ANGUILLA

Anguilla was first colonized in 1650 by English settlers from St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and has since remained a British territory. It was originally part of the West Indies Associated States as a component of the St. Kitts–Nevis-Anguilla Federation. In 1967, Anguilla declared its independence from the federation but Britain did not recognize this action. In Feb. 1969, Anguilla voted to cut all ties with Britain and become an independent republic. In March, Britain landed troops on the island and, on March 30, a truce was signed. In July 1971, Anguilla became a dependency of Britain and two months later Britain ordered the withdrawal of all its troops. A new constitution for Anguilla, effective in Feb. 1976, provided for separate administration and a government of elected representatives. The Associated State of St. Kitts–Nevis-Anguilla ended in 1980, and in 1982 a new Anguillan constitution took effect.

Over the years, Anguilla became popular as a tax haven. There were no forms of taxation, no capital gains, estate or profit taxes for corporations or individuals. However, in April 2011, Anguilla issued its first income tax, a three percent Interim Stabilisation Levy, due to a mounting deficit. On July 23, 2013, Christina Scott became governor.

Basic DataOfficial Country Name: Anguilla

Region: Puerto Rico & Lesser

Antilles

Population: 11,797

Language(s): English

Literacy Rate: 95%

History & Background

Anguilla was colonized by British settlers from St. Christopher (St. Kitts) in 1650 and has been a British territory since that time. In 1882, Anguilla was united with St. Christopher and Nevis as a single British dependent colony. The inhabitants resisted the alliance with several protests and attempts to separate from the association with St. Christopher. Results were finally achieved in 1967 when the Anguillans ejected the St. Christopher policemen and declared the country's independence, refusing to further recognize the authority of the state government of St. Christopher. After two years of negotiations, British troops were sent in to establish control of the island. In 1980, the country was officially separated from Nevis and St. Christopher and placed under direct British rule; in 1982 a new Anguillan constitution was ratified.

In 2000, the Anguillan population was approximately 12,000, of which 26 percent were 14 years of age or less. Birth and death rates in 2000 were moderate with average life expectancy standing at slightly more than 76 years. Most of the inhabitants are of African descent. The official language is English, and Protestant denominations comprise the largest religious groups. The literacy rate, based on the definition of ages 12 and over being able to read and write, stands at 95 percent.

Constitutional & Legal Foundations

Because Anguilla is a dependent British colony, its government is outlined and administered according to British dictates. The administration of the island is the responsibility of a governor appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom, an executive council, and a legislative assembly. The territory has a legal system based on English common law, and the country's defense is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. Although Anguillans live under rather poor conditions in some respects, with a 1998 per capita income of approximately US$7,900, they fare better than a number of other Caribbean countries. Low crime rates and virtually no taxation add to the appeal of Anguilla.
Educational System—Overview

Government expenditure on education in 1991 was approximately 17 percent of the total expenditure, and in 1995 the amount rose to more than 18 percent. This amount allows the government to provide free education for children ages 5 to 15. In addition to education, the school health service provides physical screenings for children five to nine years of age, and health educators teach schoolchildren the importance of healthy living. Environmental conditions are also monitored.

While education is free in Anguilla, it is also compulsory from ages 5 through 15. The academic year consists of three terms from mid-September to mid-July. Each term is 13 weeks long. Students receive a summer recess of six weeks, a Christmas break of four weeks, and an Easterbreak of three weeks. Instruction is given in English, the official language.

The Anguillan education system is based primarily on the British system of education. When students finish their high school education, they take the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examination. If they receive four or five passes, including English and math, they may enroll in a program for advanced education. The program is called "6th Form." It is a two-year program that leads to Advanced Levels examinations, which, in turn, can lead to credit in U.S. universities.

Instructional technology and other resources are being implemented in Anguillan schools. In 2000, most schools had a teacher resource room, Internet access, audiovisual materials, copying and facsimile equipment, and e-mail capability. Most of the schools also had individual Web sites. Educators, as well as students, are learning through hands-on courses and workshops to use technology in different formats. One example of technology instruction is found in the Anguillan Library Computer Club. Weekly meetings are held for the purpose of instruction in Windows, Spreadsheets, Basic Programming, and digital cameras. While this instruction is not part of the school curriculum, it is arranged for students during after-school hours.

Preprimary & Primary Education

In 1988, the country had four privately owned preprimary schools, all subsidized by the government. In addition, the government has appointed a curricular officer for early childhood education. The officer's responsibility is to develop activities and programs to further student learning at early ages. Because most preprimary teachers are untrained, the government conducts training programs and ensures that teachers are exposed to "in sight" training at centers in Trinidad and Tobago. In 1996/97, the teacher/student ratio was 1:8.

Anguilla has six primary schools whose combined enrollment in 1998 was 1,502. With a total of 77 teachers, the teacher/student ratio was 1:20. The primary curriculum includes the core courses language arts, math, science, and social studies. A co-curriculum includes arts, music, physical education, and technology. Since the early 1990s, emphasis has been placed on preventive education in life skills, drug awareness, and guidance/counseling. Education is also provided for students with mild to moderate learning disabilities through modified curriculum, adapted physical environments, and appropriate teaching methodologies.

Secondary Education

Only one comprehensive (secondary) school exists for students who complete their primary school education. It is located centrally in the capital, The Valley. Enrollment for 1997 totaled 1036, with the majority being female. When students reach the age of 11, they are automatically transferred to the secondary program, whether or not they have completed their primary curriculum. In addition to core courses, curricular changes are under way to include environmental education, home economics, and geography. More than 80 percent of the country's labor force has completed a secondary school education.

Higher Education

Higher education is available at locations outside the country. In 1995, a little more than 7.5 percent of the labor force had received a university education, while 6 percent had an education from a technical college.

Nonformal Education

Adult education is a growing element of the Anguillan education system. The government has appointed a coordinator for adult and continuing education. The government is also moving to establish relations with partners in education to set guidelines to ensure the best use of resources for continuing education. In addition, the Ministry of Education serves as a center for several overseas examinations.

