Posted on 06/07/2004 11:44:30 AM PDT by NormalGuy
could be worth as much as $10 billion.
The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it has picked Accenture as the prime contractor for US-Visit, an IT-based system that will control entry of foreigners into the country. The five-year contract, which could be lengthened to 10 years, could be worth up to $10 billion. Some people questioned whether the U.S. government would award Accenture the contract because it's incorporated in Hamilton, Bermuda. But only a handful of employees are situated there; 25,000 of Accenture's 90,000 workers are based in the United States. Accenture, with operations in 48 countries, says it maintains no corporate headquarters.
The government began to solicit bids in November, with contractors submitting them in January. The US-Visit Program Office led the source selection process, supported closely by department's border-management unit, representatives from other Homeland Security offices, as well as the State and Justice departments.
According to Homeland Security, each proposal was evaluated on four key factors: the business and technical solutions suggested to achieve the vision of US-Visit as an end-to-end management system; the management approach and proven capability to deliver a complex set of solutions; and the development and implementation strategy to deploy US-Visit entry and exit capabilities at the 50 busiest land ports of entry. Cost was also a major factor considered in the award decision.
Asa Hutchinson, Homeland Security's undersecretary of border and transportation security, said in a statement announcing Accenture's selection that the award marks an important milestone in the history of homeland security. "By harnessing the power of the best minds in the private sector, we have taken a major step toward accomplishing our goals of enhancing the security of our country while increasing efficiency at our borders," he said.
Accenture will provide a range of professional services, including strategic support, design and integration activities, technical solutions, deployment activities, training, and organizational change management.
The government's vision of US-Visit is to deploy end-to-end management and sharing of data on foreign nationals covering their interactions with federal officials before they enter the United States, when they enter, while they are here, and when they exit. Hutchinson contends that this comprehensive view of border management will lead to the creation of a virtual border and will set a course for improved processes to manage and share data on foreign nationals.
Since deploying US-Visit entry capabilities at 115 airports and 14 seaports on Jan. 5, more than 4.5 million foreign nationals have been processed without adversely impacting wait times, Homeland Security says, adding that since its launch, US-Visit has helped the government intercept more than 500 people with prior or suspected criminal or immigration violations. These include convicted rapists, drug traffickers, individuals convicted of credit-card fraud, a convicted armed robber, and numerous immigration violators and people using falsified documents.
US-Visit requires that most foreigners traveling to the United States on a visa and arriving at an airport or seaport have their two index fingers scanned and digital photographs taken to verify their identities at the port of entry. By Sept. 30, this process will also apply to visitors traveling under the visa waiver program at all airports and seaports of entry.
I certainly hope you're right. Complete disruption and devastation of the Chinese economy would, I think, have a salutary effect on the US. It would also provide the further benefit of destroying the facilities of corporations that invested in China.
Thank you for pointing this out!
You proceed from false assumption.
Ahem: a brief chalk-talk for you...
One "pays taxes" when one actually WRITES out a check TO the government. You are obviously unfamiliar with this concept, since you seem to like the present tax system.
You are NOT collecting taxes when you engage in your usual activity of CASHING a check FROM the government.
31 "They pay taxes on all of the business they complete inside of the United States. The problem is that the federal government wants to also tax the money they earn in other countries. Say for example...Greece.
Greece taxes the money they make and then the US Government turns around and wants to tax the income a second time. It is inherently incorrect.
Stop being a tool. Sheesh"
Youall don't understand how the system works, and you are wrong. Most of youall have not worked and earned money overseas like I have.
The US government has treaties with every country on earth for taxes, and it varies by country. But someone from the US earning money in another country, must pay taxes somewhere. Some treaties, say with Germany, say that if we pay German taxes, we don't have to pay US taxes, period.
However, for most countries, those taxes are deductible from US taxes. For example, if you owe $1000 in US taxes, and you pay $500 in Greek taxes, there is a form you fill out for it, and you owe the US $500, only, instead of $1000.
But, if you earn the money in say, Singapore, and you pay, $1500 in taxes to Singapore, and owe $1000, in US taxes, you normally don't get a $500 refund from US, but perhaps (and this varies by country) you may be able to apply to Singapore to get $500 back from them.
Saudi Arabia still owes me some tax refund.
16 - "FYI, corporations don't HAVE citizenship."
Amazing. Then they also have no rights !!!!!
The people who own the corporation have the right to their property, good sir. If you don't like it, then kindly move to North Korea.
75 - "If you DO get the laws changed, I will expatriate myself to a freer country than the United States and take my capital--AND the taxes I pay on same--with me. "
Sounds like a great idea,Poo, , when can we book your ticket. I am sure there are plenty of people/companies which will be happy for taking your business.
Note, you may wish to set up your business in another country and sell your stuff there, and pay their taxes, and support their government, and have their 'rights'.
