Summary
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On June 17, 1990 TME entered into two 10-year agreements with Lockheed Integrated Solutions Company (LISC) to provide it with: 1) Computer Based Training software and 2) Desktop Management Tools in support of a proposal LISC had submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the NOAVA program. The program, known as the Nationwide Office Automation for the Veterans Administration (NOAVA), was intended to modernize the VA facilities throughout the United States.
Since April of 1990 TME had an open purchase order with LISC to provide desktop publications services to produce the NOAVA proposal because it did not have the in-house expertise to do so. Because TME was aware of certain unfilled requirements in the area of software product offerings LISC had intended to offer the VA, TME made NOAVA program management aware of its abilities to resolve those shortcomings. In discussions held with LISC management in early June of 1990, LISC indicated a desire to keep the cost of our development of these software products as low as possible. |
Clovice Lewis had been developing “Wilbur’s Flight School” at the time, and realized the intuitive HyperCard-based system would be perfect for LISC’s needs. The VA wanted user tutorials for the myriad computer applications they would order from LISC, but did not want them printed or in videotape format. TME approached LISC management with a proposal to produce CBT tutorials using the TME “Explainer Series”.
TME agreed to develop demonstration software at a reduced rate of $50 per hour, with time charged to the already opened purchase order for desktop publishing. The difference of our normal rate ($85) would be paid to us upon award of the NOAVA contract to LISC. Because TME was fully aware of the potential of the NOAVA program, it was happy to agree to develop the software at a reduced rate and share the risk of that development, but also made sure that it had a permanent place in the future of the NOAVA program in return for helping LISC secure its contract with the VA. The two agreements TME made with LISC, which were requested by LISC management in June of 1990, were identical in regards to terms and conditions - only the function of the software was different. The salient features of the agreements are as follows: |
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- TME shall have first right of refusal privileges for all HyperCard-based desktop management tools and all Computer-Based Training programs, regardless of hardware/software platform, for the duration of the NOAVA contract. This shall include any modifications or deletions, or any upgrades to presently anticipated applications for use in the NOAVA system.
- TME shall have full rights to all products it develops in conjunction with the NOAVA contract with LISC.
- TME shall create all software away from LISC facilities.
TME did create the computer-based training demonstration, as well as the desktop management tools in the time required for the Live Test Training (LTD) held in July of 1990 with the VA. The competitive 3-day Live Test Demo (LTD) was required by the VA to evaluate LISC’s solutions. TME passed with flying colors, impressing the NOAVA evaluation team with the elegance and sophistication of its products.
TME was paid by LISC, per our agreement, $5O per hour against the existing purchase order open at the time for desktop publications, with each hour expended in the programming effort clearly notated. TME was also noted in the Best and Final Offer (BAFO) to the VA in all places referring to Computer-Based-Training, Computer-Aided-Instruction, Desktop Management Tools for the Macintosh, and adaptive technologies for the handicapped.
The NOAVA contract was eventually won by LISC on December 19, 1991...and that is when our troubles with LISC began.
More details. Down the Rabbit Hole...
Click these buttons to read descriptions of LISC/NOAVA activities as they progressed through the timeline:
January 1991 - February 1991:
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January 1991 - April 1992:
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September 23, 1991
October 1991 - January 1992
January 1992 - March 1992
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The NOAVA contract was eventually won by LISC on December 19, 1991...and that is when our troubles with LISC began.
NOTE: Lockheed Martin Corporation does not now own, nor is it associated with, Lockheed Integrated Solutions Company. In all instances "Lockheed" is an abbreviation for Lockheed Integrated Solutions Company. The story presented in this website is for historical and educational purposes only. It is a true account of how systemic racism operated in a corporation in the past, and an exposé of how it operates in the present.