Boeing seeks prize security contract

Friday, May 28, 2004

Boeing seeks prize security contract
Program to track foreigners in U.S. could generate billions of dollars for winning bidder

By WYATT BUCHANAN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- When the Department of Homeland Security announces in the coming days who will develop a huge new program to track every foreigner entering the United States, one company that will be most interested is The Boeing Co.

That's because Boeing -- a powerhouse in the defense industry -- is also the largest contractor for the Homeland Security Department thus far, winning almost $1 billion in contracts last year. The second-largest contractor has won just half that.

"(Boeing) is a significant player in homeland security, but there are a lot of other players as well," said William Loiry, president of Equity International, a business development firm focusing on global security. "US-VISIT would make them a player at a top level for many years to come."

<snip>

US-VISIT is the border-protection program that will use fingerprint scans and digital photographs to verify the identity of those entering the country. Boeing is a partner on the Computer Sciences Corp. team bidding for the contract, and the company's role will be to develop future technology for border security, Maehl said.

The program is the biggest prize in the emerging homeland security industry, currently worth $10 billion over 10 years. The other bidders are Lockheed Martin and Accenture.

<snip>

Because the homeland security industry is so new, some have worried that companies will sell the department unnecessary products for threats that are unlikely to materialize.

More at this

When they're outsourcing their labor and effort overseas.

Even the GOP dosen't understand the concept if they have to rely on India to raise money "cheaply."

for the tanked tanker deal

JM

badly in the world commercial jet market, so guess they need to diversify their product mix.

I gotta know, just exactly HOW many people sitting at home watching Keith Olberman are in a position to get on the phone the next morning and say "Hey, I saw your ad last night, I'd like to buy one 'a them Seven-E-Seven aeroplanes!"?

Softening us up so we'll have warm fuzzies about Boeing when they get a sweetheart give-a-way and we won't complain to our congresscritters (like we would in the first place. We're too damn busy raking the USPS for paying Lance Armstrong)perhaps?