Teaching Profession

In the mid-1980s, Anguillan schools had a total teaching staff of 92. Seventy-five percent of that number were completely trained teachers. In the late 1990s, about one third of primary teachers were untrained, a small number of whom participated in the Inservice Teachers' Training Program and were referred. The goal in 2000 was to have all teachers trained within ten years. To improve their education, teachers also train through programs such as computer training workshops or camps.

Summary

With a literacy rate of 95 percent, the Anguillan education system is successful. However, rather than remain at that level, the education system continues to move forward. This forward movement has been greatly impacted by innovations in technology and communications. Until 1971, the island had no system of telecommunications. By 2000, the country had a digital telephone exchange, national paging service, cellular telephone service, voice-mail, e-mail, and Internet access.

In addition to technological advances, Anguilla has begun to use other educational innovations. The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination is being tested on a pilot basis as a possible replacement for the Cambridge A Level examination. In 1998, Anguilla became the first Caribbean country to introduce Reading Recovery, a school-based intervention for literacy problems, in its primary school system. In 1992, a "Test of Standards" was implemented for grades three, five, and six to set performance norms.

Many reforms and improvements are under way in Anguilla because the government recognizes the deficiencies in its educational system. The inhabitants must continue to work diligently to modernize the education system that serves as a vital component of the country's efforts to improve the quality of life for its citizens.

Military of Anguilla

Anguilla has no military of its own: Anguilla is a protectorate of the United Kingdom (UK), and the UK is responsible for its military defense.

Armenia

Facts & Figures
Map of Armenia
President: Serzh Sarkisyan (2008) Prime Minister: Hovik Abrahamyan (2014) Land area: 11,506 sq mi (29,800 sq km); total area: 11,506 sq mi (29,800 sq km) Population (2014 est.): 3,060,631 (growth rate: -0.13%); birth rate: 13.92/1000; infant mortality rate: 13.97/1000; life expectancy: 74.12 Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Yerevan, 1.116 Other large cities: Vanadzor, 147,400; Gyumri (Leninakan), 125,300; Abovian, 59,300 Monetary unit: Dram More Facts & Figures

Index Armenia Main Page Striving for Independence The Death of Markarian Leads to Political Unrest Rapprochement With Turkey Only Temporary Safarov Pardon Increases Tension with Azerbaijan and Hungary Sarkisyan Easily Wins Second Term Pope Francis Creates Firestorm Over Genocide Comment Geography

Armenia is located in the southern Caucasus and is the smallest of the former Soviet republics. It is bounded by Georgia on the north, Azerbaijan on the east, Iran on the south, and Turkey on the west. Contemporary Armenia is a fraction of the size of ancient Armenia. A land of rugged mountains and extinct volcanoes, its highest point is Mount Aragats, 13,435 ft (4,095 m).

Government

Republic.

History

One of the world's oldest civilizations, Armenia once included Mount Ararat, which biblical tradition identifies as the mountain that Noah's ark rested on after the flood. It was the first country in the world to officially embrace Christianity as its religion (c. A.D. 300).

In the 6th century B.C. , Armenians settled in the kingdom of Urartu (the Assyrian name for Ararat), which was in decline. Under Tigrane the Great (fl. 95–55 B.C. ) the Armenian empire reached its height and became one of the most powerful in Asia, stretching from the Caspian to the Mediterranean seas. Throughout most of its long history, however, Armenia has been invaded by a succession of empires. Under constant threat of domination by foreign forces, Armenians became both cosmopolitan as well as fierce protectors of their culture and tradition.

Over the centuries Armenia was conquered by Greeks, Romans, Persians, Byzantines, Mongols, Arabs, Ottoman Turks, and Russians. From the 16th century through World War I, major portions of Armenia were controlled by their most brutal invader, the Ottoman Turks, under whom the Armenians experienced discrimination, religious persecution, heavy taxation, and armed attacks. In response to Armenian nationalist stirrings, the Turks massacred thousands of Armenians in 1894 and 1896. The most horrific massacre took place in April 1915 during World War I, when the Turks ordered the deportation of the Armenian population to the deserts of Syria and Mesopotamia. According to the majority of historians, between 600,000 and 1.5 million Armenians were murdered or died of starvation. The Armenian massacre is considered the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey denies that a genocide took place and claims that a much smaller number died in a civil war.

Striving for Independence

After the Turkish defeat in World War I, the independent Republic of Armenia was established on May 28, 1918, but survived only until Nov. 29, 1920, when it was annexed by the Soviet army. On March 12, 1922, the Soviets joined Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to form the Transcaucasian Soviet Socialist Republic, which became part of the USSR. In 1936, after a reorganization, Armenia became a separate constituent republic of the USSR. Armenia declared its independence from the collapsing Soviet Union on Sept. 23, 1991.

In 1988, Armenia became involved in a territorial dispute with Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. The majority of the enclave consisted of Armenian Christians who wanted to secede from Azerbaijan and either become part of Armenia or gain full independence. War ensued between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region from 1992–1994, resulting in 30,000 casualties. Armenia effectively controls the region today, although no formal resolution exists.

An Armenian diaspora has existed throughout the nation's history, and Armenian emigration has been particularly heavy since independence from the Soviet Union. An estimated 60% of the total 8 million Armenians worldwide live outside the country, with 1 million each in the United States and Russia. Other significant Armenian communities are located in Georgia, France, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Argentina, and Canada.

The Death of Markarian Leads to Political Unrest

Prime Minister Andranik Markarian died suddenly in March 2007. He was replaced by Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan.

Sarkisyan won almost 53% of the vote and former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan took 21.5% in February 2008 presidential elections. Ter-Petrosyan, who was Armenia's first president after it gained independence in 1991, claimed the vote was rigged. Tens of thousands of his supporters took to the streets in Yerevan to protest the election. A 20-day state of emergency was declared on March 1 when the protests turned violent and eight people were killed. On March 22, the state of emergency ended and troops left the capital.

