National Archives Names Lockheed Martin to Build Archives of the Future

[MH1]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=52880

National Archives Names Lockheed Martin to Build Archives of the Future

9/8/2005 11:21:00 AM

To: National Desk, Technology Reporter

Contact: National Archives Public Affairs Office, 202-501-5526

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein announced the award of a $308 million, six year contract to Lockheed Martin to build the Electronic Records Archives (ERA) system for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The ERA system will capture and preserve the electronic records of the federal government, regardless of format, ensure hardware and software independence, and provide access to the American public and Federal officials.

....

At the press conference, Mr. Donato (Don) Antonucci, president, Transportation and Security Solutions, Lockheed Martin Corporation said, "The Lockheed Martin team has had a priority focus on this vital program. Allow me once again to say our Lockheed Martin team is proud to have been selected for this essential solution and we will not fail you." He added, "Our vision is that the ERA system can adapt to the diverse needs of state and local governments to keep their electronic records accessible for generations to come. The challenge of preserving electronic records affects everyone -- from federal agencies, to state and local governments, to the academic community, to even the private sector."

This announcement comes at the close of a one-year design competition between Harris Corporation and Lockheed Martin. The announcement marks the beginning of the ERA system development, with the initial operating capability targeted for release during Fiscal Year 2007.

The search for a solution to preserve the federal government's digital heritage began more than seven years ago. Responding to the evolving nature of the digital age and to the public's growing use of electronic technology to interact with their government, NARA began looking for ways to preserve essential electronic records. In 1998, the National Archives invested seed money to engage government and private research partners to determine if preservation of electronic records was possible. This research created new techniques that led to the first proof-of-concept in 1999 and demonstrated that electronic records preservation was a possibility.

....

NARA ERA site: http://www.archives.gov/era/

Please note Allen Weinstein was appointed by Bush, an appointment that was controversial to progressive-leaning librarians and archivists:
http://www.archivists.org/statements/weinstein.asp

[htuttle]

1. When I think 'document archiving', first thing comes to mind is 'Lockheed'

:wtf:

Lockheed Martin?

Hmm...look at who spoke on behalf of Lockheed -- the head of their 'Transportation and Security Solutions' division.

I'd be willing to be this isn't really about archiving the Congressional records. This is about tracking us.

[MH1]

3. The archiving program is for real.

What is bothersome is that Lockheed hardly seems like the most technically qualified, if the objective is to preserve information and make it easily accessible to citizens. That "Security Solutions" moniker sure invokes the idea of openness, huh?

Also one wonders how easy they'll make it to find certain documents relating to their own contracts...

[MH1]

2. Context

Lockheed Martin is the largest weapons manufacturer in the world, and one of the, if not the, largest government contractors. Most of Lockheed's revenue comes from government contracts.

I never knew that they were considered a top information technology firm, too.

[scarletlib]

10. well, they have been branching out in other directions to continue

getting governmnent contracts since they have fears since end of the soviet threat and the loss of defense research and weapons building contracts.

One of their little forays, believe it or not, has been to get into the welfare business. they have marketed themselves as able to get into social welfare, run it like a business and improve people's lives. What a crock! they actually got contracts in florida to privatize welfare--of course this happened under a republican legislature with jebbie in charge. Just another way to rip off the taxpayer and keep their hands in the government trough.

[MH1]

11. Common thread: feeding at the public trough

I wonder if there should be a rule that the fed government can only hire a company if less than a certain percentage of the company's revenue is derived from government contracts.

Force companies to be able to compete in the private sector. Also eliminate the situation that the company's survival (and all those jobs) are absolutely dependent on continued government spending. Reduce the motivation for corruption when the company can survive even if it loses a particular big government contract.

Hmmm. Am I sounding like a fiscal responsibility conservative yet?

[bemildred]

4. Right, Giganticorp is the answer.

I will give you ten to one this turkey will sink billions and
never do any useful work.

[MH1]

6. Heh. They will deliver something that passes for what

they are supposed to deliver. They'll just charge 50 times what it should have cost.

And meanwhile make sure the "security" is plenty tight on that information citizens might want to know about their government. :grr:

[Roland99]

8. That'd be my guess.

[GeorgeGist]

5. If a horse ass. lawyer can run FEMA...

there's no need to finish this sentence.

[Blaq Dem]

7. Lockheed will throw away any evidence that can be used against Bush

Watch and see. It'll be white washed and have parts missing, just like Bush's militray records.

[rogue_bandit]

9. 80% of all congress offices

Lockheed Martin services 80% of all congressional office computers. I know, I subcontracted with them to work on a Legislator's (R)(OR)local office server. I asked the man on the other end of the phone why Lockheed Martin and that's what he told me...80% of all congress office computers (apparently all around the nation-world).

Seemed weird to me. The only reason I can think of is that with all those government contracts needing secrecy they saw an opportunity to in-house the computer security.

On another note: I'm sure it is about shredding electronic documents, not archiving them.