From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Tue Oct 5 13:26:55 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 09:26:55 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] Nanosys Awarded $8.2 Million Sub-Contract to Develop Nanotechnology-Enabled Systems for the U.S. Government Message-ID: <20041005092618.F396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> Monday October 4, 2:52 pm ET Nanosys Awarded $8.2 Million Sub-Contract to Develop Nanotechnology-Enabled Systems for the U.S. Government http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041004/nem029_1.html --- PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanosys, Inc. announced today that it has signed an $8.2 million sub-contract awarded by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to develop undisclosed sub- system components based on their proprietary nanotechnology platform for use in systems for the U.S. Government. Under this contract, Nanosys will receive $1.5 million of funding over the first 12 months of the program, with an additional $6.7 million available over the remaining four years of the contract based upon the availability of government funding and the achievement of milestones. Further details of the program were not disclosed. Nanosys and SAIC previously announced an agreement to market each other's capabilities to their customers. "Our collaboration with SAIC has exceeded our expectations," said Calvin Chow, chief executive officer at Nanosys. "While we are developing products and technologies for commercial applications; these same components can be extremely valuable in government systems and provide synergy in our development efforts. Our collaboration with SAIC helps us to understand the specific needs of the U.S. government and offer nanotechnology enabled solutions with systems integration and support." About SAIC SAIC is the largest employee-owned research and engineering company in the United States, providing information technology, systems integration and eSolutions to commercial and government customers. SAIC engineers and scientists work to solve complex technical problems in national and homeland security, energy, the environment, space, telecommunications, health care and logistics. With annual revenues of $6.7 billion, SAIC and its subsidiaries, including Telcordia Technologies, have more than 44,000 employees at offices in more than 150 cities worldwide. More information about SAIC can be found at http://www.saic.com. About Nanosys Nanosys, Inc. is a leader in the development of nanotechnology based products utilizing high performance inorganic nanostructures. Nanosys has built one of the broadest technology platforms in the industry with more than 250 patents and patent applications covering fundamental areas of nanotechnology. Based in Palo Alto, Calif. and privately held, Nanosys collaborates with industry leaders including Dupont, Intel, Matsushita Electric Works and SAIC to develop revolutionary high-value, high-performance products for computing, optoelectronics, communications, energy, defense and the life and physical sciences. Additional information about Nanosys can be found at http://www.nanosysinc.com From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Tue Oct 5 13:28:23 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 09:28:23 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] Outside In Message-ID: <20041005092657.L396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> Outside In http://www.govtech.net/magazine/story.php?id=91687 --- Governments have long used outsourcing to shed certain functions, but jurisdictions now turn over entire business areas to the private sector. By Shane Peterson October 2004 In 1997, former Connecticut CIO Rock Regan received orders from then-Gov. John Rowland to privatize the state's technology infrastructure in the executive branch. The state awarded a $1.35 billion, seven-year contract to EDS in late 1998 for the project, and the company -- with a group of subcontractors -- was to assume responsibility for Connecticut's desktop computers, mainframes and telecommunications operations. The bellwether initiative got substantial press because the state was among the first to consider such large-scale outsourcing and publicly commit to making it work. The following summer, however, the project was killed. Spirited opposition from several fronts -- including labor unions, legislators, the state comptroller and a handful of state agencies -- created enough fear, uncertainty and doubt to derail the privatization project, Regan told Information Week in late 1999. He said he wished he had better articulated his project plans because that might have saved the project. "Instead, we allowed the issue to be framed by other people," Regan told the magazine. That Was Then. This Is Now. In 2004, a scant seven years later, huge outsourcing projects like Connecticut's aren't a novelty anymore. Some governments have upped the ante by outsourcing whole business areas, including HR or public welfare, and now let private companies do the government's daily work. Because of the unbelievably tight budgets in which governments find themselves working, outsourcing has become an attractive way to shave costs. A new rank of governors with private-sector backgrounds also has spurred governments to actively search for opportunities to privatize services. These governors' familiarity with ruthless, bottom-line thinking has rubbed off on other branches of government. Add a looming work force crisis -- the coming retirement wave -- and it's easy to see why outsourcing and privatization suddenly appear to be the answers to a number of problems. That's reflected in the steady growth of outsourcing spending in state and local governments, said Shawn McCarthy, IDC's program manager who covers IT opportunities in U.S. government and education. "In general, I expect to see contract IT services spending increase an average of about 6.9 percent each year between now and 2008," McCarthy said. "This will differ by state and municipality, but the overall trend is noticeable." Solutions that state and local governments typically outsource fall into two categories, he said: business process outsourcing, which includes accounting, logistics systems and HR systems; and IT services, which includes network management, support, and hosted Web sites and applications. Still, reliance on outside parties can cause trouble for governments learning to manage complex contracts associated with large-scale outsourcing. As with any recipe, the wrong blend of ingredients can turn a pleasant dish into a foul mess. Turning over your entire enterprise computing operation to somebody else is an intricate undertaking, and structuring and managing that sort of contract is a skill not mastered quickly or easily. Governments have had varying success with these monster outsourcing projects, but the efforts can work and promise enough payback to make it all worthwhile. Bring It On Large-scale outsourcing is nothing new in San Diego County, though at one point, the county nearly scrapped a huge outsourcing deal. In October 1999, the county signed a landmark, seven-year $644 million contract with the Pennant Alliance -- a group of companies including Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC), which leads the consortium; Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC); SBC (formerly Pacific Bell) and Lucent Technologies -- to outsource all county IT operations. The first few years of the contract weren't pleasant. CSC was fined for failing to meet service goals during the contract's first year and for not migrating county employees to a common e-mail platform, according to Michael Moore, CIO of San Diego County. In all, the alliance paid almost $2.4 million in fines in 2000, he said. Moore is unusually well versed in the Pennant Alliance contract. He worked for SAIC for 11 years, serving as an operations manager and corporate vice president responsible for state and local information technology outsourcing from October 1999 until November 2002, when he became CIO of San Diego County. Moore served as SAIC's lead executive on the contract during the contract's first three years, then took over as the county's lead when he became CIO in 2002. He's in the unusual category of being on both sides of a messy contractual relationship between a vendor and a government. "We came very close to what I call 'getting divorced,'" he said of San Diego county and the Pennant Alliance. "We were headed down the path of default." The county listed approximately 50 major disputes on a default letter drafted by county staff in summer 2002. The companies and the county had to acknowledge the possibility of going to court if the working relationship didn't improve. This made everybody apprehensive, Moore said. The county, as part of the contract, gave all its IT assets and staff to the Pennant Alliance, and the specter of a protracted court battle had the county worried about what it would do for service. The Pennant Alliance stood to lose millions of dollars if the contract went into default, not to mention serious face in a marketplace the alliance believed could generate significant revenue for the companies. The two sides sat down in summer 2002, reviewed the 50 disputes, and at the end of August, signed a complete restatement of the original 1999 contract because of the number and complexity of amendments to the original contract. "We, today, are getting everything we expected to get out of this deal," Moore said. "We don't even think about infrastructure. We don't think about desktops. It's not a day-to-day issue with us. The Pennant Alliance owns the equipment." At the end of the contract, San Diego County has the option of buying back the technology assets at net book value. If the contract is cancelled, he said, each asset has a depreciation schedule in the contract. "The cost of maintenance of all