text:
Orgastic potency
Within the work of the Austrian psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich (1897–1957), orgastic potency is a human's natural ability to experience an orgasm with certain psychosomatic characteristics[1] and resulting in full sexual gratification.[2]
For Reich, "orgastic impotence" is an acquired fear of sexual excitation, resulting in the inability to find full sexual gratification (not to be confused with anorgasmia, the inability to reach orgasm). This always resulted in neurosis, according to Reich, because that person could never discharge all built-up libido, which Reich regarded as actual biological or bioelectric energy. According to Reich, "not a single neurotic individual possesses orgastic potency"[3] and, inversely, all people free from neuroses have orgastic potency.[4]
Reich coined the term orgastic potency in 1924 and described the concept in his 1927 book Die Funktion des Orgasmus, the manuscript of which he presented to Sigmund Freud on the latter's 70th birthday.[5] Though Reich regarded his work as complementing Freud's original theory of anxiety neurosis, Freud was ambivalent in his reception.[6] Freud's view was that there was no single cause of neurosis.[7]
Reich continued to use the concept as a foundation of a person's psychosexual health in his later therapeutic methods, such as character analysis and vegetotherapy.[8] During the period 1933–1937, he attempted to ground his orgasm theory in physiology, both theoretically and experimentally, as he published in the articles: The Orgasm as an Electrophysiological Discharge (1934), Sexuality and Anxiety: The Basic Antithesis of Vegetative Life (1934) and The Bioelectrical Function of Sexuality and Anxiety (1937).[9]
3 Recurrence in Reich's work
3.1 Character analysis
3.2 Therapeutic resolving of armor
3.3 Prevention through social reform
3.4 Bio-electric experiments
3.5 Orgone energy
4.1 Academic and psychoanalytic reception
4.2 Reichian legacy
5 Comparing definitions of orgasm
6 Works by Wilhelm Reich
BackgroundEdit
Reich developed his orgasm theory between 1921 and 1924 and it formed the basis for much of his later work, including the theory of character analysis.[10] The starting point of Reich's orgasm theory was his clinical observation of genital disturbance in all neurotics,[11] which he presented in November 1923, in the paper "Über Genitalität vom Standpunkt der psychoanalytischen Prognose und Therapie" ("Genitality from the viewpoint of psycho-analytic prognosis and therapy"). That presentation was met with a chilling silence, much hostility, and was partially discredited because Reich could not adequately define normal sexual health. In response, and after a further year of research, Reich introduced the concept "orgastic potency" at the 1924 Psycho-analytic Congress, Salzburg in the paper "Die therapeutische Bedeutung des Genitallibidos" ("Further Remarks on the Therapeutic Significance of Genital Libido").[12]
In addition to his own patients' love lives, Reich had examined through interviews and case records of 200 patients seen at the Vienna Psychoanalytic Polyclinic. Reich was impressed by the depth and frequency of genital disturbances he observed. One example was a patient who had reported having a normal sex life, but on closer interviewing by Reich revealed not experiencing orgasm during intercourse and having thoughts of murdering her partner following the act. Such observations made Reich very suspicious of superficial reports about sexual experience.[11] His analysis of these cases led Reich to three conclusions:
Severe genital disturbance was present in all cases of neurosis,
The severity of the genital disturbance correlated to the severity of the neurosis, and
All patients who improved in therapy and remained symptom-free achieved a gratifying genital sex life.[11][4]
This led Reich to establish criteria for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Based on interviews with people who appeared to have satisfactory sex lives, he described the sex act as being optimally satisfactory only if it follows a specific pattern.[11][4] Orgastic potency is Reich's term for the ability to have this maximally fulfilling type of sexual experience, which in the Reichian view is limited to those who are free from neuroses and appears to be shared by all people free of neuroses.[4]
Reich distinguished between complete release of accumulated sexual tensions in orgasm, resulting in the restoration of energy equilibrium, and orgastic impotence, in which the release of energy is incomplete.[13] Reich argued that the inability of psychoneurotics to wholly discharge sexual energy caused a damming-up of sexual energy, providing in real-time the physiological energy stasis underlying the neurosis, with the psyche merely providing the historical content of the neurosis, but which could not exist without the accompanying energy stasis.[13][14]
Reich's precise definition for the phrase "orgastic potency" changed over time as he changed his understanding of the phenomenon. He first described it in detail in his 1927 book Die Funktion Des Orgasmus. In the 1980 English translation of the book, Genitality in the Theory and Therapy of Neuroses, he defined orgastic potency as "the ability to achieve full resolution of existing sexual need-tension".[15]
In his 1940 book Die Entdeckung des Orgons Erster Teil: Die Function des Orgasmus, published in English in 1942 as The Discovery of the Orgone, Volume 1: The Function of the Orgasm, he defined it as "the capacity to surrender to the flow of biological energy, free of any inhibitions; the capacity to discharge completely the dammed-up sexual excitation through involuntary, pleasurable convulsions of the body."[16]
His last published definition of orgastic potency, which is repeated in his 1960 published Selected Writings, is "the capacity for complete surrender to the involuntary convulsion of the organism and complete discharge of the excitation at the acme of the genital embrace."[17]
Reich related orgastic potency and orgastic impotence to a, respectively, healthy and unhealthy sexual experience for the adult.[18] He described that the healthy experience has specific biological and psychological characteristics; is identical for men and women;[19] is characterised by love and the ability to express it; full, deep, pleasurable breathing is present; deep, delicious current-like sensations run up and down the body shortly before orgasm; and involuntary muscular movements are present before climax.[20] Moreover, Reich defined the healthy sexual experience exclusively in terms of the sexual union between male and female. The difference between the presence and absence of orgastic potency in the sexual encounter, as described by Reich, is summarised by Boadella as follows:[18]
Reich's classification of phases
Orgastic impotence
Phases of development of excitation (Boadella)
Voluntary phase "Biological readiness. 'Calm excitement.' Mutual pleasurable anticipation." "Over- or under-excitement. 'Cold' erection. 'Dry' vagina. Foreplay insufficient or over-prolonged." 1. Foreplay
"Preceded by a spontaneous urge to enter, or to be entered by, the partner." "Either: sadistic piercing by the man and rape fantasy by the woman. Or: fear of penetrating or of being penetrated and decrease of pleasure at penetration." 2. Penetration
"Movements are voluntary but effortless and rhythmical, unhurried and gentle. Extraneous thoughts are absent; there is absorption in the experience. Pleasurable sensations continue to increase. Periods of rest do not lead to a decrease of pleasure." "Violent friction, nervous haste. Extraneous thoughts or fantasies are compulsively present. Pre-occupation with sense of duty to one's partner and fear of 'failure' or determination to 'succeed'. Period of rest likely to lead to a sharp drop in excitation." 3. Voluntary phase of sexual movements
Involuntary phase "Excitation leads to involuntary contractions of the genital musculature (which precede ejaculation in the man and lead to the acme). The total body musculature participates with lively contractions as the excitation flows back from the genital to the body. 'Melting' sensations in the body. Clouding of consciousness at the acme." "Involuntary movements greatly reduced or in some cases absent altogether. Sensations remain localised in the genital and do not spread to the body as a whole. Involuntary responses may be simulated for the benefit of the partner. Squeezing and pushing, with spastic contraction, to achieve a climax. Head remains in control and the clouding of consciousness is absent." 4. Involuntary phases of muscle contractions
"Pleasant bodily and mental relaxation. Feeling of harmony with partner. Strong desire for rest or sleep. 'After-glow'." "Feelings of leaden exhaustion, disgust, repulsion, indifference or hatred towards partner. Excitation not fully discharged, sometimes leading to insomnia. Omne animal post coitum triste est." 5. Phase of relaxation
Recurrence in Reich's workEdit
Reich expanded on the concept throughout his career. In his 1942 scientific autobiography The Discovery of Orgone, Vol. 1: The Function of the Orgasm, Reich provided the following summary of his findings regarding orgastic potency: it is an outcome of health, he argued, because full orgastic potency can only come about if a person is psychologically free of neurosis (pleasure anxiety absent), physically free from "body armor" (chronic muscular contraction absent), socially free from compulsive morality and duty as imposed by authoritarian and mechanistic ways of life, and has the natural ability to love.[21] According to one source, Reich held that the vast majority of people do not meet these criteria and thus lack orgastic potency.[22]
Character analysisEdit
In Reichian psychology, the individual lacking orgastic potency is seen to have developed a neurotic psychosomatic "armor" that blocks the experience of pleasure. This is differentiated between the functionally identical "character armor" and "muscular armor".[17] Muscular armor prevents the sexual climax from being experienced throughout the body.[20] For example, forms of armoring are pulling back the pelvis or tightening the thigh and buttock muscles.[23]
Reich used the terms "genital character" and "neurotic character" respectively to distinguish between two ideal character types: one with and one without orgastic potency. The genital character is the non-neurotic character structure, which is free from armor and, therefore, has the capacity of natural sexual and moral self-regulation,[24] and experiences life as a fulfilment and unfolding of his or her natural tendencies and struggle to achieve objectives.[4] The neurotic character operates under a principle of compulsive moral regulation due to chronic energy stasis.[24] The neurotic character's work and life is permeated by struggle to suppress original and even more basic urges or tendencies. The various forms of neurotic character correspond to the equally many ways of suppressing such urges or tendencies that the human being in question considers to be dangerous or is ashamed of.[4]
Therapeutic resolving of armorEdit
Main article: Vegetotherapy
Further information: Body psychotherapy, Neo-Reichian massage, Bioenergetic analysis, Gestalt therapy, and Primal therapy
