Federal information technology spending on the rise

Federal government contracts for information technology surged in the second quarter, growing 50 percent over the corresponding period last year, according to new research from Input.

In the second quarter of 2004, the federal government doled out more than $23 billion in IT-related contracts, an increase of $7.5 billion (or 50 percent) compared to the $15.5 billion in contracts it awarded in the corresponding quarter last year.

During the second quarter of 2004, the Homeland Security Department awarded the most IT-related contracts -- $10.7 billion in all -- with the bulk coming from the U.S. Visitor and Immigration Status Indication Technology System.

Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are tied for winning the most IT contracts during the quarter.