10 stories you've been following

1. Big successes predicted for NetCents-2
The DOD Network Centric Solutions contract, having awarded more than $4.5 billion in task orders, ends this year. Its replacement, NetCents-2, is widely anticipated to be even more successful than its predecessor.

2. NIH to triage old contracts with multifunctional award
NIH releases details of its new 10-year, $20 billion Chief Information Officer—Solutions and Partners contract. The contract is expected sometime next year and will replace the current NIH CIO-SP 2 and Image World 2 New Dimension contracts.

3. Former government exec bares all to Post
George “Chip” Raymond gives the Washington Post an insider’s look at government contracting, especially as it was when he directed a technology program at the Army’s Communications and Electronics Command.

4. Hathaway goes away but cyber questions remain
The resignation of Melissa Hathaway as acting senior director for cyberspace and her decision not to seek the permanent White House position have raised questions about how the administration plans to secure cyberspace.

5. Banking on bankers for a sale?
Northrop Grumman Corp. executives are mum, but reports say the company has hired Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse to sell its TASC business unit in what could be a $2 billion deal.

6. Behind every cloud looms dark clouds of loss
The advantages of cloud computing come at a cost, a researcher warns. Data and application owners can lose control of their resources, the perimeter protecting them, and their access controls.

7. Only thing we have to fear is not VA business
Contractors must show no fear if the Veterans Affairs Department procurement system is to work properly, urges VA deputy secretary, who calls for “open communication, vigorous debate and willingness to dissent.”

8. Texas Hold ‘em: Microsoft told to quit selling Word
A federal court in Texas orders Microsoft Corp. to stop selling Microsoft Word after the judge rules that the software giant unlawfully infringed Toronto-based i4i’s patent.

9. GSA has big plans for small companies
The General Services Administration unveils mentor/protégé program to include more small businesses in GSA contracts and help establish them in the federal marketplace.

10. A foolish inconsistency is hobgoblin of some agencies
A Government Accountability Office executive charges that five agencies and departments that paid billions in contractor award dollars are not being consistent in how they apply those rewards.