U.S. Troops in Iraq Are Gone, But Embassy Costs Go On and On

By Steve Peacock

A $348 million contract to maintain the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was awarded this week by the U.S. Department of State to PAE Government Services, which will be tasked with delivering operations and maintenance services for the 104-acre compound. An unspecified portion of that amount will be devoted to providing a residence manager, two cooks, two waiters, and four housekeepers to serve the U.S. ambassador and deputy chief of mission. 

It also remains unclear how much will be spent on lawn maintenance, though The Peacock Report -- U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor's predecessor site -- reported back in 2005 that State intended at the time to allocate $1 million annually for lawn and shrubbery services.

State in 2007 had awarded to PAE an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract worth approximately $177 million to service the Baghdad compound.

Source document: Contract Award #SAQMMA-12-D-0165.

RELATED PAE GOVERNMENT SERVICES NEWS:

Pentagon Extends Kenya, Djibouti Military Support Contract (June 11, 2012)

RELATED U.S DEPARTMENT OF STATE NEWS

U.S. to Pay 'Selected' Foreign Journalists to Cover State Dept. (June 12, 2012)

Also see the Monitor's U.S.STATE DEPT. PAGE.