DOD Contracts

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Science Application International Corporation, Fairfield, New Jersey, has been awarded a maximum $423,800,000 firm-fixed-price, prime vendor, bridge contract for maintenance, repair, and operations. This is a two-year base contract, with two 18-month option periods. Location of performance is New Jersey, with aSept. 14, 2019, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. This contract was a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE8E3-14-D-0001).

Ocenco Incorporated,* Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $45,332,200 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for self-contained breathing apparatus. This is a one-year base contract, with four one-year option periods. Location of performance is Wisconsin, with a September 2016 performance completion date. Using military services are Navy and Coast Guard. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2015 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (SPRMM1-14-D-Y001).

CAE Healthcare Inc., Sarasota, Florida, has been awarded a maximum $28,500,000 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for medical simulation products and accessories. This is a five-year base contract, with no option periods. Location of performance is Florida, with a Sept. 14, 2019, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. This contract was a competitive acquisition and 59 offers were received. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DH-14-D-0010).

Virginia Electric and Power Company, doing business as Dominion Virginia Power, Richmond, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $17,687,041 modification (P00072) on a 50-year base contract (SP0600-06-C-8251). This is a fixed-price, with prospective-price re-determination contract for ownership, operation and maintenance of the electrical distribution system at Henderson Hall, Arlington, Virginia. Location of performance is Virginia, with an Aug. 15, 2057, performance completion date. Using service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

The Boeing Company, St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a maximum $293,197,885 modification (P0004) on a five-year base contract (SPRPA1-14-D-002U), with one five-year option period. This is a fixed-price-incentive, requirements-type contract for performance-based support used across supported platforms. Location of performance is Missouri, with a Sept. 14, 2019, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2015 through fiscal 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

ARMY

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Connecticut, was awarded a $203,569,092 modification (P00179) to firm-fixed-price contract W58RGZ-12-C-0008 to procure 18 Green UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters, and 18 foreign military sales Green government furnished property to contractor furnished property, to support the Mexican Air Force. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $203,569,092 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is May 30, 2016. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Leidos Inc, Reston, Virginia, was awarded an $150,097,661 modification (P00014) to firm-fixed-price contract W58RGZ-13-C-0134 to support the Saturn Arch effort and provide continued operations, sustainment, and integration of aircraft platforms configured to host a suite of sensors deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $39,856,633 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Sept. 16, 2015. Work will be performed in Bridgewater, Virginia; Arlington, Virginia; McLean, Virginia; Beavercreek, Ohio; California, Maryland; Hanahan, South Carolina; Afghanistan; and Djibouti, Africa. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

The Boeing Company, Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $130,000,000 modification (P00013) to fixed-price incentive, full rate production contract W58RGZ-12-C-0055; the cumulative total of the contract, before this modification, was $1,156,446,681. This is an undefinitized contract action to build seven new Apache AH-64E helicopters. Fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2014 other funds in the amount of $19,200,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date ofMarch 31, 2017. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Hellfire Systems LLC, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $68,721,521 modification (P00104) to firm-fixed-price, foreign military sales contract W31P4Q-11-C-0242 to acquire 1,361 Hellfire II tactical missiles in containers and air-to ground missiles: model AGM-114R, AGM-114R-3, AGM-114P-4A, TGM M36E7, and ATM-114Q-6. The countries involved in this foreign military sales contract are Iraq, Jordan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Fiscal 2012, fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $68,721,521 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Nov. 30, 2016. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics-Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Williston, Vermont, was awarded a $57,952,312 firm-fixed-price contract, with options, for the fiscal 14 through fiscal 18 Hydra-70 Rocket System, including rockets, warheads, motors and containers. Work will be performed in Williston, Vermont (71 percent), and Camden, Arkansas (29 percent), with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with two received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $57,952,312 are being obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-14-C-0154).

Argo Systems LLC,* Hanover, Maryland, was awarded a $49,000,000 contract for design-build and design-bid-build construction projects at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as well as the surrounding area; it can also be used throughout the United States. Funding and work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date ofSept. 15, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with eight received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-14-D-0018).

Argo Systems LLC,* Hanover, Maryland, was awarded $49,000,000 for a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, single award task order contract for design-build and design-bid-build construction in support of projects located in the Baltimore-Washington corridor; it can also be used in other areas of the United States. Work and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 14, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with six received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W912DR-14-D-0019).

