Halliburton Working with the Govt to Resolve Billing Issues

Halliburton's KBR subsidiary would like to set the record straight regarding misleading and inaccurate reports on billing issues related to dining facilities in Iraq and Kuwait. KBR is working with the U.S. Army Field Support Command (AFSC) to resolve outstanding issues regarding invoices submitted by KBR's dining facility subcontractors in Iraq and Kuwait. At this time, no final decision has been made.

As announced on May 17, 2004, the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) has recommended the suspension, pending further review, of $159.5 million of KBR's billings for dining facility costs in Iraq. This is a reduction in the amount of dining facilities costs that had previously been suspended of $177 million. This previous amount included $35.8 million of costs suspended by DCAA, plus $140.7 million of dining facilities billings that were voluntarily deferred by KBR. After a thorough review, KBR concluded that the entire $140.7 million of dining facility costs was fully justified, and this amount was included in a billing at the end of April under KBR's LOGCAP III project.

Although the DCAA's action in recommending the suspense of the $159.5 million was not unexpected based on the DCAA's prior actions, KBR is disappointed that the DCAA continues to ignore the fact that KBR is contractually required to feed and support a minimum level of troops. It is necessary for KBR to contract based on a minimum number of troops so that the dining facility can be sized and equipped accordingly, and this is the basis for the subcontractor billings to KBR which KBR in turn bills to the military. At times this contractual minimum has been greater than the actual recorded headcount for meals at the dining facilities. In working with the DCAA, KBR prepared an analysis of the difference between how many people entered the dining facilities and the amount KBR billed to the government under the terms of the contract, yielding a 19.4% difference. KBR did this analysis to support DCAA while clearly stating that this basis of calculation, while interesting, was not the basis for the subcontracts nor the basis for billings to the government. The DCAA has apparently used this 19.4% difference to calculate the $159.5 million in its recommended suspension of dining facility cost. The DCAA audit opinion is preliminary and only a recommendation. KBR strongly believes DCAA's view is not supported by the contract. The ultimate decision regarding the payment of these costs will be made by KBR's customer, the Army Material Command (AMC).

KBR believes that it will ultimately be reimbursed for these costs because its contractual position is strong. KBR's actions were consistent with its prime contract with the AMC, and KBR continues to work with its customer to achieve resolution on this issue.

If these costs are not paid by the Government, KBR will withhold payment from subcontractors. KBR does not believe this will have a significant or sustained impact on its liquidity.

KBR has a contract with the government in which it is required to provide a turn-key, fully operational and independent, quality dining facility for a minimum number of Government personnel in a war zone. In fact, the Army required KBR to provide 27 of these facilities throughout Iraq to support over 120,000 troops -- in less than 3 weeks.

"KBR has been working with AFSC to develop a standardized process for resolution of issues which arise throughout the contract. We believe that our efforts to establish these types of check and balance review processes early on in the program are just a part of the way the military and private contractors will be working together in the future," said Randy Harl, KBR president and CEO.

"KBR is committed to continuing to work cooperatively with the Army to resolve this issue," said Harl. "In general, we have found that the subcontractors are properly billing on the basis provided in the subcontracts, and in a manner than conforms to the LOGCAP prime contract. We are operating in a remote, hostile and ever-changing environment in Iraq. In such an environment, there are bound to be challenges. However, what is most important here is that the soldiers are being fed well. Any issues related to billings will not only be resolved quickly and responsibly, but also resolved in such a way that it will not affect any services provided to our soldiers."

KBR employees have had a significant and positive impact on the quality of life for troops and are risking their lives everyday. Civilian contractors work side-by-side with the military and Iraqi people. KBR's work is difficult and in a dangerous environment, and Halliburton and its subcontractors have lost 35 personnel while performing services under our contracts in the Kuwait- Iraq region.