The two goals of Reichian vegetotherapy are the attainment of orgastic potency (for sexual intercourse) and of the "orgasm reflex" during therapy. The orgasm reflex may be observed as waves of pleasure moving through the body, a series of spontaneous, involuntary movements,[8] and signifies that the person is free of body armoring, entailing the ability to give and receive love in all its forms.[13]
Prevention through social reformEdit
The Invasion of Compulsory Sex-Morality, written in 1931, was Reich's first step in approaching the answer to the problem of mass neuroses in society, followed by The Mass Psychology of Fascism and The Sexual Revolution.[25] The primary sociological issues with which Reich dealt included in particular the following three:
How to prevent neurosis through correct upbringing and education.
How to prevent sex-negative attitudes in society through sexual reform.
How to prevent authoritarian repression through general social reform.[26]
Bio-electric experimentsEdit
In 1934, Reich expanded his orgasm theory in the essay "Der Orgasmus als Elektro-physiologische Entladung" ("The Orgasm as an Electrophysiological Discharge").[27] Through clinical observations in his sex-counseling centers, Reich concluded that conceiving of the orgasm as only mechanical tension and relaxation could not explain why some experience gratification and others do not.[28] Thus, based on the work of Friedrich Kraus and others, Reich proposed that the orgasm is a bio-electric discharge, and is part of what Reich termed the orgasm formula:
mechanical tension > bioelectric charge > bioelectric discharge > mechanical relaxation.[27]
In 1934, Reich published the paper "Der Urgegensatz des Vegetatives Lebens" ("Sexuality and Anxiety: The Basic Antithesis of Vegetative Life"). The paper is a literature study in which Reich explored "the physiology of the autonomic nervous system, the chemistry of anxiety, the electro-physiology of the body fluids and the hydro-mechanics of plasma movements in protozoa".[29] In conclusion, Reich proposed a functional psychosomatic antithesis between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, captured respectively as pleasure or movement "towards the world", and anxiety or movement "away from the world".[30][31] The corollary is the idea that bioelectric energy displayed an antithetic function: if it flows outward to the skin surface, causing a build-up of charge at the skin, it is experienced as pleasure; in contrast, if it flows inward, away from the skin surface, resulting in a lowering of charge at the skin, then it is experienced as an increase in central tension or anxiety.[32]
Finally, in 1937 Reich published Experimentelle Ergebnisse über die elektrische Funktion von Sexualitat und Angst (The Bioelectrical Function of Sexuality and Anxiety) in which he thought he experimentally verified the existence of what he first termed the "libidinal economy".[33] The report summarised two years of research into the reaction of the skin to states of pleasure and anxiety. His claimed findings included the following: normal skin has a constant, basic electrical charge of 40 milivolts that does not change with mood states; erogenous zones have a wandering potential that can at times be much higher (200 milivolts) or lower, depending on the mood states; change in potential does not depend on the mechanical nature of the stimulus, but on changes in the subject's sensation or emotion; and, erogenous zones can have mechanical tension (be tumescent) without changes in levels of the charge, e.g. as in the case of a "cold erection".[34]
Orgone energyEdit
A common misconception about Reich's later developed orgone energy accumulator is that he claimed it could provide orgastic potency to those sitting inside the device.[35] As Reich put it, "The orgone accumulator, as has been clearly stated in the relevant publications (The Cancer Biopathy, etc.), cannot provide orgastic potency."[36]
ReceptionEdit
Academic and psychoanalytic receptionEdit
According to Myron Sharaf, Reich's view that the capacity to unite tender and sensuous feelings is important for a healthy love relationship was not a new concept. Freud had noted this as early as 1912. However, Sharaf states that the involuntary physical aspects of the full genital discharge in Reich's work were new.[11] He called the concept orgastic potency and the manner in which Reich "connected a series of psychological, social, and biological findings with the presence or absence of this function" unique to Reich.[37]
When Reich first introduced the orgasm theory at the psychoanalytic congress in Salzburg he was congratulated by Karl Abraham for successfully formulating the economic element of neurosis.[38] However, Reich's presentation of the orgasm theory came exactly when psychoanalysis was moving away from the original Freudian instinct theory based on psychic energy. In his 1926 book Inhibitions, Symptoms, Anxiety Freud completely abandoned his earlier position and wrote: "Anxiety never arises from repressed libido."[39]
Freud was ambivalent in his reception. When Reich presented him the manuscript of Die Funktion des Orgasmus in May 1926, Freud replied, "That thick?" Later that year he wrote to Reich that the book was "valuable, rich in observation and thought",[40] but in May 1928 wrote to Lou Andreas-Salomé: "We have here a Dr. Reich, a worthy but impetuous young man, passionately devoted to his hobby-horse, who now salutes in the genital orgasm the antidote to every neurosis. Perhaps he might learn from your analysis of K. to feel some respect for the complicated nature of the psyche."[7]
Reich was strongly influenced by Freud's distinction between psychoneuroses and actual neuroses, the latter being considered of a physiological origin,[41] and the related libido as the energy of an unconscious sexual instinct.[42] However, Reich emphasised the libido theory exactly when it was being discarded by psychoanalysis.[38] Freud had reasoned that sexual maladaption caused the active damming-up of "sexual stuff"[4] and defined "actual neurosis" as anxiety based on dammed-up libido.[43] However, Freud abandoned his view in the 1920s and postulated the never popularly accepted death instinct to explain the destructive behaviour that was earlier attributed to frustrated libido.[44] Reich's view of the relationship between actual and psychoneuroses has not found its way into psychoanalytic thinking. However, it has the advantage of connecting psychopathology with physiology and, according to Charles Rycroft, this makes Reich the only psychoanalyst to provide any explanation as to why childhood pathogenic experiences (causing neuroses in classical psychoanalysis) do not disappear when neurotics leave their childhood environment.[45]
Sharaf writes that the theory was immediately unpopular within psychoanalysis.[46] Paul Federn (1871–1950), Reich's training assistant, and Hermann Nunberg (1884–1970) were particularly opposed to it.[citation needed] The German psychiatrist Arthur Kronfeld (1886–1941) wrote a positive review of Die Funktion des Orgasmus in 1927: "In this extremely valuable and instructive work the author has really succeeded in broadening as well as deepening Freud's theory of sex and of the neuroses. He broadens it by clarifying for the first time the significance of the genital orgasm for the development and the whole structure of the neuroses; he deepens it by giving Freud's theory of the actual neuroses an exact psychological and physiological meaning. I do not hesitate to consider this work of Reich's the most valuable contribution since Freud's The Ego and the Id."[47] The most prominent Freudian to make clinical use of the concept orgastic potency was Edward Hitschmann, the Director of the Psychoanalytic Polyclinic.[48][citation needed]
Two further reactions to Reich's work in the psychoanalytic movement were either completely ignoring it or using the concept as if it was commonly accepted, but without referring to Reich as the source. As a result, the theme orgastic potency survived but became divorced from the concepts in which Reich embedded it. For example, in Clinical Psychology Charles Berg uses Reich's sex economic theory of anxiety as his own without attributing it to Reich.[49] Erik Erikson was another psychoanalytic writer who partially adopted Reich's concept without acknowledgement. In his bestselling Childhood and Society, Erikson wrote: "Genitality, then, consists in the unobstructed capacity to develop an orgastic potency so free of pregenital interferences that the genital libido ... is expressed in heterosexual mutuality ... and with a convulsion-like discharge of tension from the whole body."[50][51][citation needed]
Otto Fenichel, in the classic textbook The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neuroses, uses aspects of Reich's orgasm theory but disguised that they were Reich's contribution, and furthermore he hid the conflicts in the psychoanalytic movement that were explicit in Reich's work. A major entry mainly based on Fenichel's work appeared in the 1953, 1970 Psychiatric Dictionary by L. Hinsie and R. Campbell: "Impotence, orgastic: The incapacity for achieving the orgasm or acme of satisfaction in the sexual act. Many neurotics cannot achieve adequate discharge of their sexual energy through the sexual act ... According to Fenichel, an important concomitant of orgastic impotence is that these patients are incapable of love."[52][53][citation needed]
As of September 2012[update], there are no peer-reviewed articles in the PubMed database that discuss the concept of orgastic potency or Reich's orgasm theory.[54]
Reichian legacyEdit
The two colleagues of Reich who build most on Reich's orgasm theory and orgastic potency are Tage Philipson and Alexander Lowen. They emphasised the importance of human relationship in orgastic functions.[55]
Tage Philipson, in his 1952 book Kaerlighedslivet: Natur Eller Unnatur, studied natural and unnatural love-life. He wrote that "in healthy people sexuality and love will always be associated together. Sex will come from the heart and return to the heart ... the fully healthy person must be the person with completely free love feelings ... When this is the case other feelings will also be able to stream through the entire organism: hate, sorrow, anxiety, etc., and the orgasm, as the highest point of sexuality, will also be able to affect the entire organism."[56][57]
Alexander Lowen in his 1966 book Love and Orgasm distinguishes between achieving orgasm in the Kinsey meaning of sexual performance, and the entering into a love relationship as a whole human, similar to Reich. Like Reich, Lowen considers the latter to be the expression of health, not a means to it.[57]
Theodore Wolfe, an American pioneer in psychosomatic medicine and later colleague of Reich, thought that anxiety was the cause of both neuroses and psychosomatic distortions. When reading Reich's Der Funktion des Orgasmus he found in it what he called the key to understanding the dynamics of this relationship.[58]
In a review of Reich's sexual theories Elsworth Baker, a psychiatrist and colleague of Reich, wrote that in particular Reich's sexual theories were commonly misinterpreted and misunderstood. While Reich was portrayed as advocating "a wild frantic promiscuity" to seek "mystical, ecstatic orgasm" that could cure all neuroses and physical ills, Baker continues, Reich in fact found that the healthy person needs less sexual activity and that the orgasm has a function to maintain health only for the healthy person.[59]
