Access denied: Industry association excludes competitors, critics charge

Washington revolves around relationships. Knowing the right people and belonging to the right organizations are critical to getting business done. <b>Steve Charles</b>, executive vice president of immixGroup Inc., wants to join the Coalition for Government Procurement, a well-connected industry group representing companies that hold contract schedules with the General Services Administration. The coalition's close ties with GSA make it a key organization for schedule-holders such as immixGroup. But the coalition won't let immixGroup join, Charles said.

Buy Lines: Competitive sourcing ? Yeah, right

In October, the Agriculture Department issued a report on its competitive sourcing program, from which one could infer that competition at DoA is, indeed, DOA.

Report: IT spending continues strong growth

While Congress has not yet completed its appropriations work for fiscal 2004, one market research firm believes the upcoming year is going to be a strong one for information technology and technology-based services.

Report: IT spending continues strong growth

While Congress has not yet completed its appropriations work for fiscal 2004, one market research firm believes the upcoming year is going to be a strong one for information technology and technology-based services.

DHS seeks research proposals from small biz

Small businesses can now submit to the Homeland Security Department research proposals that address high-priority technology areas.

CDW-G extends small-biz consortium

CDW Government Inc. has opened its small-business consortium to state and local governments in seven states.

Buy Lines: Keep your eyes open for conflicts of interest

Enterprisewide solutions can optimize results and leverage available funding for federal agencies. But sometimes they also create potential for organizational conflicts of interest or related appearance issues.

SBA, GSA still wrangle over small biz recertification

It could take months for the GSA and the SBA to agree on how often small businesses selling to the federal government should recertify their size, a GSA official said today.

Network management tools serve small business

Recent changes in the structure of network management software could be a boon for buyers looking for better performance and prices.

Bundling rules pull in more contracts for review

A new procurement rule will subject more federal contracts to review as the government tries to crack down on the bundling of requirements.

Buy Lines: Congress hurts small business with its help

Doing business with the federal government is tough, especially for small businesses. So it is appropriate that there are special rules and procedures to help these businesses -- which often offer exceptional agility and innovation -- navigate the federal market.

Buy Lines:Contract in trouble? Don't ditch it ? transform it

As contractor and government teams prepare and evaluate proposals, we are reminded that federal agencies increasingly depend on contractors to fulfill their missions. But what can be done when the contract isn't going well, and the contractor and government teams find themselves in situations that aren't working?

Share in savings gets a boost

Contractors can expect more opportunities for share-in-savings contracts under a new procurement rule proposed early this month by the General Services Administration.

Online Extra: Biometric opportunities

Listing of contract opportunities in the federal agencies in the field of biometrics security.

WALKING TALL: The Small Business Issue

<b>Washington Technology presents its Top 25 8(a) companies and Fast 50 rankings</b><br>In 1998, Preferred Systems Solutions Inc., President Robert Hisel Jr. sold all his commercial work to another firm and used the proceeds to focus on the government market. Colleagues questioned his wisdom. Today, he says, "They are asking me, 'How the hell do you get into this government stuff?' "

Fast 50 companies find their government niche

Forensics, consulting, information technology services, engineering. The small businesses showing the fastest growth in the government sector also showcase a variety of services and niches that contractors can thrive in.

Small businesses thirst for success

Is the glass half full or half empty? For small IT businesses working the government market, the answer isn't always clear.

Survival Guide: Mary Ann Elliott, president and chief executive officer, Arrowhead Global Services Inc.

Mary Ann Elliott doesn't believe there's anything she can't do. A wife at 14 and a mother at 15, she was selling encyclopedias part time when her husband was killed in a car crash in 1975. Knowing she needed full-time work to support herself and three children, Elliott applied for work at Motorola, which had just started hiring women. She was turned down three times.

Native American firms climb small biz ladder

When Barney Uhart came to work for Chugach Alaska Corp. in 1993, the company was emerging from bankruptcy.

Filling the bill in emergencies

Innovative public-private partnerships are creating new revenue opportunities for both contractors and government agencies ? and new reasons to scrutinize the public values of such arrangements.