Intercepts

Downsizing in the desert. A massive Army reorganization due for announcement in the next two weeks calls for the transfer of the HQ of the Army Information Systems Command, headed by Maj. Gen. Charles Sutten, from Fort Huachuca, Ariz., to Fort McPherson, Ga.

The "Force XXI Reorganization" plan also will transfer control of the Information Systems Engineering Command from ISC to the Communications-Electronics Command, although ISEC would remain at Fort Huachuca along with other "significant" ISC assets and units.

ISC's 5th Signal Command, now deployed in Bosnia, could come under the control of U.S. Army Europe, with ISC signal units in the Pacific taken over by the units they support.

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Desktop V dispute? The abrupt postponement of the $1.4 billion Air Force Desktop V PC contract earlier this month stems from disagreements way up in the food chain, according to signals received here at Intercept Central.

Lt. Gen. Charles Franklin, the Desktop V SSA, picked two winners and then forwarded that to the SAF/AQ, which had its own ideas.

We hear that Darleen Druyun, principal deputy secretary of the Air Force for acquisition and management, disagreed with Franklin's cut and since then, the two have been trying to reach agreement.

Hopefully, Druyun and Franklin will be able to reach closure by the end of this month, when the Air Force expects to make the award.

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Crank up the lawyers. That's the view of more than one Desktop V bidder, who consider protests inevitable, in part due to the cockamamie way the Air Force has staggered the full and open awards and the small-business contract.

Because the small-business contract is not due for award until July, more Desktop V bidders believe that George Fuster, president of International Data Products Corp., will protest if he fails to win the full and open in order to protect his bid on the small-business contract. "Fuster is not going to give his competitors a three-month sales lead," one Desktop V bidder said.

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Love those auto-pens. Picking up strong, triangulated signals that Rep. Ron Dellums (D-Calif.) had little knowledge of the letter sent to the Pentagon under his signature asking DOD to hold up any DISN contract awards until the department provided a rationale for its multiple-contract approach.

The letter, widely viewed as bolstering AT&T's campaign to force DISA to allow an integrated, end-to-end bid, has lost its impact due to the fact that Dellums only learned of its contents and impact after it left his office. Ahh, ambition, thy name is "Staffer."

Though the Dellums letter could potentially slow down award of the DISN integration contract, due in the next couple of weeks, the Interceptor is picking up strong signals that DISA intends to proceed as scheduled.

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On to the Senate. Meanwhile, The Interceptor has picked up signals that AT&T has taken its case to the Senate Armed Services Committee, proffering language that could force DISA to finally pay heed to the company.