On April 9, 2008, Serzh Sarkisyan was sworn in as president and named Tigran Sarkisyan (no relation) as prime minister.

The Death of Markarian Leads to Political Unrest

Prime Minister Andranik Markarian died suddenly in March 2007. He was replaced by Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan.

Sarkisyan won almost 53% of the vote and former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan took 21.5% in February 2008 presidential elections. Ter-Petrosyan, who was Armenia's first president after it gained independence in 1991, claimed the vote was rigged. Tens of thousands of his supporters took to the streets in Yerevan to protest the election. A 20-day state of emergency was declared on March 1 when the protests turned violent and eight people were killed. On March 22, the state of emergency ended and troops left the capital.

On April 9, 2008, Serzh Sarkisyan was sworn in as president and named Tigran Sarkisyan (no relation) as prime minister.

Rapprochement With Turkey Only Temporary

After nearly 100 years of hostility between Turkey and Armenia over the murder of between 600,000 and 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks during World War I, the two countries agreed in Oct. 2009 to establish diplomatic relations and reopen the border between them. However, both parliaments had to approve the agreement, which didn't happen, and the deal was never implemented. In February 2015 Armenian president Serzh Sarkisyan withdrew the agreement from parliament, citing Turkey's lack of commitment to the agreement.

Continuing trouble on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan resulted in the deaths of at least three Armenian and five Azerbaijani soldiers in early June 2012. The eruption of violence coincided with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to the region; she made a statement imploring both sides to honor a ceasefire for the area that was first contested in the 1990s, Nagorno-Karabakh.

Safarov Pardon Increases Tension with Azerbaijan and Hungary

On August 31, 2012, Armenia ended diplomatic relations with Hungary over the return of Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan. Safarov was convicted of killing Armenian Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan in 2004 in Hungary. The Hungarian government released Safarov to Azerbaijan on the assumption that he would serve at least 25 years of his life sentence. Upon his arrival in Azerbaijan, Safarov was pardoned. Once news of the pardon hit, protestors in Armenia burned Hungarian flags and threw eggs at the Hungarian Embassy. Demonstrations were also held in Budapest.

Safarov was welcomed back to Azerbaijan. A lieutenant at the time of the murder, Safarov was promoted to rank of major, given eight years of back pay, and treated as a national hero in September 2012. His pardon and warm welcome threatened to break up the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a process that has kept the two countries from backsliding into violent feud over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory.

Sarkisyan Easily Wins Second Term

In February 2013, Serzh Sarkisyan was re-elected to a second five-year term as president. Preliminary returns showed that Sarkisyan received 59 percent of the vote, enough of a majority to avoid a runoff. Raffi Hovanessian, a former foreign minister, came in second, far behind at 37 percent.

Seen as a stable leader who had made economic improvements during his first term, Sarkisyan had been favored to win for months. The election wasn't without conflict. Paruir A. Airikyan, another candidate for president and former Soviet dissident, was shot in late January 2013, as the election approached. Authorities ruled it as an assassination attempt. Airikyan threatened to delay the election by using a provision in Armenia's constitution due to his injury, but decided against it.

Pope Francis Creates Firestorm Over Genocide Comment

In April 2015, Pope Francis called the 1915 murder of between 600,000 and 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks during World War I the first genocide of the 20th century. He made the comment at a mass commemorating the 100th anniversary of the massacre. Turkey responded by withdrawing its ambassador to the Vatican.

Argentina

Facts & Figures
Map of Argentina
President: Mauricio Macri (2015) Land area: 1,056,636 sq mi (2,736,690 sq km); total area:1,068,296 sq mi (2,766,890 sq km) Population (2014 est.): 43,024,374 (growth rate: .95%); birth rate: 16.88/1000; infant mortality rate: 9.962/1000; life expectancy: 77.51 Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Buenos Aires, 13.528 million Other large cities: Córdoba, 1.556 million; Rosario 1.283 million; Mendoza 957,000; San Miguel de Tucuman 868,000; La Plata 759,000 (2011) Monetary unit: Peso More Facts & Figures

Index Argentina Main Page The Dirty War Begins Recession and Economic Instability Dirty War Criminals Put on Trial Economy on the Rebound President and Vice President At Odds on Big Issues President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Easily Wins Second Term Historic Rulings on Abortion, Transgender Rights Government Seizes Control of Nation's Largest Oil Company Jorge Rafael Videla Dies in Prison Argentina Defaults Again Death of Prosecutor Ignites Protests and Controversy Marci Wins Presidential Runoff

Geography

Second in South America only to Brazil in size and population, Argentina is a plain, rising from the Atlantic to the Chilean border and the towering Andes peaks. Aconcagua (22,834 ft, 6,960 m) is the highest peak in the world outside Asia. Argentina is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay on the north, and by Uruguay and Brazil on the east. The northern area is the swampy and partly wooded Gran Chaco, bordering Bolivia and Paraguay. South of that are the rolling, fertile Pampas, which are rich in agriculture and sheep- and cattle-grazing and support most of the population. Further south is Patagonia, a region of cool, arid steppes with some wooded and fertile sections.

Government

Republic.

History

First explored in 1516 by Juan Diaz de Solis, Argentina developed slowly under Spanish colonial rule. Buenos Aires was settled in 1580; the cattle industry was thriving as early as 1600. Invading British forces were expelled in 1806—1807, and after Napoleon conquered Spain (1808), the Argentinians set up their own government in 1810. On July 9, 1816, independence was formally declared.