The Boeing Company, Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $27,700,422 modification (0308) to cost-plus-fixed-fee contract W58RGZ-04-G-0023 for development, fabrication, testing and bench qualifying a modified electrical system that can be integrated into a twin engine, tandem rotor, which will result in an improved electrical system for the CH-47 aircraft. Fiscal 2014 other funds in the amount of $27,700,422 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2017. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Huffman Construction LLC,* Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was awarded a $25,414,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Grand Prairie Pumping Station superstructure and installation of equipment and installation of discharge pipe station equipment on the White River. Work will be performed in De Valls Bluff, Arkansas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 29, 2017. Bids were solicited via the Internet; two proposals were received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $25,414,000 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis, Tennessee, is the contracting activity (W912EQ-14-C-0028).

SRI International, Menlo Park, California, was awarded a $24,741,566 modification (P00009) to firm-fixed-price contract W58RGZ-13-C-0135 for support of the Desert Owl program and to provide continued operations, sustainment, and integration of aircraft platforms configured to host a suite of sensors deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This is a hybrid contract, with both fixed-price and cost-reimbursement line items. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $12,123,367 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed in California, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia and Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 16, 2015. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

EDC Consulting, McLean, Virginia, was awarded an $11,686,665 modification (P00007) to cost-plus-fixed-fee contract W15QKN-13-C-0084 to extend the current requirement for the Integrated Personnel and Pay System, from increment one through completion. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,398,166 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will be performed in McLean, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of March 14, 2016. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.

Luhr Bros. Inc., Columbia, Illinois was awarded an $8,039,000 firm-fixed-price contract for furnishing all plant, labor and materials for constructing Fair Landing Bendway Weirs 1-6, as well as all incidental-related work. Work will be performed in Fair Landing, Arkansas, with an estimated completion date of April 9, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with two received. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $8,039,000 are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis, Tennessee, is the contracting activity (W912EQ-14-C-0024).

NAVY

Truston Technologies Inc.,* Lafayette, Louisiana (N39430-14-D-1497); Sound & Sea Technology Inc.,* Lynnwood, Washington (N39430-14-D-1498); GPA Technologies Inc.,* Ventura, California (N39430-14-D-1499); PCCI Inc.,* Alexandria, Virginia (N39430-14-D-1500); and MAR Range Services LLC,* Rockville, Maryland (N39430-14-D-1501), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for worldwide ocean services. The maximum dollar value including the base period and three option periods for all five contracts combined is $99,000,000. The work to be performed provides for ocean engineering services in support of projects involving ocean cable systems, ocean work systems (such as shipboard load handling systems and undersea work systems), waterfront facilities, offshore structures, moorings, and ocean construction equipment. The work will be performed in environments ranging from arctic to tropic, and at all water depths where construction, installation, maintenance, inspection, repair, and salvage operations may be needed. No task orders are being issued at this time. All work on this contract will be performed worldwide. The term of the contract is not to exceed 42 months, with an expected completion date of March 2018. Fiscal 2014 Navy working capital fund contract funds in the amount of $50,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with seven proposals received. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity.

Progeny Systems Corp.,* Manassas, Virginia, is being awarded a $10,667,238 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-13-C-6283) for continued support of the Integrated Shipboard/Shore-Based Maintenance Decision Tool. The contractor will continue to develop and integrate required software applications, hardware components, and overall system-level functionality to achieve manpower reduction aboard submarines and ships of the U.S. Navy. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by September 2015. Fiscal 2010 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $1,500,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P., Minneapolis, Minnesota, is being awarded an undefinitized contract action with a not-to-exceed firm-fixed-price value of $9,700,000 under a previously awarded contract (N00024-12-C-5316) for the fiscal 2014 MK 110 Mod 0 gun mount including associated spares. The MK 110 Mod 0 gun mount consists of a 57mm gun, ammunition hoists, power distribution panels, muzzle velocity radar, barrel-mounted television camera and a ruggedized laptop computer gun control panel. The MK 110 Mod 0 gun mount is required to defeat medium and short-range surface targets, and provide warning and disabling fire in support of anti-surface warfare. The weapon system will be installed on U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter WMSL 755 upon completion. Work will be performed in Karlskoga, Sweden (75 percent), and Louisville, Kentucky (25 percent), and is expected to be completed by November 2016. Fiscal 2014 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,850,002 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-12-C-5316).

