Contract Connections Draws Sold-Out Crowd Seeking Federal Procurement Opportunities

Baltimore, MD (Vocus) December 15, 2010

More than 250 Maryland small and minority businesses flocked yesterday to Contract Connections, the states first federal industry day, seeking government procurement opportunities. The sold-out event, which was organized by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) and held at the Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring, featured 13 federal agencies and military commands including NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, National Institutes of Health, Defense Information Systems Agency, National Security Agency, Social Security Administration, and Naval Air Systems Command, and many top private sector leaders, including Walter P. Havenstein, CEO of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), who served as the luncheon keynote speaker. Click here to view a live stream of the event.

DBED Deputy Secretary Dominick Murray kicked off the day by introducing breakout sessions led by senior federal officials and private sector industry leaders on R & D, cybersecurity and IT and professionals services. An afternoon panel featured a discussion on subcontracting opportunities that included top government contractors. The day concluded with unique matchmaking sessions in which businesses presented their statements of capabilities to the agencies as a first step in accessing federal procurement opportunities.

As we learned from yesterdays successful event, there are a vast number of federal procurement opportunities that can directly benefit our small and minority businesses, and we were pleased to bring together the federal agencies and the industry experts to help make those connections happen, said Deputy Secretary Murray.

We were pleased to host this event and hope it benefits both federal agencies and Maryland businesses, said Kimberly Holden, the FDAs Assistant Commissioner for Management.

Small businesses are an important part of our overall strategy at SAIC, said SAIC CEO Mr. Havenstein said during his keynote remarks. In FY 2010, we awarded $ 2.2 billion, or 20 percent of our total revenues, to small businesses, so they are really at the heart of what we do.

While federal agencies are expected to spend 10 percent less in procurements this fiscal year than last, experts noted yesterday that businesses in Maryland are uniquely positioned because of the States significant role in Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) as well as its leadership in industries like cybersecurity and health care.

With the wide range of industry experts that are here, in terms of professional services, IT, research and development, this event has been a tremendous help, said Lucus Toche with MilVets Systems Technology Inc., a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business in Lanham, who attended Contract Connections. Its a great opportunity to network, to get our name out there and to partner with other companies.

Maryland is home to more than 50 federal facilities which contribute an estimated $ 16 billion to the states economy and employ more than 70,000 people. For the year ending September 30, 2010, federal agencies contracted $ 34 billion with Maryland companies. In addition, Marylands military installations have an economic impact of $ 36 billion, employ more than 100,000 people (excluding contractors) and purchase nearly $ 7 billion in goods and services from Maryland companies.

In January, Governor OMalley appointed a Federal Facilities Advisory Board to identify ways in which Maryland can support and enhance the agencies infrastructure, education and workforce needs and facilitate the commercialization of the innovative technology created in federal and military labs. Yesterday, Board Chairman and Vice President of Van Scoyoc Associates Kevin Kelly announced the creation of the Team Maryland Networking and Mentoring Program to foster cooperation between Maryland-based companies, teach small companies best practices and provide teaming opportunities that can increase federal procurement expenditures in Maryland.

To further assist businesses seeking work with government agencies, DBED recently launched a B2G website which includes a how to guide and other resources for businesses interested in applying for federal contracts.

@MDBiz

@MarylandBRAC

cybermaryland.wordpress.com

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Contract Connections Draws Sold-Out Crowd Seeking Federal Procurement Opportunities

New Release: Help for Parents of Teens Seeking to Manage Computer

(PRWEB) January 14, 2011

How many times a day, across the world, do parents say: “Get off that computer!” For parents it is an exhausting daily battle to drag their children off the computer and get them on to other activities like homework, dinner, and outdoor play.

GroundHog is a free, simple to install, simple to use, friendly application that simply limits each child to a given amount of computer time. The application gives parents set once and forget control of the amount of time that their child can spend on the computer (screen time).

Once the child has used their time limit the friendly application cuts the connection to the internet and optionally blanks the screen, making the computer useless to the child for entertainment. Children can use their time in parts during the day and they are informed at all times how much time remains. The next day the child’s computer time is automatically reset.

GroundHog is home-created and tested technology: Evolved in the home over one year to provide a solution acceptable for parents and none breakable by children but friendly, and non-threatening to use.

James Alexander Mediavention founder states: “Internet use was a constant source of pain in our house; I created GroundHog to solve the problem in my home, I am sure it can help you.”

GroundHog design considerations and goals:

New Release: Help for Parents of Teens Seeking to Manage Computer

New York State Seeking Greenest New Yorker

Albany, NY (PRWEB) March 17, 2011

I LOVE NEW YORK (http://www.iloveny.com), New York States tourism promotion agency, and EscapeMaker.com are seeking to celebrate those individuals who are doing their part to keep the Empire State green with the second annual contest to find the Greenest NYer of 2011.