China sounds like a good place for you. You should be very happy living in China. (But gesh, we let in Chinese stuff. No, better pick another country where we embargo - how about Iran - yes move to Iran).
Get a life.
Do you have any understanding of the U.S. tax code as it relates to American companies doing business overseas?
Do you have any understanding of foreign companies who do business outside of their countries?
Any?
106 - "The people who own the corporation have the right to their property, good sir. If you don't like it, then kindly move to North Korea."
You can have all your corporate stock and property you own, but it is the right of the people of this country to determine what the corporation is allowed to do with it.
In otherwordss, laws governing corporate conduct are the right of the American people.
Actually, I'm likely to be one of the last ones in the productive class to leave. By the time I'm gone, you're going to be stuck with surviving on your wits alone, which will give you a brief and exciting life.
Note, you may wish to set up your business in another country and sell your stuff there, and pay their taxes, and support their government, and have their 'rights'.
My ancestors left Europe for America.
Alas, free countries do not remain free forever.
I may have to emigrate elsewhere--or my children may have to.
Eventually, their grandchildren would have to return to America as part of an international invasion force--to liberate the continent from the thugocracy you wish to put in charge.
China sounds like a good place for you. You should be very happy living in China. (But gesh, we let in Chinese stuff. No, better pick another country where we embargo - how about Iran - yes move to Iran).
If I have to leave, Iran is likely to be a free country, while America will be trying to build the old IGB (Inter-German Border) barricades to keep its tax serfs productive citizens from escaping.
Of course, Poland's another possible winner in the competition to get Poohbah's capital. So's Chile. There are a LOT of countries that are slowly stepping off of the road to serfdom, even as you and your ilk demand that we get on same.
You are NOT collecting taxes when you engage in your usual activity of CASHING a check FROM the government.
As earlier stated, you proceed from a false assumption. Several of them, actually.
Cool, now get your sorry ass out of the USA.
I am finding it increasing hard to believe your were ever in the USMC, or that you ever sword an oath to the Constitution of the United States of America.
My oath was to the Constitution of the United States of America.
However, I am now a civilian. If America keeps faith with me, I keep faith with it. If America does not keep faith with me and insists on marching off smartly to serfdom, I will have two options:
1. Engage in armed revolt; or
2. Leave for a freer country.
Option #1 is not one that I take seriously, given that there are a s**tload of Quislings out there who like tyranny as long as they get to hold the whip.
That leaves Option #2.
Sorry, bubba. I'm not staying around for the a$$-kicking you and your fellow thugs intend to give me. I have a wife and a daughter to look after. If the American public is ever so irresponsible as to vote you and your fellow parasitical gobshites into power, I'm out of here before the transition becomes final.
BTW, a lot of folks who had taken the King's (or Queen's) Shilling came over to the United States and forsook all connection to the Old Country (whatever that country was) in return for freedom.
"I do solemnly swear to dfend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies both foreign and domestic."
I don't recall a time limit. You want to cut and run fine, I won't. I pay more in taxes then most freepers, I've started more sucessful businesses then most freepers, calling people like me government tit suckers is laughable.
113 - LOL - "I am finding it increasing hard to believe your were ever in the USMC, or that you ever sword an oath to the Constitution of the United States of America."
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers,
For he today that sheds his blood with me, Shall be my brother."
Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful
Cut and Run PooBah, a Marine - ROTFL.
"I don't recall a time limit." [on defending the constitution]
ROTFL - Old, Cut and Run Poohbah - Defending the constitution?
ROTFL - Old, rules, I don't want no damn rules, Poobah, taking care of his fellow Americans. ROTFLMAO !!!
Old, screw you, I got mine, Poobah, a Marine, no, a big joke.
thankyou for your service. I was an Army brat and in both the Navy and AirForce
and you are right - there was no time limit on our oath to defend the US, in or out of the service, and against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
You are talking about individuals, not Corps.
BTW I sell stuff in most of Europe, Most of the Pacific Rim, South America, Canada, Australia South Korea and even sent some stuff to mainland China once and was taxed on every dollar by the US Government. But not by those countries. Corps get taxed in America for all dollars brought in whether it be from the USA or Overseas whereas most other nations tax only what their own corps do in their own countries.
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic...
You do not swear alliegance to a government you swear to protect and defend the constitution which btw came about over confiscatory tax policies.
You would do well to remember such when you are gleefully high fiving each other over sticking it to the man!
The Revoloution was started over a 3% tax.
Tell me how do you think our founding fathers would view our graduated income tax system today which starts in at 10% not to mention all the other taxes layed upon us by your nanny state so as to grant power to all those congress critters.
Maybe you should take out that oath and brush up a bt and figure out who the enemy is.
Politicians can't get into office without votes.
Who votes for these guys who take your money and tells you it is all good but the Corporations are the bad guys.
Think real hard guys and try to keep those knees still while ya do it.
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