News briefs

Air Force's Frye set to retire

Robert Frye, executive director of the Standard Systems Group (SSG) at the Gunter Annex at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., is retiring Sept. 3. Frye said he plans to stay in Montgomery, Ala., as an independent consultant to government contractors. He is being replaced by Frank Weber, a member of the Senior Executive Service and deputy director of logistics and business operations at the U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

Frye, who has been SSG's executive director since 1995, is responsible for the 2,400-person organization that acquires, develops and maintains combat support information systems for Air Force and Defense Department components. SSG oversees $14 billion in contracts and more than 100 programs.

Frye is also chief operating officer for the Information Services Activity Group, composed of SSG and the Materiel Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

HP tapped for PC deal

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently awarded a task order worth more than $225 million to Hewlett-Packard Co. to deploy and manage Microsoft Corp. software for all desktop systems at the agency.

The task order — which has a duration of one year with five one-year options — was made under the Procurement of Computer Hardware and Software-2 contract that the VA awarded to Compaq Computer Corp. shortly before it merged with HP. The contract, which HP announced Aug. 29, is expected to go into effect in October.

Chuck Kinzel, HP's VA account director, said the contract will help the VA standardize its systems in facilities in Washington, D.C., and as far away as the Philippines. The agency is working to standardize its systems and create an enterprise architecture plan.