[DMCA-Activists] Re: [DMCA_Discuss] MS Chosen Exclusive "Homeland Security" Contractor

[Seth Johnson]

Good point.  Still, "preferred" is enormously significant.  Not the least
given the full context.  Including who this is and what this is likely to
involve.

Not that I know much about contracting or procurement.  But among other
things, think about this in the context of Microsoft's attempts to establish
a standing for the use of restricted code for public functions.

Seth


"Jeffrey W Comer, TeqSolutions LLC" wrote:
> 
> "Exclusive" or "preferred"? There is a difference in English
> language... Is there a difference in contracting and
> procurement?
> 
> >------ Forwarded Message
> >From: Steve Bellovin <address@hidden>
> >Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 15:57:12 +0200
> >To: address@hidden
> >Subject: for IP: Microsoft chosen as exclusive Homeland
> Security contractor
> >
> >http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0703/071503h2.htm
> >
> > Microsoft chosen as exclusive Homeland Security contractor
> >
> >By Shane Harris
> >address@hidden
> >
> >The Homeland Security Department has chosen Microsoft Corp.
> as its preferred
> >supplier of desktop computer and server software, according
> to a statement
> >issued late Tuesday. The move is a significant development
> in the
> >government's ongoing merger of 22 agencies and comes as
> officials are
> >selecting various technology companies' products as de facto
> standards for
> >the department.
> >
> >
> >....
> >
> >
> > --Steve Bellovin, http://www.research.att.com/~smb (me)
> > http://www.wilyhacker.com (2nd edition of "Firewalls" book)
> >
> >
> >
> >------ End of Forwarded Message
> >
> >Archives at: http://www.interesting-
> people.org/archives/interesting-people/
> >
> >----
> >
> >July 15, 2003
> >Microsoft chosen as exclusive Homeland Security contractor
> >
> >By Shane Harris
> >address@hidden
> >
> >
> >The Homeland Security Department has chosen Microsoft Corp.
> as its preferred
> >supplier of desktop computer and server software, according
> to a statement
> >issued late Tuesday. The move is a significant development
> in the
> >government? ongoing merger of 22 agencies and comes as
> officials are
> >selecting various technology companies?products as de facto
> standards for
> >the department.
> >
> >The contract ?stablishes a key partnership relationship?
> between the
> >government and Microsoft, the world? biggest software maker,
> the statement
> >said. The department has purchased a license for about
> 140,000 desktop
> >computers and is consolidating other Microsoft agreements
> held by Homeland
> >Security agencies into the five-year contract. The deal is
> worth $90
> >million.
> >
> >Homeland Security employees?computers now will be outfitted
> with Microsoft?
> >Windows XP operating system, as well as the Microsoft Office
> Professional
> >version of software products. And perhaps most important to
> Homeland
> >Security? mission to get agencies communicating more easily,
> Microsoft will
> >provide the standard e-mail software for the entire
> department.
> >
> >Months before the Homeland Security Department was
> established in March,
> >officials labored over an inventory of the various software,
> hardware and
> >network brands security agencies are using. Their ultimate
> goal has been to
> >select one company as the sole supplier in each of several
> technology
> >categories, such as e-mail or desktop computers. Microsoft?
> selection for
> >such a wide range of software products would seem to
> indicate that officials
> >have found those brands are used and favored by the majority
> of security
> >agencies.
> >
> >Dell Marketing L.P, a division of Dell Computer Corp., also
> was chosen to
> >provide ?ay-to-day management?of the license agreement, the
> department?
> >statement said. The statement didn? disclose the value of
> that deal. The
> >Microsoft contract was awarded June 27.
> >
> >_______________________________________________

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