Know your strengths

Vangent supplies systems integration and other services to defense and civilian agencies with a focus on health care, and now the company is looking for partners with the right skills and location.

Welcome to the bipolar M&A market

The government services mergers and acquisition market has been consistently active since 2001. But today it's more of a bipolar M&A market driven by the small-business recertification requirements that took effect July 1.

Business ethics the latest addition to FAR

A new subpart to the Federal Acquisition Regulation took effect that requires contractors to establish a code of business ethics and conduct and to take steps to promote ethics and early discovery of improper conduct.

Advocacy group sues SBA

A small-business advocacy group has sued the Small Business Administration, claiming the agency is withholding information on contracting abuses.

BCPI to assist Army security cooperation program

BCP International Ltd. won a $6.6 million contract for technical and analytical support for the Army Security Cooperation Program.

SiloSmashers lands USCIS work

SiloSmashers Inc. will help U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with a major transformation of its business processes under a new award.

Citizant to tackle EA for FTC

Citizant Inc. will provide enterprise architecture consulting and management services to the Federal Trade Commission under a new contract.

Forecast 2008: Small business under the microscope

Small and woman-owned businesses will face more scrutiny this year and perhaps fewer awards, largely due to the new recertification rule introduced by the SBA and a proposed SBA rule change to the women's contracting program.

DOD issues new contractor rulings

DOD has issued several new contracting rules, including one that restricts lead systems integrators with a financial interest in an acquisition from working on it.

Evans Security Solutions protests GPO contract award

Evans Security Solutions is protesting GPO's award of a multimillion-dollar contract to General Dynamics for smart-card printing services.

News briefs

None

Forecast 2008: Chart your course

Elections, GSA contracts, deadlines and congressional oversight shape the future.

EDS to keep Californians moving with DMV work

EDS Corp. will work with California to provide better services to the state's 23 million licensed drivers through a new $76 million contract.

Legislators want new SBA rule thrown out

The Small Business Administration's attempt to give women who own small businesses better odds of getting a government contract may not help after all, lawmakers say.

CSC wins DISA networks contract

Computer Sciences Corp. will continue to provide telecom services to the Defense Information Systems Agency under a deal that could be worth as much as $613 million.

WV firm gets Patent Office contract

HMS Technologies Inc. will provide business and financial management support to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office under a new contract.

DHS orders sensors with lemon butter

DHS is sponsoring the development of new Lobster Eye sensors that mimic the unique capabilities of their namesake crustaceans in detecting images through wood, concrete and steel.

SGIS gains Navy C4ISR contract

SGIS, a small contractor, will provide technology support services to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston under a new contract worth as much as $157.8 million.

Alliant goes to 62 small businesses

Sixty-two vendors have been selected for the $15 billion Alliant Small Business governmentwide acquisition contract.

USAspending.gov gets lukewarm reception

The Office of Management and Budget's publicly accessible database of government contracts, grants, loans and other transactions is receiving mixed reviews.