I don't know the names of most of the subscribers to this blog. Many people don't submit any name at all, and many use personal e-mail addresses and not the e-mail addresses of their companies and organizations. That is fine with me -- I don't have a need for names or e-mail addresses (except to send my update notifications). My mailing list is never used for any other purpose; it is secure and is never given out to anyone.
However, I do look at the list occasionally, and when I do, I am always surprised at the number of subscribers who are government employees (quite a few of them do use their government e-mail addresses). I am curious to know why they have subscribed to this blog, since it is geared to the "other side" -- writing proposals as opposed to reviewing proposals or preparing solicitations. Perhaps they are just curious themselves, or maybe they are preparing for a career change into the private or non-profit sectors. Or maybe they just want to learn what it's like to be on the other side.
Whatever the reason, I think we could learn a lot from these folks. So, government subscribers, I invite you to speak up! Make comments to some of the blog posts. Or if you have a topic that you'd like to write about, send me an e-mail and I'll arrange for it to be posted on the blog. In either case, you don't have to give your name, e-mail address or agency if you don't want to.
I know you're out there. So give us your thoughts from the government perspective.
The FDBDO is unique. We are a contractor performing under a best value contract awarded by USAMRAA at Fort Detrick MD. We provide a focal point directing business activity from the commercial sector toward the Fort and its 38 tenants - including SAIC/NCI; HHS; DVA; DHS; USDA and others. Conversely, we are instrumental in "moving" appropriate technology from the Fort and its tenants into the commercial sector. Our office includes myself and my two direct reports; a Maryland TEDCO representative; a Maryland DBED representative; our Associate Director/OSADBU on a parttime basis and a COR. Billed as a "one stop shop" the FDBDO is here to support regional businesses as well as our Government in consistently maintaining an interactivity of business activity that promotes Fort Detrick as the Next Technology Center of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Yes, there are a number of components that exist in other contracting shops such as Technology Transfer offices but there is only one FDBDO! We are here, we Serve and Promote the best of Industry and Government working together!
Darryl, this is very interesting. But since you didn't tell us what FDBDO means, I had to look it up :) It stands for Fort Detrick Business Development Office -- thanks for providing the link. As for the other acronyms, well, there are too many for me to spell out here. We (myself included) need to remember that that there are many people who don't know what every acronym means. And that's true for both the government and private sectors. We all have our jargon!