As it had in World War I, Argentina proclaimed neutrality at the outbreak of World War II, but in the closing phase declared war on the Axis powers on March 27, 1945. Juan D. Peron, an army colonel, emerged as the strongman of the postwar era, winning the presidential elections of 1946 and 1951. Peron's political strength was reinforced by his second wife—Eva Duarte de Peron (Evita)—and her popularity with the working classes. Although she never held a government post, Evita acted as de facto minister of health and labor, establishing a national charitable organization, and awarding generous wage increases to the unions, who responded with political support for Peron. Opposition to Peron's increasing authoritarianism led to a coup by the armed forces, which sent Peron into exile in 1955, three years after Evita's death. Argentina entered a long period of military dictatorships with brief intervals of constitutional government.

The former dictator returned to power in 1973 and his third wife, Isabel Martinez de Peron, was elected vice president. After her husband's death in 1974, Peron became the hemisphere's first woman chief of state, assuming control of a nation teetering on economic and political collapse. In 1975, terrorist acts by left- and right-wing groups killed some 700 people. The cost of living rose 355%, and strikes and demonstrations were constant. On March 24, 1976, a military junta led by army commander Lt. Gen. Jorge Rafael Videla seized power and imposed martial law.

Argentine Army

The Argentine Army (Ejército Argentino, EA) is the land armed force branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic and the senior military service of the country. As of 2012, the army has 44,233 military personnel.[1] Under the Argentine Constitution, the President of Argentina is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, exercising his or her command authority through the Minister of Defense.

The Army's official foundation date is May 29, 1810 (celebrated in Argentina as the Army Day), four days after the Spanish colonial administration in Buenos Aires was overthrown. The new national army was formed out of several pre-existent colonial militia units and locally-manned regiments (most notoriously the Patricios Regiment, which to this date is still an active Army unit). These units had previously fought the British invasions of the Río de la Plata in 1806 and 1807.

The Dirty War Begins

The military began the "dirty war" to restore order and eradicate its opponents. The Argentine Commission for Human Rights, in Geneva, has charged the junta with 2,300 political murders, over 10,000 political arrests, and the disappearance of 20,000 to 30,000 people. The economy remained in chaos. In March 1981, Videla was deposed by Field Marshal Roberto Viola, who in turn was succeeded by Lt. Gen. Leopoldo Galtieri.

On April 2, 1982, Galtieri invaded the British-held Falkland Islands, known as Las Islas Malvinas in Spanish, in what was seen as an attempt to increase his popularity. Great Britain, however, won a decisive victory, and Galtieri resigned in disgrace three days after Argentina's surrender. Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Bignone took over June 14, amid increasing pro-democratic public sentiment. As the 1983 elections approached, inflation hit 900% and Argentina's crippling foreign debt reached unprecedented levels.

In the presidential election of Oct. 1983, Raul Alfonsin, leader of the Radical Civic Union, handed the Peronist Party its first defeat since its founding. Growing unemployment and quadruple-digit inflation, however, led to a Peronist victory in the elections of May 1989. Alfonsin resigned a month later in the wake of riots over high food prices, in favor of the new Peronist president, Carlos Menem. In 1991, Menem promoted economic austerity measures that deregulated businesses and privatized state-owned industries. But beginning in Sept. 1998, eight years into Menem's two-term presidency, Argentina entered its worst recession in a decade. Menem's economic policies, tolerance of corruption, and pardoning of military leaders involved in the dirty war eventually lost him the support of the poor and the working class who had elected him.

Dirty War Criminals Put on Trial

In Dec. 1999, Fernando de la Rua became president. Despite the introduction of several tough economic austerity plans, by 2001 the recession had slid into its third year. The IMF gave Argentina $13.7 billion in emergency aid in Jan. 2001 and $8 billion in Aug. 2001. The international help was not enough, however, and by the end of 2001, Argentina was on the verge of economic collapse. Rioters protesting government austerity measures forced De la Rua to resign in Dec. 2001. Argentina then defaulted on its $155 billion foreign debt payments, the largest such default in history.

After more instability, Congress named Eduardo Duhalde president on Jan. 1, 2002. Duhalde soon announced an economic plan devaluing the Argentine peso, which had been pegged to the dollar for a decade. The devaluation plunged the banking industry into crisis and wiped out much of the savings of the middle class, plunging millions of Argentinians into poverty.

In July 2002, former junta leader Galtieri and 42 other military officers were arrested and charged with the torture and execution of 22 leftist guerrillas during Argentina's 7-year military dictatorship. In recent years, judges have found legal loopholes allowing them to circumvent the blanket amnesty laws passed in 1986 and 1987, which allowed many accused of atrocities during the dirty war to walk free. In June 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that these amnesty laws were unconstitutional and in 2006, numerous military and police officials went on trial.

Economy on the Rebound

Peronist Néstor Kirchner, the former governor of Santa Cruz, became Argentina's president in May 2003, after former president Carlos Menem abandoned the race. Kirchner vowed to aggressively reform the courts, police, and armed services and to prosecute perpetrators of the dirty war. Argentina's economy has been rebounding since its near collapse in 2001, with an impressive growth rate of about 8% since Kirchner took office. In March 2005, Kirchner announced that the country's debt had been successfully restructured. In Jan. 2006, Argentina paid off its remaining multi-million IMF debt early, a dramatic move that not all economists thought was beneficial.

In October 2007, First Lady Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was elected president, taking 45% of the vote. Elisa Carrió, a congresswoman, placed second, with 23%.

On December 10, 2007, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner took over the presidency from her husband, Néstor Kirchner, in a ceremony at Argentina's Congress. She kept many of her husband's ministers, but implied that she would introduce changes to the country during presidency. Fernandez said she will create a new ministry for science and technology to boost innovation, and stated that she would make "necessary corrections" to help the inflation problem in Argentina. Although she is as much a nationalist as her husband and refuses to get involved with the IMF, Fernández has shown interest in forging closer ties with the United States, Europe, and Brazil.

President and Vice President At Odds on Big Issues

Farmers protesting tax increases on export goods went on strike in early 2008, causing highways to be shut down and severe food shortages nationwide. In July, after months of protests and strikes by the farmers, the government, led by Vice President Cobos, sided with the farmers and voted against the president's proposed increase on the agricultural export tax.

