Complex security plans are being drawn up for the Obama inauguration on January 21, 2013.
Over the next two months, members of Congress will begin receiving their collective 240,000 tickets to the ceremony, printed by the Government Printing Office, which they can dole out to constituents, staff, family and friends.
Scalpers and scammers took to the Internet ahead of Obama’s first inauguration, attempting to sell tickets real and fake — some for as much as $20,000. Congress then passed a bill making it a misdemeanor to sell or attempt to sell inauguration tickets.
Security plans will include the U.S. Capitol Police, the Secret Service, the House and Senate sergeant at arms, the FBI and the joint military task force, among other agencies.
The U.S. Secret Service recently issued a solicitation for a security vendor to manage the installation of all perimeter fencing, which will include more than 22 miles worth of portable vehicle barriers, crowd control anti-scale fencing, barricade systems and concrete barriers.
According to the solicitation, the equipment that will be required from Jan. 14 through Jan. 25, 2013 are:
- Six portable vehicle barriers, both 16-foot or 12-foor versions, that can withstand an attempted penetration by a 15,000-pound vehicle at 30 mph, or the same vehicle traveling at 50 mph (with the addition of support concrete jersey barriers.).
- More than five miles of eight-foot high anti-scaling fence. “It is imperative the U.S. Secret Service has a secure perimeter capable of controlling access and protecting dignitaries, delegates, guests and general public,” says the agency’s statement of work.
- A crowd control barricade system composed of 100 percent steel, which must be constructed with 1 ½ inch square metal tubing with a 1/8-inch steel mesh (to disperse thrown liquids). “Construction strength and configuration shall be at such a level as to prevent the barricade from being pulled down (anti push), taken apart, set on fire and easily climbed on,” said the Secret Service.
- Concrete jersey barriers, with an eight-foot chain link fence attached to the top, which must also have three strands of barbed wire mounted across the top.