Comparing definitions of orgasmEdit
The concepts of the sexual acme used in the famous 1948 and 1953 Kinsey reports and the 1966 research by Masters and Johnson were different from the one used by Reich. Reich directly related orgastic potency with the total response system, the personality, contact-ability, total psychosomatic health of a person.[60] In contrast, Kinsey and Masters and Johnson restricted their conclusions to phenomena that all sexual climaxes had in common.[61] For example, Kinsey defined the male orgasm as "all cases of ejaculation"[62] and the female orgasm as "the sudden and abrupt release ... from sexual tension, [excluding] the satisfaction that may result from sexual experience."[63] In other words, Kinsey focusses on the physiology, anatomy and technique involved in inducing a discharge of tension. Therefore, Kinsey's usage of the term orgasm covers behaviour that in the Reichian typology ranges from orgastic potency to orgastic impotence.[64] Furthermore, examples of physiological distinctions Reich made but which were not pursued by Kinsey and Masters and Johnson include the difference between local and total bodily responses, and between voluntary and involuntary movements.[65]
Mature orgasm
See also: Orgasm § Clitoral and vaginal categories
In 1905, Freud developed the psychoanalytic distinction between clitoral and vaginal orgasm, with only the latter being identified with psychosexual maturity.[66] This distinction has since been challenged among others on physiological grounds. For example, Masters and Johnson wrote: "Are clitoral and vaginal orgasms truly separate and anatomic entities? From a biological point of view the answer to this question is an unequivocal NO."[67] However, a clinically grounded qualitative distinction between psychosexual maturity and immaturity was only introduced with Reich's concept orgastic potency vs. orgastic impotence (instead of vaginal vs. clitoral).[61] As Masters and Johnson focussed on phenomena shared by all sexual climaxes – ranging from what Reich categorised as orgastic potency to impotence – their finding has no direct relevance to or implications for Reich's distinction.[61]
Works by Wilhelm ReichEdit
1921: "Der Koitus und die Geschlechter", Zeitschrift für Sexualwissenschaft 8. Republished in English in 1975 as "Coiton and the Sexes", Early Writings, Vol. 1, New York: FSG: 73–85, ISBN 0374513473.
1922: "Triebbegriffe von Forel bis Jung," Zeitschrift für Sexualwissenschaft 9. Republished in English in 1975 as "Drive and Libido Concepts from Forel to Jung" in Early Writings, Vol. 1, New York: FSG: 86–124, ISBN 0374513473.
1923: "Zür Triebenergetik," Zeitschrift für Sexualwissenschaft 10. Republished in English in 1975 as "Concerning the Energy of Drives" in Early Writings, Vol. 1, New York: FSG: 143–157, ISBN 0374513473.
Psychoanalysis In the following articles Reich discussed the positive and negative therapeutic reactions of patients to changes in their genitality:[68]
1922: "Über Spezifität der Onanieformen", Internationale Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse 8. Republished in English in 1975 as "Concerning Specific Forms of Masturbation" in Early Writings, Vol. 1, New York: FSG: 125–132, ISBN 0374513473.
1924: "Über Genitalität vom Standpunkt der psychoanalytischen Prognose und Therapie", Internationale Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse 10. Republished in English in 1975 as "On Genitality: From the Standpoint of Psychoanalytic Prognosis and Therapy" in Early Writings, Vol. 1, New York: FSG: 158–179, ISBN 0374513473.
1925: "Weitere Bemerkungen über die therapeutische Bedeutung der Genitallibido", Internationale Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse 11. Republished in English in 1975 as "Further Remarks on the Therapeutic Significance of Genital Libido" in Early Writings, Vol. 1, New York: FSG: 199–221, ISBN 0374513473.
1926: "Über die Quellen der neurotischen Angst (Beitrag zur Theorie der psychoanalytischen Therapie) [On the Sources of Neurotic Anxiety (A Contribution to the Theory of Psychoanalytic Therapy)]", Internationale Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse 12, and International Journal for Psychoanalysis 7: 381–391.
1927: Die Funktion des Orgasmus: Zur Psychopathologie und zur Soziologie des Geschlechtslebens, Vienna: Internationale Psychoanalytische Verlag.[69] Second, revised edition published in English in 1980 as Genitality in the Theory and Therapy of Neurosis, New York: FSG, ISBN 0374516413.
Biology In the following articles Reich explored whether the orgasm theory was rooted in physiology:[9]
1934: "Der Orgasmus als Elektro-physiologische Entladung", Zeitschrift für Politische Psychologie und Sexualökonomie 1: 29–43, Copenhagen. Republished in English in 1982 as "The Orgasm as an Electrophysiological Discharge", The Bioelectrical Investigation of Sexuality and Anxiety, New York: FSG: 3–20, ISBN 0374517282.
1934: "Der Urgegensatz des Vegetatives Lebens", Zeitschrift für Politische Psychologie und Sexualökonomie 1: 125–142, Copenhagen. Republished in English in 1982 as "Sexuality and Anxiety: The Basic Antithesis of Vegetative Life", The Bioelectrical Investigation of Sexuality and Anxiety, New York: FSG: 21–70, ISBN 0374517282.
1937: Experimentelle Ergebnisse über die elektrische Funktion von Sexualitat und Angst, Klinische und Experimentelle Berichte 4, Copenhagen: Sexpol Verlag. Republished in English in 1982 as "The Bioelectrical Function of Sexuality and Anxiety", The Bioelectrical Investigation of Sexuality and Anxiety, New York: FSG: 71–161, ISBN 0374517282.
1942: The Discovery of the Orgone Vol. 1: The Function of the Orgasm, New York: Orgone Institute Press.
Body psychotherapy
Human sexual response cycle
Psychosexual development
FootnotesEdit
^ "Reich's account of the ideal sexual act is remarkable both for its explicitness, which must have required courage in the pre-Kinsey, pre-Masters and Johnson era in which it was written, and for its omission of the word 'love'. And yet it is clear that it is love that he is talking about. Orgastic potency as formulated by Reich is the capacity to love body and soul, psychosomatically."Rycroft 1971: 33.
Mah, Kenneth and Yitzchak M. Binik (2001) "The nature of human orgasm: a critical review of major trends," Clinical Psychology Review 21(6): 823-56: Reich's model takes a unisex, "integrated biopsychological perspective."
Corrington, Robert S. (2003) Wilhelm Reich: Psychoanalyst and Radical Naturalist, New York: Farrar Straus and Giroux, p. 88.: "The coda to the entire argument of Genitality was sounded in two striking sentences: 'Satisfied genital object love is thus [the justified aim] of our therapeutic efforts.'"
^ Baker 1986 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFBaker1986 (help): 12 (in pdf).
^ Gabriel, Yiannis. Freud and Society. Routledge, 1983, p. 178.
^ a b c d e f g Raknes 1944 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFRaknes1944 (help).
^ Sharaf 1994: 91-2, 100, 116.
^ Sharaf 1994: 100–101.
^ a b "Letter from Freud to Lou Andreas-Salomé, May 9, 1928", The International Psycho-Analytical Library, 89:174-175.
^ a b Sharaf 1994: 238-41, 243.
^ a b Boadella 1985: 102, 135.
^ Boadella 1985: 23.
^ a b c d e Sharaf 1994: 86-105.
^ a b c Daniels 2008: "Neurotic Sexuality."
^ Rycroft 1971: 29-31.
^ Reich 1980: 18.
^ Reich 1999: 102. Note: the original reads "damned-up" but this is probably a typo.
^ a b Reich 1961: 10.
^ a b Boadella 1985: 17-8.
^ Reich's model takes a unisex, "integrated biopsychological perspective." Source: Mah Kenneth; Binik Yitzchak M (2001). "The nature of human orgasm: a critical review of major trends". Clinical Psychology Review. 21 (6): 823–56. doi:10.1016/s0272-7358(00)00069-6. PMID 11497209.
^ a b Daniels 2008: "Orgiastic Potency" [sic].
^ Reich 1999: 6-8.
^ Konia 1987.
^ Daniels 2008: "Sexuality and Armoring."
^ a b Reich 1961: 9-12.
^ Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust 2011.
^ a b Boadella 1985: 103–104.
^ Reich 1982 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFReich1982 (help): 8–9.
^ Boadella 1985: 103–104, italics in original.
^ Reich 1982 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFReich1982 (help): 68–69.
^ Boadella 1985: 109.
^ Boadella 1985: 131, 135.
^ Boadella 1985: 131–134.
^ In The Orgone Energy Accumulator, its Scientific and Medical Use, Reich wrote: "Neuroses cannot be cured with physical orgone energy." quoted in Gardner, Martin (1957) Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science, Courier Dover Publications: 256.
^ Reich, W. (1950, April) Orgone Energy Bulletin 2(2), quoted in November 2011 Update From The Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust and The Wilhelm Reich Museum, Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust (accessed 26 January 2013).
^ Sharaf 1994: 4.
^ a b Boadella 1985: 19.
^ Freud 1948: 54, quoted in Boadella 1985: 20.
^ Freud 1942, quoted in Sharaf 1994: 100–101.
^ Rycroft 1971: 29.
^ Kovel 1991.
^ Rycroft 1971: 34, 36-7.
^ Sharaf 1994: 86.
^ Kronfeld 1927, quoted in Boadella 1985: 19.
^ Boadella 1985: 23-4.
^ Erikson quoted in Boadella 1985: 25.
^ Boadella 1985: 23–25.
^ Hinsie and Campbell quoted in Boadella 1985: 24–25.
^ PubMed (2012) "Orgastic Potency"
^ Philipson 1952, quoted in Boadella 1985: 31.
^ Baker 1986 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFBaker1986 (help): 1, 12 (in pdf).
^ a b c Boadella 1985: 28.
^ Kinsey 1948: 59-60, quoted in Boadella 1985: 26.
^ Kinsey 1953:628, quoted in Boadella 1985: 26–27.
^ Masters 1963, quoted in Boadella 1985: 28.
^ Reich 1980: Foreword to the First Edition (p. 3).
^ Online at the Internet Archive (pdf).
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Masters, W.H. (1966), Human Sexual Response, Johnson, V. E., Boston, US .
Philipson, Tage (1952), Kaerlighedslivet: Natur Eller Unnatur, Copenhagen .
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Reich, Wilhelm (1980) [Published in 1927 as Die Funktion des Orgasmus: Zur Psychopathologie und zur Soziologie des Geschlechtslebens], Genitality in the Theory and Therapy of Neurosis, Trans. by Philip Schmitz, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Note: not to be confused with the 1942 The Function of the Orgasm, Volume I of The Discovery of the Orgone .
Reich, Wilhelm (1999) [First English tr. published 1942], The Function of the Orgasm: Sex-Economic Problems of Biological Energy, The Discovery of the Orgone, Volume I, Trans. Vincent R. Carfagno, London: Souvenir Press, ISBN 978-0-285-64970-5 .
Roazen, Paul (1985), "Fury on Earth: A Biography of Wilhelm Reich. Myron Sharaf. New York: St Martin's Press/Marek, 1983, xiii + 550 pp.", Psychoanalytic Review, 72: 668–671, ISSN 0033-2836, archived from the original on 8 June 2012 .
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Look up orgastic potency in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Documentary "Man's Right to Know" (28 min) Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust. An introduction to the life and work of Wilhelm Reich.
Documentary Who is Afraid of Wilhelm Reich ("Wer Hat Angst vor Wilhelm Reich") (1:34 hr), Antonin Svoboda in coproduction with Austrian TV.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orgastic_potency&oldid=992847340"


