Buy Lines: Today's challenges require innovative contracting

The extraordinary financial and human capital challenges facing the federal government will be with us for many years. Because their dimensions and impacts are so significant, it is more important than ever that agencies have access to a wide range of innovations that will let them do much more with much less.

New year opens with several purchases

SI International Inc. plans to spend $75 million to buy Shenandoah Electronic Intelligence Inc., a Harrisonburg, Va., company with strong ties to the Homeland Security Department.

Well-known fed faces change places

Sandra Bates, commissioner of the Federal Technology Service, will retire Feb. 11 after a 35-year government career.

Infotech and the law: DHS eases rules on using foreign nationals

The Homeland Security Department has revised its rules on whether contractors can use foreign nationals on its contracts. The new rules clarify the situations in which foreign nationals are precluded from working on DHS contracts, but they also create challenges for many contractors.

Parks want incident management

The National Park Service is looking for an electronic incident management, analysis and reporting system for law enforcement, emergency management and security activities. The system will manage information about incidents related to facilities, including prisons, roads, rivers, dams, deserts, mountains and archeological sites. Incidents may include law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency management services, wild and structural fires and resource observations.

Help for Kenyan tax collector

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency seeks vendors to provide technical assistance to the Kenya Revenue Authority for a computerized integrated tax system.

AF training system sought

The Air Force Special Operations Command wants information about commercial equipment for its Man Portable Air Defense training system. The system will incorporate missile warning system simulation and visual cueing.

NGATS readies for takeoff

The government last month unveiled a new plan that calls for overhauling the nation's air transportation system in anticipation of dramatically increasing demand for air space.

Doing Business With Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Defense Security Cooperation Agency<br>2800 Defense Pentagon<br>Washington, DC 20301-2800<br>703-601-3670

Coming report: A-76 continues to produce savings

On the 50th anniversary of OMB Circular A-76, the administration plans to report that the program is stronger than ever.

DHS nominee a data-mining advocate

Michael Chertoff, the appeals court judge who President Bush today nominated to become Homeland Security secretary, was an early advocate of data mining to pinpoint terrorists.

Got procurement data?

The General Services Administration in late December established a one-time fee of $2,500 for vendors and the public to receive a direct, continuous feed from the new Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation via Web services.

Infotech and the Law: Ethics, teaming and acquisition strategies will dominate 2005

Technology contractors working with the federal government in 2005 will see several changes in the procurement landscape because of new laws and the scandals of 2004.

Global Crossing targets U.S. market

Global Crossing Ltd., the financially battered telecommunications company that emerged from bankruptcy a little more than a year ago, has a challenging New Year's resolution: Grab more U.S. government business.

Buy Lines: What's coming at us in 2005?

Here are my top five issues for the coming year.

DHS wants better bomb detectors

The Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency seeks prototypes and technology for improvised explosive devise detection systems. The agency wants proposals for systems to detect explosives in large vehicles, cars or other small vehicles.

Doppler radar system sought

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration needs a contractor to design and install a Doppler radar system for its Gulfstream GIV-SP aircraft. The radar system will obtain detailed wind field and precipitation information for the initialization of the National Weather Service's hurricane weather and research forecast computer model.

IRS wants auditing help

The IRS wants a contractor to provide off-the-shelf, PC-based actuarial software and technical support for its large and midsize business division. The contractor will assist with audits of life insurance companies. Services will include annual software maintenance, technical support services, help-desk support, professional actuarial services and training. The contract will be for one year with four one-year optional renewal periods. The procurement is a small business set-aside. Responses are due by Jan. 21. Contact Nicolete Veno at nicolete.c.veno@irs.gov.

Big deals, bigger fuss

Is a protest of your latest big win inevitable? If it's a multiyear enterprise deal worth big bucks and for several years, the chances rise precipitously. And the chances of more such contracts drawing protests in the coming year seem like a safe bet.

Senate wants continuity software

The Senate wants to improve the management and maintenance of its continuity-of-operations plans (COOP) by using commercial software.