When it became clear a few months ago that the approaching conflict in Iraq might endanger some Anteon International Corp. employees working for government customers overseas, Pat Dawson started investigating how those employees' insurance coverage would be affected by war.
Recently proposed procurement rules could dramatically increase competition for information system services under the General Services Administration's federal supply schedules and blanket purchase agreements. The new rules, proposed April 18 by the Defense and Civilian Acquisition Councils, would make it more difficult for procurement officials to limit competition for services contracts to incumbents, and may increase the opportunities for new entrants.
	The Commerce Department's Office of Acquisition Management plans to release a request for proposal in June for the Commerce Information Technology Solutions Next Generation, or COMMITS NexGen, contract.
	The Navy wants services for the Naval Tactical Command Support System, including design, development, integration, implementation, Web-enabling and life-cycle support management systems. The contractor will perform research, evaluation, design, development, life-cycle maintenance, systems integration, tools evaluation, training, technical writing and desktop publishing services.
	The Army Communications and Electronics Command needs contractors to provide engineering and technical support services for the design and integration of anti-terrorism and force protection systems in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area. Companies must provide engineering and technical support services for command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems. Capabilities include planning, development, design, procurement, site preparation and installation. Details can be found on www.fedbizopps<BR>
The much-anticipated request for proposals for the Army's $800 million Information Technology Enterprise Solutions contract was released early this month after several weeks of delay.
When Harris Corp. won the Federal Aviation Administration Telecommunications Infrastructure contract last July, it was another sign of how the systems integration and telecommunications markets are converging. And it appears, at least for now, the systems integrators are gaining the upper hand.
When Washington Technology published its first Top 100 list of federal IT contractors in 1994, a Democrat was in office, defense budgets were shrinking and the Internet was just emerging as a business tool.
In a recent letter to Mitch Daniels, director of the Office of Management and Budget, a group of senators sharply criticized the administration's proposal to allow best-value contracting on a small portion of public-private competitions. Instead, the senators argued, public-private competitions should be based on "a combination of cost and quality."
The job of connecting citizens with the federal government isn't done once federal portals, such as www.regulations.gov and www.recreation.gov, go online. The public must know about the projects or they won't be a success, Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla., said April 9.
	A coalition of tech companies and associations is lobbying for permanent extension of the research and development tax credit. A temporary credit expires in June 2004.
	A proposed rule published April 3 in the Federal Register would require federal contractors to register in the Central Contractor Registration database before they are awarded a contract or other purchase agreement.
Greater numbers of Americans are using e-government services, but many still have serious concerns about the security and privacy of their online transactions with government, according to a new study.
Companies entering the federal market for the first time are often concerned about potential liability for consequential or punitive damages in connection with breach of a federal contract. These companies have heard horror stories about the occasional, huge award of damages against a contractor, typically in a state court, and they want to know if there is similar risk on federal contracts.
The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, wants a contractor to support an A-76 study involving budget and financial program support services. The work requires using multiple government databases and software programs to provide logistical and financial controls. Details can be found at FedBizOpps.gov, solicitation no. N6133103R0035. Responses are due June 12.
	The Air Force Space Command is looking for contractors to provide management, technical expertise, tools, equipment, supplies, labor and quality control for data evaluation support services to the Technical Applications Center, Reactor Products Program.
