more contracts awarded

If you've got an extra $50 a week, you can sign up for the new Iraq Business Reporter. Free copies of the first four published issues are available at TradeDataSource.com

'Iraq Business Reporter is a weekly electronic newsletter providing current business news, leads and other information on rapidly evolving business and commercial activity in Iraq,' publisher Christopher Beard explains. 'It is an essential resource for persons identifying and tracking new opportunities and developments in that fluid environment.'

We love Business Wire. We missed reading their reports during our break. Meanwhile, Washington File has a new announcement from the USAID.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded five contracts to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to promote citizen involvement in community development in Iraq.

Company Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance
Award $7 million
Agency USAID Iraq Community Action Program
Pre-planning
Date of RFP
Date of Award May 27, 2003
Nature of work To promote citizen involvement in community development efforts
Reference

Company Cooperative Housing Foundation International
Award $7 million
Agency USAID Iraq Community Action Program
Pre-planning
Date of RFP
Date of Award May 27, 2003
Nature of work To promote citizen involvement in community development efforts
Reference

Company International Relief and Development, Inc.
Award $7 million
Agency USAID Iraq Community Action Program
Pre-planning
Date of RFP
Date of Award May 27, 2003
Nature of work To promote citizen involvement in community development efforts
Reference

Company Mercy Corps
Award $7 million
Agency USAID Iraq Community Action Program
Pre-planning
Date of RFP
Date of Award May 27, 2003
Nature of work To promote citizen involvement in community development efforts
Reference

Company Save the Children Federation, Inc.
Award $7 million
Agency USAID Iraq Community Action Program
Pre-planning
Date of RFP
Date of Award May 27, 2003
Nature of work To promote citizen involvement in community development efforts
Reference

BearingPoint is still rumored to be in the running for a USAID contract to improve Iraq's financial sector. (BearingPoint recently won a three-year, $40 million contract to rebuild the financial system in Afghanistan.)

How do you feel about off-shore corporations?

Bearing Point moves around depending on economic climate.

Though India has long been considered the global hot spot for U.S. offshore application development -- due to low-cost labor, friendly laws and a high degree of English proficiency -- Bearing Point, formerly KPMG Consulting, has selected China as the location for its new offshore application-development facility.

The decision was made because China offers the promise of even lower real estate and labor costs than India.

"The biggest driver is the cost advantage we can deliver to firms from being in China," says Judy List, senior vice president of Bearing Point's Services Solutions Group. "Some rode the India wave but now we see China as the next wave and want to get on the bandwagon early."