Confusion Reigns With Disability Regs

Information technology companies are uncertain whether they can meet a June 25 deadline that says all electronic and IT products they sell to the U.S. government must be accessible to people with disabilities.

Application Technologies Acquires Apprio Inc.

Application Technologies Inc., an information technology consulting firm in Bethesda, Md., announced May 30 it would acquire Apprio Inc., an Oracle-based application service provider and systems integrator in Vienna, Va.

TRW Wins Howitzer Support Contract

TRW Inc. announced May 29 that it won a five-year contract, with a potential value up to $50 million, to provide electronic systems technical services for the U.S. Army's Paladin howitzer and its ammunition vehicle. The award, by the Army's Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, follows TRW's integration of its battlefield digitization system into the howitzer cannon last December.

EDS Acquisition Creates New Line of Business

Electronic Data Systems Corp. announced May 23 it would buy Structural Dynamics Research Corp. for approximately $950 million in cash, or $25 a share.

SAIC Wins $15 Million Cargo Inspection Contract

Science Applications International Corp. announced it was awarded a $15 million contract by the U.S. Customs Service for nine gamma ray-based railroad vehicle and cargo inspection systems.

Revved-Up Navy E-Learning Site Reaches 1.2 Million

The Navy today officially launched a revamped e-learning network now available to more than 1.2 million sailors, retirees, reservists, family members and civilians, according to THINQ Learning Solutions Inc.

ERIM Acquires Vector Research

The Environmental Research Institute of Michigan has acquired Vector Research Inc. Both companies call Ann Arbor, Mich., home. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Lawmakers, Industry See Compromise on Federal CIO

Former government officials working in the information technology industry are confident the federal government will gain a chief information officer this year, and legislators and the administration seem ready to compromise to make that happen.

From 'Rag-Tag' to Riches

Before Ray Lopez teamed up with Anteon Corp. through the Defense Department's Mentor-Protégé Program, the 35 employees of Engineering Services Network Inc. in Arlington, Va., were a "rag-tag group of technocrats," Lopez said.

FedBizOpps.gov to Host All Federal Procurement Notices

Federal agencies must begin posting all government business opportunities worth more than $25,000 on the FedBizOpps.gov Web site by Oct. 1, a federal procurement council said May 16.

L-3 Communications to Acquire EER Systems

L-3 Communications Corp. of New York announced May 16 that it will acquire EER Systems Inc. of Chantilly, Va., for about $105 million, plus up to an additional $10 million, based on EER's financial performance for 2001 and 2002. The acquisition is expected to close within 30 days, L-3 reported.

Titan Corp. Launches E-tenna Subsidiary

Titan Corp. of San Diego May 14 launched e-tenna Corp., a subsidiary developing and licensing radio frequency technologies that are expected to reshape broadband wireless connectivity worldwide.

IT Training Tax Credit Bill Introduced in House

Congress may soon provide a powerful new tool to help thwart the shortfall of IT-skilled workers.

Bill Would Expand Defense Dept. Mentoring Program

Legislation introduced May 10 in the Senate would expand the Defense Department's Mentor-protégé Program to all federal agencies.

Army E-Learning Project Enlists PeopleSoft, Smarthinking

PeopleSoft Inc. and Smarthinking Inc. announced this week they have signed contracts to provide services under PricewaterhouseCoopers for the Army's global distance learning network.

Harris to Support Army's Training Ranges

Harris Corp. has been awarded a 30-month contract by Lockheed Martin Corp. to support development of a common instrumentation and communications architecture for the Army's training ranges.

EDS Project Delivers Big Bucks to Small Business

Nearly 70 percent of the subcontracts awarded thus far under the $6.9 billion Navy-Marine Corps Intranet contract have been given to small businesses, prime contractor Electronic Data Systems Corp. reported.

Fed Agencies Master E-Learning

The Administration for Children and Families lost 25 percent of its staff during the last five years, while it gained responsibility for an additional $5 billion in grants.

ON THE JOB

New York state will provide $15 million in high-tech training grants to 28 organizations, benefiting 4,000 workers, Gov. George Pataki announced last month.