Replies

Another one on AGNA:

https://wikileaks.com/clinton-emails/emailid/14306

To: Cheryl Mills
Subject:
There’s one detail I left out b/c it’s referenced in the POGO letter but not in the information I received — March 2009 continued “grave concerns” about AGNA. Will check on that in the AM. Background DOS competitively awarded Armor Group, North America, Inc. (AGNA) a contract to provide static protection for Embassy Kabul in March 2007. An Office of Acquisition Management (AQM) Contracting Officer (CO) and two DS Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) assigned in Washington have overall contract oversight responsibility and participate in weekly meetings between the DS program office and AGNA management. Two Assistant Regional Security Officers are designated as the COR and Assistant COR. Allegations of misconduct and inappropriate actions by AGNA first raised in June 2007, with multiple notices of deficiency filed through September 2008. In May 2009, DOS determined that AGNA had adequately addressed the deficiencies and was contract compliant. DOS exercised the next option year of AGNA’s contract on July 1, 2009. In May 2009, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight (Senators McCaskill and Collins submitted requests for information on the allegations of misconduct in 2007 and 2008. Hearings were held on June 10, 2009. On September 1, 2009, photos were released of questionable activity at Camp Sullivan, the residence for AGNA’s guards in Kabul, and the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) sent a letter the Secretary encouraging investigation into the allegations of misconduct in 2008 and 2009. Current State Status of investigations: • As of September 3, the RSO investigative team in Kabul has conducted more than 30 interviews of personnel who may have firsthand knowledge of the incident(s). Information obtained from the interviews points to contractual deficiencies, with no indications of criminal activity, waste, fraud or abuse. • A team of investigators from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) arrived in Kabul on September 3 to pursue their investigation into possible criminal violations. • A senior DS team will arrive next week, including an additional OIG investigator. Actions to date: UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-20439 Doc No. C05764408 Date: 07/31/2015 • AGNA relieved from duty the personnel involved in the photographs. They will be terminated as soon as RSO interviews are completed. • The entire AGNA management team in Kabul will be removed from the contract as soon as replacements are identified. The replacement of the management team will be phased so as to not jeopardize the security of the embassy. In the interim, an A/RSO is assigned full-time to Camp Sullivan to monitor all contractor activities. Chronology of Events May 2004 M The military ceased providing static protection for Embassy Kabul, creating a need for contracted security services. DOS first contracted with PAE, Louis Berger, as an interim measure ahead of full and open competition. July 2005 M Contract awarded to MVM. MVM began the transition, but was unable to begin contract performance and was terminated. The PAE Louise Berger contract remained in place during this time. April 2006 M DOS issued a new contract solicitation. 2007 March 12 M DOS competitively awarded Armor Group, North America, Inc. (AGNA). An Office of Acquisition Management (AQM) Contracting Officer (CO) and two DS Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) assigned in Washington have overall contract oversight June M DOS received information that indicated misconduct and inappropriate actions by AGNA to include failure to staff positions, provide uniforms, vehicles and other contractor provided equipment.