In November 2008, the lower house of Parliament approved President Fernandez's controversial plan to nationalize more than $25 billion in private pension funds. President Fernandez asserted the move would protect pensioners' assets during the global financial crisis, while Vice President Cobos continued to disagree, stating it would create doubts among investors about Argentina's investment market stability.

The dispute over the Falkland Islands between Argentina and the UK resurfaced in February 2010 when a British oil rig began drilling near the islands. Both countries still claim sovereignty over the Falklands, and Argentina was outraged that it may have to confront the embarrassing fact that England could tap vast deposits of oil so close to its shores. Argentina responded by threatening to implement new restrictions on British ships passing through its waters.

In July 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to legalize gay marriage.

Former president Nestor Kirchner and the husband of current president, Cristina Fernandez, died suddenly of a heart attack in October. He had been expected to run for president in 2011.

In February 2011, Argentine customs seized undeclared equipment on a United States Air Force cargo plane. The plane was carrying materials for an Argentina federal police training course. Customs officials described the seized equipment as machine guns, ammo, drugs such as morphine, and spy equipment. Argentina accused the United States military of bringing in guns and surveillance equipment under the guise of a training course. The incident created a diplomatic rift between the two countries.

In June 2011, President Fernandez announced that she was running for re-election. Polls showed that even though President Fernandez lacks majority support, she might easily win the first-round vote on Oct. 23 because the opposition is so divided.

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Easily Wins Second Term

On October 23, 2011, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was easily re-elected for a second term. Her victory came just two years after her approval rating fell below 30 percent due to her unpopular combative leadership style, which came under scrutiny during a dispute over agricultural export taxes. However, Argentina is currently undergoing an economic boom despite economists' predictions that the plan put into place by Fernández's late husband, former President Néstor Kirchner, was doomed.

That economic plan, which relies heavily on government subsidies, has been further orchestrated by President Fernández. Argentina's economy is expected to grow 8 percent in 2011, making it the fastest growing country in Latin America. Since 2007, the poverty rate has been cut by more than half. The employment rate has reached record highs and the country's agricultural products are in strong demand from China.

In this election, voters looked past red flags such as rising inflation. In 2010, inflation rose over 20 percent, second only to Venezuela in Latin America. Clearly what mattered most to voters was a booming economy. President Fernández won with 54 percent of the vote. Her closest opponent received 17 percent. With a margin of 37 percent, it was the widest victory since Argentina restored its democracy in 1983.

In December 2011, a spokesman for President Fernández announced that she had thyroid cancer and would undergo surgery on January 4. During a televised address the spokesman said there was "no existence of metastasis." The announcement came less than two months after Fernández was re-elected to a new four-year term. In 2010, Argentina was shocked when Fernández's husband, the country's previous president, died of a heart attack at age 60. The news of Fernández's diagnosis also shook up a country that has long revered Eva "Evita" Peron, wife of legendary leader Juan Peron. Peron died of cancer in 1952 at age 33. Like Eva Peron, Fernández is popular for her efforts to help the impoverished.

President Fernández was one of several leaders in the region recently diagnosed with cancer. President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil was treated for lymphoma in 2009. In 2010, Paraguay's president, Fernando Lugo, was treated for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Venezuela's Hugo Chávez underwent treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer in 2011. In early January 2012, President Fernández's surgery was carried out without complications, putting her on course to return to work as planned later in the month.

Historic Rulings on Abortion, Transgender Rights

In March 2012, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that rape victims can get an abortion. The ruling was historic because most abortions are illegal in Argentina. Before the ruling, a judge had to decide, case by case, which victims could get abortions. Typically, a judge ruled for the abortion only if the woman had mental disabilities. The new rule allowed any victim of rape to receive an abortion without a court order.

Two months later, the Senate unanimously passed a law allowing people to alter their gender on official documents without psychiatric diagnosis or surgery. Public and private medical practitioners are now required to give free hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery to all transgenders who desire it, including anyone under the age of 18. The new law has gone well beyond measures passed over the last ten years in Britain and Spain. Those two countries passed laws allowing people to change their gender and name after receiving a psychiatric diagnosis of gender dysphoria. In 2010, Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage. The May 2012 gender identity law has also made Argentina a world leader in transgender rights.

Government Seizes Control of Nation's Largest Oil Company

On Monday, April 16, 2012, President Cristina Fernández stated on national television that the government would seize 51 percent of YPF, the country's largest oil company. YPF has been majority-owned by Repsol YPF, a Spanish energy company. After the announcement, Fernández fired YPF's chief executive, Sebastián Eskenazi, and replaced him with two of her top aides, Julio de Vido and Axel Kicillof. During her televised speech, Fernández explained that of Argentina's new 51 percent share, the nation's provinces would receive 49 percent and the central government 51 percent.

The announcement created immediate tension with the European Union and Spain. The Spanish government said it would retaliate. José Manuel García Margallo, Spain's foreign minister, said that Argentina "broke the climate of cordiality and friendship."

Jorge Rafael Videla Dies in Prison

On May 17, 2013, military leader Jorge Rafael Videla passed away while in the Marcos Paz prison in Buenos Aires. He was serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity for his role in political killings and disappearances during Argentina's Dirty War in the 1970s. At least 15,000 people were killed or disappeared in that war, although human rights advocates say that figure is low and the actual number is closer to 30,000.

Argentina's Secretariat for Human Rights announced Videla's death. He was 87.

Argentina Defaults Again

For the third time in 25 years, Argentina defaulted on its debt. In July 2014, Standard & Poor's declared that the country was in default on some of its obligations after the government failed on an agreement with a group of bondholders. The creditors demanded payment of approximately 1.5 billion for bonds that they purchased after Argentina's $144 billion default in 2001.

