Networx buzz

I had been hearing that Networx Universal could be awarded by Friday after the markets close. (Always fun given that we close the news section of Federal Computer Week on Friday. It makes for a fun afternoon.)Within GSA, there has been something of a pool. You see, Friday is the birthday of John Johnson, GSA's assistant commissioner for Integrated Technology Service, and later this month, it is the birthday of Karl Krumbholz, GSA's Networx program manager. So... will Networx be awarded closer to Johnson or Krumbholz's birthday?One insider told me, "We hear they will not have all the approvals done and many groups have to be notified."Aside from the timing, there are also questions about how many companies will get contracts. Most people see that there are at least four vendors competing to get a Networx Universal contract: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and Quest. The question is will they give it to everybody because they want to avoid a protest and they can deal with other issues among task orders.One insider's prediction: "They will make 3 awards and so they have to be sure all the I's are dotted."What is your prediction? Comment here... or send me an e-mail.Among speculators -- and there are much speculation going on right now -- many wondering if Lurita Doan's pending testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will impact the Networx award. Will they want to award Networx before Doan's testimony, giving her something to talk about come Tuesday, or will they just delay it until after. (We're pretty much guaranteed that it will not be on Tuesday.)I expect that , will talk about this . I have heard that Suda has near rock star standing on the breakfast speaker circuit. I hear that the Input breakfast Thursday is a sell-out crowd -- in fact, there is a waiting list for the breakfast.