Small business: In brief

Logistics Applications Inc. finally won a facilities management services contract with the Energy Department, after the company's initial 2005 win of the deal was protested by the National Treasury Employees Union.The five-year, $28 million contract is the largest in the history of the service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. The Alexandria, Va., company's initial win was thrown out after the union's protest with the agency was upheld.The initial competition by the Energy Department pitted agency employees against the private sector in a competition meant to demonstrate the benefits of outsourcing. The union also protested the second award, but was denied.Merlin Technical Solutions Inc. won a $2.5 million contract to support hardware and software operations for the data collection arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Merlin of Greenwood Village, Colo., will maintain the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services licensing information as well as offer systems integration services under a one-year contract. The deal has three one-year options.Merlin also will operate networking devices, Windows NT network, migration and management of Windows Active Directory network and administration of the local area network.The industry group Women in Technology recognized five leaders in the IT community at a ceremony May 18, including Debra Ruh, president and founder of TecAccess LLC, Rockville, Va., who was awarded the group's Entrepreneur award.TecAccess is a Small Business Administration 8(a) certified company, small disadvantaged business and a woman-owned company that works with federal government agencies and large corporations. TecAccess determines electronic and IT accessibility and compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.Ruh, whose daughter has Down syndrome, was inspired to start the company after learning there were limited job opportunities for people with disabilities. TecAccess has more than 50 disabled people as IT testers.