Four smalls win $10M contract for natural resource-related services

Four small businesses have won a $10 million task order contract to provide natural resource-related services at various Navy, Marine Corps and Defense Department installations.

The winners are:

• Southwestern Natural Resources (also known as MultiMAC JV)
• Noreas Inc.
• Geomorph Information Systems
• Vernadero Group

Think your teaming agreement's a contract? Think again

Is your teaming agreement enforceable? Maybe not, according to a recent federal court decision involving local contractors.

Before we address the particulars of the case, take a look below at some standard teaming agreement provisions. How many of these terms are in your agreements? 

Lessons my mother taught me

I feel very fortunate to have the parents I do, and since Mother’s Day is rapidly approaching, I thought I’d talk about some lessons my mom has taught me over the years.

The first, of course, is about love. It might sound a little gross, but when we were kids, my mom used to say: “I would take the food out of my mouth to feed you.” My mom came to the United States from Greece when she was 20, so it helps to hear that line with the appropriate accent -- and hand gestures.

Score one for diversity and good business

Usually, appointments to corporate boards aren’t real big news. If the company is big enough, and if the person well-known enough, we might write about it, we might not.

But the appointment of Vincette Goerl this week to the board of advisors of FedBid is noteworthy because, not only is FedBid getting someone with stellar credentials, but she also represents a milestone for Women in Technology, a professional group for women in the IT industry.

15 win $900M Navy command, control contract

Fifteen companies have won spots on a $900 million Navy contract for business and force support services.

The companies will compete for task orders under the contract led by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic.

The winning contractors are:

• BAE Systems
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• CACI International
• CGI Federal
• Computer Sciences Corp.
• Deloitte Consulting
• General Dynamics
• HP Enterprise Services
• Engility Corp.
• Lockheed Martin
• MC Dean Inc.
• Science Applications International Corp.
• Scientific Research Corp.
• Secure Mission Solutions LLC
• URS Federal Services

VA T4 on ramp period comes to a close

Bids are due today (May 9) for veteran-owned small businesses trying to gain a spot on the Veteran Affairs Department’s lucrative IT contract known as T-4.

The $12 billion contract, with the full name of Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology, was awarded in 2011 to 15 companies, six service-disabled and veteran-owned small business and nine large businesses.

3 services contracts to support naval aviation

Three companies have won three contracts of varying values to provide professional, technical and administrative support services to the U.S. Navy.

The winners and base contract values are:

Wyle Laboratories -- $29.2 million
Delta Resources -- $23.2 million
National Technologies Associates -- $22.2 million

Is it time to revamp your software testing strategies?

Under the cloud of sequestration, IT contractors face the challenge of delivering large, highly complex software systems for the government and its agencies with increasingly limited resources. We are expected to maintain the same high standards while budgets tighten. The mission-critical nature of government software systems—including those for the Department of Defense—leaves no room for error.

OFPP's Jordan takes price debate to Twitter

Joseph Jordan, administrator for federal procurement policy at the OMB, has turned to Twitter for insights on the best ways for agencies to get information on prices paid when making their contracting decisions.

The issue of pricing is a hot one these days, as many agencies use lowest price, technically acceptable as their criteria for making award decisions.

ICF taps new VP of aviation and aerospace business

ICF International has named Subodh Karnik vice president for its ICF SH&E unit, which provides professional services in the aviation and aerospace fields.

In his new role, Karnik will work with clients across the globe, and with ICF’s aviation teams in Beijing, Boston, Hong Kong, London and New York.