A procurement rule went into effect Sept. 17 permitting 5 percent incentive payments to contractors and subcontractors that use Native American, Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian small businesses as subcontractors on Defense Department work worth more than $500,000.
The Small Business Administration this month launched an online application for 8(a) Business Development and Small Disadvantaged Business certification. The new automated application replaces a four-page paper form.
IBM Corp. and Boeing Co. are working together to pursue what they see as a $200 billion market for ground- and space-based systems used in network-centric operations. The alliance already is pursing four intelligence and eight Defense Department programs, company officials said.
IBM Corp. and PeopleSoft Inc. announced a $1 billion alliance to integrate IBM's middleware with PeopleSoft's enterprise application software, just weeks after a federal judged cleared the way for Oracle Corp. to pursue its $7.7 billion hostile takeover of PeopleSoft.
General Dynamics Corp. acquired TriPoint Global Communications Inc., a provider of ground-based satellite and wireless equipment and integration services for video, voice and data applications.
<font color="cc0000"> (UPDATED) </font color>Fifty-one small businesses won spots on the Commerce Information Technology Services Next Generation, a small-business acquisition contract for information technology.
Service-disabled veterans recently got what many women want: a new procurement regulation that allows contracting officers to set aside federal contracts specifically for their small businesses.
Cairo Corp. of Chantilly, Va., has grown nearly 200 percent annually during the past five years and now tops Washington Technology's annual list of the 50 fastest-growing federal IT contractors. Owner and president Alba Alemán said she doesn't want any special treatment from the government because of her gender.
At No. 39 on <I>Washington Technology</I>'s Fast 50, Artel Inc. is about in the middle of the bottom half of the rankings, but that's not such a bad thing. Artel, a Reston, Va., provider of IT, information assurance and telecommunications services, debuts on the rankings with a blistering 61.6 percent compound annual growth rate over the last five years. The company's growth also landed it at No. 97 on the <I>Washington Technology</I> 2004 Top 100 list, which ranks prime government contractors. Such is the potential of the companies found on this year's ranking lists.
Most large technology firms focus like a laser on the biggest buyers in the state and local market. But for small companies, a similar marketing focus could result in missed selling opportunities.
In this annual small-business issue, Washington Technology talked with many people who founded their own companies and made their own fortunes. Interestingly enough, the Beyster Institute has devoted itself to advancing entrepreneurship and employee ownership to build stronger and better-performing enterprises. One leading the charge is Robert Fuller, who has more than 17 years of experience developing entrepreneurial curricula. Among his many accomplishments, Fuller helped implement the Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development program for Science Applications International Corp. He recently spoke with Managing Editor Evamarie Socha about entrepreneurship.
Backbone of the nation. Driver of economic growth. Pillar of the American dream. Small businesses have been called all of these things, but being a small business is not easy.
The Air Force this month revealed part of its plan for the multibillion-dollar Network Centric Solutions program at the Air Force IT Conference in Montgomery, Ala.
In an all-cash transaction, PEC Solutions has acquired AC Technologies Inc., a provider of information technology solutions to the federal government, for $46.7 million.
When <b>Robert Beyster</b> stepped down in July as chairman of Science Applications International Corp., he became the latest retiree among the first generation of executives who built the government systems integration industry. When industry insiders are asked to identify the early movers and shakers, they invariably point to seven names, including the former SAIC chief. Washington Technology profiles these Titans in a special report that includes "what are they doing now" updates and Q&As.
In my view, the attributes of the government services industry reduce the risk in mergers and acquisitions to a level well below what is prevalent in other business sectors. The recent history and pace of industry transactions supports this thesis. With few exceptions, government services mergers and acquisitions have added value to the acquirers business, quantitatively, qualitatively or both.
When Anne Altman started looking for a full-time position at IBM Corp. some 20 years ago, she was turned down for a sales representative job because a male executive who interviewed her said she was not tenacious enough and would make a better systems engineer.
