News/Press Releases		Features		Event Calendar

PA e-Comm News February 24

ADVERTISERS OF THE WEEK

Cisco Systems is investing $150 million in a global advertising campaign to increase awareness of what a high-powered corporate network can do for companies' bottom lines and to position Cisco for growth in new business segments. The campaign will blend television, print and online advertising and is based on the theme and tagline of "This is the Power of the Network. Now." It focuses on some new markets for Cisco, including network security, storage networking and voice and wireless communications. Although the ads are aimed primarily at corporate IT buyers, they are also designed to appeal to a wider audience, having been conceived by Ogilvy & Mather. Many forcasters believe there is pent-up demand for tech equipment, restrained by uncertainty about the economy as a whole and fears of war with Iraq. The campaign also addresses the question of whether or not technology outlays will improve business productivity.

Mark Forman, the nation's top information technology official, visited silicon valley recently to drum up support for the federal government, which is beefing up computer security spending and streamlining the technology-procurement process. First, he got the attention of the nearly 50 CEOs by hosting a dinner for them and then he addressed more than 200 people at Sun Microsystems and 150 at Cisco Systems. While war might hurt the overall economy, it can boost the tech industry because the administration plans to increase government spending on computers, software and services. All kinds of products stand to benefit, from supercomputers to software. Big tech companies such as IBM and Oracle, which have partnered with federal contractors for years, are most likely to profit. Tech winners of the federal spending windfall include those selling:

• Supercomputers. Cray last week said it received $62 million in supercomputer and service orders for what is believed to be government defense use. Silicon Graphics, a graphics workstation pioneer, announced the largest defense contract in its 21-year history: $26 million worth of supercomputers, software and services to the Defense Department for the development of aircraft and missiles.
• Computing devices. Dell Computer sold 60,000 personal computers to the Marine Corps, whose combat troops could use them for e-mail and other communications in the battlefield. Panasonic laptops and Compaq handheld devices are used by U.S. troops in the Middle East to check for signs of biological or chemical attacks.
• Technical services. Unisys last summer signed a $1 billion, seven-year deal with the Transportation Security Administration to improve security at 429 commercial airports. It is supplying computer servers, telecommunications equipment and software for the largest homeland security contract yet.
• Network security. Federal spending on computer security could swell to $4.2 billion this year, up 56% from $2.7 billion in 2002, says the Office of Management and Budget.
• RFID. The Defense Department has expanded its use of radio-frequency identification -- technology that combines radio waves and computer networks -- to track shipments of supplies. 
• Biometrics. Unisys late last year landed a $1.23 million deal from the Defense Department to improve face-recognition systems for internal security.

Staples has made a multimillion-dollar investment in updating its businesses-only online store by unveiling a new version of StaplesLink, a site exclusively for U.S. companies with more than 100 employees. The new site is capable of handling more visitor traffic than before and offers expanded features for tracking and returning orders, according to Staples. Companies must be part of the retailer's Contract program--which allows companies to negotiate special prices on office supplies--in order to use the password-protected StaplesLink site. As part of the Internet boom and bust, many e-commerce sites targeting corporate purchasing managers have failed but several major offline companies have built successful online divisions and have grown to dominate the market. Staples, Office Depot, Corporate Express and Boise Cascade are just some of the companies carrying the banner of business-to-business e-commerce. As with any such site, it is unclear whether StaplesLink is generating new sales or poaching its own offline customers. 

E-COMMERCE RELATED EVENTS AND INFORMATION

The following are links to upcoming seminars and other events that our readers might have an interest in and/or other information related to e-commerce: 

The Homeland & Global Security Summit
March 3 - 5, 2003
Washington Convention Center; Washington, DC

Register now to attend the premier event in 2003 on homeland security. The Homeland & Global Security Summit will be held March 3 - 5, 2003 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. Get the latest information on $38 billion in 03 federal spending on homeland security - approved by Congress last week - and on $41 billion in proposed 04 federal spending on homeland security.

Six general sessions feature top White House, Congressional, Administration, and DoD speakers. Lucrative break-out sessions provide strategies on generating business through specific homeland security programs and contracts. And the convention floor is already packed with top companies promoting their homeland security applications. Further details are at www.globalsecurity.bz.

Summit sponsors include: National InfraGard Program, Boeing, BAE SYSTEMS, Sony, Oracle, BearingPoint, Hansen Information Technologies, Striva Corporation, Wirthlin Worldwide, Greater Washington Initiative, Washington Dulles World Trade Group, The New Republic, Jane's, and Aviation Week's Homeland Security & Defense. Some of the many Summit exhibitors include: Titan, SAIC, L-3 Communications, EDS, MicroWarehouse, Ion Track, EPS, Defense Products Marketing, Vredenburg, ITT Industries, RiskWatch, Smith's Detection, Citadel Security Software, Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Research Laboratory, US ARMY TACOM-ARDEC, and the USAF Human Systems Program Office.

To register as an attendee, visit www.globalsecurity.bz. The registration fee for corporate executives is $995. Government employees, military employees, diplomats, and students may register for free.