the hardware is rolled into the monthly price points that we pay," he explained. "We estimate the total savings on the entire deal to be about 15 percent or $87 million over the seven-year life, based on an evaluation done at the point of approval for our contract." Perhaps the biggest benefit? Moore said he's talking to different county agencies about what new IT services will be put in this year. "We're not talking about cutting IT costs," he said. "We're talking about spending more on IT to help us relieve some of the budget cuts. That's not normally what happens in state and local government." The Devil Is in the Details Early this year, the city of San Diego discovered how messy outsourcing can get when not enough attention is paid to certain details in IT services contracts. Since 1979, the city outsourced some IT operations to the San Diego Data Processing Corp. (DPC). The firm is a unique entity -- it's a 501(c)(3) nonprofit independent corporation wholly owned by the city. In its early days, the DPC provided mainframe services to San Diego, and expanded its offerings over time to network management, integration services and software development, according to an April 2004 Manager's Report written by Rey Arellano, deputy city manager and CIO of San Diego. In January, the city auditor released partial results of its ongoing DPC audit that identified inappropriate and excessive expenditures on travel and entertainment, and other indiscretions. The district attorney was asked to investigate DPC executives for possible criminal conduct. Though the city auditor's findings cast a negative light on the DPC, San Diego was troubled by the corporation for some time, according to the city manager's April report, because the DPC's growth and unique relationship with the city created structural problems related to oversight and accountability. "It was a relatively independent entity," Arellano said. "If city employees provided this type of function, arguably those folks would fall under the CIO, and certainly there's direct accountability there. If this was a more typical third-party outsource, the office of the CIO would have been intimately involved in negotiating, as well as managing the contract once it came to signature. "In this particular case, since the DPC board of directors is appointed by the City Council, the office of the CIO has no direct, meaningful influence on DPC activities," he continued. "Since it is a nonprofit and we are 95 percent of its revenues, it's very difficult to have any meaningful contractual agreement in terms of financial penalties and so forth because we are only penalizing ourselves." After the city auditor's report, the mayor issued a memorandum asking San Diego's city manager to evaluate whether to abolish the DPC and merge its responsibilities with San Diego's Department of Information Technology and Communications. "We went through an internal process to take a look at that question, did some research and talked to some folks," Arellano said. "We came up with a recommendation to pursue dissolution of the DPC, take a look at insourcing some functions but then competitively sourcing the rest of the functions provided by the DPC." The DPC Rules Committee did not approve that recommendation, he said, directing the city manager instead to create a city/DPC project team that would provide an unbiased and objective review of all IT outsourcing options for the city's short- and long-term IT needs. Arellano said that review is happening now. He also said the City Council approved a resolution in early July to change the DPC's governance structure in several ways, including: ?delegating the City Council's voting proxy, which includes the authority to appoint the board of directors, to the city manager; ?changing the composition of the board of directors to include three city staff members: the CIO and two other staff members at the deputy city manager or department director level; and ?adding financial reporting requirements. "Even if we said we were going to dissolve the DPC, it would take between 18 and 24 months to go through the process of bringing on a consultant to conduct a baseline to then determine which functions should be insourced or outsourced to then create the RFP ... and you see where I'm going," Arellano said, adding that it's not a simple matter of just shutting the DPC's doors. Tightening the Belt The focus now is on seeking the most cost-effective way the city can deliver IT services to agencies, he said, because the negative publicity surrounding the DPC's leadership and financial irregularities created the impression in the public's mind that the arrangement is not cost-effective for the city. "Cost-effective" is prime motivation for governments to consider outsourcing everything -- from IT services to maintaining shrubbery on traffic islands. A quick read of headlines in state capital newspapers shows that "cost-effective" is becoming a modern mantra for state and local governments. Curiously outsourcing isn't always about saving money. Sometimes it's just about doing things better. In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger created the California Performance Review (CPR) to "restructure, reorganize and reform state government to make it more responsive to the needs of its citizens and business community," said the CPR's Web site. The CPR has four major components: executive branch reorganization; program performance assessment and budgeting; improved services and productivity; and acquisition reform. There may be a role for outsourcing to play in the CPR, said J. Clark Kelso, California CIO and one of a few CPR directors, but outsourcing is not an overarching strategy or theme of the CPR. It's not that California is averse to outsourcing, he said. The state will seek outside assistance in certain areas, such as an enterprisewide budget/financial system. "We're not looking at outsourcing as some grand strategy for reducing government costs," he said. "We're simply looking at ways of improving productivity." California has no choice but to worry about productivity, Kelso said, because of an impending "human capital crisis." "We're in a position where 70,000 state employees are going to be at retirement age in five years -- out of 280,000 employees," he said. "Seventy thousand. We don't have the issue that a private-sector company does: 'I have to cut 20 percent of my work force, and I'm going to do that over the next year.' "We don't have to do that," he said. "We're going to have a downsizing, whether we like it or not. The problem we have is, how do you manage that wave of retirements so we can maintain services and improve productivity while, at the same time, government is very naturally reducing its size?" Kelso said the chief problem with outsourcing entire areas of government business, such as HR or child welfare services (two big Florida initiatives), is that it puts a government or government agency in an odd position of admitting a certain amount of weakness in running a program. "This is not an area where there's one clear approach that's as simple as 'focus on your core business and outsource the rest,'" he said. "When you start to get into the realities of business management, it's not quite as simple as that. In part, what you're doing from a management perspective is saying, 'Well, we can manage the contract better than we can manage the program.' "Sometimes, that's just not true," he said. "Sometimes, you're going to manage the contract worse than you would manage the program. Contract management is itself, particularly in services, quite an art. A lot depends on how well you've drafted your contract to give you the controls you need to keep your service levels up. It's not easy to outsource entire functions and do it in a way that guarantees the level of service you need and guarantees you performance." Wholesale Outsourcing Perhaps no other state has taken to outsourcing the way Florida has. Since January 1999, Florida outsourced 138 programs or services to private vendors, according to the state's Department of Management Services (DMS), a list that includes everything from food service delivery in state prisons to toll collections to the state's internal HR. Gov. Jeb Bush's administration clearly stated its belief that Florida's most efficient course of action is through contracting, and the DMS said Florida will continue to spend a significant portion of its budget on contracted services. The administration says many projects are outsourced because the state doesn't have a work force with specialized skills to perform a function or service; a project's up-front, capital investment makes the idea of a third-party vendor bearing those costs attractive; or that functions or services can be enhanced if performed by the private sector. The state's aggressive use of privatization has not been without problems. At the end of July, a report from the state inspector general was turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement so it could be reviewed by the FDLE. The report covered a series of allegations that IT staff in several state agencies improperly accepted gifts from companies bidding for state contracts. Two high-profile officials resigned from the Department of Children and Families in mid July as the media published accounts of the two men accepting gifts such as a ticket to the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga., tickets to see Elton John and Alabama in concert, and expensive meals. The inspector general's report also noted that many of the improper gifts have been repaid. Gov. Bush created a Center for Efficient Government to evaluate the state's outsourcing efforts, identify opportunities for additional outsourcing initiatives and oversee execution of future outsourcing projects, DMS officials said. "We had engaged in many outsourcing activities previously and had a whole collection of learning -- some good and some