News 6 Mashup: Nov. 2, 2020
Here are the top stories for the week of Nov. 2, 2020, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:
Slowdown: TRANSCOM $7 Billion Award
Last spring, TRANSCOM awarded a 7.2 billion dollar contract to American Roll-On-Roll-Off Carrier Group (ARC), in an attempt to privatize and improve military moves. Upon award, TRANSCOM is required a 100-day period to contest the bid. According to Federal News Network, the other two companies who vied for the lucrative contract, HomeSafe Alliance, LLC and Connected Global Solutions, LLC, both protested the bid to the Government Accountability Office, citing “prior misconduct by its parent company.” TRANSCOM reviewed the protest in June and then stood by its award. More objections followed.
“Among other things, TRANSCOM needs to reopen discussions with all three bidders, let them submit revised proposals, and start the evaluation process over again,” said Ralph White, Government Accountability Office’s managing associate general counsel for procurement law in an interview with Federal News Network. Read the fine details of this complicated and on-going issue that will directly impact military members.
Army Instrumental in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Army Gen. Gus Perna will be leading the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines once they become available. There is a “three-step plan for the production and delivery of a vaccine to more than 70,000 distribution hubs nationwide,” reported Military.com.
There are currently six companies working to develop a vaccine. They must submit a request for approval to the Food and Drug Administration before mass production can begin.
“Assuming the vaccines get approval, the plan is to have vaccines available for the most vulnerable populations and front-line workers by the end of the year; by the end of January for seniors; and by March or April for ‘any American who desires a vaccine,’” said Paul Mango, deputy chief of staff for policy at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Military.com also reported that although the military is leading on the logistics of vaccine delivery, it does not intend to use the military as a means of distribution. Governors will ultimately decide if they need National Guard assistance to distribute the vaccines, but that decision would be up to each state.
Comedic Relief from Restaurant in Austin, Texas
A restaurant in Austin, Texas, has gone viral for its hilarious signs. The Mexican restaurant, El Arroyo, began making funny signs in the 1980s and has stepped it up since the pandemic began.
Some of my favorites include…
“Pretty wild that we used to eat cake after someone had blown on it…”
“Have we tried putting 2020 in rice?”
“I just realized that my trash goes out more than me.”
To read more of these funny signs, visit Good News Network.
This Week in History
On November 4, 1979, 52 American diplomats and citizens were taken hostage in the Iran hostage crisis. The hostages were captive for 444 days from Nov. 4, 1979, until January 20, 1982. In an attempt to rescue the Americans in April 1980, President Jimmy Carter authorized Operation Eagle Claw, a joint rescue mission. Unfortunately, the operation failed after facing multiple obstacles, including a sandstorm. The mission was aborted, and as the U.S. forces began to withdraw, one of the helicopters crashed into a transport aircraft killing eight servicemembers. Through this tragic loss, in which many issues stemmed from various military services being unable to effectively operate together, the United States Special Operations Command was born.
