For the project, DB will work closely with the CDC’s Vaccine Preventable Disease Eradication and Elimination Branch to support the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Global Polio Eradication Initiative. DB will provide technical support to priority countries with endemic or reestablished transmission of wild polio virus to intensify their efforts to eradicate polio by December 2012. Additionally, DB will:

In late September, DB successfully completed the CMMI recertification process, attaining corporate-level CMMI Maturity Level 2 certification.

“The recertification process was a major undertaking,” DB’s Director of Quality Management and Compliance, Nina Malyutina, Ph.D. said. “However, we managed to go through both the implementation and appraisal phases one month ahead of schedule and under budget, demonstrating the unbelievable commitment from upper management and the professionalism of everyone involved in the process.”

The Road to Recertification
DB earned its initial corporate CMMI Maturity Level 2 for systems and software engineering in November 2008. The certification, which was valid for three years, was based on four major contracts DB held at that time.

“Even though we had until November 29, 2011 before our initial certification expired, we unfolded the implementation and preparatory auditing activities early,” Malyutina explained. “We knew it was going to be more challenging than a standard recertification because the majority of the projects we used for initial certification were successfully completed and we were no longer performing the work. This meant we had to use predominantly new projects that comprise the majority of our business. Another significant obstacle was that our biggest program is located remotely from the DB’s headquarters.”

These projects selected for recertification included the NASA ITAMS contract at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas; the NASA PACE contract at Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio; and the Neighborhood Networks IT contract that DB performs for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C.

“To attain CMMI recertification, we had to pull together all of the documentation for those projects,” Malyutina said. “This was quite an experience with subsequent lessons learned especially for the remote projects and appraisal teams . We used a lot of technology to connect and conduct consultations and audits. ITAMS and PACE key staff also travelled to Silver Spring for the interviews, presentations, and the mandatory meetings required by the Standard CMMI® Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI) v.1.3. There is no way we could have done this if it were not for dedication of the project managers and their teams, such as Jeff White and Julie Babineaux at ITAMS, Ron Harvey and Denice Ryan at PACE, and Ketan Baluja and Mark Fiery for Neighborhood Networks IT. These individuals had to manage their projects and deliverables, and pull together a great deal of information for CMMI recertification effort. Normally a corporate-wide CMMI certification process takes years, but we managed to do it in five months.”

The CMMI recertification process is comprised of three appraisal classes. Class C, which DB began in April, consists of the documentation review. Class B, which DB completed in July, is the dry run for the final audit. Class A is the final audit, which DB completed September 22 – 29.

“The CMMI appraisers uncovered no serious findings during our final audit,” Malyutina said. “The final Appraisal Class A went very smoothly, and we should receive our official SEI-approved certificate by the end of October. It really was an amazing effort by everyone involved. Having the full support of top management made a huge difference. Gerald Boyd, Jr., Gerald Boyd, Sr., and our appraisal sponsor Rick Stalnaker were fully committed to the process, and they made it clear that this was a corporate strategic goal and priority. And, of course, the hard work and commitment by the project teams made it all possible.”

DB CEO Gerald Boyd, Jr. and President Gerald Boyd, Sr. joined Dr. Walter Fagget, a well-known DC-area physician, and Captain Beverly Dandridge of the office of the Surgeon General, to welcome the attendees. Throughout the day, attendees were free to wander the fair and gather health information or take advantage of on-the-spot health screenings. Booths were set up by a variety of organizations that offered information and/or free services on blood pressure, diabetes, dental health, flu shots, back alignment, breast exams, osteoporosis, bone density, chiropractics, and carbon monoxide.

An American Red Cross mobile unit was also on site as part of DB Cares’ 9th blood drive. Twenty-one donors gave the gift of life. The HIV/AIDS mobile unit tested 19 participants, and the Lion’s Club mobile unit tested the hearing and vision of more than 200 people.

Organizations specializing in family assistance also participated in the fair. These included the WIC program, the YMCA, and Priority Partners, who signed up 20 families who were without health insurance and eligible for medical assistance.

“Each year, the health and wellness fair seems to get better and better,” said Boyd, Sr. “The event has grown throughout the years, which is why we had to move it to a larger venue this year. The community has truly embraced this event and looks forward it each year. This year was easily the best one ever.”

DB and JBS bring a 20-year history of successfully managing previous iterations of this contract, which include the Opiate Addiction Technical Assistance Project, Opioid Treatment Technical Assistance Project, and the Education, Training and Professional Development of Health Care Providers in OTPs. Critical to the contract award was the team’s record of training more than 1,500 medical and clinical professionals in proper prescribing practices over a 12-month period, assisting approximately1,200 OTPs with implementing streamlined administration and management processes, and ensuring curriculum, training programs, and policies reflected current data on shifting trends in drugs of abuse and patient demographics.

“We are excited about the opportunity to apply our first-hand experience and understanding of what works and why to SAMHSA,” Chief Executive Officer of DB Gerald Boyd, Jr. said. “Although continuity of services is our first priority, we also are aware that this new contract offers an opportunity for us to build on what we know and launch new initiatives, such as online interactive skills-building trainings and the use of social media to provide technical assistance.”

“Being nominated by those we support and serve at Johnson Space Center and winning a NASA SBIA truly is an honor,” DB’s Chief Executive Officer Gerald Boyd, Jr. said. “Ever since DB began partnering with NASA in 2005, delivering superior service, support, and solutions has been a company-wide priority. From our on-site teams and leadership, to the industry partners with whom we strategically team, to the corporate support team, we are dedicated to helping NASA achieve its mission and proud to be a part of the agency’s success.”