3 Phoenix Inc.,* Chantilly, Virginia, is being awarded an $8,997,455 modification under a previously awarded contract (N00024-13-C-6264) for continuing engineering services to support software development, procurement of commercial off-the-shelf products, and hardware and software integration required to provide improved technology for U.S. Navy open architecture and Network Centric Operations and Warfare systems in support of USS Virginia-class submarines and other submarine and surface ship systems. 3 Phoenix Inc. shall continue to build upon the previous efforts made under the follow-on Phase III of Small Business Innovative Research, Topic number N04-138 Real-time Data Fusion and Visualization Interface for Environmental Research Data. These services will be rendered, as needed, to support the Navy's initiative to maintain the pace of performance improvement through judicious use of lower power electronics, advanced algorithm design, and innovative applications of open software and hardware. Work will be performed in Chantilly, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by September 2015. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation contract funds in the amount of $750,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

Alion Science and Technology Corp., McLean, Virginia, has been awarded a $45,431,567 modification (0073) to previously awarded FA4600-06-D-0003 cost-plus fixed fee, sole-source contract for integrating new materials into current PMA 290 systems and introducing new manufacturing processes for future systems. Work will be performed at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 29, 2016. Fiscal 2014 Navy aircraft procurement and 2014 fiscal operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,356,561 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is the contracting activity.

Work Services Corporation, Wichita Falls, Texas, has been awarded a $16,074,191 modification (P00011) to previously awarded FA3020-13-C-0017 sole-source contract for full food service operations. Contractor will provide all personnel, supervision, and any items and services necessary to perform full food service operations. Work will be performed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, with an expected completion date of Sept. 23, 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $16,074,191 are being obligated at the time of award. The 82nd Contracting Squadron, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Mission Systems and Training, Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $9,525,881 modification (P00051) to previously awarded FA8223-11-C-0001 firm-fixed-price contract for C-130 aircrew training systems courseware update to convert, produce, validate and distribute all formal training unit courseware from C-130H1 to C-130H2 configuration while maintaining student throughput. Work will be performed at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 30, 2016. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $9,525,881 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

Chromalloy Component Services Inc., San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded an $8,149,470 task order modification (0005) to previously awarded FA8122-13-D-0006 firm-fixed-price contract for acquisition remanufacturing services to upgrade and implement Module 13/15 for F-108 engines in support of KC-135 aircraft. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by April 15, 2015. Fiscal 2014 consolidated sustainment activity group-supply division funds in the amount of $8,149,470 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity.

U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND

Lynden Air Cargo LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded an estimated $7,001,337 first option year modification (P00003) to a previously awarded contract (HTC711-14-D-CC01) under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustment. Contract is for moving up to 40,000 pounds of cargo from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to Eareckson Air Force Station (Shemya Island) and other various satellite locations throughout the state of Alaska. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $13,774,525 from $6,773,188. Work will be performed in Alaska (90 percent), and other locations inside and outside of the United States (10 percent), with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2015. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2015 transportation working capital funds which will be obligated on quarterly task orders. The U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity.

*Small business
 

MEDAL OF HONOR

09/15/2014 03:45 PM CDT

President Barack Obama, right, applauds as Bill Sloat holds the Medal of Honor awarded to his late brother, former Army Spc. 4 Donald P. Sloat, during a ceremony at the White House, Sept. 15, 2014.

RAPID TRIDENT

09/15/2014 03:58 PM CDT

A U.S. soldier stands in formation during Exercise Rapid Trident's opening ceremony in Yavoriv, Ukraine, Sept. 15, 2014. Rapid Trident is an annual U.S. Army Europe-conducted, Ukrainian-led multinational exercise designed to enhance interoperability with allied and partner nations while promoting regional stability and security. The soldier is assigned to U.S. Army Europe's 173rd Airborne Brigade.

NASA's TRMM Satellite Sees Hurricane Odile Strike Baja California

NASA"s Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite known as TRMM captured data on powerful Hurricane Odile revealing heavy rainfall from powerful thunderstorms as it made landfall in Baja California. Odile tied a record for strongest hurricane to hit the Baja in over 40 years.

