SEWP V takes on supply chain worries

The new NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement contract will be collecting information on suppliers as part of a strategy to address supply chain concerns.

Contractors will be required to disclose where they are getting their products, Joanne Woytek, SEWP’s program manager told FCW.com.

SRA announces team for $11B DHS TABSS contract

SRA International has announced its teammates for the Homeland Security Department’s $11 billion Technical, Acquisition, and Business Support Services contract, or TABSS.

SRA International was one of 12 winners when the contract was awarded in late 2012.

USO's night of triumph and tribute

The annual awards dinner put on by the USO of Metropolitan Washington is a showcase of patriotism, bravery and celebrities.

This year’s event featured actors Lou Diamond Phillips and Joe Mantegna, who were recognized for the visits they make to wounded sailors, soldiers and Marines, as well as the work they do that honors the military. There also were a good dose of professional wrestlers from the WWE.

Lockheed's Linda Gooden shares the lessons of her career

It’s almost hard to imagine Lockheed Martin Corp. without a substantial IT business; after all, the company has been ranked No. 1 on the Washington Technology Top 100 for 18 years.

But in the late 1980s, the company had only two standalone IT contracts outside of the Defense Department. Revenue from IT work was listed under “other” in its financial statements. Lockheed and Martin Marietta had yet to merge.

DynCorp wins $35.3M pact for training, support of tactical vehicles

DynCorp International has won a $35.3 million contract to provide support for U.S. Army medium tactical vehicles.

The fixed-price contract has a one-year base and two option years.

The company will provide total package fielding, which is the Army’s standard materiel fielding process for new and modified systems, for the family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, the company said in a release.

DynCorp will provide services such as training, deprocessing, fielding and providing general maintenance support for up to 30,600 trucks, trailers and other equipment to military units both in the United States and abroad, the company said.

Fallen contractor honored with Defense of Freedom medal

Another contractor who was killed while working in Afghanistan has joined the ranks of those honored with a Defense of Freedom medal.

Earlier this month, Soriah Prokopich, the daughter of Santa Gracia Ramirez, a Pacific Architects and Engineers employee, was presented the medal honoring her mother during a ceremony in Gilbert, Ariz.

Signs of an HP comeback

The news is looking brighter for Hewlett-Packard, at least on Wall Street.

The company’s stock hit a closing low of $11.71 in November. Yesterday, it closed at $21.32. As I write this, it is up to $21.69.

CNBC also is reporting that there has been an uptick of calls or option buys. The business network says there have been about 5,000 calls for April 23, which are betting that HP’s stock will top $23 by that date.

GD takes on F-18 advanced computer work

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems has won a $19.3 million contract with the U.S. Navy to provide the F/A-18 aircraft with advanced mission computers.

The company has been delivering these types of computers since 2002.

These Type 3 advanced mission computers will be used on the F/A-18E/F and E/A-18G Super Hornet aircraft, General Dynamics said.

DISA looking for more PKI support

The Defense Information Systems Agency is developing a new cyber security contract and has stared collecting market data on possible providers of public key infrastructure services.

DISA released a request for information for Defense Department public key infrastructure operations and sustainment and a performance work statement for contractors.

Do you have a diversification plan?

One of the hot topics in today’s market is diversification. By that, I don’t mean that companies are adding new lines of business such as IT and home appliances.

Those are conglomerates, and successful conglomerates are a very rare breed.

Rather, when the executives I talk to speak about diversification, it is more in the context of moving into adjacent markets -- taking a service that you provide to one set of customers, and then taking it to another set of customers. The idea is that it helps spread your development costs across multiple customers, and it should even out the ups and downs of the markets.