From: Andrew Johnson
Date: 2008-02-25 09:09:10
Attachments : SAIC in charge of security at GZ. #ygrps-yiv-737666938 BLOCKQUOTE { PADDING-BOTTOM:0px;PADDING-TOP:0px;} #ygrps-yiv-737666938 DL { PADDING-BOTTOM:0px;PADDING-TOP:0px;} #ygrps-yiv-737666938 UL { PADDING-BOTTOM:0px;PADDING-TOP:0px;} #ygrps-yiv-737666938 OL { PADDING-BOTTOM:0px;PADDING-TOP:0px;} #ygrps-yiv-737666938 LI { PADDING-BOTTOM:0px;PADDING-TOP:0px;} www.signonsandiego.c… New York picks SAIC to secure WTC siteBy Bruce V. BigelowSTAFF WRITERNovember 11, 2005New York Gov. George Pataki’s office said yesterday that San Diego’s SAIC has been hired to help authorities create a master security plan for the World Trade Center site while it is being rebuilt.The amount of the contract was under negotiation.The comprehensive planning effort will coordinate all aspects of security for redevelopment of the World Trade Center site, from security design through construction, occupancy and operations.A statement from the governor’s office cited SAIC’s expertise as a security consultant, and noted the company’s work at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games at Salt Lake City and the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.The company, also known as Science Applications International Corp., still has outstanding disagreements, however, with the Greek government over its security work in Athens. The Greek government contracted with SAIC in early 2003 to lead a consortium of international companies in adapting a military C4I system to provide “total information awareness” to Greece’s security officials. C4I is an acronym for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence.The plans called for mounting infrared and high-resolution security cameras on 1,250 concrete columns around the Greek capital. The contract also called for surveillance equipment on 12 patrol boats, 4,000 vehicles, three helicopters and a blimp.SAIC also provided extensive training before turning over the system to Greek security officials.The company disclosed in a regulatory filing this week that the Greeks still have not formally accepted the system that SAIC delivered in Athens, and Greece still is withholding certain milestone payments.”We have been in discussions with the customer and our principal subcontractor to attempt to resolve these issues through appropriate contract and subcontract modifications,” SAIC said. “However, no agreement has been reached to date.”SAIC’s contract for Greece’s security infrastructure was estimated at $312 million after it was awarded in 2003. It was said to represent nearly a quarter of the overall security costs for the Summer Games. But SAIC spokesman Jared Adams said yesterday the contract was for $191 million. He said the Greek government has paid $143 million, leaving almost $49 million in dispute.SAIC wrote off $15 million on the contract nearly a year ago. The project was plagued by a number of delays and modifications, a top executive said at the time.In New York, construction began in September on the first major project at the World Trade Center, a $2 billion transit hub.Groundbreakings are planned for early next year for the 1,776-foot-tall Freedom Tower and the trade center’s memorial. More office towers, a performing arts center, a museum and a cultural building also are planned.Jim Kallstrom, Pataki’s senior counter-terrorism adviser, said SAIC will serve as a security consultant to a team that includes the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York’s police and fire commissioners as well as other city and state agencies.”The degree of security planning that will result from this partnership will establish new security standards for sites where public spaces, commercial and retail properties, and mass-transit infrastructure are co-located,” Kallstrom said. Jared Adams of SAIC (left) and Chris Bridgham of PostNewsweek Tech Media.
