News/Press Releases		Features		Event Calendar

PA e-Comm News November 22

ADVERTISERS OF THE WEEK

A recent Gartner report predicts that shoppers will make more than a quarter of their holiday purchases online with about $235 per shopper being spent over the Internet. The survey found that convenience is the biggest draw of online shopping with access 24 hours a day and no long lines at the malls. So retailers with online channels should continue to emphasize making the buying experience as fast and easy as possible. Survey respondents were not particularly motivated by gift suggestions or the ability to send presents directly to other people.

Former credit card company NextCard has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy two weeks after laying off nearly half of its staff and shuttering its Web site. The changes followed the termination of a contract between the company and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) at the end of last month. The FDIC deactivated hundreds of thousands of NextCard credit cards in July. Originally backed by Amazon.com, NextCard was once one of many upstart Internet companies that sought to upset more traditional players in the financial world, by using the Internet to reduce costs related to issuing cards and serving customers. Customers who still owe balances on their NextCard accounts still must pay off or transfer their balances according to the FDIC.

Web auction site eBay has launched a new online store, eBay Electronics, designed to assist companies and consumers in purchasing used electronic equipment. eBay also said it would offer free shipping on electronics in order to spur consumer sales prior to the holiday season. The site carries hot-selling consumer items such as digital cameras, video games and flat panel displays and it also sells enterprise-grade equipment as companies hurt by the tech spending downturn sell off their equipment. eBay Electronics is also introducing free shipping in order to spur consumer sales.

Over half of US parents with Internet access say they have been asked by their children to buy Christmas gifts that were first seen online, according to an America Online/RoperASW study. The survey also indicates that 55% of all online shoppers have recommended shopping sites to family members or friends.

The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have the most favorable environments for e-commerce, thanks to government policies and other factors, according to a new study. The Booz Allen Hamilton report looked at eight countries to see how Britain measured up in the e-commerce world. Sweden was another country that shined according to the report, topping the citizen involvement, e-government and business maturity categories along with the United States.

USA Interactive has reported its intention to purchase coupon book seller Entertainment Publications in an effort to continue its plans to infuse the Internet into traditional businesses. The company plans to sell Entertainment Publications' travel, dining and shopping coupons electronically through its various e-commerce sites such as CitySearch, Expedia and Hotels.com. USA Interactive already owns Ticketmaster and Match.com. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year, pending regulatory approval. 

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. 

"Access Pennsylvania Main Street" is a 12-hour workshop on electronic business for small businesses. Topics include: using the Internet as a business research tool to find new markets or suppliers; decide if a Web presence is right for you and how to do it right; how to incorporate the Internet into your business plan. Workshops are offered evenings or daytimes at various central PA locations. Contact Winifred McGee at wwm1@psu.edu or (717) 270-4391 for more information. January classes are forming now!

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:

DON - Naval Supply Systems Command
FISC San Diego
A--Maintenance Service for eight (8) Tektronix Printers located at Naval
Hospital, Camp Pendleton.
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/NAVSUP/200/N0024403T0215/listing.html

DON - Naval Supply Systems Command
FISC San Diego
D--ONLINE INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SERVICE
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/NAVSUP/200/N0024403T0168/listing.html

DON - Naval Sea Systems Command
NUWC Keyport Division
70--General Purpose Information Technology Equipment
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/NAVSEA/N00253/N0025303Q0015/listing.html

DON - Naval Sea Systems Command
NSWC Carderock Division
99--SOFTWARE
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/NAVSEA/N00167/N0016703Q0051/listing.html

DOJ - Bureau of Prisons
Northeast Regional Contracting Office
U -- TEST ADMINISTRATOR
Solicitation 01
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOJ/BPR/20020/RFQ428-0010/listing.html

DON - Naval Supply Systems Command
NAVICP-Mechanicsburg
70---Disk Set,Magnetic
Solicitation 01
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/NAVSUP/N000104/N0010403RTM06/listing.html

DON - Naval Supply Systems Command
NAVICP-Mechanicsburg
70---Disk Set,Magnetic
Amendment 01
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/NAVSUP/N000104/N0010403RNA33/listing.html

DON - Naval Supply Systems Command
NAVICP-Mechanicsburg
D -- Publication Subscriptions
Modification 01
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/NAVSUP/N000104/N0010403QQ095/listing.html

GSA - Federal Technology Service (FTS)
Center for IT Solutions (5TF)
D -- Electronic Business (EB)/Electronic Commerce (EC) Support
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/GSA/FTS/FTSITSol/GS05T03BQ0005/listing.html

USA - Army Contracting Activity, North Region
ACA, Aberdeen Proving Ground
D--Support the development of all VISION Software - real time and
non-real time.
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/USA/DABJ/DABJ05/W81C5M-2298-S243/listing.html

GSA - Federal Supply Service (FSS)
GSA Hardware SuperStore (6FE)
80 -- SPQ-8040-00-145-0019
Solicitation 01, Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/GSA/FSS/6FE/SPQ-B8-8040-00-145-0019/listing.html

NASA - Headquarters
Office of Procurement (HQ)
A--ACCESS TO SPACE: THE EVOLUTION OF AN IDEA AND A TECHNOLOGY HISTORY
BOOK PREPARATION
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/NASA/HQ/OPHQDC/RFOW-08072/listing.html

USAF - Air Force Materiel Command
ESC - Electronic Systems Center
R--Professional, Admin; Management Support Services
Other Files 84
http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/ESC/R189/listing.html

USAF - Air Mobility Command
436th CONS
99 -- Ruggedized Lap Tops
Combine Synopsis/Solicitation
http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AMC/436CONS/F13TRX22900100/listing.html

USAF - Air Combat Command
366 CONS
T -- Newspaper
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/ACC/366CONS/F10603-03-R-0002/listing.html

USAF - Air Combat Command
4 CONS
70 -- Upgrade Computer Milling Program
Synopsis, Solicitation 01
http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/ACC/4CONS/F31610-03-Q-0090/listing.html

USAF - Air Force Materiel Command
HSW - 311 Human Systems Wing
R -- Manufacturing Technical Assistance Procurement Program
Solicitation 01
http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/HSW/F41622-03-R-0001/listing.html

TREAS - Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD)
Division of Procurement
T -- MICROFILM PROCESSING AND DUPLICATING
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/TREAS/BPD/DP/BPD-03-CI-0002/listing.html

NSF - Division of Contracts, Policy, and Oversight
CPO
D -- COTS Procurement Automation Software
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/NSF/DCPO/CPO/Reference-Number-DACS-Automation/lis
ting.html

DISA - Acquisition Directorate
DITCO-Scott
D--INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DISA/D4AD/DITCO/VARIOUS-20-Nov-2002/listing.html

DISA - Acquisition Directorate
DITCO-Scott
D -- International Maritime Satellite (INMARSAT)
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DISA/D4AD/DITCO/Reference-Number-DCA200-01-D-5008/listing.html

DISA - Acquisition Directorate
DITCO-Scott
D -- Inmarsat Maritime Satellite (INMARSAT)
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/DISA/D4AD/DITCO/Reference-Number-DCA200-02-D-5002/listing.html

ODA - Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Contracts Management Office
A -- Cognitive Information Processing Technology
Modification 03
http://www.eps.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/BAA02-21/listing.html

USA - U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command
National Ground Intelligence Center
99--REALSITE V2.3.1 SOFTWARE
Synopsis
http://www.eps.gov/spg/USA/INSCOM/DASC02/W26MT9-2298-2004/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