INDUSTRY WATCH

Navy awards workstation BPAs for Digital, HP, Sun wares A s expected, late last month the Navy established blanket purchase agreements (BPAs) for workstations and servers from Digital Equipment Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Sun Microsystems Inc.

The Tactical Advanced Computer-Joint Workstation BPAs were awarded based on existing General Services Administration schedule contracts.

Digital bid as a prime, while HP and Sun bid with their schedule holders: Sylvest Management Systems Corp. for HP and World Wide Technology Inc. for Sun.

The BPAs are open to the Navy, Marines, other Defense Department components and the Coast Guard.

Cuneo to leave in Wang reorganization

Wang Laboratories last month announced that I-NET Inc. executive Jim Hogan will replace Ron Cuneo as president of the company's federal unit.

Hogan had been, and will continue to be, group president of I-NET's Government Systems and Networks Division. Wang acquired I-NET last year. Hogan joined Wang in 1990 and took on the I-NET post in September. Cuneo will remain with Wang Federal during a transition period, after which he will leave to pursue other interests, according to the company. The reorganization stems from a decision to unite Wang Federal and I-NET's government business under one executive, said Jorge Diaz, vice president of marketing and special programs at Wang Federal.

BTG to offer UUNet access service

BTG Inc. announced that it will offer UUNet Technologies' Internet access services and products through its GSA schedule and other large-scale government contracts.

BTG plans to offer customized Internet service and product sets with various levels of connectivity. The agreement is geared toward federal, state and local governments.

BTG plans to offer UUNet's Internet access on the following contracts open to all government agencies: the National Institutes of Health's Electronic Computer Store, the Transportation Department's Information Technology Omnibus Procurement and other contracts with the Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Treasury Department and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Cray to spin off supercomputer center

Cray Research Inc. announced that it will spin off its Minnesota Supercomputer Center Inc. as an independent entity that will be owned and operated by the center's current management.

Under the spinoff agreement, the Eagan, Minn.-based center was purchased by Network Computing Services Inc., a closely held corporation to be owned and managed by three center executives: John Sell, president; Robert Williams, executive vice president; and Craig Norman, vice president and general counsel. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

Cray, which is the supercomputing subsidiary of Silicon Graphics Inc., has owned the center since 1994. The center will continue to serve its existing customers, which includes the Army High- Performance Research Center.

Technical Communications signs Army pact

Technical Communications Corp. recently signed a requirements contract with the Army's Communications-Electronics Command for the company's encryption device and related equipment. The Concord, Mass.-based company estimated that the contract could be worth $9.5 million if all options are exercised. The company's DSD 72 A-SP trunk encryption device is used to secure communications within U.S.-supplied Patriot air defense systems and command and control systems.

- Compiled by Heather Harreld, John Stein Monroe and John Moore.