Report: Minority businesses need greater access to capital
Minority-owned businesses are thriving despite limited access to venture capital, loans and the federal marketplace, according to a report released this week by the ranking Democrat on the House Small Business Committee.
Advanced Technology wins Capitol architect IT outsourcing deal
Advanced Technology Systems Inc. was awarded a five year, $20 million contract from the General Services Administration to support the Architect of the Capitol's Information Technology Division.
Buy Lines: Contractor drops the dime on competitors
An opportunity for yet another cottage industry has emerged in the federal ecosystem. It's called blowing the whistle on competitors with noncompliant contracts, and it pays well.
Homeland watch
The National Cyber Security Partnership, formed by four trade associations in 2003, is expected to announce soon that it has expanded to include many more trade associations.
DHS moves on infrastructure plan
IT industry leaders see improvements in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan released earlier this month, but they remain worried that they may be left out of the loop in the Homeland Security Department's policies and actions for IT sector security.
21 companies to vie for $3B Treasury contract
The Treasury Department has tapped 21 companies to develop new software applications, provide support and introduce technologies under a five-year, $3 billion deal.
Infotech and the Law: Offshoring backlash here to stay ? at least for now
Offshoring has repeatedly made headlines and presents significant issues for many services businesses that hold federal, state and local contracts.
Inside track
The Army needs a local telephone-exchange services provider for Fort Gordon, Ga,; the Air Force is looking for software tools to help analyze data collected from various survey instruments distributed to personnel throughout the service; and The U.S. Geological Survey requires technical support services for the National Wetlands Research Center in Lafayette, La.
Small businesses win big bucks on NetCents
In just one year, the Network-Centric Solutions program has brought a windfall of $429.7 million to the eight prime contractors allowed to bid on the work.
House committee drafts border security bill
The House Homeland Security Committee today passed a broad-ranging border security bill (H.R. 4312)that would strengthen surveillance IT at the U.S. borders and increase usage of Defense Department technology in border surveillance, among other goals.
Bill proposes $835 million to improve port security
Bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate is designed to significantly improve security at more than 600 ports around the country.
Small Business Index numbers fall to 8-year low
High health care and energy costs coupled with the regional devastation caused by recent hurricanes are creating a poor climate for small business growth, according to a study released today by the House Committee on Small Business.
Winter wins Senate approval to be Navy secretary
A corporate vice president at Northrop Grumman Corp. was confirmed by the Senate yesterday to be the new secretary of the Navy.
Katrina to drive spending on information-sharing
Federal government spending on information-sharing processes and systems is likely to grow by 35 percent over the next five years, and reach $1.3 billion by fiscal 2010, according to a report from Input Inc.
Report: Punish poor information security setups
Congress may want to consider penalizing organizations and companies that have poor information security policies that contribute to a major loss of sensitive information, according to a new Congressional Research Service report on cybersecurity.
In brief: Homeland watch
Solving the government acquisition staffing shortage requires innovative thinking, and for John Ely, executive director of procurement for the Homeland Security Department's Customs and Border Protection, that means hiring some of his new workers soon after they graduate from college.
Three win next-gen satellite deals
When they're not building missiles and fighter jets for the government, Lockheed Martin Corp., Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. will be making weather forecasting a little easier.
Infotech and the Law: Paying subcontractors under T&M contracts gets complex
The contracting community should prepare itself for new rules that could significantly affect payment for work done by subcontractors under time-and-materials or labor-hour contracts.
Inside Track: New federal projects
The Securities and Exchange Commission wants vendors to offer follow-on support for its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System, called Edgar.
SLOW growth ahead
The expansion of the federal IT budget is expected to slow over the next five years, with the growth rate dropping below 3 percent, according to the Government Electronics and IT Association's annual forecast.
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