Odile made landfall near Cabo San Lucas at 0445 UTC (12:45 a.m. EDT) and was moving northwest along the length of the peninsula of Baja California, then northeast to the northern end of the Sea of Cortez.

TRMM passed directly above hurricane Odile on September 15, 2014 at 0344 UTC (Sept. 14 at 1:44 p.m. EDT). That was about an hour before the strong hurricane hit Baja California near Cabo San Lucas. 

NASA's TRMM Satellite measured rainfall in Odile on Sept. 15. Odile contained intense thunderstorms around the eye above 12.5 km (about 7.8 miles) high dropping rain at a rate of over 188.4 mm (about 7.4 inches) per hour.

Image Credit: 

NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce

This animation of NOAA's GOES-West satellite imagery from September 13 through September 15 shows Hurricane Odile's movement and landfall near Cabo San Lucas on Mexico's Baja California. TRT 0:42

Image Credit: 

NASA/NOAA GOES Project

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) hurricane discussion on September 15, 2014 said, "The estimated intensity of 110 knots at landfall ties Odile with Olivia (1967) as the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the satellite era in the state of Baja California Sur."

TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR showed that Odile contained intense thunderstorms dropping rain at a rate of over 188.4 mm (about 7.4 inches) per hour in the hurricane's nearly circular eye wall.

One of the TRMM satellites most useful features has been its ability to provide vertical profiles of the rain and snow from the surface up to a height of about 12 miles (20 kilometers). At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland a simulated 3-D view of Hurricane Odile's rainfall structure was created using the satellite's radar reflectivity data. This view showed that the tops of many intense thunderstorms in Odile's eye wall were reaching heights above 12.5 km (about 7.8 miles).

By 2 p.m. EDT on September 15, Hurricane Odile's wind speeds decreased to about 90 mph (150 kph) after hitting land and winds are forecast by the NHC to slowly decrease to below hurricane force tomorrow. Odile is moving to the northwest at 13 mph (20 kph).  It was centered near 25.1 north and 111.6 west, about 45 miles (70 km) east-northeast of Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico.

Torrential rainfall is predicted to continue near the weakening system. Flash floods and landslides with rainfall totals of over 152-305 mm (6-12 inches) are predicted by the NHC as Odile travels over the Baja California Peninsula. Western Mexico is expected to feel the effects of Hurricane Odile today and tomorrow as the hurricane continues to hug the coast.  A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Baja California Sur from Punta Abreojos to Santa Rosalia. A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for the west coast of Baja California Sur from north of Punta Abreojos to Punta Eugenia. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the East Coast of the  Baja Peninsula from north of Santa Rosalia to Bahia De Los Angeles, the west coast of the Baja Peninsula from north of Punta Eugenia to San Jose De Las Palomas and mainland Mexico from Altata to Bahia Kino.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the west coast of The Baja Peninsula North of San Jose De Las Palomas to Cabo San Quintin, the east coast of the Baja Peninsula From North of Bahia De Los Angeles to San Felipe and mainland Mexico from north of Bahia Kino to Puerto Libertad.

Although Odile continues to weaken heavy rainfall and flooding pose serious threats.

Hal Pierce / Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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TRMM satellite flew over tropical storm Odile on Sept. 11 at 12:18 a.m. EDT and saw thunderstorms over 14.7 km (9.1 miles) high dropping rainfall over 196 mm (7.8 inches) per hour (red).

Image Credit: 

SSAI/NASA, Hal Pierce

Later on September 11, NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Odile, showing the coldest cloud tops (near -63F/-53C) i

Image Credit: 

NASA/JPL, Ed Olsen

Sept. 12, 2014 - Tropical Storm Odile Taken on by Two NASA Satellites

As Tropical Storm Odile continues to affect Mexico's west coast and stir up dangerous surf, NASA's TRMM and Aqua satellites provided forecasters information on clouds and rainfall in the coast-hugging storm.  On September 12, A Tropical Storm Watch remained in effect from Manzanillo to Cabo Corrientes, Mexico.

Tropical Storm Odile formed on September 10, 2014 in the same area where Norbert formed.

Gathering Rainfall and Thunderstorm Height Information

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission or TRMM satellite flew over tropical storm Odile on September 11, 2014 at 0418 UTC (12:18 a.m. EDT) and collected rainfall data. A rainfall analysis made from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data was overlaid on an enhanced infrared image of Odile's clouds from NOAA's GOES-West satellite to show where the rain was falling within that cloud shield (or the extent of the clouds). The coupled image showed that Odile was dropping rain at the extreme rate of over 196 mm (7.8 inches) per hour in powerful thunderstorms near Odile's center of circulation.

TRMM satellite radar reflectivity (which means the satellite reads signals bounced off the clouds and back to the satellite) data was used to create a simulated 3-D view (toward the east) of Odile's rainfall structure. The 3-D image showed the most intense thunderstorms were reaching altitudes of over 14.7 km (about 9.1 miles). The release of this much energy would normally lead to intensification but northeasterly vertical wind shear was dampening Odile. By September 12, that wind shear was relaxing, which will enable Odile to strengthen.

Taking the Cloud Top Temperatures

Later on September 11, NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Odile and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument provided temperature data of Odile's cloud tops. The AIRS data confirmed the TRMM data, showing the coldest cloud tops in powerful thunderstorms circling the center of the storm. The AIRS data was false-colored to better show temperature differences at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The coldest cloud tops were near -63F/-53C in storms circling Odile's center.

Odile's Location on September 12

At 8 a.m. EDT on September 12, Odile's maximum sustained winds were near 60 mph (95 kph) and some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) advised that Odile could become a hurricane by tonight (Sept. 12). Odile's center was located near latitude 15.5 north and longitude 105.0 west. Odile is drifting toward the west near 2 mph (4 kph) and expected to move to the west-northwest and then northwest while picking up speed over the next day.

Dangerous Surf for Southwestern Mexico Over the Weekend

Odile's center is forecast will remain well offshore of the southwestern coast of Mexico through Sunday, September 14. Despite the center remaining off-shore, ocean swells are expected to affect the southwestern coast of Mexico over the next couple of days creating dangerous surf and riptides.

The NHC forecast calls for Odile to intensify into a hurricane and move in a northwesterly direction parallel to the west coast of Mexico. Odile is expected to follow close to the same track as hurricane Norbert and pass to the west of the southern tip of Baja California on Monday, September 15.

Hal Pierce/Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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An infrared image on Sept. 11 at 08:19 UTC from the VIIRS instrument aboard NOAA-NASA's Suomi NPP satellite shows strong thunderstorms (yellow) with very cold cloud tops in Tropical Storm Odile.

Image Credit: 

NRL/NOAA/NASA

Sept. 11, 2014 - NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP Sees Wind Shear Affecting Tropical Storm Odile

Wind shear is pushing the low-level center of circulation northeast of Tropical Storm Odile's central strong thunderstorms. That's what NOAA's GOES satellite and NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite showed in imagery of Tropical Storm Odile.

Early on September 11, Odile was close enough to the west coast of Mexico to generate a tropical storm watch from Lazaro Cardenas to Manzanillo, Mexico. In addition to the watch, rough surf is expected as Odile continues to parallel the coast on a track to the north. Swells from Odile are expected to begin affecting portions of the southwestern coast of Mexico in a day or so. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

When NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over Odile on September 11 at 8:19 UTC (4:19 a.m. EDT) the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard captured an infrared image of the storm as it continued moving through the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The VIIRS instrument revealed that powerful thunderstorms stretching high into the troposphere with cloud top temperatures colder than -63F/-53C, were displaced from the low-level center of circulation, which was northeast of those storms.  

The National Hurricane Center noted that early morning GOES-East satellite visible images and microwave satellite imagery indicate that "the 15-20 knots of northeasterly shear continues to displace the surface circulation to the northeast of the convective canopy (thunderstorms." 

VIIRS collects visible and infrared imagery and global observations of land, atmosphere, cryosphere and oceans. VIIRS flies aboard the Suomi NPP satellite, which is managed by both NASA and NOAA.

At 11 a.m. EDT on September 11, Odile's maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph (85 kph).  Odile's center was located near latitude 15.3 north and longitude 104.2 west, about 230 miles (370 km) southwest of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. Odile is moving toward the west near 2 mph (4 kph) and NHC forecasters call for a slow westward drift or erratic motion through September 12. The estimated minimum central pressure is 999 millibars.

NHC noted that wind patterns will change in the next day allowing Odile to strengthen. In fact, the NHC noted that Odile may become a major hurricane by September 15.

Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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This false-colored infrared image from NASA's Aqua satellite captured the birth of Tropical Depression 15-E on September 10 at 8:53 UTC.

Image Credit: 

NASA JPL, Ed Olsen

Sept. 10, 2014 - NASA Catches Birth of Tropical Storm Odile

The Eastern Pacific Ocean continues to turn out tropical cyclones and NASA's Aqua satellite caught the birth of the fifteenth tropical depression on September 10 and shortly afterward, it strengthened into a tropical storm and was renamed Odile.

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data on Tropical Depression 15-E on September 10 at 8:53 UTC (4:53 a.m. EDT) when it developed. The National Hurricane Center named the depression at 5 a.m. EDT, when the center was located near latitude 14.4 north and longitude 102.5 west.

AIRS infrared imagery reads temperature and identified the coldest temperatures in powerful thunderstorms circling the center of the newborn depression. Cloud top temperatures were near 220 kelvin (-63.6F/-53.1C). 

By 11 a.m. EDT, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Odile. Maximum sustained winds were near 40 mph (65 kph) and Odile was drifting toward the north-northwest near 3 mph (6 kph) and is expected to drift to the north-northwest over the next two days. Odile was located near 14.9 north latitude and 102.9 west longitude, about 220 miles (350 km) south-southwest of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center noted that on the forecast track, Odile's center will remain offshore of the southwestern coast of Mexico through Thursday night, September 11. However, Odile is expected to create swells, rip currents and rough surf along the southwestern coast of Mexico over the next day or two.

Federal Court Bars Louisiana Woman from Preparing Federal Tax Returns

Federal Court Bars Louisiana Woman from Preparing Federal Tax Returns

Return Preparer Allegedly Overstated Refunds Through Inflated Expenses, Deductions, Credits and Fabricated Businesses

A federal court in New Orleans has permanently barred a La Place, Louisiana, woman from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. 

The injunction, to which Shawanda Nevers, aka Shawanda Bryant, Shawanda Hawkins and Shawanda Johnson, consented, was entered by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan for the Eastern District of Louisiana.  According to the complaint, Nevers had prepared federal income tax returns in Louisiana through a business named 3LJ’s Industrial Service Solutions LLC.  The complaint alleged that she prepared returns that unlawfully understated income tax liabilities and overstated refunds through a variety of schemes.

According to the complaint, Nevers prepared returns that claimed losses by fabricating expenses for fictitious businesses or overstating expenses incurred by legitimate enterprises.  The deductions for these fictitious or overstated expenses were claimed on a Form Schedule C – Profit or Loss From Business, which Nevers often included in her customers’ returns without their knowledge.  The returns Nevers prepared directed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to deposit the resulting refunds into her account, from which she would deduct a fee before remitting the balance to her customers. 

Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2014.  The IRS has tips for choosing a tax preparer on their website.  In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers.  Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website.

NATIONAL FLAG

09/15/2014 03:23 PM CDT

Service members hoist a replica of the original Star-Spangled Banner during the Dawn's Early Light Ceremony on Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Sept. 14, 2014, honoring the 200th anniversary of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

BRAKE LINE

09/15/2014 02:38 PM CDT

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Donald Taylor inspects a computer display of a brake line schematic drawing for an F/A-18C Hornet aircraft on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 5, 2014. The Carl Vinson is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of responsibility. Taylor is an aviation structural mechanic assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 113.

LINE JUMP

09/15/2014 02:45 PM CDT

As seen through a night-vision device, U.S. and Canadian paratroopers prepare for a static line jump out of a U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules during exercise Steadfast Javelin II on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 5, 2014. Steadfast Javelin II is a NATO exercise involving more than 2,000 troops from nine nations, and takes place across Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

AFGHAN CHAT

09/15/2014 02:55 PM CDT

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Wilfredo Rios talks with an Afghan child during a patrol west of Gereshk district in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 12, 2014. Rios is a section leader assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment.

NASA Sees Typhoon Kalmaegi as a Whirlpool of Clouds in the South China Sea

NASA's Aqua satellite observed Typhoon Kalmaegi crossing the South China Sea and a satellite image from the MODIS instrument aboard made it look like a whirlpool of clouds.

On Sunday, September 14, Kalmaegi passed over northern Luzon, Philippines and emerged into the South China Sea. Typhoon Kalmaegi's maximum sustained winds were near 65 knots (75 mph) making it a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale as it moved over the Philippines. 

