Sacajaweau]

Tell Mr. Neri, we'll give him free advertising on the next contract that comes around, too!!!

[caisson71]

Let's hope the American company and its employees appreciate the "keep American" attitude and bring this job in on time, on budget and with better quality than the German company would have done.

[anniegetyourgun]

No doubt. Perhaps the French can employ them to paint Paris "Third Reich Red"....

[q_an_a]

Maybe they will get paid with the standard government speed. The AR could take years to pay.

[BOBTHENAILER]

"Third Reich Red"....

Perfect.

[org.whodat]

I hope the Pentagon is much more careful

That will be the day.

[thtr]

But... but... but... what about "free trade"? Do those American painters think the government “owes” them a job? >/sarcasm<

[DainBramage]

Funny...Some Iraqi just got enough reward money to paint the pentagon 30 times.

[Jorge]

Perhaps the French can employ them to paint Paris "Third Reich Red"....

ROFL!

[Cobra64]

The German firm has grounds to sue for the whole amount of expected profits and salaries, etc.

I'd tell Germany to go pound sand where the sun doesn't shine.