"Turkish firm refuses to build US embassy in Jerusalem", 27 July 2018

A Turkish firm has declined to take part in the construction of the new US embassy in Jerusalem even though a partnership it is involved in won the contract for the project. Earlier this month, the US government awarded a $21 million contract to “upgrade” the embassy compound in the Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem to a partnership called Desbuild Limak D&K JV LLC. The owners of the partnership include the Maryland-based contractor Desbuild and the Turkish construction giant Limak Holding. This led to media reports that Limak will build the embassy. Last week, however, Limak denied any role in the project. “The information that the construction of the US embassy in Jerusalem will be done by Limak Holding does not reflect the truth,” the company said. “When the issue of the construction of the US embassy in Jerusalem came to [the] agenda, we informed Desbuild company that we will not participate as a partner in this project and we would not give an offer as Limak,” the firm added... [T]he Desbuild Limak D&K JV LLC partnership holds an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity... contract with the State Department. This is a type of fixed-term federal contract that allows a company to bid for projects using a streamlined process, as a sort of contractor on call...