Things Are Suddenly Moving Very Fast

The impact of Sept. 11 is already reverberating among the systems integrators and companies that serve the government technology market.Government agencies are expected to spend $75 million to replace computer hardware and services lost as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon. Company executives, for example, report that agencies are purchasing equipment under special regulations that require speedy delivery as a matter of national security.At the same time, many agencies are speeding up programs aimed at improving security, while slowing down others deemed less essential in the wake of the attacks. Staff Writer Patience Wait examines some of these procurement policies and programs in her front-page article on the changing procurement landscape.In the same way some programs are moving to the head of the line, Staff Writer Joab Jackson finds certain technologies and solutions have suddenly gained in popularity. Satellite phone services, videoconferencing and biometric identification technologies are getting increased attention from agencies seeking to improve communications and security.Wall Street also turned to defense companies and a few select technology companies for financial security following the attacks. A look at the Washington Technology index of integrators and service companies shows that, while the Dow Jones and Nasdaq stock indexes plunged dramatically, our composite index rose 4.2 percent in the two-week period ending Sept. 28.While much of the gain is provided by defense stocks, such as Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics, service and technology companies such as Affiliated Computer Services, Electronic Data Systems, Maximus and Oracle held steady during the market selloff. Prepare for continuing aftershocks.