text:
Dugi Del (cyr. Дуги Дел) – wieś w Serbii, w okręgu pczyńskim, w gminie Surdulica. W 2011 roku liczyła 25 mieszkańców.

Przypisy

Miejscowości w okręgu pczyńskim

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Language Services Associates, Inc.
View Decision (PDF, 12 pages)
Full Report:
Language Services Associates, Inc. (LSA) protests the issuance of a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) to Bowne Global Solutions II, Inc. (BGS) under request for quotations (RFQ) No. HSSCCG-05-Q-0014, issued by the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, for interpreter services for the agency's asylum program. LSA challenges the agency's decision to issue a BPA to BGS, a vendor submitting a lower priced quotation.
We deny the protest.
View Decision (PDF)
B-297392, Language Services Associates, Inc., January 17, 2006
DOCUMENT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release.
Matter of: Language Services Associates, Inc.
File: B-297392
Robert G. Fryling, Esq., and Brian S. Gocial, Esq., Blank Rome LLP, for the protester.
G. Lindsay Simmons, Esq., J. Eric Whytsell, Esq., and April Min, Esq., Jackson Kelly PLLC, for Bowne Global Solutions II, Inc., an intervenor.
Kevin M. Walker, Esq., Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, for the agency.
Linda S. Lebowitz, Esq., and Michael R. Golden, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.
Protest is denied where the agency reasonably evaluated the selected vendor's quotation in accordance with the terms of the solicitation; to the extent that there were any flaws in the agency's conduct of the procurement, the protester failed to show that it was competitively prejudiced.
The RFQ, issued on July 12, 2005, contemplated the issuance of a BPA on a fixed'price basis for a period of 5 years to the –best-value— vendor which held a General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedule contract for interpretation services under Group 738 II, Special Item Number 382-2. As relevant here, the RFQ stated that the agency would require interpreters to provide telephonic monitoring or direct interpretation in the language of the asylum seeker being interviewed and that there could be some cases in which in-person interpreter services would be needed, requiring the interpreter's physical presence at the interview site. The RFQ listed the 10 most commonly requested languages and included a list of other required languages.
In determining the –best-value— vendor, the RFQ stated that the BPA would be issued to the responsible vendor whose quotation, conforming to the RFQ, resulted in the most advantageous integration of technical evaluation factors (management approach, performance approach, and past performance) and price. The RFQ stated that the technical evaluation factors, when combined, would be considered significantly more important than price. The RFQ explained that the agency was more concerned with obtaining superior technical performance rather than the lowest overall price. However, the RFQ also explained that the agency would not issue a BPA at a significantly higher overall price to achieve only a slightly superior technical performance. Finally, the RFQ stated that the agency intended to issue the BPA without conducting discussions, except for communications conducted for the purpose of clarification. As a result, the RFQ advised a vendor to submit its quotation on the most favorable terms.
On August 3, the agency issued amendment No. 2 to the RFQ. In this amendment, the agency provided answers to 38 questions posed by vendors. One of these questions requested a percentage breakdown of the required services. The agency responded that while it had not calculated exact percentages of the work done to date, it estimated that over 90 percent of the work has involved telephonic (as opposed to on-site) interpretation services. The agency explained that it did not anticipate a significant change with respect to using on-site interpreters and that the estimates provided were based on historical percentages and were provided for pricing purposes only. The agency advised that any variation from these percentages during the performance of the BPA requirements would –not be [a] basis for an equitable adjustment.— RFQ amend. 2, Question and Answer No. 6. In addition, one question asked if vendors should provide prices on a per-hour basis or on a per'minute basis. The agency responded by amending the RFQ price schedule to require that prices be provided on a per-minute basis. RFQ amend. 2, Question and Answer No. 13; Revised Price Schedule.[1]
Four vendors, including LSA (the incumbent contractor)[2] and BGS, submitted quotations (based on per-minute fixed prices as reflected in their respective price schedules) by the closing time on August 10. As relevant here, the quotations of LSA and BGS were evaluated as follows:
Performance Approach
Source Selection Decision Document at 2-3.[3]
LSA's total evaluated price ($[deleted]) was approximately 82 percent higher than BGS's total evaluated price ($[deleted]).[4] As relevant to this protest, BGS stated in a note at the end of its price schedule that of the estimated amount, –90% was allocated for telephonic interpretation and 10% for on-site interpretation.— BGS Price Schedule.
The agency determined that the quotations submitted by LSA and BGS contained all of the information required by the RFQ and were considered complete. However, by letter dated September 2, the agency asked BGS seven questions, characterized as –clarifications/explanations,— regarding its quotation. Letter from Agency to BGS (Sept. 2, 2005). These questions involved aspects of BGS's technical approach (e.g., how quickly BGS could provide security clearance packets to the agency in order to ensure that the firm could meet the agency's requirements as soon as possible after issuance of the BPA) and its price (e.g., in light of the fixed-price nature of the BPA, whether BGS expected more money if the agency exceeded its estimate of 90 percent for telephonic requirements or 10 percent for on'site requirements). By letter dated September 7, BGS responded to the agency's questions. With respect to a timeframe for providing security clearance packets, BGS elaborated on information contained in its quotation, for example, [deleted]. With respect to the agency's estimate of telephonic versus on-site requirements, BGS confirmed that it priced its quotation based on the estimates provided by the agency (in amendment No. 2 to the RFQ). BGS continued by stating that it
recognizes that the 90%/10% breakdown is an estimation from the [agency] and may change. However, BGS would like to reserve the right to negotiate with the [agency] an adjustment in pricing if the amount of allotted telephonic versus on-site work varies significantly from the 90%/10% estimation.
Letter from BGS to Agency 5 (Sept. 7, 2005).
The agency concluded that BGS responded satisfactorily to the seven clarification/explanation questions.
The contracting officer, who served as the source selection authority, recognized that for the management approach and performance approach evaluation factors, the quotations of LSA and BGS both received outstanding ratings, while for the past performance evaluation factor, LSA's quotation received an outstanding rating and BGS's quotation received a good rating. The contracting officer also noted that for the 5-year performance period, LSA's quotation was approximately $[deleted] million higher than BGS's quotation, an amount characterized by the contracting officer as –significant.— Source Selection Decision Document at 3. In addition, the contracting officer noted that of the four vendors in this competition, LSA submitted the highest priced quotation. The contracting officer concluded that even though BGS's quotation was rated slightly lower for past performance than LSA's quotation, it was not in the government's interest to pay a significant price premium to LSA in order to obtain only a slightly superior technical performance. Accordingly, consistent with the terms of the RFQ, which stated that the agency would not issue a BPA at a significantly higher overall price to achieve only a slightly superior technical performance, the agency issued the BPA to BGS. Id. at 3-4.
ISSUES AND ANALYSIS
LSA contends that BGS submitted a non-compliant quotation that should not have been eligible for the issuance of a BPA; that the agency did not reasonably evaluate BGS's past performance; and that the agency held improper discussions with BGS.
In the context of an RFQ, when an agency chooses to employ competitive procedures similar to those used in a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15 negotiated procurement, and when a protest is filed challenging the outcome of the competition, we will review the record to ensure that the agency's evaluation of the vendors' submissions was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the RFQ. Computer Assocs. Int'l, Inc.--Recon., B-292077.6, May 5, 2004, 2004 CPD para. 110 at 3; COMARK Fed. Sys., B-278343, B-278343.2, Jan. 20, 1998, 98-1 CPD para. 34 at 4-5. While the provisions of FAR Part 15 do not directly apply here, we will analyze LSA's contentions by the standards applied to negotiated procurements. Labat-Anderson, Inc., B-287081 et al., Apr. 16, 2001, 2001 CPD para. 79 at 5-6; Digital Sys. Group, Inc., B'286931, B-286931.2, Mar. 7, 2001, 2001 CPD para. 50 at 6.
BGS's Alleged Non-Compliant Quotation
LSA argues in its comments on the agency report that BGS's quotation is non'compliant because BGS failed to acknowledge amendment No. 2 to the RFQ. However, LSA's position is not supported by the record.
The record shows, and the agency does not dispute, that it did not include a copy of BGS's acknowledgment of amendment No. 2 to the RFQ in its report responding to LSA's protest. In its supplemental report responding to LSA's allegation, as raised in the protester's comments, the agency explained that it received from counsel for BGS during the pendency of this protest a copy of the referenced amendment showing that it was signed on August 4, 2005 by BGS's Director of Federal Language Services and a copy of an August 4 e-mail from this same BGS corporate official referencing that BGS had received amendment No. 2 with the answers to its questions and with the additional information attached, i.e., the revised price schedule requiring prices to be submitted on a per-minute basis, as opposed to on a per-hour basis, and stating that, as requested, a signed copy of the amendment was attached to the e-mail. Supplemental Agency Report, attachs. 1, 2. The agency could not verify when these documents, which apparently had been saved under the contracting specialists' user profile in an archive folder, were received due to the loss of data during a scheduled information technology system upgrade. The agency stated that attempts to recover the missing documents were not successful. Supplemental Agency Report at 3, 7 n.9.
The agency nevertheless maintains that even assuming, arguendo, that BGS did not actually acknowledge amendment No. 2 to the RFQ, BGS constructively acknowledged this amendment when it submitted prices on a per-minute basis, as required by the amendment, and when it referenced in its quotation the agency's estimate that 90 percent of the requirements were for telephonic interpretation and 10 percent of the requirements were for on-site interpretation.
