Playing the predictions game

Making predictions is easy. Getting them right is ... well, not so easy. Just ask the guys who predicted that the stock market would reach 36,000.But that doesn't mean you can't get a useful sense of directions and trends. For our annual look at the year ahead, the Washington Technology staff talked to experts in government and industry and found widespread agreement on several important issues.

Who bought whom: The latest in mergers and acquisitions

In a $65.8 million cash deal, Reston, Va.-based SI International Inc. will buy government IT, engineering and logistics provider Matcom International Corp.

SRA to acquire law enforcement services company

SRA International Inc. is buying Orion Scientific Systems, a company specializing in counterintelligence, counterterrorism and law enforcement.

ACS acquires Patient Accounting Services Center

Affiliated Computer Services of Dallas has acquired Patient Accounting Services Center LLC of Kent, Wash., for $94 million.

Stanley Associates acquires Fuentez Systems Concepts

Deal combines the advanced systems engineering, production, integration and command and control expertise of FSC with Stanley's network engineering, software and technical support capabilities.

NCI acquires Scientific & Engineering Solutions

NCI Information Systems Inc. of Reston, Va., acquired Scientific & Engineering Solutions Inc. of Annapolis Junction, Md., NCI officials announced today.

TechTeam Global buys Digital Support Corp.

TechTeam Global Inc. has acquired Digital Support Corp., a provider of information technology services.

SAIC acquires Atlantic Coast Telesys

Science Applications International Corp. has acquired Atlantic Coast Telesys Corp., a Maryland-based provider of solutions to intelligence, defense and commercial customers. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

L-3 Communications acquires Ipitek

L-3 Communications Corp. of New York acquired the assets of Ipitek, the defense and aerospace division of Ipicom Inc.

SI International to buy Matcom International

SI International Inc. is buying Matcom International Corp., a deal that will give it more information technology and engineering services capabilities.

VeriSign to buy managed security service provider

Network security company VeriSign Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., has agreed to acquire Guardent Inc. for approximately $140 million in stock and cash.

Tyler Technologies buys Eden Systems

Tyler Technologies has acquired Eden Systems Inc., a provider of financial, personal and citizen services applications software for local governments.

Rockwell Collins acquires flight simulation firm

Rockwell Collins Inc. has completed its acquisition of NLX LLC, a company that builds flight simulators and training systems, for $125 million.

Lockheed Martin closes ACS deal

Lockheed Martin Corp. and Affiliated Computer Services Inc. finished their asset swap, with Lockheed Martin picking up most of ACS' federal business.

Alion purchasing nuclear engineering services firm

Alion Science and Technology Corp. is acquiring Innovative Technology Solutions Corp., an engineering services firm that specializes in nuclear technology and systems and software development.

Ciber to acquire SCB Computer Technology

Ciber Inc. is acquiring SCB Computer Technology Inc., an information technology services and consulting company, in a $55.9 million cash and stock deal.

Washington Management Group acquires Fed Sources

Washington Management Group has acquired Federal Sources Inc. in a deal that was completed Oct. 23, according to James Kane, president of FSI. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Unisys picks up security and identity management business

Unisys Corp. is buying ePresence Inc.'s security and identity management services business for $11.5 million.

CACI acquires C-Cubed

CACI International Inc. completed its acquisition of C-Cubed Corp. Terms were not disclosed, but a CACI statement said the transaction is expected to boost the company's performance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004.

Top Ten signs your company is for sale

10The articles of incorporation and bylaws are dusted off for the first time.