On September 15 at 05:15 UTC (1:15 a.m. EDT) the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of Typhoon Kalmaegi now fully in the South China Sea. The MODIS image showed tight bands of thunderstorms spiraling into the center from the southern quadrant to the northern quadrant, like a giant whirlpool of clouds. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that a large band of thunderstorms were also building around the western edge of the typhoon.  

Maximum sustained winds had increased to 75 knots (86.3 mph/18.9 kph) by 1200 UTC (8 a.m. EDT) on September 15. The center was located near 19.1 east latitude and 113.6 east longitude, about 204 nautical miles south of Hong Kong, and was moving west-northwestward at 17 knots (19.5 mph/31.4 kph). Kalmaegi is generating waves up to 22 feet (6.7 km) in the South China Sea.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecast calls for Kalmaegi to graze northern Hainan Island, move through the Gulf of Tonkin and make landfall just north Hanoi late on September 16.  Strong Wind signal #3 is currently in effect in Hong Kong.

Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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NASA's Aqua satellite captured this image of Tropical Storm Kalmaegi approaching the Philippines on Sept. 12 at 4:45 UTC.

Image Credit: 

NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team

Sept. 12, 2014 - NASA Sees Tropical Storm Kalmaegi Swirl Toward the Philippines

Tropical Depression 15W intensified during the early morning hours of September 12 and became a tropical storm re-named "Kalmaegi." NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead as the storm intensified.

The MODIS instrument, known as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Kalmaegi approaching the Philippines on Sept. 12 at 4:45 UTC (12:45 a.m. EDT). The image showed tightly-curved bands of thunderstorms over the northern and southern quadrants of the storm that were wrapping into a consolidating low-level center. The consolidation of the center and the banding of thunderstorms are conducive to a strengthening storm, and forecasters expect Kalmaegi to continue strengthening over the next couple of days.

On Friday, September 12 at 0900 UTC (5 a.m. EDT) Tropical Storm Kalmaegi's maximum sustained winds were near 40 knots (46 mph/74 kph). Kalmaegi was centered near 13.8 north latitude and 130.2 east, about 572 nautical miles (658.2 miles/1,059 km) east of Manila, Philippines. Kalmaegi was moving to the west at 14 knots (16.1 mph/25.9 kph).

Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecast Kalmaegi to become a typhoon (same thing as a hurricane, but west of the International Date Line) by September 13.  Kalmaegi is forecast to cross Luzon, the northern Philippines, from southeast to northwest on September 14 before entering the South China Sea and heading for another landfall south of Hong Kong.

Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Tropical Depression 15W on September 11 at 03:53 UTC and saw banding of thunderstorms with cold cloud tops (purple).

Image Credit: 

NASA/JPL, Ed Olsen

Sept. 11, 2014 - NASA Sees a Consolidating Tropical Depression 15W

Tropical Depression 15W is moving through the Northwestern Pacific Ocean and infrared satellite data from NASA took a closer look at the thunderstorms that make up the tropical cyclone. The depression appears to be consolidating and getting better organized.

NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Tropical Depression 15W on September 11 at 03:53 UTC (Sept. 10 at 11:53 p.m. EDT) and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard captured infrared data on the storm. The infrared data showed very cold temperatures in some of the cloud tops of thunderstorms that make up the tropical cyclone. The infrared data also showed a slowly-consolidating center of circulation.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center that forecasts tropical cyclones in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean also looked at microwave data from the European EUMETSAT METOP satellite. That microwave data showed that there were fragmented bands of thunderstorms in the northern and southern quadrants of the storm, wrapping into the center.

At 0900 UTC (5 a.m. EDT) on September 11, 2014, Tropical Depression 15W (TD15W) had maximum sustained winds near 30 knots (34.5 mph/55.5 kph). It was located near 13.1 north latitude and 137.8 east longitude, about 193 nautical miles (222 miles/357 km) north of Yap./ TD15W has tracked northwestward at 20 knots (23 mph/37 kph) and is expected to continue in that general direction over the next couple of days.

TD15W is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm and later to typhoon strength as it approaches Luzon, the northern Philippines, on October 14. Current forecasts from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center take the storm over the far northern tip of Luzon and into the South China Sea by September 15 as a typhoon.

Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center