A report released today by market research firm Input predicts IT firms that qualify for federal set-asides will receive more than $20 billion in government awards in fiscal year 2006, according to the group Feb. 15 release.Input estimates that more than $14 billion in set-aside contracts will be in the professional services area, accounting for roughly 70 percent of the total FY 2006 set-aside awards.“As government solidifies mechanisms for fulfilling set-aside category goals, competition for these prime reserve dollars is increasing,” Megan Gamse, manager, defense opportunities for Input, said in the release. “Last fiscal year, Input tracked more than $11.6 billion in federal technology set-aside opportunities. Given some key programs to help government-wide set-aside goal achievement, total technology set-aside contractual value is anticipated to increase by more than 43 percent from last year.” Input’s estimates are based on the total expected value of contracts awarded in 2006, and for government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) and other unspecified delivery contracts, Input based its estimates on the ceiling value. Some of the larger anticipated professional services set-aside opportunities in 2006 are expected on the behalf of the U.S. Army and Airforce, according to Input.Don’t forget to keep checking in at our CIO News Alerts page for updated news coverage. Related content brandpost Sponsored by Freshworks When your AI chatbots mess up AI ‘hallucinations’ present significant business risks, but new types of guardrails can keep them from doing serious damage By Paul Gillin Dec 08, 2023 4 mins Generative AI brandpost Sponsored by Dell New research: How IT leaders drive business benefits by accelerating device refresh strategies Security leaders have particular concerns that older devices are more vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. By Laura McEwan Dec 08, 2023 3 mins Infrastructure Management case study Toyota transforms IT service desk with gen AI To help promote insourcing and quality control, Toyota Motor North America is leveraging generative AI for HR and IT service desk requests. By Thor Olavsrud Dec 08, 2023 7 mins Employee Experience Generative AI ICT Partners feature CSM certification: Costs, requirements, and all you need to know The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification sets the standard for establishing Scrum theory, developing practical applications and rules, and leading teams and stakeholders through the development process. By Moira Alexander Dec 08, 2023 8 mins Certifications IT Skills Project Management Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe