Navy display systems

The Naval Sea Systems Command wants a contractor to manufacture and support new display systems, including next-generation workstations and the Littoral Combat System. The contract will have five production years and five award-term years. A draft RFP is expected during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, and will be available for download at www.eps.gov and www.neco.navy.mil. More information can be found on fedbizopps.gov, solicitation no. N0002403R6312.

Records management support

The Patent and Trademark Office needs support services for data quality and records management initiatives, application processing and examination functions, management and administrative systems and information dissemination. The contract is for one year with four one-year options. This is a small business set-aside opportunity. The RFP can be found at www.uspto.gov/<BR>

Small business gets help

The General Services Administration and the Small Business Administration are fixing government databases that incorrectly classify many large federal contractors as small businesses.

Pentagon pulls the plug on PAM

The Pentagon today squashed a controversial web-based terrorism-betting plan, promoted online by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, before the effort became reality.

Collins urges OPM to nix diploma mill degrees

A senator asks the Office of Personnel Management to "close a legal loophole that enables federal employees to use federal funds to pay for coursework from diploma mills."

Agency, contractor defend government retirement system

Federal officials, testifying today on Capitol Hill, stood behind prime contractor Matcom International Corp. and the computer system it developed for the government's retirement plan.

Online Extra: Geological's IT is nuts and bolts

Karen Siderelis is the geographic information officer at the U.S. Geological Survey. Not CIO, but GIO ? a title that reflects the unique aspects of her job involving science. Siderelis recently spoke with Managing Editor Evamarie Socha.

Doing Business With U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey<br>National Center <br>12201 Sunrise Valley Drive <br>Reston, VA 20192 <br>(703) 648-4000<br><br><a href= "http://www.usgs.gov">www.usgs.gov</a>

Buy Lines: Since when is competition bad?

Using sound-bite rhetoric and deliberate misinformation, opponents of competitive sourcing are simultaneously assaulting the Office of Management and Budget's May 29 revisions to Circular A-76 and engaging in guerrilla campaign tactics to ban competition, agency by agency, through legislation.

Infotech and the law: Homeland security contracting

Homeland security contracting has emerged over the past 18 months as an area of intense interest in the contracting community. Many large systems integrators have shuffled priorities and resources to go after this growing market, and hosts of smaller companies, many of them new to the government market, have set their sights on entry into this field.

Sensor and test bed technologies

&#009;The Naval Air Systems Command has issued a broad agency announcement for research and development concepts in sensor integration and communication technologies. Proposals are sought in three areas: new operational concepts for integration of sensors with manned and unmanned aircraft and weapons; technologies that advance the state of the art in performance and suitability of theaterwide or tactical sensor networks; and systems integration and demonstration testing. More information can be found on fedbizopps.gov, solicitation no. N00421-03-R-0125. Responses are due by July 1, 2004.

Marine Corps issues RFI

&#009;The Marine Corps Systems Command is seeking information on nondevelopmental battlefield management systems that could be integrated into an M1A1 Common Main Battle Tank and Amphibious Assault Vehicle Communications system. The Marines want to enhance the combat and situational awareness capabilities of the fleets through a common battlespace picture.

Web training and document control

&#009;The Air Force Air Combat Command is seeking a Web-based training and document control management system that is externally hosted, supporting access via a Langley Air Force Base portal.

False credentials, real problems

During the recent technology boom, when many companies offered employees bonuses for finding new hires, Robert Lang actively recruited for his employer, Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Logicon unit in Stafford, Va. He would spend his evenings at commuter parking lots or Virginia Rail Express stations, handing out his business card and suggesting that people call him if they would prefer not to commute into Washington.

Lawmakers ask GAO to merge diploma mill probes

Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Tom Davis today said they have asked the General Accounting Office to investigate the use of diploma mill degrees by federal employees.

Cybersecurity laws coming, Putnam says

Cybersecurity regulation that will affect the private sector is on the way this year, a congressman said today. And the Business Software Alliance opposes mandates.

Doing Business With National Transportation Safety Board

490 L'Enfant Plaza SW <br>Washington, DC 20594 <br>(202) 314-6000

Buy Lines: Make procurement officials part of business-case team

While more than 1,200 government employees recently attended Office of Management and Budget workshops on preparing business cases, less than 1 percent were from acquisition or procurement offices.

Industry wants size rule held

The Small Business Administration should delay implementation of a rule requiring small businesses with a multiple-award schedule or other multiple-award contract to annually recertify their size, according to the Professional Services Council. The trade group represents technical and professional services firms.

IT security still a challenge

Federal IT security improvements are coming too slowly, lawmakers said at a June 24 hearing of the House Government Reform subcommittee on technology, information policy, intergovernmental relations and the census.