As a general rule, a vendor's failure to acknowledge a material amendment renders the quotation unacceptable and such quotation may not form the basis for the issuance of a BPA. However, an amendment may be constructively acknowledged where the quotation itself includes one of the essential items appearing only in the amendment. See, e.g., Avalotis Painting Co., Inc., B-261481, Aug. 24, 1995, 95-2 CPD para. 84 at 2-3; Childrey Contract Servs., Inc.; Orkin Exterminating Co., B-258653, B'258653.2, Feb. 9, 1995, 95-1 CPD para. 60 at 6 (discussion of constructive acknowledgment of an amendment in the context of sealed bid procurements).
We agree with the agency that when BGS priced its quotation on a per-minute basis, as required by amendment No. 2 to the RFQ, and when BGS referenced in its quotation the agency's numerical estimates of the telephonic and on-site requirements, as reflected in the amendment, BGS did, in fact, constructively acknowledge amendment No. 2.[5] We also point out that in pricing its quotation on a per-minute basis and in referencing the agency's estimates in its quotation, BGS submitted a quotation that complied with the material requirements of amendment No. 2. On this record, we have no basis to question the reasonableness of the agency's position that BGS submitted a quotation that was in accordance with the terms of the RFQ.
Evaluation of BGS's Past Performance
LSA challenges the agency's assignment of a –good— rating to BGS's quotation for the past performance evaluation factor, contending that the agency failed to reasonably assess whether BGS's past performance was for services similar in size, scope, and complexity to the current requirements. The essence of LSA's argument is that since BGS's record of past performance primarily involves on-site, as opposed to telephonic, interpretation services, which is the opposite of the requirements of this procurement, the agency assigned an unreasonably high rating to BGS's quotation in the area of past performance.
The RFQ required a vendor to provide a list of references to establish previous relevant experience in performing technical projects similar in size, scope, and complexity to the current requirements.[6] The RFQ required a vendor to cite not fewer than three, but not more than five, projects performed as a prime contractor within the last 5 years, with a minimum of one project being with the federal government. Past performance questionnaires were to be completed by a vendor's project references. The RFQ stated that under the past performance evaluation factor, the relevance of the vendor's experience (i.e., the degree of relevance to the requirements of the RFQ based on similarity in size, scope, complexity, technical difficulty, contract type, and period of performance) and the quality of a vendor's past performance (i.e., the vendor's record of providing high quality services of a similar nature in a manner that ensured maximum quality, cost effectiveness, timeliness of performance, project management, and overall client satisfaction) would be considered. RFQ para. 5.5.1.4. As relevant here, the RFQ defined a –good— rating as assigned to a vendor's quotation for the past performance evaluation factor as indicating that the vendor's performance fully exceeded many of the contract requirements and resulted in a high level of efficiency, productivity, and quality, and that there was very little risk anticipated with performance or in terms of a lack of customer satisfaction. RFQ para. 5.5.1.4.1.
BGS submitted past performance information for six contracts, all of which were performed within the last 5 years. The two primary contracts evaluated by the agency involved BGS's work for the Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).[7] Past performance questionnaires were completed for these EOIR contracts by the same EOIR contracting official.
Under the first EOIR contract, awarded in May 2004 and with a total value of approximately $89 million, BGS reported that it provides on-site interpretation services for the immigration courts. (BGS has been the incumbent contractor for these EOIR requirements since 1986.) BGS has provided linguists in over 360 languages, many of which are reported to be rare or rarely spoken in the United States. In terms of relevance to the current requirements, BGS stated that because it maintains a large, qualified interpreter pool for this EOIR contract, it would have qualified interpreters ready to perform the current requirements. The reference for this EOIR contract reported that BGS provided on-site and telephonic interpreter services for the immigration courts and described these requirements as –difficult— (as opposed to –routine—). In 13 survey question areas involving quality of service, project management, timeliness of performance, and cost effectiveness, the reference assigned eight –outstanding— and five –good— ratings to BGS. The reference stated that BGS had an effective and cooperative management team and that there were no major weaknesses in BGS's performance, commenting that interpreters not showing up or being late made up only a small percentage of the thousands of orders placed each year for interpreter services. The EOIR reference also commented that one of the biggest challenges for BGS has been the [deleted]. The reference reported that EOIR would award another contract to BGS, noting that this contract is very demanding in that BGS must provide a qualified court interpreter for any language at any location nationwide when ordered by the government and that BGS does a –great— job of meeting EOIR's requirements. First EOIR Reference for BGS's On-Site Interpretation Services Contract.
Under the second EOIR contract, awarded in September 2004 and valued at approximately $187,000 per year, BGS reported that it provides telephonic interpretation services for immigration hearings in any language. Again, in terms of relevance to the current requirements, BGS stated that because it maintains a large, qualified interpreter pool for this EOIR contract, it would have qualified interpreters ready to perform the current requirements. The reference for this EOIR contract described these telephonic interpreter services provided by BGS for the immigration courts as –difficult,— and for the same 13 survey questions in the areas listed above, the reference assigned 11 –outstanding— and 2 –good— ratings to BGS. The reference reported that immigration courts on the West Coast had experienced some technical difficulties after BGS's normal working hours, which were based on Eastern Standard Time. The reference stated that EOIR would award another contract to BGS, noting that BGS has a –great— network of interpreters and that its [deleted] system [deleted] is very effective; the reference also stated that BGS's management team is very responsive. Second EOIR Reference for BGS's Telephonic Interpretation Services Contract.
The contemporaneous evaluation record shows that in terms of the relevance of BGS's past performance, the agency noted that the past performance references completed for BGS were all based on immigration-related work. The agency determined that the requirements of BGS's larger dollar value EOIR contract, as discussed above, were –very similar— to the current requirements with respect to the size, duration, complexity, and technical language requirements. However, the agency also recognized that BGS's larger dollar value EOIR contract was mainly for on-site interpretation services, with telephonic interpretation being a much smaller need under that contract. The agency noted that the current requirements are the reverse, with the primary need being for telephonic interpretation and only occasional on-site interpretation. In addition, the agency recognized that BGS's EOIR contract for telephonic interpretation services was much smaller in scope than the current requirements. As a result, the agency concluded that there was some risk of unsuccessful performance by BGS if the infrastructure to provide large-scale telephonic interpretation was not in place to meet the agency's needs. In terms of the quality of BGS's past performance, the agency pointed out that the EOIR reference (again, the same individual completed both past performance questionnaires for BGS's EOIR contracts) rated BGS positively for its network of interpreters and its system [deleted]; that the EOIR reference noted that BGS's timing was effective and its management was responsive; and that the EOIR reference gave BGS high praise for meeting the requirements for on-site interpretation. The agency noted that the EOIR reference reported experiencing some technical difficulties in its West Coast courts when services were required from BGS after the firm's normal working hours, which were based on Eastern Standard Time, and that BGS had some difficulties in providing [deleted]. BGS's Past Performance Evaluation, Technical Evaluation Team Report, Aug. 26, 2005, at 11-12.
Although LSA challenges the agency's evaluation of BGS's quotation in the area of past performance, the contemporaneous evaluation record shows that despite the large number of –outstanding— past performance survey ratings received from BGS's references, the agency nevertheless downgraded BGS's quotation under the past performance evaluation factor by assigning the quotation a –good,— not an –outstanding,— rating due to the differences between BGS's other contract requirements and the requirements being competed here, as discussed above. While LSA argues that in these circumstances BGS's quotation should have been downgraded even further to an –acceptable— rating for the past performance evaluation factor, we conclude that the agency reasonably exercised its discretion in evaluating BGS's quotation after giving meaningful consideration, as reflected above, to the past performance information provided by BGS in its quotation and to the information reported by BGS's past performance references in terms of the relevance and quality of BGS's past performance. On this record, we conclude that the agency reasonably evaluated BGS's record of past performance in accordance with the terms of the RFQ.
Price Assumptions[8]
LSA complains about the price assumptions in BGS's quotation and contends that had it been aware of the price assumptions used by BGS, it would have prepared its quotation using these same assumptions and it could have lowered its price.[9] In this regard, LSA submitted a declaration from its executive vice president and general counsel. LSA states that it prepared its quotation on the assumption that the 90 percent/10 percent estimated split between telephonic and on-site interpretation services was an estimate only, as represented in amendment No. 2 to the RFQ, and that LSA would bear the risk of the estimate being inaccurate. LSA states that had it known that it would be entitled to seek an equitable adjustment for costs associated with on-site interpretation services being greater than the agency's estimate of 10 percent,[10] –the cost assumptions underlying our quote would have changed and LSA would have submitted a lower'cost quote.— LSA then states that it prepared its quotation on the assumption that prices were to be based on a per-minute basis, and had it known that it could base its prices on a [deleted],[11] –the cost assumptions underlying our quote would have been significantly changed and LSA would have submitted a lower-cost quote.— Declaration of LSA's Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Nov. 17, 2005, paras. 3-7.
