The contract didn’t go into a bid because they weren’t asking anyone to built boats for them. They were asking one specific company to buy their boats. No need for bidding because non one else had the boats already built (to the required Navy specs) and working!! The crewing contract was part of the sale contract. A smart move by HOS!!
[QUOTE=Whiplasher;156120]…and I doubt any HOS boys get to go in the sub.[/QUOTE]
No, HOS boys do NOT as a matter of course get to go in the sub
[QUOTE=PR-9;156412]The contract didn’t go into a bid because they weren’t asking anyone to built boats for them. They were asking one specific company to buy their boats. No need for bidding because non one else had the boats already built (to the required Navy specs) and working!! The crewing contract was part of the sale contract. A smart move by HOS!![/QUOTE]
so what about vessels like TAGS which the Navy buys and then solicits bids from contractors to man and operate? I’ll give that maybe the Navy didn’t want a break in continuity of service but to award this operating contract for 10 years but at a rate equal to what HOS received before they sold the boats to the Navy? That is what REALLY sticks here!
As government contracting processes and waste goes, this is very small potatoes. The government contracts usually go to companies that are certified as “minority enterprises” (often meaning Indian Tribe, or Native) owned. Look at the government vessel jobs advertised by Chugash, ASRC, Calista, etc… Good for HOS that a publicly traded company that is not minority certified kept this one.
Id rather see a public company without the line out or woman status crap than choicest or Harvey. My two cents. But the while things dirty.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;156427]As government contracting processes and waste goes, this is very small potatoes. The government contracts usually go to companies that are certified as “minority enterprises” (often meaning Indian Tribe, or Native) owned. Look at the government vessel jobs advertised by Chugash, ASRC, Calista, etc… Good for HOS that a publicly traded company that is not minority certified kept this one.[/QUOTE]
Hey, but there is no guarantee they can keep it all tens years…only year one is firm and the others are options so if an 8a Alaskan Native Corp wants it, they might just force the Navee to put it out to bid. It’s all politics and how connected a corporation is.
Frankly, I want to see it go to bid and if it goes to an 8a or minority woman owned then I am fine if the dayrate paid is reduced. The taxpayer got no savings at all with this deal and had to pay HOS for the boats. IT IS THE FLEECING OF THE TAXPAYER WHICH IS PISSING ME OFF THE MOST HERE. THE NAVEE IS PAYING TOO FUCKING MUCH!
High tech vessels of that quality and capability are expensive. Having them crewed by the best isn’t cheap either. What if some locals have their wives listed as the owners of a company to get the contract? How much would it cost to repair a sub after some untrained yahoo bashed into the side of it? I think the taxpayers are getting a good deal on this one.
There are plenty of Indian Tribes in Washington, and the Alaska Native Corps are already in the business of operating government vessels. They are allowed to discriminate in favor of hiring Indians or Natives, but virtually everyone qualified that they can find to hire is white. They seem to get the job done. There is no reason they could not do this contract too.
Nothing to stop them from hiring the same guys away from Hornbeck. Some of the Native Corps are very good employers.
There is no shortage of highly qualified mariners in Washington who could learn to do this work. There is a much smaller percentage “yahoos” in Washington than in Louisiana.
Hey they trust idiot tugboat “Mickey-mouse” people to actually come alongside and actually bounce into the subs, how much harder could it be?
[QUOTE=z-drive;156456]Hey they trust idiot tugboat “Mickey-mouse” people to actually come alongside and actually bounce into the subs, how much harder could it be?[/QUOTE]
Speaking ONLY for Kings Bay; there ain’t no ‘idiot tugboat Mickey-mouse’ people bouncing tugs off our submarines. That’s not a contract that would last very long.
But hey, feel free to keep slinging mud
Allegedly nobody can handle sarcasm here anymore. As someone who considers fine assist work equal to anything I’m not knocking the c-tractor folks.
More so directed at those out there who consider guys who do assist work lower than everything else, I see it all the time in my travels.