not so good," said William Simon, DMS secretary and chairman of the center's Oversight Board. "The difficulty we were having was applying the learning consistently. The pain that one agency went through, we weren't really that good at transferring that knowledge to other agencies." The goal for the center is to serve as a clearing-house for successful enterprisewide outsourcing practices and principles. To that end, the center created a centralized "gate process" to determine the best source to deliver services. Any agency seeking to outsource a particular project must follow the gate process to get the project approved. The process ensures outsourcing projects are reviewed at critical stages before they advance to the next stage. It is also designed to make the outsourcing process more transparent and produce more predictable costs and outcomes. Outsourcing increases competition, and therefore boosts efficiency of government operations, Simon said. "We believe competition is critical to success, whether it be public or private sector," Simon said. "Governments, in general, have been immune to competition. There have been cases where we've reviewed projects for potential outsourcing, and for one reason or another, made the determination that they were not good candidates to be outsourced. But they went through the competitive process, and that's what's been missing. That's what outsourcing brings." Shane Peterson Associate Editor From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Tue Oct 5 17:39:37 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 13:39:37 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] NANOSYS SECURES GOVERNMENT CONTRACT Message-ID: <20041005133837.B396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 10/05/04 NANOSYS SECURES GOVERNMENT CONTRACT http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?section_id=51&document_id=8347 --- Oct. 5, 2004 . Nanosys Inc., a Palo Alto, Calif.-based developer of inorganic semiconductor nanocrystal technology, announced it has been awarded an $8.2-million subcontract to develop nanotech-enabled systems for the federal government. Under the subcontract, awarded by Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), Nanosys will receive $1.5 million of funding over the first 12 months of the program and an additional $6.7 million over the following period, pending the achievement of certain milestones and the availability of funds. Further details were not disclosed. The two companies previously made an agreement to work together to market each other.s capabilities to customers. Nanosys CEO Calvin Chow said the company can take advantage of synergies between the products it develops for commercial applications and the needs of the government. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Wed Oct 6 13:04:16 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 09:04:16 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] Who are the real gangsters in the OPIC-PDVSA case? Message-ID: <20041006090337.H396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 10/06/04 Who are the real gangsters in the OPIC-PDVSA case? http://www.vcrisis.com/index.php?content=letters/200407221150 --- By Gustavo Coronel reprinted from Petroleum World OPIC has just released a decision on a claim by INTESA, a company jointly owned by SAIC and PDVSA to manage the computing sector of the Venezuelan petroleum industry. In this decision OPIC concludes that the Venezuelan government has illegally expropriated INTESA and that its foreign shareholders (SAIC) are entitled to compensation for this expropriation. The document is detailed and its findings can only be summarized here, together with the comments made by the President of the Venezuelan petroleum company, Petrleos de Venezuela, Ali Rodriguez, and by the Venezuelan Ambassador to the US, Bernardo Alvarez. Ali Rodriguez says that the decision by OPIC is .political. and lacks legal merits. According to him SAIC simply found political support in the US and went to OPIC to ask for an unfair compensation. He admits that OPIC tried to settle the dispute amicably but that .PDVSA refused since they are not allowed to dispose of national funds without a legal basis.. Ambassador Alvarez added that SAIC is a company .politically very powerful and secretive, used to operate through political backdoors. and suggested that both OPIC and SAIC should be investigated. In short, Alvarez defined these two organizations as gangster-like operators. On the other hand the document of OPIC is so severe that the word gangster would seem to apply more to the Venezuelan government than to SAIC. The main conclusions of OPIC are: 1. The Venezuelan government has expropriated INTESA in an illegal manner, according to the contractual definition of this term. 2. The indemnification requested by INTESA is pertinent, and, 3. INTESA has fulfilled all its obligations with OPIC. As a result, INTESA is entitled to a full indemnification, the amount of which will be established in a different document. In order for OPIC to reach this decision it had to analyze the videos, documents, quotes from Venezuelan government officers and INTESA representatives, as submitted by this company. Some of the components of the decision, as listed in the document of OPIC, are: 1. The expropriation was ordered by the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, in December 2002. At that moment Chavez ordered that the remote control access capability of INTESA be discontinued, while the company was still asked to fulfill its obligations. I guess this amounts to removing the tires from a car while asking the driver to keep going. 2. Chavez announced by TV and radio that INTESA was being .nationalized. because it was an arm of the CIA. He described the move as .nationalizing the brain of PDVSA.. 3. The offices of INTESA were taken over by the National Guard. The employees of INTESA were harassed by the armed guards and were refused access to their work stations. 4. In parallel, a tax claim for US$40 million against INTESA was introduced by the government. Documents which could have served to refute this claim were kept in an office to which INTESA had no longer access. 5. The take over of INTESA is discriminatory because it was based on unproven accusations made by the government of Venezuela against the government of the US in connection with the promotion of a .plot. against the Venezuelan government. It was arbitrary because it was based on the use of armed force which prevented INTESA staff from doing their jobs while, at the time, they were being required by the Venezuelan government to do so. 6. The expropriation has not been the object of fair compensation. According to OPIC the two main Venezuelan government agents responsible for this illegal act are President Hugo Chavez and PDVSA`s President Ali Rodriguez. The first person gave the orders and the second person executed them. From the document it appears that the actions against INTESA employees, who had been originally PDVSA`s employees contributed significantly to the general protest of the oil managers and technical staff against the government of Hugo Chavez. This document by OPIC is an important contribution to the history of the Venezuelan petroleum tragedy which has been taking place under the government of Chavez. This man speaks of the former oil employees he dismissed over national television as traitors, criminals and saboteurs. He claims they have caused great damage to the industry and to the country. Documents such as OPIC`s, however, cast a different light in the tragedy suggesting that the traitors, criminals ad saboteurs are probably on the other side of the fence. The confession made by Hugo Chavez before the National Assembly, in February 2004, to the effect that he had consciously promoted and provoked the crisis in the petroleum industry, in order to take its political control, combine with documents such as the one summarized here to indicate very strongly who the real gangsters are. Real patriotism involves the search for justice and truth. It has to do with deeds and not with empty words. When Venezuela returns to being a democracy and a nation ruled by Law, the gangsters really responsible for the petroleum tragedy will be brought to justice. *Gustavo Coronel is a 28 years oil industry veteran, a member of the first board of directors (1975-1979) of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), author of several books. At the present Coronel colaborates as the opinion-editorial editor of Petroleumworld en Espaol. Petroleumworld not necessarily share these views. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Thu Oct 7 16:50:45 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2004 12:50:45 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] SAIC Seeking to Sell Telcordia Message-ID: <20041007124955.S396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 10/07/04 SAIC Seeking to Sell Telcordia http://www.x-changemag.com/hotnews/4ah78308.html --- Science Applications International Corp. confirmed last month it is seeking a buyer or another investor for Telcordia Technologies Inc., the operations support systems company serving the biggest U.S. local phone companies and other telecommunications carriers in North America and abroad. In a Sept. 20 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, SAIC confirmed that in July it began seeking alternatives to sell the company or find an additional owner. "These efforts are in preliminary stages and may involve, among other things, the partial or complete sale of the company.s interest in Telcordia," SAIC, the employee-owned research and engineering firm, wrote in the filing. Telcordia has historically generated a majority of revenue through the local phone companies that are part of the old Bell system, but the company is seeking opportunities to grow through new products and relationships with a broader customer base, including wireless and international carriers, according to the SEC filing. SAIC purchased Telcordia, formerly Bellcore, in 1997 from the regional Bells. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Mon Oct 11 14:12:27 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 10:12:27 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] 2004/2005 Global Challenge Message-ID: <20041011101138.I396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 11 October 2004 2004/2005 Global Challenge http://www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=8134 --- Westerly Gamble Pays Dividend As the yachts in the Global Challenge make their way past Madeira there are some changes taking place on the leader board. The yachts which have boldly followed more of a westerly course have now taken the lead. Team SAIC La Jolla is getting a taste of first place glory with Samsung breathing down their neck hard in second with VAIO now up with the leaders in third. The only female skipper in the race and the first Brit up with the front runners, Dee Caffari, is in fourth place and chasing hard. All the yachts have slowed down over the past 24 hours as a result of high pressure moving over the fleet. The westerly yachts are currently experiencing reaching conditions whereas the yachts taking more of an easterly route very slow, light downwind conditions. SAIC La Jolla have no idea they have gone into first place reporting in their daily log the conditions as being: "Frustrating" - with winds ranging from less than 1 knot to 6 knots from SSE to WNW. But our helmsmen, with unwavering concentration, have kept us moving (generally) in the right direction. Momentum is key here with a 40plus ton yacht, just got to keep the boat moving!. BP Explorer (fourth) and Spirit of Sark (fifth) - early leaders for much of the race - have now shifted down the pack, although there are just 48 miles between first and ninth yacht. Winds are currently light for the crews preparing them for the frustrations due to hit the fleet further south in the Doldrums. Barclays Adventurer reported in their daily log: "Shorts and T-shirts during the day, a bit of Bob Marley down below in the chill out room and Madeira cake within sight of Madeira. It looks like the fleet are starting to bunch up a little so it will be great racing over the next few days." BP Explorer explained how conditions on their yacht was like in these lighter winds: "It's in these situations where brains take over from brawn and the physical challenge makes way to the mental challenge. It doesn't mean we're sitting around waiting for wind though. We are hoisting and dropping spinnakers and headsails at a tiring pace and analysing every fraction of a knot difference. (Skipper) David (Melville) has resorted to shouting into the skies demanding wind and has given the rest of the crew permission to pray to their gods." Time will tell if their prayers are answered! From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Thu Oct 14 18:35:57 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 14:35:57 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] CombiMatrix and SAIC to Jointly Develop Biothreat Identification Microarrays Message-ID: <20041014143513.W396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> October 14, 2004 08:30 AM US Eastern Timezone CombiMatrix and SAIC to Jointly Develop Biothreat Identification Microarrays http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20041014005180&newsLang=en --- NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2004--Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq:CBMX) (Nasdaq:ACTG) announced today that its CombiMatrix group and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), the nation's largest employee-owned research and engineering company, will work together to develop microarrays for the identification of multiple biothreat organisms. Both companies have Department of Defense (DoD) contracts from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency that support the development and delivery of complementary products. Leveraging their respective DoD funding can help expedite the development and testing of new identification and diagnostic assays and products against conventional biothreat agents and emerging and genetically engineered pathogens. SAIC has developed a genome assay and data mining tools that identify genomic sequences that are unique to specific microbial biothreat agents. Dr. R. Paul Schaudies, SAIC Vice President of Chemical and Biological Defense, explained, "By combining the bioinformatics of our proprietary Fast Identification of Unique Genomic Regions (FIGUR) software with a highly-multiplexed microarray we can hopefully make false positive readings a thing of the past. Protocols and procedures, along with microarrays, will be transferred to government laboratories for independent validation." CombiMatrix has developed a microarray platform, based upon complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Through proprietary instrumentation and probe design software, CombiMatrix can produce single or multiple microarrays with unique DNA sequences on each of its 12,000 features. This gives the customer a rapid and versatile approach to defining and changing microarray array content. Under the DoD contract, CombiMatrix is developing electrochemical detection as an alternative to the current use of large and expensive optical readers and dyes used in fluorescence detection. "We are pleased to be working with SAIC towards a common goal that will benefit the DoD and our nation," said Dr. David Danley, Director of Homeland Security and Defense Programs for CombiMatrix. "This effort allows us to leverage our DoD resources using proven assays and technologies. When we have completed development of electrochemical detection, we will then be able to move genomic assays out of the lab and into the field." ABOUT SAIC SAIC is the nation's largest employee-owned research and engineering company, providing information technology, systems integration and eSolutions to commercial and government customers. SAIC engineers and scientists work to solve complex technical problems in national and homeland security, energy, the environment, space, telecommunications, health care, transportation and logistics. With annual revenues of $6.7 billion, SAIC and its subsidiaries, including Telcordia Technologies, have more than 44,000 employees at offices in more than 150 cities worldwide. More information about SAIC can be found on the Internet at www.saic.com. ABOUT ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION Acacia Research Corporation comprises two operating groups: Acacia Technologies Group and CombiMatrix Group. The CombiMatrix group is developing a platform technology to rapidly produce customizable active biochips, which are semiconductor-based tools for use in identifying and determining the roles of genes, gene mutations and proteins. CombiMatrix's technology has a wide range of applications including DNA synthesis/diagnostics, siRNA synthesis, drug discovery, and immunochemical detection. CombiMatrix provides DNA arrays to researchers under the CustomArray(TM) brand. CombiMatrix's Express Track(SM) drug discovery program is a systems biology approach, using its technology, to target common viral diseases with siRNA compounds. The Acacia Technologies group develops, acquires, and licenses patented technologies. Acacia's DMT(R) technology, which is supported by 5 U.S. and 31 foreign patents, relates to audio and audio/video transmission and receiving systems commonly known as audio-on-demand, video-on-demand, and audio/video streaming, and is used for distributing digital content via several means including Internet, cable, satellite and wireless systems. Acacia's Internet Access Redirection ("IAR") technology covers redirected Internet registrations commonly used at wireless hotspots and hotels. Acacia Research-Acacia Technologies (Nasdaq: ACTG) and Acacia Research-CombiMatrix (Nasdaq: CBMX) are both classes of common stock issued by Acacia Research Corporation and are intended to reflect the performance of the respective operating groups and are not issued by the operating groups. Information about the Acacia Technologies Group and the CombiMatrix Group is available at www.acaciaresearch.com. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Mon Oct 18 14:29:57 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 10:29:57 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] U.S.-led security group awaiting full payment Message-ID: <20041018102740.A396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> Saturday October 16, 2004 1:33PM U.S.