Check out this story:

http://cnnfntech.newsreal.com/story/19990813/02/14/5371906_st.html

Talk about leaving it to the last minute, eh?

-- Canuck (canuck@canada.com), August 13, 1999

Answers

DataSource, Inc. Awarded a $2.1 Million Contract to Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
PRNewswire

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- DataSource, Inc., a $20 million company that provides software development, systems integration, business process re-engineering and network services to the commercial and government marketplace, announces that it has been awarded $2.1 million contract to provide Year 2000 remediation services to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). Issued by the Information Resources Management Administration, the contract is open to other state agencies, which may require Year 2000 services.

In accordance with the Maryland Year 2000 Conversion Program, DataSource will supply services to ensure Year 2000 compliance by DHMH's information systems, which comprise more than 3,000 PCs and peripherals, software from more than 100 manufacturers, and 68 Ethernet and Token Ring LANs with approximately 75 servers. DHMH's software inventory includes custom software and approximately 600 titles or versions of Custom Off the Shelf (COTS) applications.

The effort will include the review, upgrading, integration, and testing of DHMH's current systems. DataSource will install Year 2000 compliant versions of COTS and DHMH-approved software onto a renovated PC platform.

DataSource, which recently moved to Silver Spring, will reopen its Greenbelt offices to accommodate the more than 50 new employees who have been hired to fulfill this contract. "We're excited about this new opportunity," said Pamela W. Hopkins, Present and CEO of DataSource, Inc. "We're committed to supplying high-quality services, and I think that's why we continue to grow so rapidly." DataSource is already providing services to approximately 35 Maryland State agencies for software development and Year 2000 compliance.

Founded in 1994 by Pamela Hopkins, DataSource has grown to more than 150 employees, a long list of happy clients and projected revenues of $20 million -- all in less than five years. DataSource plans to expand by pursuing large contracts and product development. The three- to five-year vision is to become a company whose core business comprises complementary products and services. DataSource is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. SOURCE DataSource, Inc.

(Copyright 1999)

Yoikes!!!

-- RUOK (RUOK@yesiam.com), August 13, 1999.

Mental hygiene? That department could use a good cleaning between the ears. No doubt about it. So could the individual who came up with the term, 'mental hygiene'. Have you brushed your brain today?

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), August 13, 1999.

No, but I FLOSS mine daily! (through the ears of course!)

keepon

-- keepon (vacillating@hourly.edu), August 13, 1999.

Whatever they call it (mental hygiene is very weird politically correct new-speak!), DHMH of Maryland is a State agency. If they are similar to my state's comparable agency, they are responsible for such things as managing programs like Aid to Families with Dependent Children, and funding of state care facilities for the mentally ill, among other things.

If they are only now, in August, 1999 contracting for the remediation of 3,000 PCs, software from 100 manufacturers, 68 Ethernet LANS, 75 servers, and 600 customized software applications, this is NOT good news.

I'll go along with Canuck's original question here---Is this for real???

-- RUOK (RUOK@yesiam.com), August 13, 1999.

At least the Maryland Police agencies are ready in case the "Mentally Un-hygienics" are forced to the streets.

Maryla nd Police, prisons prepare for millenial chaos

-- Chris (%$^&^@pond.com), August 13, 1999.

The loonies are running the asylum!!!

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), August 13, 1999.

The loonies are running the world.

-- R (riversoma@aol.com), August 13, 1999.

That's what I meant :)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), August 13, 1999.