[QUOTE=z-drive;156463]Allegedly nobody can handle sarcasm here anymore. As someone who considers fine assist work equal to anything I’m not knocking the c-tractor folks.
More so directed at those out there who consider guys who do assist work lower than everything else, I see it all the time in my travels.[/QUOTE]
Apologies, my Sarcasm filter was on, it’s the only way I can tolerate C.Captain over the long term. I made my bones doing assist work with a YTB so you’ll find no greater advocate than me on the topic. ESPECIALLY with guys whose efforts do nothing but make me look VERY VERY GOOD.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;156447]High tech vessels of that quality and capability are expensive. Having them crewed by the best isn’t cheap either. What if some locals have their wives listed as the owners of a company to get the contract? How much would it cost to repair a sub after some untrained yahoo bashed into the side of it? I think the taxpayers are getting a good deal on this one.[/QUOTE]
here is my real beef with this and I believe it is a valid one…
HOS had this contract for five years now for $100k/day for all four vessels. Now they sell these four vessels which are fully paid off to the Navy but retain the contract at the same $100k/day they were getting before. To me this is an OBSCENE PROFIT they are taking from the taxpayer of which I am one. How HOS managed this smacks of backroom unethical dealing which being a public contract I am not OK with nor should any American taxpayer. Not only are they getting too much now but to be getting it for ten years without a bid is CRIMINAL and I pray it is investigated.
Well worth the money considering repair costs of a damaged sub. You get what you pay for and they are paying for the best in the business.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;156475]Well worth the money considering repair costs of a damaged sub. You get what you pay for and they are paying for the best in the business.[/QUOTE]
you are a broken record…say something to defend HOS which has not been tried yet?
Let’s say Dakota Creek and Foss teamed up and built some super duper sub escort vessels years ago. If they were getting the same deal you would be gushing about govt money well spent. Spare me your mock outrage you’re mad a local outfit didn’t make this deal. It further galls you of all things a Louisiana boat company is providing this valuable service. As I’ve stated before you can’t go to the local hall and find anyone who could do this work.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;156486]Let’s say Dakota Creek and Foss teamed up and built some super duper sub escort vessels years ago. If they were getting the same deal you would be gushing about govt money well spent. Spare me your mock outrage you’re mad a local outfit didn’t make this deal. It further galls you of all things a Louisiana boat company is providing this valuable service. As I’ve stated before you can’t go to the local hall and find anyone who could do this work.[/QUOTE]
Go back through all my posts to this thread and try to find where I said it had to go to a NW company? I don’t give a shit if it is HOS, ECO, Maersk, 3PSC or any other non NW company operating those vessels provided they won the contract through fair and open competitive bidding as are other MSC vessel operating contracts such as the Navy owned but contractor manned T-AGS and T-AGOS ships (both classes of which require security clearances for their mariners). HOS got it handed to them under the table but now that this is known to the public, it is open to being investigated which I have said I hope happens. I just might write a few letters calling BULLSHIT on this corrupt deal. Let’s get the GAO involved!
Not to go too far off topic, but since we’ve devolved into a conversation about how there are no ‘qualified’ Mariners in the NW to maneuver in close quarters with the subs, who mans the Navy’s civilian crewed assist boats?
[QUOTE=Gimli;156490]Not to go too far off topic, but since we’ve devolved into a conversation about how there are no ‘qualified’ Mariners in the NW to maneuver in close quarters with the subs, who mans the Navy’s civilian crewed assist boats?[/QUOTE]
it’s not just that there are no qualified mariners in the NW, there are no qualified mariners at any company other than HOS or so HOS convinced the Navee. Stoopid admirals. Be looking for a few to get retirement jobs on HOS’s payroll soon.
now tell me about these other assist boats you speak of? I am not familiar with them…
[QUOTE=c.captain;156491]now tell me about these other assist boats you speak of? I am not familiar with them…[/QUOTE]
The 3 newish Z-drive YTBs built for Navy Region Northwest by Martinac that I recall reading were crewed by ‘DOD Civilians’. Do I have incorrect or out of date info about their crewing?