Department of Commerce 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced that the following programs are accepting applications. The announcement is available at: 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/
2003/03-4129.htm

All of the following programs are open to institutions of higher education; hospitals; nonprofit organizations; commercial organizations; state, local and Indian tribal governments; foreign governments; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; and international organizations. Proposals for each program are due by September 30, 2003. Proposals received after June 30, 2003 will continue to be processed and considered for funding but may be funded in the next fiscal year. 

• The Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Grants Program solicits proposals to support specific programs in the areas of metrology for semiconductors, superconductors, electronic instrumentation, optoelectronics, magnetics, video, electronic commerce as applied to electronic products and devices, the transmission and distribution of electrical power, national electrical standards, and law enforcement. Individual awards are expected to range between $5,000 and $150,000. 
• The Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory Grants Program will provide grants and cooperative agreements in the following fields of research: dimensional metrology for manufacturing, mechanical metrology for manufacturing, intelligent systems, and information systems integration for applications in manufacturing. Proposals are invited in the following divisions: Precision Engineering Division, Manufacturing Metrology Division, Intelligent Systems Division, and Manufacturing Systems Integration Division. The program anticipates funding in FY03 of approximately $750,000, including new awards and continuing projects. Individual awards are expected to range from approximately $25,000 to $300,000. 
• The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Grants Program seeks proposals in the following fields of measurement science research, focused on reference methods, reference materials and reference data: Biotechnology, Process Measurements, Surface and Microanalysis Science, Physical and Chemical Properties, and Analytical Chemistry. The lab anticipates having $1 million to support individual awards ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. 
• The Physics Laboratory Grants Program will support research in the following fields: electron and optical physics, atomic physics, optical technology, ionizing radiation, and time and frequency. The Laboratory anticipates funding of approximately $2 million, including new awards and continuing projects. Funding availability will be apportioned by quarter. Individual awards are expected to range from approximately $5,000 to $300,000. For the Physics Laboratory Grant Program, proposals will be considered for research projects from 1-3 years. 
• The Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL) Grants Program has approximately $6 million to fund new and continuing research projects in the following fields: ceramics, metallurgy, polymer sciences, neutron scattering research and spectroscopy. Most grants and cooperative agreements are expected to be in the $25,000 to $100,000 per year range. 
• The Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program will support research in the following fields: structures, construction metrology and automation, inorganic materials, polymeric materials, thermal machinery, mechanical systems and controls, heat transfer and alternative energy systems, computer integrated construction, indoor air quality and ventilation. Over the past three years, the building divisions of the Building and Fire Research Laboratory funded a total of approximately $1 million in grants and cooperative agreements. The amount available each year fluctuates considerably based on programmatic needs. Individual awards are expected to range between $5,000 and $150,000. 
   

PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The following is a listing of recently published technology procurement opportunities with various governmental entities. We hope our readers take the opportunity to investigate these postings and increase their business:

GSA - Federal Technology Service (FTS)
Information Technology Service (10TR)
D -- 546700USMCTRNG
Modification 02 http://www.eps.gov/spg/GSA/FTS/10TR/546700USMCTRNG/listing.html

GSA - Federal Technology Service (FTS)
Acquisition Services Division (9TE)
70 -- MobileSearch Upgrade and Refurbishment
Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/GSA/FTS/ASD9TE/Reference-Number-SN-45/listing.html

GSA - Public Buildings Service (PBS)
Property Development Division (2PCB)
R -- Term A/E Design Services for Prospectus Development Studies Modification 02 http://www.eps.gov/spg/GSA/PBS/2PCB/GS-02P-03-DTD-0008(N)/listing.html

USAF - Air Combat Command
99 CONS
70 -- Quickdraw II Interrogators with Cable kits
Reps and Certs 01, Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/ACC/99CONS/F26600-03-Q-B016/listing.html

HHS - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Procurement and Grants Office (Atlanta)
D -- Satellite and Web Casting Services
Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/PGOA/OOOHCE14-2003-00596/listing.html

DOT - United States Coast Guard (USCG)
Commanding Officer (fcp), U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May 99 -- Electronic Message Board System Electronic Message Sign Drawing 01 http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOT/USCG/COUSCGTCCM/DTCG42-03-Q-3WN022/listing.html

DOC - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Eastern Administrative Support Center
R -- CONSULTATION SERVICES FOR ATDD COMPUTER NETWORK CONFIGURATION Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/EASC/Reference-Number-NRMAC100-3-03008/listing.html

DISA - Acquisition Directorate
DITCO-Scott
D--INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/DISA/D4AD/DITCO/VARIOUS-18-Feb-2003/listing.html

DON - Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command
SPAWAR Systems Center San Diego
R -- TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR TACTICAL DATA LINK SYSTEMS
Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/SPAWAR/SPAWARSYSCEN_San_Diego/N66001-
03-R-5015/listing.html

DON - Naval Supply Systems Command
NAVOCEANO
70 -- SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE & SUPPORT
Synopsis http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/NAVSUP/N62306/Reference-Number-N62306-
2274-6202/listing.html

NEWS & NOTES is a service of the PA e-Commerce Association. Please forward this e-mail to anyone else who might be interested in the content or in learning more about the Association. Remember to visit our website @ www.paecomm.org. or give us a call at 800-497-0809.

Newsletter Archives