Input: IT companies to get $20B in set-asides

Information technology companies that qualify for federal set-aside categories will earn more than $20 billion from government contracts in fiscal 2006, according to the market research firm Input.

In a report set for release tomorrow, the firm will forecast that more than $14 billion, or about 70 percent of the total, will come through professional services contracting.

"As government solidifies mechanisms for fulfilling set-aside category goals, competition for these prime reserve dollars is increasing," said Megan Gamse, manager of defense opportunities at Input.

However, Input's projections are based on some assumptions. For indefinite-delivery contracts, including governmentwide acquisition contracts, Input used the ceiling value in its estimate.

The military is expected to account for some of the largest expected professional services set-aside opportunities in fiscal 2006. Input believes the Army will release a final solicitation for its $310 million small-business set-aside for business process outsourcing of program management and interpretation/translation services in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the Air Force is expected to release set-asides for $960 million worth of professional acquisition and IT support services, and a $350 million advisory and assistance services requirement for Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.