-led security group awaiting full payment http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/more/10/16/bc.eu.gen.greece.olympic.ap/ --- ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- An American-led consortium that set up a giant security network for the Athens Olympics said Friday the system was fully operational during the games and complained it had yet to receive full payment from the government. "We are extremely proud of the system that we provided to the Greek state," said David Tubbs, a senior vice president with the San Diego-based Science Applications International Corp., or SAIC. "It was part of the Olympics that in my opinion were outstanding, and not just in terms of security." Tubbs said the Greek state had paid less than half of the money in its contract and denied local media reports that only part of the system was ready for the Aug. 13-29 games. Security was a major concern for organizers of the Athens and cost Greece a massive euro1.2 billion (US$1.5 billion), with euro259 million (US$321 million) going to SAIC's international consortium, which included Germany's Siemens AG; General Dynamics of Falls Church, Virgina; New Jersey-based Honeywell International; and the Israeli company Elbit Systems. SAIC and its partners installed surveillance and secure communication systems covering Olympic areas and the port of Piraeus, where cruise ships served as floating hotels. That included fitting cameras on 1,250 concrete columns around the capital. Surveillance equipment was also installed on 12 patrol boats, 4,000 vehicles, three helicopters and an airship. Under the contract, SAIC was to deliver the system by May 28, but Tubbs said the system was delivered to the Greek government in July because of late construction at Olympic venues. "At that time it was determined by both SAIC and the Greek government that it would be impossible," Tubbs said. "On May 28 only four out of 10 venues were available for us to go and do our work." "Our contract was originally euro255 million (US$316 million)," Tubbs said. "There were some deductions, some additions and it ended up at euro259 million (US$321 million). It has not gone up from that point." "So far we have received advanced payments of euro117 million," Tubbs said, adding that talks with the government are ongoing. "We still want an amicable solution, but we believe that we have a very strong case as far as the capabilities that we delivered," he said. The government made no comment Friday. But Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis has said the system was fully operational and that the government is still assessing whether the consortium shared blame for delays. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Mon Oct 18 14:32:50 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 10:32:50 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] Consortium wants full payment Message-ID: <20041018103048.B396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> Consortium wants full payment http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/economy_&xml/&aspKath/economy.asp?fdate=16/10/2004 --- "We are not to blame for delay in installing security system," SAIC's Tubbs says; 142 million euros due By Demetris Nellas - Kathimerini English Edition A US-led consortium that installed a giant communications network for Greece.s security forces, which was first fully used for the Athens Olympics this summer, complained yesterday it has received less than half the money owed to it and said the Greek state appeared to be backtracking on its commitments as stated in a memorandum of understanding signed last July. The consortium is led by San Diego Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and includes Germany's Siemens, the US's General Dynamics, Honeywell International and Israeli firm Elbit systems. The consortium bid successfully to install the security system, which includes both hardware and software components, for 252 million euros. It now claims this amount, plus 7 million euros for extra work done at Attica Police Headquarters. So far, it has been paid 117 million euros. The Ministry of Public Order also disputes that the system was delivered "in its entirety." The SAIC-led consortium was supposed to deliver the system by May 28, but did not because of venue construction delays, its representatives said yesterday. "At that moment, only 40 percent of the venues were available for us to move in and install the systems," said David Tubbs, a SAIC senior vice president and the person in charge of the project. "There was also a shortage of telephone circuits and power." In certain areas, such as downtown Athens hotels that would host members of the Olympic family, the consortium was not able to begin the security system installation until August 6, forcing consortium experts to work day and night until the very last moment to install the system. "The system was completed two hours before the opening ceremony," Tubbs said. What SAIC said it delivered included: software for administration and decision-making support; local- and wide-area data networks; video surveillance systems installed in three helicopters,an airship, 12 Coast Guard patrol boats, 4,000 vehicles, 281 concrete columns on Athens.s roads and 1,000 locations in the Olympic Village and the venues; security systems in nine ports; a complete TETRA communications system; a vehicle identification system; 31 central and regional command centers, 105 command centers in Olympic venues and five mobile command centers. Tubbs said that construction delays meant that 63 of the 105 venue command centers could not be outfitted before July and that the consortium used an extra 100 employees to train Greek security forces. The memorandum of understanding signed between the consortium and the Greek state on July 5 stated specifically that the general test made on July 1 found that the system "...is operational and suitable to the extent and the level of (the trial operation), with some missing aspects and deviations which, however, do not affect its usability and suitability and do not render the system unsuitable for the use it is designed for." With the memorandum, the parties agreed to the transfer of the system from SAIC to the ministry, a trial of subsystems within 10 days, a further general trial on October 1 and the revision of the contract to include what was agreed in the memorandum agreements. No general trial occurred on October 1 and talks with the Public Order ministry are dragging on. "We still want an amicable solution but we believe that we have a very strong case as far as the capabilities we delivered are concerned," Tubbs said. Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis has said the system is fully operational. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Mon Oct 18 17:50:12 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 13:50:12 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] Later Timetable Gives Some Filers More Wiggle Room Message-ID: <20041018134912.G396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> OCTOBER 18, 2004 Later Timetable Gives Some Filers More Wiggle Room http://www.computerworld.com/hardwaretopics/hardware/mainframes/story/0,10801,96727,00.html --- News Story by Thomas Hoffman OCTOBER 18, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Some companies that can wait until 2005 or later to meet the initial Section 404 requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act have already spent months working on IT control assessments and are well positioned to complete their documentation and testing efforts ahead of schedule. For instance, Science Applications International Corp. in San Diego began evaluating its IT controls in July 2003 and started documenting them last December -- even though the research and engineering company doesn't have to attest to those controls until Jan. 31, 2006, said John R. Hartley, SAIC's director of accounting operations. While SAIC isn't an accelerated filer, "that doesn't alter the priority, attention or resources that we place on our Sarbanes-Oxley activities," said CIO Cora Carmody. "It has been, and will continue to be, my top priority in IT and the corporation's top priority." Herman Miller Inc., a maker of office furniture, began evaluating its IT controls in March and expects to finish internal testing by year's end. External auditors will conduct tests in February 2005 to meet the May 31 deadline, said Rich Russell, director of application development. "At the outset of our compliance efforts, we did not understand the requirements for IT controls -- we were more focused on application controls," he said. Russell and his colleagues discovered that IT is a foundational piece of Herman Miller's controls architecture after a more thorough study of the company's IT control issues. Even though Portland General Electric Co. doesn't have to meet its Section 404 requirements until December 2005, the utility recently completed its IT control design assessment and is planning to begin testing those controls by the end of this month, said Ross Wescott, chief IT auditor at the Portland, Ore.-based electric utility. Said Wescott, "It is our goal to practice for a year, so when it comes to reality, we're ready." From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Tue Oct 19 17:05:00 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 13:05:00 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] Arotech Subsidiary FAAC Receives Order for Stryker Driving Simulators Message-ID: <20041019130349.S396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> Oct. 19, 2004 Arotech Subsidiary FAAC Receives Order for Stryker Driving Simulators http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20041019005721&newsLang=en --- Arotech Subsidiary FAAC Receives Order for Stryker Driving Simulators; Part of US Army's Common Driver Trainer -CDT- Program NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 2004--Arotech Corporation (NasdaqNM: ARTX) announced today its FAAC subsidiary has received an award for Army Stryker driving simulators. These simulators are part of the Army's Common Driver Trainer (CDT) program. Recently the US Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) awarded a $6.9 million contract (with a total value of $8.78 million if all options are exercised) to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), as the CDT prime contractor. FAAC is SAIC's primary subcontractor for CDT, and it's responsibilities include providing driving trainers with visual data bases. The CDT will train basic driving skills and tactical maneuvering for combat situations. The Stryker driver's compartment will replicate the all-driving controls including: the vehicle dashboard, lights, indicators, switches, instruments and pedals. The simulator will train all drivers on various types of terrain and environmental conditions such as desert, woodland, urban, mountainous, and frozen terrains. It also will allow simulation of day or night, rain, fog, and other conditions that Soldiers encounter in live operations. The simulator will provide a realistic representation of vehicle performance in accordance with the terrain and the actions taken