Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Introducing the Insider
The Industry Defined
HUBZones: Anyone Can Play
Beyond Reproach: The Incumbent's Bind
Breaking Wave: Human Resources BPO
Cooperative Personnel Services: Differentiating Not a Problem
Adventures in Marketing
Policy & Regs: Can We Satisfy the Appetite for Cleared Personnel?
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Ron Salluzzo, the first CRO in one of the industry's sizeable consulting and IT firms, explains the scope of his position and how he will relate to those who develop business and deliver services. He's a new kind of change agent.
Two of the most riveting words to a government services company executive are qui tam, the Latin term applied to a False Claims Act lawsuit involving a whistleblower. These suits are not only hard to spot when they are spawned, but they are also difficult to understand statistically when they are settled. With recent data from the Justice Department and commentary from one of the top experts on the False Claims Act, the Insider provides a context for understanding recent activity in this kind of case. In the most recent fiscal year, the amount of settlements has dropped off steeply, but you can't see what's in the pipeline of cases in progress.
You've probably heard about planned and budgeted cuts in defense contracting for services that, among other things, are needed to finance the Iraq war. Alan Chvotkin provides advice on how to prepare a company for dealing with program funding reductions or terminations for convenience. He also suggests how to reduce your exposure when the client has some discretion about where to find cost-savings.
The Army's transformation depends, among other things, on the Future Combat Systems program. The giant effort will design and produce the next generation of battlefield hardware and software. Boeing is the Lead Systems Integrator, with unusual authority. Senator McCain's Senate Armed Services subcommittee held a hearing in March to take the temperature of the program. In his inimitable way, McCain produced some food for thought for the contractors involved and others who want to deal in ultracomplex systems. [Note: on April 5, after the Insider went to press, the Army announced it was restructuring the program to give the government more traditional leverage in the program's business and management arrangements that have been criticized by Sen. McCain.]
The Insider brings you updates and insight into the government's False Claims Act suit against SAIC and industry's response to Air Force efforts to force the company to disclose exhaustive backup on its price proposals. The politely put gist of the industry message is: put up or shut up, Air Force.
In addition, there's news that the Acquisition Advisory Panel will, after all, deal with ethics issues.
We're launching a Web log by the end of April. Check this Web site for details later, including a hyperlink to the blog.