To be awarded a NASA SBIA in the Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year category, contractors must be nominated by individual NASA centers. Nominees are then judged based on the following criteria:

NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden, Jr. will present the award to Boyd, Jr. on November 3, 2011, at the 4th Annual NASA Small Business Symposium and Awards Ceremony to be held at the Hyatt Dulles in Herndon, Virginia. The ceremony will feature presentations from NASA’s administrator and associate deputy administrator, the chief scientist, the associate administrator for the mission support directorate, and the administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The agency-level SBIA also will be announced during the awards ceremony.

“Being awarded GSA 8(a) STARS II is a significant milestone in DB’s continued growth as a small business contractor,” DB Chief Executive Officer Gerald Boyd, Jr. said. “We are looking forward to working with the GSA STARS II team to market and capture new business with the STARS II GWAC.”

About STARS II
The 8(a) STARS II design consists of two constellations (tiers) based on industry accreditations. Constellation I includes those firms with competitive pricing and technical proficiency. Constellation II includes firms who have competitive pricing, technical proficiency, and an additional industry credential. Industry credentials of Constellation II include one or more of the following: Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) 2+ (services or development), ISO 9001: 2000 (replaced by ISO 9001:2008), or ISO 9001: 2008.

Each of the 8(a) STARS II constellations includes four functional areas designated by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). These NAICS are:

DB was awarded the five-year base period contract for both constellations and all four functional areas in each constellation.

“We’re excited to be able to market the GSA STARS II contract vehicle,” DB Director of Business Development Julie Baker said. “DB has a successful track record of expanding within a particular customer segment utilizing agency IDIQs. The STARS II GWAC will enable us to strategically expand our customer portfolio and foster new growth for DB.”

For more information on the GSA 8(a) STARS II GWAC, visit www.gsa.gov/8astars2.

About DB Consulting Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, DB is a small disadvantaged business with a proven track record of successfully providing information technology, engineering, and management consulting services. Employing about 400 full-time professionals, DB partners with government and commercial clients in the aerospace, defense, education, health, homeland security, housing, justice, and social programs arenas. DB’s core areas of expertise include: information technology and security; health and clinical services, including program planning and development, research and policy studies, health communications, social marketing, and health informatics; program management and support; peer review and grants management; research and evaluation; training and technical assistance; systems development and operations; communications support; and conference and meeting logistics. In 2008, DB achieved CMMI for Development (CMMI-DEV) Level 2 designation, demonstrating DB’s commitment to applying proven processes, adhering to best practices for all projects, and enabling DB to meet government standards for quality, cost, scheduling, and customer satisfaction.

Contact: Julie Baker, 240-675-0075, jbaker@dbconsultinggroup.com

Part of an initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the website aims to:

Site visitors will find information that describes what to expect from buprenorphine treatment, addresses the science showing addiction is a chronic disease, and emphasizes the importance of combining medication with counseling and support services.

For further information, contact Randolph E. Edmead, M.S., Project Director at (301) 589-4020 extension 291 or via e-mail at redmead@dbconsultinggroup.com.

Specific services, which are provided primarily under the management of Johnson’s Information Resources Directorate with participation by the Office of External Relations, include:

To perform the work, DB assembled a premier team that includes MEI Technologies; Wyle; Booz Allen Hamilton; and JESTech.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to expand our partnership with CDC,” said DB Chief Executive Officer Gerald Boyd, Jr. “DB has enjoyed a successful working relationship with CDC since 2001, and we look forward to many more years of support and service to this top-notch health agency.”

About CIMS
In September, DB was named one of 30 prime contractors to be awarded a CIMS contract. Under this multiple award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, DB is eligible to bid on a variety of information management-related tasks that are issued by CDC. These services include: the planning, design, development, maintenance, engineering, integration, and retirement of information systems; the collection, analysis, and management of data, information, and knowledge; health information technology; public health informatics; graphics and web design; technical writing and editing; information security; and project and program management support.

In the three decades since the first space shuttle was launched on April 12, 1981, five shuttles and hundreds of astronauts have embarked on 135 space shuttle missions. Combined, these shuttles have orbited the Earth 21,000 times and their astronauts have travelled millions of miles through space.

On July 8 at 11:29 a.m. (EDT), the Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off on its 33rd flight from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The launch marked the 135th — and final — mission of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. To honor this historic event, DB Consulting Group, Inc. (DB) and NASA Glenn Research Center co-hosted a pre-launch reception on July 6 at the Doubletree Hotel in Cocoa Beach, Florida. More than 250 individuals attended the event, including NASA Administrator Charles Bolden; Glenn Research Center Director Ray Lugo; former Glenn Research Center Director and current Associate Administrator for Mission Support at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Dr. Woodrow Whitlow, Jr.; and NASA Astronaut and Mission Specialist for three space shuttle flights Richard Mastracchio.

“DB wanted to host an event that not only celebrated the success of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program, but also recognized the contributions to the program put forth by NASA’s Glenn Research Center,” said DB Chief Executive Officer Gerald Boyd, Jr. “Over the years, the team at Glenn Research Center has provided a wide range of activities in support of the program — from contributing to the original design of the space shuttle to ensuring the safety of shuttle launches. We wanted to congratulate them on a job well done.”

The purpose of the 12-day flight, which will be the 37th and final visit of a space shuttle to the International Space Station, is to stock the complex with as many supplies and spare parts as possible for sustenance of the outpost and its crews in the post-shuttle era. The four-person crew for the 12-day flight includes Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim.