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Bizzell US Awarded Contract with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Photo of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory nestled in the Pasadena, Calif., hillside.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Bizzell US Awarded Facilities Maintenance & Operations Contract with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory

New Carrollton, MD — December 11, 2024 — Bizzell US, a leader in strategic consulting and facilities management solutions, is proud to announce a new contract with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, to provide essential Facilities Maintenance & Operations (M&O) services. This contract highlights Bizzell’s expertise in supporting high-stakes federal projects with critical infrastructure needs.

Bizzell, in partnership with ABM Industries, will deliver comprehensive M&O support services for JPL’s expansive space flight operations facilities. Through the three (3) year base contract with seven (7) one-year option periods, which are awarded at JPL discretion, Bizzell’s team will oversee critical functions, including HVAC systems, electrical maintenance, and overall facility upkeep, ensuring operational continuity, safety, and energy efficiency for one of the nation’s leading research facilities. The work will allow JPL’s scientists and researchers to focus on their core mission of advancing space exploration and scientific research.

“Our work with NASA JPL exemplifies Bizzell’s commitment to creating environments that support innovation at its highest level. Ensuring that JPL’s infrastructure operates seamlessly allows scientists and researchers to focus on discoveries that expand our understanding of the universe,” said Dr. Anton C. Bizzell, President and CEO of Bizzell US. “Partnering with an institution like NASA JPL reflects Bizzell’s dedication to excellence in facilities management and underscores our ability to support missions where precision, safety, and reliability are paramount.”

This contract is closely aligned with Bizzell’s focus on providing mission-critical facilities management services for large-scale government projects, similar to its work with the Department of Labor’s Job Corps Centers where Bizzell provides comprehensive site-wide maintenance, safety compliance, and operational support, ensuring facilities remain safe, reliable, and energy-efficient as Bizzell actively supports academic and vocational training resources to connect students with career placement services to help them transition successfully into the workforce. These capabilities underscore Bizzell’s dedication to high-quality service and sustainable infrastructure solutions, tailored to meet the unique needs of government clients while fostering future talent and promoting workforce readiness.

For more information, visit bizzellus.com.

Media Contact: media@bizzellus.com

Categories News Tags Global Development

Global Collaboration in Action: Dr. Bizzell and Nzanga Mobutu Discuss Development Opportunities

Global Collaboration in Action: Dr. Bizzell and Nzanga Mobutu Discuss Development Opportunities

New Carrollton, Maryland — December 11, 2024 — Dr. Bizzell recently welcomed Nzanga Mobutu during his visit to the United States to discuss strengthening U.S.-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) investments by private companies. Their dialogue focused on fostering partnerships that promote economic development, trade, and public health initiatives, aiming to enhance the well-being of communities in both nations.

This meeting underscored our collective commitment to building bridges between the U.S. and DRC—bridges of innovation, collaboration, and progress. Through our partnership, we aim to catalyze change that uplifts communities, drives economic development, and sets a foundation for a brighter, more resilient future.

Since 2019, Bizzell has been a committed partner in the DRC, addressing some of the region’s most pressing challenges while fostering sustainable growth. From responding to health crises to investing in the infrastructure that powers progress, our work reflects a deep-seated mission: to create innovative, sustainable solutions that transform lives and strengthen the bonds between nations.

With an established office in Kinshasa, Bizzell has made a long-term commitment to the DRC and its surrounding regions. Our initiatives in logistics, trade, transportation, and public health are designed to align with the U.S. and DRC’s shared vision of fostering economic growth, improving health outcomes, and empowering communities.

For more information, visit bizzellus.com.

Media Contact: media@bizzellus.com

Categories Blog Tags Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

Walking the Line: Reducing Pedestrian Casualties Through Safer Streets

Walking the Line:

Reducing Pedestrian Casualties Through Safer Streets

October is National Pedestrian Safety Month. In honor of safety awareness, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is urging drivers to slow down and be on alert for pedestrians.

“Walking is one of the best things you can do for both your mental and physical health, and also for the environment, but where pedestrians and vehicle-traffic intermix, the results can be crashes resulting in injuries and deaths.”

— Dr. David Sleet, a Senior Associate at Bizzell US

While walking has many personal, physical and environmental benefits, it is not without risk. Going by foot can improve local economies and enhance social and community engagement, leading to more vibrant, resilient, and livable spaces. Nevertheless, precautions need to be taken to keep pedestrians safe.

Pedestrian Casualties

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) 2021 data, taken from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrian casualties have significantly increased 77% since 2010 (GHSA, 2023).

The NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2022 Data reveals the highest number of driver-caused pedestrian fatalities since 1981, with 7,522 pedestrian deaths in 2022 — that means one pedestrian was killed every 70 minutes and injured every 8 minutes in traffic crashes, 48% of which involved alcohol use (NHTSA, 2024).

“Every day, 20 people go for a walk and do not return home. These are people living their daily lives — commuting to and from school and work, picking up groceries, walking the dog, getting some exercise who died suddenly and violently.”

— GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins. (GHSA, 2023)

Risk Factors

Road safety experts report common factors in driver-caused pedestrian accidents (GHSA, 2023):

  • Most pedestrian accidents occur at night. In 2021, reports show 77% of pedestrian crashes occurred in the dark.
  • Most pedestrian crashes are caused by passenger vehicles; however, the past decade has seen a 120% increase in crashes involving speeding sports utility vehicles (SUVs)
  • Most pedestrian accidents occur in locations without sidewalks.
  • Most pedestrian accidents are caused by speeding vehicles, with 90% driving at 58 mph.

Pandemic Frenzy

NBC News reports that we are still experiencing the trend of “pandemic-fueled risky driving” that caused fatal car accidents to increase more than10% in 2022. Despite the reduced traffic during the pandemic, car crashes increase as an increased number of people drove more than usual and engaged in riskier behavior amidst the open highways and lack of law enforcement due to fear of Covid safety and racial profiling. Drivers felt like they could take more risks like speeding, not wearing seatbelts, texting while driving, running red lights, driving aggressively and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (Bendix, 2022). As the pandemic subsided and law enforcement returned to roadways the trend of risky driving continues to persist.

Crossing Safely

cording to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), uncontrolled pedestrian crossing, or walkway intersections without traffic controls, make pedestrians especially vulnerable to fatal accidents. The FHA recommends setting traffic controls that calculate adequate pedestrian crossing time at an average walking speed of 3.5 feet per second and less than 3.5 feet per second for wheelchairs or slower walkers (FHA, 2028). Having and using proper controlled crosswalks keeps pedestrians safer.

Safety Practices

As a way to curb risks, the NHTSA urges people to adopt the Safe System Approach to prevent crashes and minimize injuries and deaths. (U.S. DOT, 2024):

  • Safer People: Everyone behaving responsibly (including drivers, pedestrians and cyclists) to prioritize conditions that get everyone to their destinations unharmed.
  • Safer Speeds: Promote safe speeds and roadway environments through a combination of thoughtful, equitable, context-appropriate roadway design, appropriate speed-limit setting, targeted education, outreach campaigns and enforcement.
  • Safer Roads: Design safer roadways — with controlled pedestrian crossing, designated crosswalks, bike paths, and sidewalks — to account for human mistakes and injury tolerances, encourage safe behaviors, and protect vulnerable users.
  • Safer Vehicles: Expand technology that helps to prevent crashes and minimize the impact of crashes on drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
  • Post-Crash Care: Enhance rapid access to emergency medical care and safer environment for first responders to improve survivability for everyone.

Halloween Safety

For many Americans, Halloween night is the highlight of October family fun and festivities. During this holiday, drivers should be especially cautious and alert of trick-or-treating families with small, costumed children popping out of unexpected places. These kids may be unaware of surrounding traffic and may quickly dart into the street. Slower vehicle speeds and greater roadway awareness during Halloween can save lives.

Shared Responsibility

Keeping pedestrians safe and alive is a shared responsibility for everyone. Bizzell is urging drivers to look out for pedestrians, slow down, and drive with pedestrian awareness. Pedestrians should take precautions to lower risks of jeopardizing safety.