The default could trigger an even bigger hike in inflation and cause the value of the peso to continue to fall. Economists have already projected that inflation would hit 40% this year. Before the default, the peso had fallen by 25% against the dollar in 2014.

Death of Prosecutor Ignites Protests and Controversy

On Jan. 19, 2015, Argentine federal prosecutor Alberto Nisman was found dead at his Buenos Aires home with a handgun nearby. For years, Nisman had been the chief investigator of the worst terrorist attack in the country's history, the 1994 car bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), a Jewish Community center in Buenos Aires. The attack killed 85 people and injured hundreds more. In 2006, Nisman officially accused Iran's government of planning the AMIA bombing and Hezbollah for executing it. The following year the names of six individuals accused of the attack were published: Imad Fayez Moughnieh, Ali Fallahijan, Mohsen Rabbani, Ahmad Reza Asghari, Ahmad Vahidi, and Mohsen Rezaee.

Nisman was found dead just hours before he was scheduled to appear before Congress to discuss his recent allegations that President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and other Argentine politicians had covered up for the Iranian suspects in the 1994 car bombing. Word of Nisman's death spread quickly, getting the attention of the international media and prompting protests where demonstrators accused the government of corruption. Prosecutor Viviana Fein began an investigation into Nisman's death to determine if it was a suicide, a forced suicide, or murder. President Fernández initially declared it a suicide, but then reversed her statement on Jan. 22, 2015, saying that she believed it was not a case of suicide. A week after Nisman's death, President Fernández announced her plan to replace Argentina's secret security service with a brand new agency, one that would be managed and controlled by the General Prosecutor's office.

On Feb. 3, Fein stated that an arrest warrant for President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner had been found among Nisman's papers. Later that month, prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita brought formal accusations of conspiracy against President Fernández. Her government reacted angrily to the news. Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich called it "an active judicial coup." Aníbal Fernández, the presidential secretary, said that the charges were "ridiculous, embarrassing and a clear manoeuvre of anti-democratic destabilisation." Judge Daniel Rafecas was schedule to begin reviewing the case by the end the month.

Marci Wins Presidential Runoff

On Nov. 22, Mauricio Macri defeated Daniel Scioli in a presidential runoff. Marci received 51.4% of the vote. Scioli received 48.6%. The runoff came after the two candidates tied in October. Because of the tie, Argentina used its ballotage system, which doesn't require candidates to win by more than 50% of the vote.

The ballotage system had been in the country's Constitution since a 1994 amendment. A member of the Republican Proposal party, Marci became Argentina's first non-radical or non-Peronist party president since 1916. He took office on Dec. 10, 2015.

 Argentine Army

In 1990 Argentina began a transformation of the land component of its armed forces based on assessments of current and future defense needs, national objectives, economic conditions, and a changing international situation. This historical challenge was met by the Argentine army which implemented actions to achieve that end.

The Malvinas War clearly indicated the failure of Argentine doctrinal and operational framework. The conflict in the Falkland Islands, in the early 1980s, illustrated the need for proper equipment and training to handle the harsh environment. Many Argentine conscripts were poorly clothed and trained. Frostbite and trench foot were rampant in the Argentine Army.

In 1983 the Argentine Army was composed of some 100,000 active-duty professional soldiers who were complemented by some 80,000 conscripts. By mid-1985 the number of professional troops was believed to have dropped to some 65,000 personnel, primarily because of budget cuts. The number of conscripts completing their year of military service with the army also had been reduced to between 32,000 and 35,000. The army's traditional dual mission — that of guaranteeing national defense against foreign threats and conserving domestic peace — remained unchanged in the mid-1980s.

Budget policies and cost reductions embraced by the Argentine government, like other countries, compounded structural problems. To meet this reality, studies were required to guide development of the army. Thus, a long-range goal was implemented by a comprehensive and ambitious project, "The Military Ground Component of the Future," which spanned over twenty years (until 2010). That project, with subsequent revisions and adaptations, has become synonymous with the army's future. From the start the effort has been focused in a coherent and coordinated manner. Its most distinctive characteristic is that it is not static. On the contrary, it is flexible enough to assimilate changes deemed necessary by the defense establishment while also ensuring room for evolution.

The Argentine army has conducted peacekeeping operations among various other missions in an effort to help maintain international order and balance in compliance with resolutions of the U.N. Security Council. The military has thereby gained national and international recognition for its professionalism, devotion to duty, and discipline evidenced while participating in multinational peacekeeping forces. This motivation has enabled the Army to overcome other difficulties and strengthen a commitment to world peace, in keeping with the objectives of Argentine foreign policy.

The Army has reorganized its resources on the basis of two large groups engaged in different activities. The first one is a set of military units geographically distributed throughout the country, and operates in the areas of the national territory where they are located. They are called Regional Use Forces. These Forces are organized, equipped and trained to act in the various geographical regions of the country (mountains, desert, high plateau, forest, etc.) in the cases mentioned above, and they assist neighboring communities struck by natural disasters.

The second group is called Variable Use Forces and is organized and equipped so as to allow the Army to carry out its functions within and outside the national territory. Because of their versatility, autonomy and location these Forces allow the country to be ready to give the necessary, adequate and sustained response in the various scenarios where the interests of the Argentine Republic are at stake.

Variable Use Forces are located in central regions of the national territory, are provided with significant combat power and are able to move quickly to places where contingencies requiring their presence arise. Some of their main functions include the capability to move outside the country to comply with Argentina's international commitments.

Personnel
Officers	5,300
Non-commissioned officers	20,600
Volunteer troops	15,500
TOTAL	41,400

Despite the world economic downturn, the armed forces continued to grow throughout the 1930s and 1940s. The total number of military personnel doubled from 50,000 at the time of the 1930 coup to 100,000 in 1943. The organizational structure of the military also changed to keep pace with the exponential growth in manpower. The number of army divisions had increased from five in 1920 to nine in 1945. In addition to the military regions established for ground forces in 1905, the First Army Command and the Second Army Command were created in 1938 to better coordinate divisional operations.

