Moderator

Carl: This is the first award I have handed out on Wifcon.com--that I remember. (Drum role) I bestow upon you, Wifcon.com's "Best Hat" award for 2009. Congratulations.

I was wondering how all the recent news is affecting government and contractor personnel. There are a number of things that have been happening that will affect your work. I don't want to mention any but I was wondering what you felt. What current event is having the most effect on you at your workplace and how is it affecting you?

This reply serves as a test and as an answer to my original question. Using GAO's count, there were 16 protests. Two procurements and 16 protests. My purpose was to show that the articles that are appearing about more protests than ever is true, if you use GAO's count. However, what is more important--the number of protests or the number of procurements? I think it is the number of procurements. In this case, there were two procurements. When GAO reports next year, I think they should clear things up. They must report to certain congressional committees so the purpose of their report is for them. However, the following information would be helpful: # of protests by GAO's count # of procurements affected by protests estimated "cost" and/or "price" of affected procurements. Now, we know we are going to get apples, oranges, and cumquats here but it should give us some idea of how large an issue protests are. That's a start. About 20 years ago, GAO was asked to do a study of costs paid to settle protests. Congress just knew it was a big issue because people told them so. GAO completed the study and the facts disclosed there was no issue. Currently, GAO is required to do a study of "frivolous" protests and what to do about them. Personally, I can't wait to see the results of the study. Let's see how GAO handles it. The more information GAO provides in its annual report, the better. Maybe we will get a better idea of the effect of protests on procurement then.

How many protests do you see in the list below? 1. The Boeing Company, B-311344; B-311344.3; B-311344.4; B-311344.6; B-311344.7; B-311344.8; B-311344.10; B-311344.11, June 18, 2008 2. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company; L-3 Communications Integrated Systems L.P.; BAE Systems Integrated Defense Solutions, Inc., B-295401, B-293401.2, B-295401.3, B-295401.4, B-295401.5, B-295401.6, B-295401.7, B-295401.8, February 24, 2005. Is it: a.) 2, b.) 16, c.) not enough information? For help see wifcon.com.

You may have noticed that this software provides a calendar that can be used by members. This calendar can be used in a number of ways. For example, two of our members had birthdays this week and they were announced on the calendar. If you add your birthday in your profile, it will pop up towards the bottom left of these pages when the date arrives. The calendar can also be used to announce meetings or events. For example, it can be used to announce meetings of the MAS Advisory Council, SBDC meetings, etc. That's great and it provides you with information in one spot. For now, I have two basic interim rules for the use of the calendar. These are: 1. No commercial announcements may be added to the calendar at this time. 2. The "Instructions and Terms of Use" apply to the calendar. My overall goal is to provide you with a professional community--in this case--one dealing with contracting. That requires that all of this software's features work consistently towards that goal. Within the next month, all instructions and terms of use will be coordinated. Bob Antonio Owner, Wifcon.com LLC

My goal for the Wifcon Blogs is to keep them professional. I am working on a set of rules to achieve this goal. For now, here are a few quick rules: 1. Bloggers must contact me prior to setting up a blog. 2. Bloggers must use their image in their blog. 3. Bloggers must use their real name for their blog's name. For example, John Doe's Blog, Jane Doe's Blog, etc.. 4. Bloggers must identify what their blog will focus on, stay on the topic they choose, eg., contract law, contractor's perspective, etc., and maintain a professional blog. 5. Bloggers must follow the overall guidance on the "Terms and Instructions." 6. Bloggers may add links to their business, institution, firm, etc., in their profile. 7. Bloggers must keep their blogs active. A blog that is inactive for 15 days will be removed. As soon as I can develop a complete set of rules, I will add them. If you want to be a Wifcon Blogger, contact me and I will help you with the setup. Also, I have allowed internet search engine robots to search the blogs. That means a google search of a "term" in your blog could result in your blog showing up in the search results. Bob Antonio Owner, Wifcon.com LLC

You should see a little black box(es) above or below your username. On the old board, your were given "titles" such as copper, bronze, etc., based on the number of posts you made. I set this board up to do the same with little black boxes.

I have been watching to see who our first poster will be. If you want to post a "new topic" just click on one of the forums and look to the right side of the forum. Who will be the first poster?

First, let me explain this software's group categories. In addition to mine as "administrator," there are 2 others: Guests and Members. I have set the forums so that Guests--those who do not register--can read but not respond or post new topics. Members have the full range of the forums. They can read, respond, and start new topics. Please remember, the old forum's "threads" are called "topics" on this forum.

The link to the home page of Wifcon.com is at the top left side of these pages. I will add others as soon as I can. For now, here are links to other Wifcon.com pages. The Old Wifcon Forum | The Forum Archives | Protests | Bona Fide Needs Rule | Regulations | Quick-Kit, Guidance | Wifcon.com Contents Page

Yes, the old forum includes archives from about 9/2007 to 12/2008. On the old forum, there is a link to an earlier archive that I prepared that stretches back to 2000. In time, I hope to put all the discussions from the old forum on the archive I created that dates back to 2000. Once we register about 100 people here, I will close the old forum to discussions--maybe around 12/25/08. At that point, the old forum becomes an archive only. I think I will open it to public view at that time so you do not have to log into the old forum to see the archived discussions.

Welcome to your new Invision Power Board! Congratulations on your purchase of our software and setting up your community. Please take some time and read through the Getting Started Guide and Administrator Documentation. The Getting Started Guide will walk you through some of the necessary steps to setting up an IP.Board and starting your community. The Administrator Documentation takes you through the details of the capabilities of IP.Board. You can remove this message, topic, forum or even category at any time. Go to the documentation now...