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“$3,000,000 to SUMMA Technology Inc. for Marine Corps Flat-Rack”

Sponsor:  

Citizen Contributed Data (100% Complete)

Recipient Web Site:  Recipient Address:  (Flag)
140 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, Alabama
35805
Recipient address as provided by Sponsor(s): (courtesy of Taxpayers for Common Sense)
140 Sparkman Drive Huntsville, AL
Short Description of Recipient Organization: 
SUMMA Technology, Inc. is a leading manufacturing services provider, offering our customers highly engineered products and components for tolerance critical applications in aerospace, defense and general industrial markets. SUMMA designs and manufactures precision-engineered machined parts, welded assemblies, and electrical and mechanical subassemblies and provides high-volume commercial machining in a wide range of specialty metals and alloys. SUMMA is a "full-service provider", with the capability to provide design, engineering, manufacturing and testing of our products, as well as logistics support and project management services.
Are Top Personnel Listed on the Site? 
No
Is the Project Mentioned on the Site? 
Yes
Does the Recipient have Federal Contracts? 
Yes
Link to the Recipient's Federal Contracts (Fedspending.org):  Does the Recipient have Federal Grants? 
No
Have employees of the recipient collectively contributed more than $20,000 to candidates for federal office during the current and last election cycle?: 
Yes
Does a sponsoring member take credit? 
No
Did the recipient hire federal lobbyists? 
Yes
URL of Lobbying Data from OpenSecrets  Research contributed by:
kerry, sime0n


Comments, notes, additional research...

sime0n wrote:

A Google search for: SUMMA Technology Inc. + "Marine Corps Flat-Rack" - did not match any documents.

posted September 24, 2007 at 1:36 p.m.

sime0n wrote:

A Google search for - "Marine Corps Flat-Rack" site:summa.com - did not match any documents.

posted September 24, 2007 at 1:42 p.m.

kerry wrote:

article in local paper (The Huntsville Times Business Section, November 15, 2005) regarding Military Contracting.
<a href="http://www.summa.com/News/news_main.html#11_10_05">http://www.summa.com/News/news_main.html#11_10_05</a>

posted September 24, 2007 at 1:49 p.m.

Bill_Allison wrote:

Looks like, in 2005, Rep. Aderholt <a href="http://aderholt.house.gov/?sectionid=170&sectiontree=6,20,170&itemid=504">took credit</a> for a Summa earmark: "Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) today announced that the United States Marine Corps has awarded SUMMA Technology, Inc a $6.381 million contract to manufacture and deliver M1077 Flat Racks. This product will facilitate quick and safe movement of bulky materials, such as lumber, steel products, and piping. The Flat Racks will be built at the Cullman County facility. "

posted September 24, 2007 at 10:50 p.m.

voidx wrote:

On the <a href="http://www.summa.com/News/news.html>news</a> section of the companys website they mention an <a href="http://www.cullmantimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_025001054.html">article </a> from The Cullman Times. He helped get them $6.4 million and they gave him a plaque.

posted September 25, 2007 at 1:12 a.m.

voidx wrote:

Ignore last comment it messed up on links. The SUMMA website mentions the donation from an <a href="http://www.cullmantimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_025001054.html"> article</a> from The Cullman Times.

posted September 25, 2007 at 1:15 a.m.

hadenuf wrote:

what the hell is a marine corps flat rock?

posted September 25, 2007 at 1:41 a.m.

Bill_Allison wrote:

Flat Rack, I think...the third picture on <a href="http://www.otc.army.mil/OTC/Ecstd/dsb.htm">this page</a> shows one, fully loaded.

posted September 25, 2007 at 8:35 a.m.

erichzimm wrote:

Some more flatrack photos from the Summa website (just in case you can't get enough!): http://www.summa.com/Huntsville/cropphotos.html

posted September 26, 2007 at 4:07 p.m.

Bill_Allison wrote:

Huh. Looking at the pics that erichzimm points to, I have to ask: does a Flat Rack include the wheels, or does the military have to buy those separately?

Is some assembly required?

posted September 26, 2007 at 11:32 p.m.

chromantix wrote:

Rediculous. Things like (flat-racks) should be purchased by the Marine Corps, with their own budget, after going through the standard bidding process. Just like everything else not earmarked.

No single company should have the ability to undermine the entire budgeting process; even if they are the only company who produces said equipment.

/Marine

posted November 16, 2007 at 1:54 a.m.

mjmamelia wrote:

Unfortunately chromantix, the Marine Corps does not get a budget big enough to include everything they want. Nor does any service for that matter. That's why there are unfunded requirements.

posted November 25, 2007 at 10:41 p.m.

Bill_Allison wrote:

mjmamelia -- But the argument of earmark apologists is the earmarks don't increase the budget at all. Maybe the Marines need, say, night vision goggles more than flat racks, but a member of Congress can force them to buy flat racks whether they need them or not.

posted December 14, 2007 at 1:53 p.m.

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posted March 4, 2009 at 6:39 a.m.

bigelowrs wrote:

I'm a newbie here, just starting to poke around. This site is a really good idea! I wish there were a way to get the sponsors of each earmark to post a comment here describing it in detail and justifying it. I am gonna see if I can stir up some action to make that happen with CREW and similar organizations.

posted March 15, 2009 at 12:15 a.m.

bigelowrs wrote:

I'm a newbie here, just starting to poke around. This site is a really good idea! I wish there were a way to get the sponsors of each earmark to post a comment here describing it in detail and justifying it. I am gonna see if I can stir up some action to make that happen with CREW and similar organizations.

posted March 15, 2009 at 12:18 a.m.



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