Updated January 23, 2009

 

$1.9 Million to Improve State Radiation Laboratories Although accidental release of radioactive materials is very rare, EPA is ready to respond to protect public health and the environment. EPA also works with state and local officials to enhance their response capabilities. In a pilot project, EPA recently awarded cooperative agreements totaling $1.9 million to three state radiation laboratories to improve fast collection of important data. http://yosemite.epa.gov

 

 

IQM2, Inc., today announced that its M2 Suite of intelligent meeting software will now be available on the GSA Schedule through Carahsoft Technology Corp., a leading government IT solutions provider. Already in use in numerous state and local government agencies including Hernando County, FL, Valley Transportation Authority in CA and Southampton, NY, the software streamlines the onerous processes associated with conducting formal/public meetings and managing post-event follow-up, thus enabling agencies to be more efficient, open, collaborative and cost effective. http://www.prweb.com/releases

 

 

Navy: Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a cost-plus-incentive fee, indefinite-delivery, requirements contract with an estimated value of $581,446,845 to provide Joint Performance Based Logistics (JPBL) support for the Marine Corps (MV-22), Air Force, and Special Forces Operations Command (CV-22) aircraft during the production and deployment phase of the V-22 Program.

Army: AeroVironment, Incorporated, Simi Valley, Ca., was awarded on Jan 20, 2009, a $17,060,507.76 firm fixed price and cost plus fixed fee contract to procure a digital data link upgrade for the Raven RQ-11B Unmanned Aircraft System and FY 09 engineering services and accounting for contract services. http://www.defpro.com

 

 

Raytheon Lobbyist Picked for Deputy Defense Post Raytheon, one of the five largest U.S. defense contractors, is a key supplier of missiles and radar to the military. The Waltham, Mass.-based company also produces components of the missile defense system. The Pentagon deputy typically runs much of the day-to-day operation of the Defense Department and handles many key budget and procurement decisions. http://www.latimes.com/news

 

 

ABC Urges President Obama to Preserve Open Competition on Federal Construction ContractsAssociated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today issued the following statement by 2009 ABC National Chairman Jerry Gorski, president of Gorski Engineering, Inc., Collegeville, Pa., urging President Barack Obama to preserve Executive Order 13202 barring federal agencies from requiring union-only project labor agreements on federal and federally funded construction projects. http://www.amerisurv.com/

 

Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2007-013, Employment Eligibility Verification The federal government Jan. 9 agreed to postpone implementation of an executive order and a related federal procurement law that require federal contractors to use E-Verify, after a coalition of business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit challenging the rule. The federal government agreed to delay implementation of the rule until Feb. 20. http://www.sba.gov/

 

 

Raytheon Lobbyist Picked for Deputy Defense Post Raytheon, one of the five largest U.S. defense contractors, is a key supplier of missiles and radar to the military. The Waltham, Mass.-based company also produces components of the missile defense system. The Pentagon deputy typically runs much of the day-to-day operation of the Defense Department and handles many key budget and procurement decisions. http://www.latimes.com/

 

 

Governor Signs Legislation Implementing Energy Savings Improvement Programs—Trenton – Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed legislation encouraging public entities, including the State, counties, municipalities, school districts, and public colleges, to implement energy savings improvement programs. The bill, A1185/ S 1537, will help public agencies reduce their energy consumption and realize financial savings. http://www.politickernj.com/

 

 

NM conference focuses on green economy – Leaders from New Mexico's colleges, the renewable energy industry, nonprofit groups and government officials will be in Santa Fe for two days to talk about green economics. The director of New Energy Economy, Dr. John Fogarty, says there's a green wave of investment coming to America, and he wants to ensure that New Mexico is positioned to ride that wave.  http://www.kvia.com/

 

 

New Green Energy Projects Generate More Green Jobs The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has awarded long-term contracts for six green energy projects. These projects will help create about 2,200 jobs and power a cleaner, greener, energy future for all Ontarians. http://www.newswire.ca

 

 

New wind energy projects could spur $72 billion in investment, 52,000 new jobs The Ontario government announced a gust of fresh air for clean technology Friday, revealing it had signed long-term contracts for six new wind energy projects in the province. http://network.nationalpost.com

 

 

“Stimulus Package Unveiled” $825 Billion Plan Includes Business Tax Breaks; Senate Releases Cash for Bank Rescues House Democrats Thursday rolled out the details of an $825 billion economic stimulus package to combat what they called "a crisis not seen since the Great Depression," but its immediate economic impact is unclear and the plan faces hurdles before becoming law. http://online.wsj.com

 

 

The Bush SBA's Last Act: Relenting On Women's Procurement Congress passed the law establishing the women's procurement program, in which certain government contracts would be set aside for competition just among women-owned businesses, in 2000, after the government consistently found itself unable to meet a very modest goal of awarding five percent of contract dollars to those firms. http://blog.inc.com/

 

 

UCO offers seminar on selling to the government The University of Central Oklahoma-affiliated Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (OSBDC) will offer a five-week intensive seminar in selling services to the government, with emphasis on selling to the federal government. http://www.edmondsun.com/

 

 

Congress Works on Economic Recovery Measure As President Obama meets with his economic advisers, Congress is moving forward with steps to pass a huge economic recovery package. At present it contains $825 billion in spending on infrastructure, transportation, energy, and health care among other things, with $275 billion in tax cuts. http://www.voanews.com/

 

 

Obama Wants Open Source IT Solutions for US One of the first things the Obama Administration is interested in doing is exploring how the United States government can use open source software rather than rely on proprietary software that is viewed as costing to much money. http://www.ipwatchdog.com

 

 

Stimulus package promises millions to schools If the economic recovery legislation before Congress passes, public school districts in Bell and Coryell counties could have an additional $38.4 million over a two-year period to spend, according to Strategic Partnerships Inc., an Austin-based research and procurement consulting firm. The funds are part of the $825 billion economic stimulus package being considered by the House of Representatives. http://www.kdhnews.com/

 

 

The Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Procedures--Eligible Industries the Small Business Administration (SBA) is reopening for an additional 60 days the comment period on the proposed rule on Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Procedures--Eligible Industries. Comments must be received on or before March 13, 2009. SBA published the proposed rule in the Federal Register on October 1, 2008 (73 FR 57014). The proposed rule sought comments from the public on a data issue involving the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Assistance Procedures, which were finalized in the Federal Register on the same day (73 FR 56940). http://www.sba.gov/

 

 

Compiled by:

 

Bianca Nickols

The Federal Buyers Guide