By the early 1960s the armed forces had shrunk to some 140,000 troops, of which 85,000 belonged to the army. Between 1955 and 1965 the army was reorganized twice. Shortly after Peron's ouster, five army corps — each assigned to one of the five military regions — were created, replacing the two army commands. By 1963 an army corps was abolished, and its jurisdiction collapsed into that of a contiguous military region. Brigades were also created in 1964, replacing divisions as the army's formations.

The Government officially announced on 24 June 2015 the forced retirement of army chief Lieutenant General César Milani, and the appointment of Major General Ricardo Cundom as his successor. Through Decree 1168, which was published in the Official Gazette with the signatures of Cristina Kirchner and Defense Minister Agustin Rossi , the government established the "pass a voluntary retirement" Milani and relieved him of his duties as head of the force. Milani was one of the 50 generals who come from the dictatorship and other 3381 Army members who come from that time. Milani entered the Army in February 1975, and attended the Intelligence School in 1982, then moved to 601 Battalion where he was a specialist in the area of espionage.

Milani was being investigated in two cases for his role during the military dictatorship. The withdrawal of the military chief was linked with the fear of the Pink House, in the midst of the campaign for the upcoming elections, advance an order of investigation in the case that is pending in Tucuman, by his responsibility for the disappearance of the soldier Alberto Ledo in 1976.

Antigua and Barbuda

Facts & Figures
Map of Antigua and Barbuda
Sovereign: Queen Elizabeth II (1952) Governor-General: Rodney Williams (2014) Prime Minister: Gaston Browne (2014) Total area: 170 sq mi (440 sq km) Population (2014 est.): 91,295 (growth rate: 1.25%); birth rate: 15.94/1000; infant mortality rate: 13.29/1000; life expectancy: 76.12 Capital and largest city (2011 est.): St. John's, 27,000 Other large cities: English Harbour, 2,900; Codrington (capital of Barbuda), est. pop. 870 Monetary unit: East Caribbean dollar More Facts & Figures

Index Antigua and Barbuda Main Page Bird Dynasty Ends

Geography

Antigua, the larger of the two main islands, is 108 sq mi (280 sq km). The island dependencies of Redonda (an uninhabited rocky islet) and Barbuda (a coral island formerly known as Dulcina) are 0.5 sq mi (1.30 sq km) and 62 sq mi (161 sq km), respectively.

Government

Constitutional monarchy.

History

The island of Antigua was explored by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and named for the Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua in Seville. Antigua was colonized by Britain in 1632; Barbuda was first colonized in 1678. Antigua and Barbuda joined the West Indies Federation in 1958. With the breakup of the federation, it became one of the West Indies Associated States in 1967, self-governing its internal affairs. Full independence was granted Nov. 1, 1981.

The Bird family has controlled the islands since Vere C. Bird founded the Antigua Labor Party in the mid-1940s. While tourism and financial services have turned the country into one of the more prosperous in the Caribbean, law enforcement officials have charged that Antigua and Barbuda is a major center of money laundering, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling. Several scandals tainted the Bird family, especially the 1995 conviction of Prime Minister Lester Bird's brother, Ivor, for cocaine smuggling. In 2000, Antigua and 35 other offshore banking centers agreed to reforms to prevent money laundering.

Bird Dynasty Ends

In March 2004, the Bird political dynasty came to an end when labor activist Baldwin Spencer defeated Lester Bird, who had been prime minister since 1994. In 2005, income tax, which had been eliminated in 1975, was reintroduced to help alleviate Antigua's deficit.

On July 17, 2007, Louise Lake-Tack became the first woman governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda. In June 2014, Gaston Browne led the Antigua Labour Party to victory in the general election. It was a return to power for the Antigua Labour Party after ten years as the opposition. The party won 14 of 17 seats. Brown was sworn in as prime minister on June 13. Governor-General Dame Louise Lake-Tack left office in August 2014. Antigua Labour Party member Rodney Williams replaced her.

AIR FORCE

Lockheed Martin Space System Co., Sunnyvale, California, has been awarded a $735,514,938 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for satellite sustainment. Contractor will provide sustainment of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF), Milstar, and Defense Satellite Communications System III. Work will be performed at Sunnyvale, California, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, and Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, and is expected to be complete by Nov. 30, 2015. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $36,646,878 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, is the contracting activity (FA8823-15-C-0001).

General Atomics - Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $23,075,907 firm-fixed-price delivery order (0087) under basic ordering agreement FA8620-10-G-3038 for MQ-9 Block 20A Lynx SAR retrofit kits. Contractor will provide 72 MQ-9 Block 20A Lynx SARretrofit kits for the MQ-9 aircraft. Work will be performed at Poway, California, and is expected to be complete by May 21, 2017. Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $23,075,907 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Littleton, Colorado, has been awarded a $12,454,485 modification (P00299) to previously awarded contract FA8807-08-C-0010 for the alternate payload processing facility. Contractor will assure implementation of testing capabilities for launch of Global Positioning System III. Work will be performed at Littleton, Colorado, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2017. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,749,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8807-08-C-0010).

ARMY

Alpha-Omega Change Engineering, Hampton, Virginia (W91260-15-D-0001); Boecore Inc.,* Colorado Springs, Colorado (W91260-15-D-0002); PeopleTec Inc.,* Huntsville, Alabama (W91260-15-D-0003); and Summit Technical Solutions LLC,* Colorado Springs, Colorado (W91260-15-D-0004) were awarded a $496,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for advisory and assistance services for Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Army Forces Strategic Command and supported agencies for various missions. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2020. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 10 received. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, is the contracting activity.

Vectrus Systems Corp., Colorado Springs, Colorado, was awarded a $160,219,917 modification (P00020) to contract W91RUS-13-C-0006 for operations and maintenance support to communications equipment and information systems, Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, 160th Signal Brigade and subordinate units, Southwest Asia Theater. Work will be performed in Kuwait, Qatar, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Jordan with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2016. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $160,219,917 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, is the contracting activity.