by the driver, including vehicle malfunctions and embedded diagnostic and trouble-shooting capabilities for the driver. The system will also include after action review to provide the driver and crew with critical lessons-learned feedback of their simulated missions. "The CDT program is a task order contract for Army driving trainers," explained Kurt Flosky, FAAC program manager. "FAAC's first task order for Stryker driving simulators with visual databases is based on the technology that has built our successful line of over 70-installed military driving simulators for the Army, Marines, and Navy." "This contract is a major win for FAAC and the SAIC team," stated Al Jordan, FAAC president. "The Army has referenced long-terms goals of producing as many as 200 driving simulators over the next ten years, and we anticipate a long, successful relationship with SAIC and their customer, PEO STRI." "FAAC is an established supplier of driver simulators in many areas of transportation including the military, transit, trucking and emergency first response," said Robert S. Ehrlich, Arotech Chairman and CEO. "This CDT award for Sryker simulators validates this position." About SAIC SAIC (www.saic.com) is the nation's largest employee-owned research and engineering company, providing information technology, systems integration and eSolutions to commercial and government customers. SAIC engineers and scientists work to solve complex technical problems in national and homeland security, energy, the environment, space, telecommunications, health care, transportation and logistics. With annual revenues of $6.7 billion, SAIC and its subsidiaries, including Telcordia Technologies, have more than 44,000 employees at offices in more than 150 cities worldwide. About FAAC Inc. FAAC Incorporated (www.faac.com) has been providing high fidelity training and simulation products to its military and commercial customer base for over 30 years. FAAC supplies driving simulators for training operators of automobiles, trucks, police/fire/EMS vehicles, bus drivers, light rail operators, and airport ground vehicles. Over 85,000 drivers have been trained on FAAC's installed base of 189 driving simulators. FAAC also provides pilot decision-making support software for the F-15, F-18, and JSF aircraft as well as simulation models for the ACMI/TACTS air combat training ranges. About Arotech Corporation Arotech Corporation (www.arotech.com) provides quality defense and security products for the military, law enforcement and homeland security markets, including advanced zinc-air and lithium batteries and chargers, multimedia interactive simulators/trainers and lightweight armoring. The Battery and Power Systems Division includes Electric Fuel Battery Corporation and Epsilor Electronic Industries Ltd. The Simulation, Training and Consulting Division includes IES Interactive Training, FAAC Incorporated and Arocon Security Consulting. The Armoring Division includes MDT Armor Corp., MDT Protective Industries Ltd. and Armour of America, Incorporated. Arotech is incorporated in Delaware, with corporate offices in New York, and research, development and production subsidiaries in Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, California and Israel. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Wed Oct 20 13:39:48 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 09:39:48 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] Raytheon, SAIC Join Diverse Team of Systems Integration, C4ISR Experts Message-ID: <20041020093654.F396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> October 20, 2004 Raytheon, SAIC Join Diverse Team of Systems Integration, C4ISR Experts http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-20-2004/0002289333&EDATE= --- Lockheed Martin Forms Strong Industry Team for Air Operations Center Lead Systems Integrator Program Raytheon, SAIC Join Diverse Team of Systems Integration, C4ISR Experts COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will lead a broad team of systems integration experts competing for a $600 million U.S. Air Force program to standardize and modernize Air and Space Operations Centers (AOCs) worldwide. The corporation has joined Raytheon, SAIC, IBM, L-3 Communications and a diverse set of industry experts to streamline and consolidate the complex systems and operations of AOCs, transforming them into an agile, flexible weapon system enterprise that is fully integrated into the Command and Control Constellation (C2C) and the Joint Global Information Grid (GIG). The AOC Weapon System Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) program calls for an industry team to standardize, integrate and modernize the 48 individual systems and 50 communications interfaces currently resident in a typical AOC, enabling greater collaboration both internally within the AOC and externally with other joint air warfare elements. The LSI contractor will work with the Air Force to set a consistent strategy across the centers, ensuring that the consolidated AOC architecture evolves as an integrated component of the C2C. "The modern AOC is a tremendously powerful command center, but many of its systems and applications do not interface seamlessly, creating technology gaps between intelligence and operations," said Carlaine Blizzard, Lockheed Martin's vice president for AOC WS LSI. "This effort requires the application of a consistent architecture across the entire enterprise, enabling operators from any mission area to effortlessly exchange information within the AOC and across the Constellation. We've formed a team of industry experts that bring unparalleled expertise in large-scale architectures, commercial applications, modeling and simulation, and sustainment, enabling us to take a comprehensive systems management approach to AOC modernization." The Lockheed Martin team includes Raytheon, SAIC, IBM and L-3 Communications. In addition, a host of defense and commercial industry technology providers including Dynamics Research Corporation, Intelligent Software Solutions, Gestalt, and Computer Sciences Corporation will lend focused domain expertise in all areas of AOC operations. The Lockheed Martin team has an unmatched record of performance developing open architectures that can quickly and easily accommodate new technologies. As the AOC enterprise evolves to net-centric operations, the team will be able to continually integrate cutting-edge applications and systems from across the industry and the military, helping to ensure that AOC warfighters are armed with the latest technology. "Together we'll deliver a consistent, interoperable architecture that will enable collaborative, real-time battle management," said Blizzard. "The net-centric AOC, coupled with the C2C enterprise, will empower warfighters to act with unprecedented speed, precision and confidence, and will make joint air and space power more coordinated and effective than ever." Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2003 sales of $31.8 billion. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Wed Oct 20 17:39:38 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 13:39:38 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] VACIS(R) and EXPLORANIUM(TM) Inspection Systems to Be Deployed at Port of Pendik in Turkey Message-ID: <20041020133852.G396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> Wednesday October 20, 10:01 am ET VACIS(R) and EXPLORANIUM(TM) Inspection Systems to Be Deployed at Port of Pendik in Turkey http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041020/dcw004_1.html --- SAN DIEGO, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Science Applications International Corporation's (SAIC) Security and Transportation Technology Business Unit today announced that its Portal VACIS cargo, vehicle and contraband inspection system, EXPLORANIUM(TM) AT-900 radiation portal monitor, and EXPLORANIUM(TM) GR-135 handheld radiation isotope identifier have been selected by U.N. Ro-Ro Isletmeleri, owners and operators of the Port of Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey. "With increased security considerations throughout the world, we are proud to be the pioneers of such an advanced technology system in Turkey," said Cuneyt Solakoglu, vice president of U.N. Ro-Ro. "This enhanced portal VACIS system and integrated EXPLORANIUM Radiation Portal Monitor will enable us to comply with ISPS and CSI standards, making U.N. Ro-Ro Port of Pendik the first port to achieve this standard in Turkey. This integrated system will allow us to scan vehicles and cargo for hidden compartments, stowaways, radioactive materials, contraband and manifest verification. We thank SAIC for their contribution to our efforts." SAIC's VACIS inspection systems are gamma-ray based systems designed to non-intrusively inspect the contents of trucks, containers and cargo to assist with manifest verification, tariff collection, and the identification of contraband, explosives, weapons or other suspicious items. VACIS systems are available in mobile, pallet, railroad, relocatable and portal configurations, with the Portal VACIS unit designed for use at high-volume port gates and checkpoints. SAIC's EXPLORANIUM AT-900 Radiation Portal Monitor scans vehicles and containers for radioactive sources. Positive radiation identification triggers audible and visual alarms for the system operator to initiate follow- up source localization and nuclide classification with the EXPLORANIUM GR-135 handheld radiation isotope identifier. These VACIS and EXPLORANIUM products can contribute to greater security at the Port of Pendik, with minimal effect on vehicle throughput. SAIC's Security and Transportation Technology Business Unit will provide installation, testing, training, and maintenance to the Port of Pendik, Istanbul. SAIC currently has more than 240 VACIS systems and more than 2,000 EXPLORANIUM radiation portal monitors deployed and operational globally. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Wed Oct 20 17:41:41 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 13:41:41 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] 2004/2005 Global Challenge Message-ID: <20041020134035.F396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 20 October 2004 2004/2005 Global Challenge http://www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=8200 --- Portsmouth (GBR) - Buenos Aires (ARG) No Longer Close After the convergence from east and west made for incredibly close racing, there is now absolutely nothing between the top 2 yachts, both exactly 3,072nm from Buenos Aires! After reporting a position of 2nm behind the leaders for the last 12 hours Barclays Adventurer has caught SAIC La Jolla to lay an equal claim on 1st place according to the latest figures showing the distance to the finish line. It simply cannot get any closer. 3rd place Samsung are just 3nm behind them but closest to Barclays Adventurer . the race viewer shows the teams right on top of one another. 4th place VAIO are 21nm behind Samsung, and only a further 6nm of water separates them, BG SPIRIT in 5th place and BP Explorer in 6th. The leading 8 have now crossed into the southeast trade winds, currently enjoying an average speed of around 7 knots, interjected by squalls that have been reported across the fleet. Aboard SAIC La Jolla, skipper Eero found a novel way to deal with the increasing heat afflicting all the teams, described in the daily log this morning: "A lighter side of a squall today was when the mainsail filled up with water in one of the reefs, and Eero decided to take a bath in it!" Barclays Adventurer also commented on the squalls in their daily report from the water: "At the moment, the winds are constant, then suddenly after a blip on the radar we get hit by a squall and the wind ramps from 15 to 25 knots in seconds. Quite exciting!" The last 4 yachts are seeing an advantage over the leading group this morning as they maintain an average of over 8 knots. Team Save the Children has achieved the highest average speed since the last position report at 9.2 knots, probably because they are just crossing the band of easterly wind marking the convergence of the northeast and southeast trade winds, providing a much needed burst of boat speed. Team Stelmar has also performed well since the early morning poll, with a high average speed resulting in a gain of 10nm on the leaders. But, with Barclays Adventurer approximately 360nm from the equator at the time of this morning's poll and a predicted arrival time of tomorrow afternoon if they maintain current speeds, they will be hoping the doldrums live up to their reputation and halt the leading yachts. progress south. Full position reports are available on the event website at the address below. Event Website www.2004globalchallenge.com From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Thu Oct 21 19:04:29 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 15:04:29 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] SAIC Wins Key Army Driver Trainer Contract Message-ID: <20041021150351.V396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> Thursday October 21, 12:13 pm ET SAIC Wins Key Army Driver Trainer Contract http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041021/dcth034_1.html --- ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- A team led by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) announced today it was awarded a contract from the Army's Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI). The SAIC team will design, develop and deliver common driver trainer system components and Stryker combat vehicle-specific crew modules as part of the Army's Common Driver Trainer Program. The common driver trainer system consists of simulators, which will be used to train members of the armed forces in the operation of the Stryker combat vehicle being fielded to Fort Knox, Ky., and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Funding for the initial fifteen-month term of this firm-fixed-price contract, which includes a time and materials contract line item number, is $6,900,000. If all option years are exercised, and all performance-based awards are realized, the total cumulative value of the contract is $9,100,000. Under the terms of the contract, SAIC and its teammates will conduct the development and production, system-level integration, testing, delivery and initial maintenance of the simulators. Members of the SAIC team include FAAC of Ann Arbor, Mich., Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) of El Segundo, Calif., and Engineering & Computer Simulations, Inc. (ECS) of Orlando, Fla. "We are excited to have the Stryker variant of the common driver trainer," said LTC Joe Giunta, PEO STRI's product manager for Ground Combat Tactical Trainers. "The program conditions now can allow the Army to achieve a significant life cycle cost savings and greater levels of interoperability within the overall Army driver trainer mission." "SAIC's ability to develop and integrate complex, software-intensive systems, combined with FAAC's industry leadership in driver trainer production, CSC's virtual trainer maintenance expertise and ESC's database development experience, provides the Army with a team that can satisfy its current and future requirements for a family of common driver trainers," said Beverly J. Kitaoka, senior vice president and general manager of SAIC's Training & Simulation Solutions business unit. "We look forward to working with PEO STRI to ensure that America's armed forces get the best driver training possible." SAIC will manage the Stryker Driver Trainer contract from its offices in Orlando, Fla., with work to be performed in both Orlando, and at FAAC's facilities in Ann Arbor, Mich. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Fri Oct 22 16:50:27 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 12:50:27 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] Front Three Emerge From The ITCZ Message-ID: <20041022124941.V396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 22 October 2004 Front Three Emerge From The ITCZ http://www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=8220 --- Portsmouth (GBR) - Buenos Aires (ARG) On Wednesday morning, SAIC La Jolla and Barclays Adventurer were fighting for the lead, exactly the same distance from the finish line. The afternoon poll showed Samsung back in the top spot and they have been unstoppable ever since. Last night they were 52nm ahead; Barclays Adventurer and VAIO may have pulled back 11nm and 10nm respectively, but Matt Riddell and the crew of Samsung are still in control to the tune of 40nm this morning. Cal Tomlinson, Challenge Business sailing manager, attributed Samsung's success to consistency this morning: .Every time I have looked at the race viewer recently, Samsung seem to be sailing at the optimum wind angle for these light stop/start conditions - with the wind just forward of the beam. All this without compromising their course towards South America.. A beam reach can be described as the wind hitting the sails at a right angle to the yacht, so the optimum wind angle for light winds is just forward of this point. However, in addition to maintaining an efficient point of sail, Samsung must have made good progress through the doldrums, picking up squalls and passing rainstorms to help them on their way. Judging by their average speeds since the last poll, SAIC La Jolla and Spirit of Sark both seem to have hit frustrating patches of light airs. But Spirit of Sark is more likely to regain the lost miles from their position further east. As the wind comes back round to the south-east as forecast, they will be heading back to the rhumb line with a better wind angle and increasing wind once they exit the doldrums. SAIC La Jolla will be hoping the winds turns east so they can avoid having to tack, which would point the bow of the yacht back towards Africa rather than South America! They are the most westerly yacht of the fleet and will be forced to change course soon to avoid straying west of the rhumb line and away from the finish line. The top 3 have recorded boat speeds upwards of 7 knots, which suggests that have left the worst of the doldrums behind, which could be bad news for teams at the back of the fleet. In a further twist of unfortunate timing, Team Save the Children also appear to have hit a windless hole, recording the lowest average speed since the last poll this morning. However, this morning.s figures back up the assertion that conditions in the doldrums are incredibly local, so Team Save the Children could still pick up intermittent bouts of strong wind to propel them on. Imagine It. Done. and Spirit of Sark are about 20nm apart, but Duggie Gillespie and his crew have recorded an average speed since the last poll more than 2 knots slower. Perhaps Spirit of Sark did not pick up the same thunderstorms and squalls that Dee Caffari talks about in her audio interview this morning. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Tue Oct 26 12:58:25 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 08:58:25 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] SAIC to acquire Presearch Message-ID: <20041026085710.L396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 10/25/04 SAIC to acquire Presearch http://www.wtonline.com/news/1_1/daily_news/24847-1.html --- By William Welsh Staff Writer Science Applications International Corp. has acquired Presearch Inc., a provider of information technology and systems engineering services, the company confirmed today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition of Presearch of Fairfax, Va., brings the company capabilities ranging from signal processing and software and hardware engineering to intelligence analysis and antisubmarine warfare and mine countermeasures. Nearly all of the company's employees hold active, high-level security clearances. Presearch customers include the Navy, Army Intelligence and Security Command, National Security Agency and Homeland Security Department. "This transaction places a deep technical and program heritage in the hands of an employee-owned, financially strong, committed defense technology company," said Anita Antenucci, co-head the Aerospace Defense Government Group at Houlihan Lokey Howard and Zukin of McLean, Va., the investment banking firm that represented Presearch. SAIC of San Diego has more than 44,000 employees and annual revenue of $6.7 billion. The company ranked No. 5 on Washington Technology.s 2004 Top 100 list, which measures federal contracting revenue. