For those that can remember, the contract, which named Boeing as a prime contractor to build a security fence on the US- Mexico border, was terminated in 2011, because it was considered to be too expensive and ineffective.

FORBES: An increase in border security could result in more M&A

Throw in the Price-Anderson Act, the huge liability of working with radiation, beryllium and asbestos, the extensive training requirements, safety issues, QA audit requirements, and the host of accountants, lawyers and HR people needed to be a prime to DOE, and you can imagine that few small businesses could even submit a proposal to be a prime contractor to the Department of Energy.

FORBES: The Small Business Administration Decides to Hurt Small Businesses

It is EXTREMELY difficult for a small business to be a DOE prime contractor.

FORBES: The Small Business Administration Decides to Hurt Small Businesses

Taking that assurance at face value, prime contractor General Dynamics launched a campaign to convince Congress and the Obama Administration that buying a smaller number of the vehicles while upgrading current amphibious systems would be more cost-effective than canceling the program and starting over.

FORBES: Gates Challenges Marine Corps' Mission

Motorola will likely still supply radio sets in some of these venues but as a sub-contractor and not as the prime contractor.

FORBES: Icahn's Motorola Morass

For prime contractor Lockheed Martin a company with which I have a long association the Japanese F-35 decision comes at a critical moment.

FORBES: Japan Fighter Buy Bolsters U.S. Leverage In Asia

Prime contractor for the AfriStar satellite was Alcatel Space with Marta Marconi Space, a joint venture of Britain's General Electric and France's Lagardere the major sub-contractor.

CNN: Ariane rocket orbits U.S. communications satellites