Jacobs Project Management Co., Arlington, Virginia (W912DY-15-D-0084); M.C. Dean Inc., Sterling, Virginia (W912DY-15-D-0085); Shearer & Associates Inc.,* Huntsville, Alabama W912DY-15-D-0086); Spectrum Solutions Inc., Madison, Alabama (W912DY-15-D-0087); and URS Group Inc., Washington, District of Columbia (W912DY-15-D-0088), were awarded a $150,000,00 firm-fixed-price contract with options for technical and programmatic support services for the utility monitoring and control systems and electronic security systems programs. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of May 21, 2020. Bids were solicited via the Internet with seven received. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Michael Baker Jr. Inc, Phoenix, Arizona, was awarded a $48,000,000 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery contract with options for architectural and engineering services for the Department of Homeland Security. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of May 20, 2020. Bids were solicited via the Internet with 20 received. Army Contracting Command, Ft. Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-15-D-0009).

Colt Defense LLC, West Hartford, Connecticut, was awarded a $36,104,812 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity foreign military sales contract (Jordan, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Colombia, Hungary, Oman, Panama, Romania, Senegal, Lebanon, Romania) for M4/M4A1 carbines. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of May 21, 2018. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-15-D-0038).

BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP, York, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $16,647,049 modification (P00005) to contract W56HZV-14-C-0238 to exercise Option 2 for installing the Paladin Fire Control System in M109A6 Paladin vehicles. Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2018. Fiscal 2015 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $16,647,049 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., Oak Brook, Illinois, was awarded an $11,492,530 firm-fixed-price contract with options for hopper dredging, Galveston Ship Channel, Texas, Entrance, Outer and Inner Bar Channels, and Bolivar Roads to Redfish Reef in Galveston and Chambers Counties, Texas. Maintenance dredging will remove approximately 433,000 cubic yards (CY) from Galveston Entrance Channel and Outer Bar Section numbers 7-9; 725,000 CY from Inner Bar Channel, Section numbers 10-13; and 387,000 CY from Houston Ship Channel, Bolivar Roads to Redfish Reef, Section numbers 16-19. (Option 1 is for maintenance dredging of 386,000 CY from Galveston Extended Entrance Channel, Section numbers 1-4; Option 2 is for maintenance dredging of 463,000 CY from Galveston Entrance Channel, Section numbers 5 and 6; and Option 3 is for maintenance dredging of 13,000 CY from Houston Ship Channel, Bolivar Roads to Redfish Reef, Section numbers 14 and 15). Work will be performed in Galveston, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 7, 2015. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Fiscal 2014 and 2015 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $11,492,530 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-15-C-0014).

LAPAC Manufacturing Inc.,* Crowley, Louisiana, was awarded a $9,322,795 firm-fixed-price multi-year contract with options for sandbags and poly sheeting for the National Flood Fight Center, Rock Island, Illinois. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2017. Bids were solicited via the Internet with three received. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W912EK-15-D-0003).

DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY

Parma Fruit MPG West, Orange, California, is being awarded an indefinite-delivery, requirements-type contract to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for resale at 20 commissary store locations throughout the Defense Commissary Agency’s (DeCA) Pacific Area commissaries in South Korea and Japan (to include Okinawa). The estimated award amount is $55,080,703. The contractor will deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to the store locations as needed. The contract is for a 24-month base period beginning July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2017. Three one-year option periods are available. If all three option periods are exercised, the contract will be completed June 30, 2020. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Eighteen firms were solicited and six offers were received. The contracting activity is the DeCA, Resale Contracting Division, Contracting Branch Europe, Kapaun Air Station, Kaiserslautern, Germany.

International Distributors Inc., Barrigada, Guam, is being awarded an indefinite-delivery, requirements-type contract to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for resale at two commissary store locations throughout the Defense Commissary Agency’s (DeCA) Pacific Area commissaries in the U.S. territory of Guam. The estimated award amount is $16,084,903. Contractor will deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to the store locations as needed. The contract is for a 24-month base period beginning July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2017. Three one-year option periods are available. If all three option periods are exercised, the contract will be completed June 30, 2020. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Eighteen firms were solicited and six offers were received. The contracting activity is the DeCA, Contracting Branch Europe, Kapaun Air Station, Kaiserslautern, Germany.

NAVY

The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, is being awarded a $21,252,474 modification to a previously awarded advance-acquisition contract (N00019-14-C-0067) for the procurement of additional long-lead items for the manufacture and delivery of nine full-rate production Lot II P-8A MMA aircraft for the Navy. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington, and is expected to be completed in April 2018. Fiscal 2014 and 2015 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $21,252,474 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Co., Fort Wayne, Indiana, is being awarded an $11,602,950 cost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for systems and software engineering services for the ALQ-227 communication countermeasures set for the EA-18G aircraft for the Navy and the government of Australia. This contract provides for up to 48,100 hours of engineering, integration and testing services for the low-band geo-location program. Work will be performed in Fort Wayne, Indiana (99 percent); and Forest, Mississippi (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2018. Fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation and fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $145,595 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($10,442,655; 90 percent), and the government of Australia ($1,160,295; 10 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity (N68936-15-D-0018).

Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is being awarded $9,540,000 for delivery order 7009 under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00383-11-G-003D) for repairs in support of the H-53 and V-22 aircraft. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida, and work is expected to be completed by May 2016. Fiscal 2014 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $9,540,000 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with FAR 6.302-1. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Corp., El Segundo, California, is being awarded $7,335,202 for undefinitized repair delivery order 7394 placed under a previous existing basic ordering agreement (N00383-12-G-034G) for door repair configurations used on the F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California, and work is expected to be completed by October 2015. Fiscal 2015 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $3,667,603 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One firm was solicited for this non-competitive requirement, and one offer was received in accordance with FAR 6.302-1. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.