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Tue Oct 26 13:00:24 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 09:00:24 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] IN BRIEF Message-ID: <20041026085938.H396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> Tuesday, October 26, 2004; Page E05 IN BRIEF http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62845-2004Oct25.html?sub=AR --- Science Applications International, a San Diego engineering company, acquired Presearch, a Fairfax naval systems engineering and data mining company. Terms were not disclosed. Upon completion of the acquisition, all 150 Presearch employees will transition into SAIC's research and intelligence group. Presearch's clients include the military, intelligence agencies and customers in the energy, pharmaceutical and banking industries. Privately owned Presearch was founded in 1963 by Leonard P. Gollobin, its chief executive. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Wed Oct 27 18:00:23 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 14:00:23 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] NeoMedia Technologies Enters Marketing Alliance With Fortune 500 Company SAIC to Create Mobile 'WordRegistry' Message-ID: <20041027135831.M396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> October 27, 2004 11:42 AM US Eastern Timezone NeoMedia Technologies Enters Marketing Alliance With Fortune 500 Company SAIC to Create Mobile 'WordRegistry' http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20041027005628&newsLang=en --- SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 2004--NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:NEOM), said today it has agreed with Fortune(R) 500 company SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation) to jointly establish, launch, promote and manage the new worldwide mobile "PaperClick WordRegistry(TM)," a linking and switching platform for use on Web-enabled cell phones and PDA's. When used with PaperClick Mobile Go-Window(TM), NeoMedia's new wireless product which creates a text-entry window on a phone or PDA screen, registered words (or registered phrases) are entered to bring up an automatic link to specific targeted products and promotions. "Just imagine entering a word or short phase, such as a product name or description, and immediately going to the appropriate Web site on your mobile device," said Charles T. Jensen, president, CEO and COO of NeoMedia. "Soon, users of the PaperClick Go-Window will be able to enter a registered word to quickly and easily get the information they need to make a purchase decision, receive a promotion, and more . . . all automatically." Announced at CTIA The announcement of the NeoMedia-SAIC teaming arrangement to create the WordRegistry was made at CTIA 2004 at Moscone West, the semi-annual event for the international wireless telecommunications industry, where the patented PaperClick(R) platform is being shown and demonstrated in the Intel PCA (Internet Personal Client Architecture) booth (#421) and NeoMedia booth (#567). Linking Words and Internet Sites The WordRegistry will be the official mechanism and repository of information and data pertaining to direct mappings of words and word phrases to their associated digital content. Words or word phrases registered by marketing-driven companies will enable on-going interactive communications between marketer and customer. Words and phrases will work on NeoMedia's recently-introduced PaperClick Mobile Go-Window, a wireless product that creates a text-entry window on a PDA or cell phone screen in which users can enter a registered Word, such as a product name, or ID and be automatically linked to specific targeted information via patented PaperClick technology and software. SAIC is the nation's largest employee-owned research and engineering company, providing information technology, systems integration and eSolutions to commercial and government customers. SAIC engineers and scientists work to solve complex technical problems in national and homeland security, energy, the environment, space, telecommunications, health care, transportation and logistics. With annual revenues of $6.7 billion, SAIC and its subsidiaries, including Telcordia Technologies, have more than 44,000 employees at offices in more than 150 cities worldwide. More information about SAIC can be found on the Internet at www.saic.com About NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (www.neom.com), is a developer and international marketer of software and patented technologies, including PaperClick (www.PaperClick.net), PaperClick for Camera Cell Phones(TM) and the PaperClick Mobile Go-Window, which link products, print, and physical objects directly to targeted online data,. NeoMedia also offers expertise in homeland security and e-authentication applications, and its Systems Integration Group specializes in providing expert-based IT consulting, hardware, and software solutions. NeoMedia's Micro Paint Repair business unit specializes in products and services for the worldwide micro paint repair industry, including a system and processes utilizing proprietary technology. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. With the exception of historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release involve risk and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. PaperClick is a registered trademark, and PaperClick WordRegistry, PaperClick Mobile Go-Window and PaperClick For Cell Phones are trademarks of NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. Other trademarks are properties of their respective owners. From saic at vision.moundalexis.com Thu Oct 28 17:16:22 2004 From: saic at vision.moundalexis.com (saic at vision.moundalexis.com) Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 13:16:22 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [saic] ReefEdge Networks Signs Strategic Marketing Agreement with SAIC to Develop Wireless Security Solutions Message-ID: <20041028131544.Q396-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> October 28, 2004 11:00 AM US Eastern Timezone ReefEdge Networks Signs Strategic Marketing Agreement with SAIC to Develop Wireless Security Solutions http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20041028005561&newsLang=en --- FORT LEE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2004--ReefEdge Networks, a leading provider of secure and centrally managed multi-site wireless local area network solutions, announced today that it has signed a strategic marketing agreement with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to provide wireless local area network (WLAN) security solutions to government organizations. Under terms of the agreement, ReefEdge and SAIC will work together to provide complete WLAN security and management solutions including planning, deployment, integration, and support services. ReefEdge has been awarded Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 Level 2 certification on several of the ReefSwitch WLAN security appliances, a mandated requirement for cryptography-related products purchased by the U.S. government. Additionally, ReefEdge has met the Department of Defense's (DoD) Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Common Access Card (CAC) integration requirements. "We are excited to be working with SAIC to provide a complete solution to our key government customers," said David Goretski, CEO. "The combination of ReefEdge technology and SAIC support and integration services is a winning combination for government entities who seek the benefits that multi-site WLANs can deliver while mitigating the inherent security risks." About SAIC SAIC is the nation's largest employee-owned research and engineering company, providing information technology, systems integration and eSolutions to commercial and government customers. SAIC engineers and scientists work to solve complex technical problems in national and homeland security, energy, the environment, space, telecommunications, health care, transportation and logistics. With annual revenues of $6.7 billion, SAIC and its subsidiaries, including Telcordia Technologies, have more than 44,000 employees at offices in more than 150 cities worldwide. More information about SAIC can be found on the Internet at www.saic.com. About ReefEdge Networks ReefEdge Networks (www.reefedge.com) is a leading developer of interoperable, secure, and centrally managed wireless local area network (WLAN) systems for multi-site enterprises. Based on a formidable patent portfolio, the fourth generation of ReefEdge's award-winning ReefSwitch family of products distinguishes itself by delivering comprehensive WLAN security and management capabilities in a manner that reduces the total cost of ownership of the WLAN. This unique capability has helped ReefEdge deploy mission-critical WLAN deployments world-wide across multiple industry sectors, including retail, healthcare, banking, finance, and government. Founded in 2000, venture funded and privately held, ReefEdge is led by an executive team with extensive experience in the mobile wireless and communication industries. ReefEdge Networks' corporate headquarters are in New Jersey, with sales offices across the U.S. and worldwide distribution.