We will not sustain a protest absent a showing of competitive prejudice, that is, unless the protester demonstrates that, but for the agency's actions, it would have a substantial chance of receiving award. McDonald-Bradley, B-270126, Feb. 8, 1996, 96-1 CPD para. 54 at 3; see Statistica, Inc. v. Christopher, 102 F.3d 1577, 1581 (Fed. Cir. 1996). Here, LSA, which submitted a quotation that was priced approximately 82 percent higher than BGS's quotation over the 5-year performance period, has failed to establish that it was competitively prejudiced. LSA has provided no more than bare statements that if it had been aware of the price assumptions used by BGS, it would have lowered its price. LSA does not provide any specific explanation about how it could have reduced the substantial monetary differential between its quotation and BGS's quotation such that the agency could have determined that LSA's quotation represented the –best value— to the government. See, e.g., MCI Constructors, Inc., B-274347, B'274347.2, Dec. 3, 1996, 96'2 CPD para. 210 at 6.
In this respect, the record shows that all parties to this protest--LSA, BGS, and the agency--believed that it was acceptable for vendors to include, as described in the assumptions and constraints portion of their respective quotations, supplemental charges and fees above their quoted fixed unit prices. (The prices as evaluated under the RFQ apparently did not include those extra charges and fees.) Although LSA focuses on the assumptions made by BGS, the agency points out the assumptions included in LSA's quotation. For example, LSA stated that there would be an extra charge of $[deleted] per minute if third-party calls went above 25 percent of the total call traffic in a given period, with history showing that this happens approximately 10 percent of the time, and a charge of an additional 25 percent for high risk assignments. In our view, it is not clear what effect the assumptions made by either of these vendors would have on the price ultimately paid by the government based on actual performance.[12] In these circumstances, the cost of performance to the government will vary depending on the actual task orders issued and, in large measure, the selected vendor's efficiency in performing the resulting tasks. Geo-Centers, Inc., B'276033, May 5, 1997, 97-1 CPD para. 182 at 11.
On this record, where both BGS and LSA appear to have been treated equally in that they were permitted to quote pricing structures that deviated from the RFQ's per'minute framework, and in light of the significant price differential between the two quotations (that is, LSA's prices being approximately 82 percent higher than BGS's prices), and in the absence of a persuasive explanation of how LSA would have substantially narrowed that price differential were it to have been made aware that a pricing structure such as BGS's was permitted, we conclude that, even if there were flaws in the agency's conduct of the procurement, LSA has failed to show that it was competitively prejudiced.
The protest is denied.[13]
Anthony H. Gamboa
[1] The revised price schedule included estimated minutes for each line item, for which a vendor was to insert a fixed unit price and extended price.
[2] LSA has been the incumbent contractor since 2002. The agency explained that with LSA's graduation from the Small Business Administration's 8(a) program and with an increase in the scope of interpreter services for asylum interviews, the agency decided to conduct a competitive procurement in order to obtain the –best value— for the current requirements. The agency stated that this acquisition strategy was approved by the small business specialist. Price Negotiation Memorandum at 6.
[3] For the non-price evaluation factors, quotations could be rated as outstanding, good, acceptable, or unacceptable. For the past performance evaluation factor, quotations also could receive a neutral rating.
[4] Of the four vendors submitting quotations, BGS submitted the lowest price, while LSA submitted the highest price. The total evaluated prices of the two other vendors ranged from approximately $[deleted] million to approximately $[deleted] million. In addition, for context, we note that LSA quoted a fixed unit price of $[deleted] per minute for both telephonic and on-site requirements, while BGS quoted a fixed unit price of $[deleted] per minute for both of these requirements. LSA's unit price is thus also approximately 82 percent higher than BGS's unit price.
[5] We note that in its supplemental comments on the supplemental agency report, LSA does not address or otherwise rebut the agency's position that BGS constructively acknowledged the referenced amendment. Protester's Supplemental Comments at 8'9.
[6] The government estimate for this procurement was $31.6 million. RFQ para. 2.3.
[7] BGS also provided information for three other contracts under which it provided telephonic interpretation services; these contracts were valued, on a yearly basis, at $500 (Department of Homeland Security, Asylum Office), $1,000 (Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Customs and Border Patrol), and $43,000 (American Airlines). For two short-term contracts, the asylum office reference rated BGS's performance in seven relevant survey question areas (six areas were considered –not applicable—) as –outstanding,— noting that BGS identified and made available on short notice (when four other interpretation services firms could not) a qualified Fijian interpreter. (In its past performance evaluation, the agency here noted that, based on the asylum office reference, BGS fully met the requirements of the asylum office's short-term contracts.) The customs and border patrol reference rated BGS's performance as –outstanding— in all 13 survey question areas, although it commented that BGS needed to respond sooner when called upon to provide interpretation services. BGS also provided information for one contract, with no monetary value listed, for document translation services for the Defense Intelligence Agency.
[8] The RFQ required a vendor to provide a comprehensive narrative discussion of all of the assumptions and constraints used in developing its quotation, including a complete explanation of all proposed prices. RFQ para. 4.9.6.
[9] Despite the agency's characterization of the questions posed to BGS as –clarifications,— LSA maintains that the agency conducted improper discussions with BGS which afforded only this vendor an opportunity to provide supplemental information to the agency to establish the acceptability of its quotation. LSA argues that it was improperly denied the same opportunity. However, we have long held that the –acid test— for deciding whether discussions have been held is whether it can be said that a vendor or an offeror was provided the opportunity to revise or modify its quotation or proposal. National Beef Packing Co., B-296534, Sept. 1, 2005, 2005 CPD para. 168 at 11. In this case, the communications that took place between BGS and the agency do not appear to have led to a material revision of the vendor's quotation; in any event, these communications had no effect on the acceptability of BGS's quotation and BGS's competitive position remained the same.
[10] LSA also contends that BGS's quotation is non-compliant with the terms of the RFQ because BGS, in response to one of the agency's clarification/explanation questions, reserved the right to negotiate an equitable adjustment which, according to LSA, was prohibited by the language of amendment No. 2 to the RFQ, as set forth above. We disagree with LSA's contention because the mere reservation of the right to ask for an adjustment--a request that the agency, consistent with the terms of amendment No. 2 to the RFQ, could decline--is not equivalent to the reservation of the right to receive an adjustment. Jantec, Inc., B-292668, B-292668.2, Nov. 6, 2003, 2003 CPD para. 222 at 9-10. Accordingly, in these circumstances, we conclude that BGS's reservation is not legally objectionable.
[11] In the assumptions and constraints portion of its quotation (which was not part of its price schedule), BGS explained that billings for –on-site— interviews (not telephonic interviews) would be charged at a [deleted]. The charges associated with these on-site time increments would apply to only 10 percent of the agency's requirements.
[12] Under the BPA, –calls,— i.e., task orders, will be placed against the BPA; funding will be provided through individual calls and delivery destination and schedule will be specified in each call. BPA paras. 2.4, 2.7-2.8.
[13] LSA has raised a number of collateral issues that we have considered and find to be without merit; these collateral issues do not warrant detailed analysis or discussion.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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RCScrapyard ► Iconic Vintage Radio Controlled (RC) Model Car Archive ► Losi Ten Rally-X.
Released by Losi in 2013, the 4WD TEN Rally-X - LOS03000 - with "Active Vehicle Control" (AVC), is shaft driven, on an alloy plate chassis, with gear type differentials, coil spring over oil filled dampers, anti roll bars, CV universal joint drive-shafts, a full set of ball bearings and came with a Dynamite Fuze 3900Kv 4-Pole motor, waterproof ESC and Spektrum radio system.
To race the Losi Ten Rally-X, it requires a high level of tuning for improved stability when cornering, to keep it on the track and give you more grip under acceleration. Even the smallest change in your cars settings can make a Big difference. Our simple to follow instruction chart will show how to attain the best Set-up for your personal requirements.
Buying a used Losi Ten Rally-X Electric Car, or any used RC Model, has a number of advantages. It is generally cheaper than new, ready built and may come with a variety of expensive hop-ups already installed. Cheap, pre-loved bargains are always becoming available. However, depending on the age of your purchase, it may need a little tender loving care before you can take it out on the road.
If the body shell of your Losi Ten Rally-X is broken, ripped or damaged in any way, this can be easily repaired with rubber solution glue. Also, for added protection and if available for your Ten Rally-X model, fit an under guard to stop dirt and gravel entering the chassis.
If you intend to race your Ten Rally-X Car model at a competitive level, I would also recommend you obtain and fit titanium pivot shafts, turnbuckles, tie rods and steering rods.
The Ten Rally-X steering servo is also prone to damage. In high speed crash situations, the fragile gear teeth of the servo can be broken off, rendering your expensive servo useless, so be sure to obtain a good quality "Servo Saver". Check out my Servo Information article.
If body roll on your Losi Ten Rally-X is a problem, handling can be improved with the use of stabilizers, anti roll or sway bars, stiffer tuning springs and, or, thicker silicone oil in the dampers.
Finally, good luck with your Ten Rally-X model and good racing.


