GEIA: IT to grow 3.6 percent

Government Electronics and Information Technology Association (GEIA) analysts will predict a modest growth in the federal IT market when the organization presents its 16th annual Federal IT forecast next week.

GEIA officials believe that the fiscal 2005 federal IT budget will be $60.8 billion and that it will rise to $72.9 billion by fiscal 2010. They predict the average annual growth to be 3.6 percent. The association will present its findings at its Vision conference.

Officials believe that the civil side of government will grow about 2.9 percent per year, with the Homeland Security Department and Department of Health and Human Services showing the most growth. The Defense Department's IT spending will grow at about 4.4 percent per year, according to the projection.

"Security in every form continues to be a challenge for the agencies," said Cheval Force Opp, GEIA's budget co-chair. "Broadband ubiquity and wireless connectivity is fueling privacy concerns. We are just starting to see security legislation and standards that will impact the cost and complexity of IT at every level."