The United States continues to award Gulf Arab firms
contracts to supply the military in the region.
The Defense Department has awarded two companies from Gulf Cooperation
Council states contracts for the supply of food to all branches of the U.S.
military. The companies are expected to service U.S. military personnel in
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
The Pentagon awarded Seven Seas Shipchandlers, based in the UAE port of
Dubai, a $7.8 million contract to serve as prime vendor for food
distribution for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine
Corps. Officials said the contract is exercising its second year option and
is expected to completed by June 2004.
Another contract awarded was to BMMI, based in Sitra, Bahrain. The firm
was granted a $6.3 million contract to serve as prime vendor for food
distribution for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine
Corps.
Officials said this contract also constituted an exercising of a
second-year option. The contract is expected to be completed by June 2004.
Earlier this year, the U.S. military granted Kuwaiti companies an
estimated $500 million in contracts to supply Central Command facilities in
the sheikdom. The contracts called for the supply of food, oil and such
equipment as air conditioners.