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Inchcape in talks with bankers | What Car?
Shares in car dealer Inchcape fell yesterday, as news emerged that the multinational company was in talks to raise more capital to bolster its finances.
The talks, concerning a share issue, come after the company warned of 'an unprecedented decline' in its sales markets, which include Australia, Belgium, China Britain and Russia.
The company's shares yesterday closed down 6.2% at 42p.
Car dealership de Vries was yesterday put into administration, resulting in 130 jobs being put at risk.


text:
Feast of festivals in Toronto
Rita DeMontis
Aug 03, 2016 • Last Updated August 3, 2016 • 4 minute read
If you didn't get enough of the hugely successful Caribbean festival last weekend, check out the following.
One of Toronto's largest celebrations of jerk cuisine and Caribbean culture is returning for its 15th year this weekend. Taking place Aug. 5-7 at Centennial Park in Etobicoke, the famous Grace Jerk Food Festival (JerkFest) is a fusion of jerk food, pulsating music, family-friendly entertainment and good vibes, highlighting Caribbean culture under the hot Toronto sun.
"JerkFest has continued to grow over the years and has become a highly anticipated calendar event for residents of many cultures," says Anthony Plummer, executive director of the festival. "The amazing jerk food and live music are definitely highlights, but the festival has really gained a reputation for its community togetherness and celebration of culture. We're excited to continue the legacy in our 15th year."
For food lovers, JerkFest is about the unique tastes, mysterious flavours and captivating aroma of jerk cuisine. But it's more than a food festival.
Along with the usual tantalizing tastes and array of jerk dishes—from chicken, pork and beef to lamb, seafood, vegetables — JerkFest 2016 has a stellar music lineup that will be headlined by reggae legends Third World, with additional acts including Etana and L.U.S.T.
There will also be a vendor market, kids zone and the Grace Experience Tent, where visitors can learn how to make traditional jerk dishes, along with additional features including the JerkFest VIP Garden — purchase VIP tickets and enjoy a mouth-watering jerk chicken meal prepared by two-time JerkFest champion vendor Bliss Tropical Cuisine, mingle with the celebrities in attendance and refresh yourself with tasty beverages from your reserved front-row seat as you enjoy the show.
There's also the Grace Hot & Spicy jerk chicken eating competition — testing some of the spiciest jerk chicken with food so hot that entrants are required to sign a health waver (!) in an interactive contest.
There's more — lots more.
Check out Jerkfestival.ca
ON THE DANNY: The 23rd annual Krinos Taste of the Danforth takes place this Friday to Sunday. Considered Canada's largest food festival, the sheer size of the estimated crowd (over 1.65 million) is a testament to the popularity of this famous fest, where patrons can find everything from their favourite foods to games, entertainment, contests, prizes and more.
This year, there's a host of new attractions including four new movies in the Hollywood on the Danforth Zone: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (take a photo to have your image transposed onto a scene in the film), Trolls, Assassin's Creed and Keeping Up With The Joneses.
There will be three entertainment stages, a sports zone and a special section featuring "Greek experiences" — breaking plates, archery, a chance to wander through the Valley of the Gods where Zeus, Poseidon, Athena and Aphrodite come alive, dancing like Zorba and so much more.
Foodwise, Greektown continues to be the home of many of Toronto's favourite Greek restaurants — but you'll find more than the traditional kebabs with a dollop of tzatziki on top! Try a broad range of foods served from everyone from street vendors to indoor restaurants. All this — and shopping too!
Visit Tasteofthedanforth.com
SAY CHEESECAKE: National Cheesecake Day may have come and gone recently, but that shouldn't stop one from enjoying this delicious dessert — especially if it's the recently launched new Fibre 1 cheesecake bars, at only 150 calories with the added benefit of fibre. Available in Key Lime and Chocolate flavours, the Fibre 1 Cheesecake bars are available at major groery stores or supermarkets for about $3.50 a pack.
Check out the Life Made Delicious (Facebook.com/LifeMadeDelicious) for additional details and recipe ideas.
RIGHT BY RITAS: Just in time for national Watermelon Day, taking place Aug. 3, is the RITAS by Bud Light Water-Melon-Rita drink — a refreshing taste of watermelon margarita, with a twist of Bud Light Lime. Comes in a can and joins its like-minded friends, including the the Lime-A-Rita, Staw-Ber-Rita and the Mang-O-Rita. You can even purchase a summer mix-a-Rita — a 12-can that includes all four RITA flavours. Imagine a drink named after me! Well, not really — but enjoy, especially during this perfectly seasoned weather.
Available at your local LCBO/Budlight.com
TOAST TO APOTHIC DARK AND RED: Apothic Wines has recently developed two dynamic wines — the Apothic Dark, a perfect blend of wine distinguished by a unique blend of Petite Syrah and Merlot, with an intense, velvety taste with notes of berries, peppers, coffee and dark chocolate, and the Apothic Red, a tantalizing drink with an exceptional blend of bold, dark fruit flavours; with Zinfandel's notes of black cherry and spice, the smooth vanilla and mocha-flavour of Syrah, structured as a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Both wines are perfect on their own, or in a cocktail — the Apothic Red is excellent with vodka, lime juice, cranberry juice and slices of orange and lemon while the Apothic Dark is excellent with some lemon juice, simple syrup, pomegranate juice and club soda. Both drinks have a dark, mysterious presence — put them high up on your list for the haunting season, coming up faster than you can say Halloween!
Check out Apothic.com for additional details.


Explore the waters of Enclosure Bay by snorkel. Find spotties, parore, goatfish and the occasional snapper.
Cost: Koha - either by cash on the day, donate online or your time. Most people donate $5-10 per person.


