Market Connections

Shrinking budgets and policy crackdowns are changing the landscape for federal decision makers and influencers who gather information and stay abreast of new technology via industry events. Government contractors have always seen events and trade shows as valuable opportunities to connect with federal customers, but this is poised to change in 2013.

According to a recent poll conducted by Market Connections, Inc., 38% of federal employees plan to attend fewer educational and trade events in 2013 compared to last year. Meanwhile, 29% of the 400 respondents reflect the ongoing uncertainty within government agencies about the state of budgets and priorities, saying they don’t know their event attendance plans, even as the federal fiscal year enters its second quarter. Keep reading →

With the sequestration deadline looming, government contractors are split on whether the pending sequestration budget cuts will occur.

According to survey findings released today by Market Connections, Inc., a leading government market research firm, 36% of government contractors believe sequestration is unlikely to happen, while 34% believe the budget cuts are somewhat likely. Keep reading →

With the “fiscal cliff” closely looming on the horizon, the post-election honeymoon is over for President Barack Obama. Both parties must work to avert the pending spending cuts and tax hikes that will take place should a compromise not be reached by December 31.

Reuters recently reported that a compromise is being negotiated between the Obama administration and congressional leaders that would key in on a deficit reduction package in Congress’ January session. This comes after President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) discussed the matter last Friday, stating they are ready to work together on an agreement, including the possibility of listening to new ideas to get a deal done. Keep reading →

During this time of budget constraints, the federal government is seeking low-priced, technically acceptable (LPTA) solutions to keep projects and innovation alive. In other words, agencies need to find ways to keep technological innovation moving forward, albeit with tighter purse strings.

As Lisa Mascolo, CEO of Optimos Inc., pointed out in her recent Washington Technology Op-Ed article on the topic of LPTA contracts, “When I hear ‘acceptable,’ I think adequate, good enough, not great but okay.” Keep reading →

Citizens in seven leading countries suggest that the gap between government and the private sector is narrowing when it comes to delivering services electronically, according to a newly-released study.

Though the research reaffirms that governments have more work to do-and that some nations, such as Singapore, are much farther along than others in serving citizens electronically-the study’s findings also suggest that governments have come farther in their game of catch up with the private sector than many observers have suspected. Keep reading →

Despite the rising impact of social media sites on federal agencies, only 44% of federal decision-makers are allowed access to social networking sites at work, according to a study released Thursday.

An equal percentage of federal employees said they are expressly not allowed to access social networking sites, according to the market research firm Market Connections, which produced the study. The balance of respondents said they did not know for sure if they were allowed to access such sites. Keep reading →