Under Contract

• The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is operating a program to “enhance the stability of Syrian communities and strengthen Syrian local governance institutions through the restoration of essential services and economic livelihood activities,” beginning in “newly liberated” areas of the war-torn country. USAID awarded a $45 million contract to International Relief and Development to work with local councils and non-governmental organizations to provide “technical and material assistance” needed to turn back on essential services such as water, electricity and waste management and for other tasks such as restoring schools and hospitals.

• A “cigarette smoking machine” meant to simulate the puffing of a cigarette set the Food and Drug Administration back more than $393,000. It is meant to help researchers understand the varying toxicity of different tobacco products. Up to five cigarettes will be smoked at a time, but the machine must be able to evaluate other related products, like e-cigarettes and small cigars. Vitrocell Systems in Germany, which specializes in these kinds of machines, won the contract.

{mosads}• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded a $2,100 contract to Solutions for the Workplace to conduct a one-day training class for supervisors at the agency to better interview job applicants and workers. The work includes teaching how to “ask appropriate, nondiscriminatory interview questions designed to evaluate technical experience and expertise, communication skills, leadership abilities and analytical thinking” and strategies for “appointing veterans,” according to contract documents.

• Two private security companies — Reed International and Aegis Defense Services — recently won a total of more than $47.1 million in three contracts for services in Afghanistan. Reed, which was awarded $35.5 million, will be providing security for the Kandahar Airfield and for Mazar-e-Sharif, the country’s third largest city. The Defense Department has tapped Aegis to provide private security services at Kabul International Airport with an $11.6 million contract. 

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture spent $48,701 on a laboratory instrument from Li-Cor Biosciences able to measure the photosynthesis process under various variables, including carbon-dioxide levels and different lighting. The tool must be sensitive enough to detect changes in different parts of the same leaf.  

Contract information compiled from General Services Administration data and government press releases. Send announcements about government contracts to mwilson@digital-staging.thehill.com.