DT V 8(a) protested; ZDS clears up backlog

The Air Force's recent selection of International Data Products Corp. as the apparent winner of the Desktop V small-business contract has been met with a protest from Dynamic Decisions Inc. Rosslyn Va.

Bob Hesser director of federal sales at DDI declined to provide any details of his company's protest to the Small Business Administration but he emphasized that the Air Force has not yet awarded the long-delayed contract. Industry and Air Force sources expect the protest to be resolved and an award made by the end of December if not before.

In a related development Zenith Data Systems said it has all but cleared up its Desktop V order backlog and "is now meeting Air Force time lines for deliveries of new orders." ZDS has struggled since September to meet the Air Force's 10-day delivery requirement with large backlogs resulting from a switch in production facilities.

Pat Gallagher ZDS' sales vice president said that in his view "the Air Force is pleased with where we are now. We have the backlog down to under 4 000 units."