Input: Fed IT contracts totaled billions in 2003

More than $115 billion in federal information technology contracts were awarded in 2003, according to Reston, Va., IT market research firm Input Inc.

The Defense Department's more than $83 billion in contract awards dwarfed the civilian agencies' $32 billion in contract awards.

"The value of awards made by the Department of Defense really underscores the impact increases in defense spending have had on the federal IT market," said Brian Terrill, Input's manager of federal information technology and C4I opportunities. "For the first time in a long time, we are seeing growth in defense IT spending outpace growth in civilian IT spending."

The Army spent the most on IT, awarding contracts worth more than $38 billion, including the $23 billion Communications Electronics Command Rapid Response Program, which will provide maintenance support services across government.

Input found that the bulk of award dollars, $41 billion, was in IT professional services such as project management, planning and analysis, software development, education and training, engineering, consulting and design, operations support and modeling. In 2002, the government spent $21 billion on professional services, Input's report said.

The second-highest spending category was maintenance support, with $26.4 billion, including the Communications Electronics Command contract. Outsourcing services followed, with $15.5 billion.

The full report is available at http://media.input.com.