New York is full of natural wonders and attractions, many of which have made changes to become more environmentally friendly. Examples of this can be seen with the Niagara Falls State Park, the Empire State Building and Fire Island National Seashore, said Peter Davidson, Executive Director of Empire State Development, which administers the I LOVE NEW YORK campaign. Our Greenest NYer is an example of what each of us can do, as residents or as visitors, to preserve and improve the incredible natural heritage and beauty of our State. We are seeking an Ambassador for the State who will not only spread the green travel word, but who will also inspire awareness and appreciation of the environment.

Entries for the Greenest NYer contest must be received by midnight on April 5, 2011. Public voting will begin April 7 online and the top three candidates will be named finalists, to be judged by a panel of expert judges.

The panel will include:

Matt Weingarten, Executive Chef, Inside Park at St. Barts
Peter Lindabury, LEED AP Consultant for the Conference Center at Lake Placid
Kate Sinding, senior attorney and Deputy Director of the New York urban program at the National Resource Defense Council
Valarie DElia, travel correspondent for NY1 News
Kaity Tsui, Greenest NYer 2010

To apply, contestants can log onto http://www.escapemaker.com/ilovenygreen and in 250 words or less tell I LOVE NEW YORK and EscapeMaker.com why they deserve the title of Greenest NYer. To be considered, New York State residents will need to:

Be a striving eco-extraordinaire and demonstrate a clear passion for spreading the green word.
Illustrate a commitment to and leadership in protecting the environment.
Describe how theyve contributed to sustainable eco-practices and what they do regularly to maintain a green spirit.

Contestants are highly encouraged to include videos and photographs in their submissions.

The Grand Prize winner will be announced just after Earth Day, Saturday, April 30, at Escapemaker.coms Green Getaways, Local Food & Travel Expo with a special press conference held by I LOVE NEW YORK. As the official I LOVE NEW YORK Greenest NYer, the winner will get to spend one year traveling New York State (in their free time) and experience some of its finest green/eco-tourism offerings, while using the title in his or her networking and work in the promotion of sustainability. In addition, EscapeMaker.com will donate $ 500 to the green organization of the winners choice. (Organization must be a 501(c)3 and is subject to approval).

As Greenest NYer, the winner will attend the award ceremony on April 30th, travel the state over their year-long tenure visiting New Yorks incredible green and natural assets, blog about their adventures as the Greenest NYer, and make occasional public appearances as their schedule allows.

Last April, in recognition of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, I LOVE NEW YORK, along with EscapeMaker.com, introduced the Greenest NYer contest to honor individuals who are making earnest efforts to preserve the environment in their everyday lives and the lives of others.

Over the past year, 2010 Greenest NYer Kaity Tsui of New York City has served as an ambassador of green travel in New York State, visiting several of the states iconic green destinations and spreading the word on sustainable living in travel and everyday life. She recently returned from a visit to the Adirondack Park and Lake Placid area, where her stops included Lake Placids new environmentally-designed conference center as well as the Wild Center in Tupper Lake. The Greenest NYers experiences are documented on the Diaries of the Greenest NYer blog (http://www.greenheartny.wordpress.com).

For a full list of contest entry rules and regulations, visit http://www.escapemaker.com/ilovenygreen.

About Green Heart NY

In 2010, Empire State Development, which administers the I LOVE NEW YORK program, unveiled a new green heart in its famous I LOVE NEW YORK logo as part of an initiative that promotes green-certified restaurants and hotels, as well as the States parks, beaches, waterways and mountains. I LOVE NEW YORK chose ten must-see iconic green travel destinations for 2010 spanning the States 11 tourism regions. The destinations include national icons such as Niagara Falls State Park, the Catskill Scenic Trail, Adirondack Parks high peaks, and the Empire State Building. The list also includes scenic State Parks such as Taughannock Falls and Letchworth, as well as diverse locales such as the Fire Island National Seashore, Storm King Arts Center, Waterways of the Thousand Islands, and Roosevelt Baths and Spa. Information about I LOVE NEW YORKs Green destinations can be found on the Green Heart NY Web site at http://www.iloveny.com/greenheart.

About EscapeMaker.com

EscapeMaker.com is an online guide to local hotels, B&Bs, vacation rentals, events and festivals, weekend getaways and day trip destinations within a days drive or train ride of New York City. For more information and for tickets to EscapeMaker.coms Green Getaways, Local Food & Travel Expo, on April 30th at Skylight One Hanson in Brooklyn, NY, visit http://www.escapemaker.com/travelexpo.

About New York State

New York State features 11 beautiful vacation regions. New Yorks attractions span from landmarks such as Niagara Falls, to the wine trails of Hudson Valley and treasures like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Whether its wide-ranging outdoor activities for the whole family like fishing, hiking and boating, culinary wonders and farm-to-table fresh foods, or the rich history and culture of one of the 13 original colonies, New York State offers diverse activities for all travelers. For more information visit http://www.iloveny.com. Media can find press releases and more at http://www.thebeat.iloveny.com.

Empire State Development is New Yorks chief economic development agency, committed to being recognized on a global scale as the economic development engine driving job growth, strategic investment and prosperity in New York State. ESD also oversees the marketing of I LOVE NEW YORK, the States iconic tourism brand. For more information, visit http://www.esd.ny.gov.

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