UN awards $250-million Darfur contract without seeking bids
October 16, 2007
Associated Press
The Globe and Mail
Original Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071016.wundarfur1016/BNStory/International/home

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations awarded a California company a contract for up to $250-million (U.S.) Monday to build five new camps in Sudan's conflict-wracked Darfur and neighbouring Kordofan regions for 4,100 UN and African Union personnel.
The six-month contract with Pacific Architect Engineers Inc. was awarded without competitive bidding because of complex requirements and a short timeline, UN spokeswoman Michele Montas said.
On July 31, the UN Security Council approved a 26,000-strong African Union-UN peacekeeping force for Darfur. The headquarters of the “hybrid” force is expected to start operating in October and troops are expected to start deploying late this year or early next year.
Ms. Montas said the situation required a contractor with considerable experience in Darfur, where some 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million driven from their homes in more than four years of conflict.
PAE, which was bought in August 2006 by defence contractor Lockheed Martin Corp., has been in Darfur since 2004 constructing and maintaining all logistical services to the 34 African Union camps now in operation, the UN said.
The contract signed Monday is for new camps in El Fasher, Nyala, El Beneina and Zalingei in Darfur and El Obeid in Kordofan. It includes the provision of camp services including food, medical, janitorial, welfare and upkeep services, the UN said in a statement.
The contract has options for possible extensions of two to three months.
Some diplomats privately expressed concern because of corruption in previous UN procurement practices. The UN said it has already sought expressions of interest to attract international competition for future contracts in Darfur.