Well, I'm writing this to 1.Warn folks who are waiting for PASSPORTS. 2. Express fustration.

[getagrip_already]

43. They need new contracts, have to go out to bid.....

The way the feds work procurement on certain items, they don't sole source. So for something like passports, there will be at least two vendors under different contracts. Each will be for a period of x years plus y 1 year extentions.

What likely happened is one of the vendors didn't get a renewal after the x years was up but before they were awarded an extention.

The company then shut down their factory, sold the printers and other production equipment, and dispersed personel.

They can't just turn the lights back on.

New rfps will have to be issued, with new specs, responses sorted through, etc. Then there would be implementation times.

That's just the printing component. If there is a front end issuance process, that might be a different contract.