“At Bizzell US, we want to help ensure that pedestrians are safe as they use sidewalks, when they cross the street, or when they get on or off public transit. Anywhere that people walk or bike, they should be able to do so without fear that they’ll be injured.”

— Dr. William Scarbrough of Bizzell US

SOURCES CITED:

Bendix, Aria (2022) Deadly car crashes hit a high in early 2022. Pandemic-fueled risky driving may be to blame, NBC News, Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fatal-car-crash-increase-risky-driving-rcna43969

Federal Highway Administration (2009 Edition) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control devices for Streets and Highways, U.S. Department of Transportation, Retrieved from https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009r1r2r3/mutcd2009r1r2r3edition.pdf

Federal Highway Administration ((2018) Guide for Improving Pedestrian Safety at Uncontrolled Crossing Locations, U.S. Department of Transportation, Retrieved from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc_5/docs/STEP-guide-improving-ped-safety.pdf

Governors Highway Safety Association (2023) Drivers Hit and Killed More Than 7,500 Pedestrians Last Year, Most Since 1981, New Projection Shows [Press Release], Retrieved from https://www.ghsa.org/resources/news-releases/GHSA/Pedestrian-Spotlight-Full-Report23

National Highway Traffic Safety Association (2024) Pedestrian Safety, Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety

U.S. Department of Transportation (2024) What Is a Safe System Approach? Retrieved from https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS/SafeSystem

Categories News Tags Global Development

Bizzell Signs MOU to Boost Agribusiness in Gabon

Bizzell Signs MOU to Boost Agribusiness in Gabon

Bizzell International and Bizzell Global are proud to have participated in the U.S.-Africa Business Center event, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this month. This significant event brought together key players from both the U.S. and African business communities to explore opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Our CEO, Anton C. Bizzell, M.D., had the distinct honor of delivering the Vote of Thanks on behalf of the private sector. During this pivotal moment, Dr. Bizzell recognized His Excellency, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, and the Gabonese delegation for their dedication to fostering business ties between the U.S. and Gabon.

One of the central topics highlighted by Bizzell during the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was the company’s commitment to addressing one of Gabon’s most pressing challenges—food insecurity. Gabon, despite its wealth of natural resources, remains heavily reliant on food imports, which leaves the country vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions. Through targeted partnerships and projects, Bizzell is actively working to help Gabon become more self-sufficient in food production.

Key initiatives Bizzell include:

  • 5,000-hectare Maize and Soybean Plantation in Ndjokal/Roungassa: In collaboration with local partners, this project aims to produce 20,000 tons of maize and 11,200 tons of soybeans annually by 2028, reducing Gabon’s reliance on imported livestock feed.
  • 2,000 hectares of Cassava and 1,000 hectares of Bananas: By cultivating these key crops locally and establishing a cassava processing unit, Gabon can significantly reduce its food imports, taking strides towards achieving food security.
  • Agricultural Development in Kango and Andem: Spanning 23,000 hectares in Kango and 7,952 hectares in Andem, this project focuses on staple foods like cassava, taro, sweet potatoes, fruits, and expanding into poultry, pig farming, and aquaculture. The aim is to enhance Gabon’s local food production and reduce its dependency on imports.

These projects underscore Bizzell’s expertise in agribusiness and agricultural value chain development, providing critical solutions to Gabon’s food security challenges. With our support, Gabon is on a path toward a more sustainable agricultural future, ensuring long-term food security and economic stability for its people.

To learn more about these projects and our efforts in Africa, visit us at Bizzell Global.

About Bizzell

Bizzell is a consulting, strategy, investment, and technology firm headquartered in New Carrollton, Maryland, with offices in 20+ countries. Bizzell is a partner of choice for federal, state, and local government agencies, and private organizations. With a strong emphasis on innovation and impact, Bizzell transforms small ideas into powerful catalysts that drive change across markets worldwide.
Media Contact: Kwame Phillips
info@bizzellinternational.eu | 301.459.0100

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