Image Title: Modern Sectional Sofas West Elm For Sofa Bed Prepare 2. Filename: modern-sectional-sofas-west-elm-for-sofa-bed-prepare-2.jpg. Image Dimension: 220 x 220 pixels. Images Format: jpg/jpeg. Publisher/Author: Buster Williamson. Uploaded Date: Sunday - February 03rd. 2019 07:51:06 AM. Category: Architecture. Image Source: architecture.com.
Tap The Thumbnail Bellow to See Related Gallery of "Modern Sectional Sofas West Elm For Sofa Bed Prepare 2"


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Why on-the-spot fines for cycling offences are overdue
July 2, 2015 Cian Ginty Comment & Analysis 3
COMMENT & ANALYSIS: Strong debate is continuing among cycling campaigners and people who cycle over the planned on-the-spot fines for cycling offences in Ireland. Details are due to be released today and as always the devil is in the detail, but there's compelling reasons why on-the-spot fines are a good idea.
First, it's worth repeating that there is no new offences to be created for cycling a bicycle — all of the offences covered to be covered by the fines are already against the law. Breaking red lights is already against the law and so is cycling on footpaths (even if the minister is not include the latter as a finable offence, as he said yesterday).
The minister is clearly wrong about one thing: He said yesterday on radio that is was tens of people being brought up to court on cycling offences. It's actually in the thousands. Over 3,200 people were summoned to Irish courts for cycling road traffic offences between 2003 and 2013.
In 2013, over 350 were brought to court for cycling by red lights in Dublin alone. There are a number of cases where people have received court fines in excess of €300. The accused and the Garda who stopped them have to attend court. The process of bringing people to court drains resources from the Courts, and the Gardai when they could be more effective on the street.
If the current system with no on-the-spot fines and only court fines was allowed to continue it would keep the waste of Garda and court resources in place and people breaking red lights on bikes would contuine to be fined €300 or more for their illegal behavior. Meanwhile motorists in a car or large truck breaking a red light may get away with just an €80. The plan for on-the-spot fines for cycling offences fixes the issue of unfairness and a waste of resources.
People on bikes who break the law are also a source of danger for others on bikes. Red light runners often block and sometimes crash into other bicycles. Those cycling on the wrong side of the road try to play chicken with you when you're carrying children on your bike — they nearly expect you to move out into traffic to let them use the cycle lane in the wrong direction and so on.
If — as media reports yeasterday indicated — the level of fine has come down from €50 to €40, that has to be welcomed. We think €30-€35 would be even fairer. If you can't afford it, the fine might seem excessive but it's much better than a €300 court fine.
How the fines will be imposed is another matter and it might be become an issue of concern. For example, there are now well documented cases of police in New York blocking cycle lanes with their cars and then ticketing cyclists for not using the cycle lane, which is blocked by a police car. Using a cycle lane is no longer a requirement (expect contra-flow cycle lanes and cycle lanes in pedestrian areas), but any system of fines may be open to abuses and there is not an openness around enforcement guideline in Ireland, so we don't know if there are safeguards in place to advoid misuse of fines. There will be a general and genral fineable offence covering any acts which endanger others or yourself — that might be too broad.
Others say that condutions are not correct for fines — roads are too unsafe or that contra-flow cycling should be allowed. However, taking contra-flow as an example, fines will more likely get out cities and towns more legal contra-flow cycling because people who currently break the law will be turned into individual campainers. At the moment they are allowed to break the law and so they have no incentive to push for law changes or new contra-flow cycle lanes or paths.
Fines are needed to correct current unfairness in the court fine system and the waste of resources which goes along with that. We are supportive of the idea of fines, we are however unsure if there are enough safeguards in place to make sure the fines and systems around them are fair and balance.
Dermot July 2, 2015 at 11:26 am
Using a cycle lane is no longer a requirement you say, but I thought the new legislation is going to make it a requirement
Peter Barry July 2, 2015 at 12:25 pm
@ Dermot
No. The new legislation is about making it possible for gardai to apply on-the-spot fines for existing laws. No new laws are coming into force.
Brian July 3, 2015 at 2:22 am
Lol. I'm about as likely to get fined as a driver skipping red a Leeson St/St. Stephen's Green is.


text:
MOTIONCARS
ShoppINQ
esports / Dota 2
Two Filipino Teams Are in Danger of Losing Their Chance to Compete at the P800+ Million Dota Tournament in Seattle
05:06 PM July 18, 2016
By: Paolo "Sandata" Bago, Kurt Lozano and Riku Quiapon
With eSports rapidly gaining ground as an accepted competitive discipline, countries and governments are increasing the requirements for competitors looking to join international tournaments.
In the United States, what was first heralded as a great leap for eSports acceptance — the recognition of eligibility for esports professionals to the P1 Athlete's Visa — has now potentially jeopardized two Philippine teams from participating in this year's biggest Dota 2 tournament, The International 2016.
According to both of the teams' management teams, Execration (EXE) and TNC Pro Team (TNC)'s they were advised by the US embassy to apply for P1 (Entertainer, Athletes etc.) visas instead of B1-B2 visas (Business-Tourist). Unfortunately, doing so would take months to get approved, especially given the reduced time window.
Reportedly, both teams first applied for their visas July 8 (for EXE) and 15 (for TNC). In a letter given to both teams, Valve advised both EXE and TNC to apply for B1/B2 visas, citing that teams used these for immigration to join past TIs.
Both were advised to resubmit their applications after their first try by the US embassy. After their second attempt, the US embassy stated that both teams were qualified to fly, but that they needed to apply for a P1 visa instead of a B1/B2. The setbacks have prompted both teams to seek help from the office of Senator Benigno Paolo "Bam" Aquino.
Seeking help
With visa problems haunting teams from outside the United States attending The International and other eSports tournaments held in the country over the years, a petition was submitted to the White House last April to recognize eSports as "legitimate" sports so that players can come with P1 visas.
With time running out, the two Philippine teams are currently coordinating with Valve and Senator Bam Aquino, an avid supporter of eSports,who also assisted Team Rave with their visa issues last year.
For his part, the office of Senator Aquino promised to exert all efforts to help the two Philippine teams resolve this matter and make their trip to Seattle. The office of the senator has been helping both teams fix all their legal duties with immigration since they qualified for their berths at The International.
TNC Manager Paulo Sy released a statement today about the issue:
"This is the dream of every Dota 2 player, not just for our players but for everyone. Especially sa Filipino community. It's been awhile na may pinoy team na nagrepresent sa TI6. This time, dalawang teams pa. This is not a negative thing to look at. This clearly means that eSports is growing big. Now, they are considering the players as real athletes, that's why they are requiring P1 Visas.
We would like to thank Valve and Sen. Bam Aquino for trying to help us in the process to make it to TI6. All of these are okay, it's all for the growth of eSports."
Arvin Risos, manager and owner of Execration also released a statement:
"It has been an emotional roller coaster ride for us, this is actually turning out to be harder than the qualifiers. It has been the dream of our team to Qualify to The International 6 since TI1 and now that it finally happened, we're facing this visa issues and it's emotionally exhausting to be honest. We are thankful to Senator Bam and Valve for helping us out throughout this process. Hopefully, somehow some way we get our visas in time for the event."
Options mulled
Important to note is that none of the Philippine teams are technically barred from flying to the US, only that the US government is requiring them to state their status as athletes competing in an esports tournament.
If the US embassy in Manila grants both teams B1/B2 visas, this can help them secure their flights at the very least to attend the event. But any future team looking to compete in the US will have to secure P1 visas.
Another option open to EXE and TNC is that Valve find a way to expedite the requirements needed to get a P1 Visa
Following this, Philippine-based teams would do well to secure P1 visas for their players for any succeeding event in the US. As esports continues to grow, the once wild west of the industry is slowly overlapping with the mainstream…and with it comes increased pressure and regulation.
To further help the local esports scene, teams that encounter similar issues like these in the future may contact the Philippine eSports Organization (PeSO). Here's a statement from the Executive Director of PeSO, Tryke Gutierrez:
"With the rapid growth of eSports, we're facing regulation issues that are inevitable in any growing industry. The US' decision on granting eSports athletes visas which appeared to be good news at first is turning out to be a challenge for filipino teams. At this point, we need all the help we can get. We have been assisting the teams with their requirements and processing for the past weeks in cooperation with Joebert Yu and the managers of both teams however, we haven't gotten the visa and we only have 12 days to go. If you know anyone who can help us out kindly contact [email protected] Thanks."
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text:
Q: Highcharts time X axis I would like to ask if somebody knows how to set X axis in Highcharts to time. My aplication is taking data from database and the frequency of the samples is 250ms. I want the X axis not to show counted values but something like time. I render 2500 values at once so that means 10 secs. The best would be to have on X axis and a mark there every 0.5 sec that means every 125 samples a mark. Like (0 samples = 0 sec);(125 samples = 0,5 sec);(500 samples = 1 sec);(725 samples = 1.5 sec)
Thank you for your opinions.....
                                chart () {
                                    var options = {
                                        chart: {
                                            renderTo: 'services',
                                            type: 'line',
                                            animation: 'false'
                                        },

                                      plotOptions: {
                                            series: {
                                                animation: {
                                                    duration: 10000
                                                }
                                            }
                                        },

                                        series: [{marker: {
                                                    enabled: false
                                                }}]
                                      };

A: You can supply a custom label formatter. For example...
xAxis: {
    labels: {
        formatter: function () {
            return (baseTime + (this.value / 500)) + " sec";
        }
    }
},

where baseTime is the time of the first data point.
Documentation for custom label formatter can be found at...
http://api.highcharts.com/highcharts#xAxis.labels.formatter

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange