State, P.G. Governance Reach Tentative Hospital Funding Agreement
Gov. Martin O’Malley, Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson and the Prince George’s County Council have reached an agreement in principle on the funding for Prince George’s Hospital and formally requested a 30-day extension allowed under the law to formalize that agreement.

The funding arrangement, which will be formalized by mid-August, includes a commitment of $150 million in grant support by the state and county. Funding will be spread over five years, beginning in fiscal 2011, and will be split evenly by the state and county. Each will commit $75 million.

In addition, as part of the agreement, the state will commit an additional $24 million in capital support. These funds are being committed by the state and county for support of the Prince George’s County Healthcare System, which also includes Laurel Regional Hospital, if the bidding process results in an agreement to transfer the system to a new owner or owners.

In mid-June, O’Malley swore in the members of the Prince George’s Hospital Authority, the seven-member board that is primarily tasked with facilitating a process to find a new owner for the Prince George’s Hospital System, which is currently operated by Dimensions Healthcare System.

The authority will solicit bids from health care companies interested in taking over the system. The bidding process is required to be completed prior to the 2009 Legislative Session.

Osiris Therapeutics Closes Osteocel Transaction Worth Up to $137 Million
Columbia-based Osiris Therapeutics has closed its definitive agreement with NuVasive Inc. for the purchase of the Osteocel business in a transaction worth up to $137 million.

Osiris shareholders approved the transaction, which satisfied the last major condition of closing. As a result, Osiris has received a $35 million payment from NuVasive. The completion of the transaction allows Osiris to focus on the launch of its next generation stem cell therapies, including Prochymal and Chondrogen.

In May 2008, Osiris announced its intent to sell Osteocel to NuVasive. The transaction is composed of two major agreements: an asset purchase agreement worth up to $85 million and an 18-month product supply agreement worth an additional $52 million in revenue.

The asset purchase agreement includes an initial upfront payment of $35 million and up to $50 million milestone payments. The payments include $22.5 million in milestone payments for the delivery of product, an additional $12.5 million milestone payment upon transfer of certain manufacturing assets, and a $15 million payment upon NuVasive’s achievement of $35 million in cumulative Osteocel sales.

GP Expands Content Offering for the Wind Farm Renewable Energy Market
Global performance improvement solutions provider General Physics (GP) Corp. has announced the addition of Clipper Windpower Technology courses to the current Wind Farm training program on GPiLearn, GP’s comprehensive online training portal for the power industry.

Adding the Clipper Windpower Technology content allows Elkridge-based GP to help more power companies train Wind Farm technicians and comply with government regulations for the growing renewable energy sector.

GPiLearn is an online, “blended” learning resource dedicated to the power industry. There are more than 3,200 lessons and exams available on GPiLearn. By using GPiLearn, industry clients can create custom curricula for their personnel using blended learning solutions.

“GP already addresses the Zond and Mitsubishi Wind Farm technologies,” said Joe Nasal, vice president of Energy Services. “Adding Clipper Windpower Technology courses complements our growing library of renewable energy courseware. GP currently supports more than 40 power companies that have invested heavily in wind power, hydropower and other green technologies across the USA and internationally.”

Mikulski Announces Nearly $31.1 Million for State in Homeland Security Grants
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D), a senior member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, has announced that Maryland and the National Capitol Region have been awarded a total of $42.7 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The funds will be used for training and equipment for first responders in order to prevent, deter and respond to terrorist attacks. The grants are funded through the fiscal year 2008 Homeland Security Grant Program and are distributed to states based on a DHS formula.

Maryland will receive $18 million through the State Homeland Security Grant Program, which will help state and local public safety and law enforcement personnel pay for training, equipment and planning exercises to prevent, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks or other emergencies.

The rest of the funding will be directed to City of Baltimore ($11.55 million) through the Urban Area Security Initiative Allocations and the National Capitol Region ($11.6 million) through the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP).

Magna Executive Vice President for Racing Steps Down
Magna Entertainment Corp. (MEC), which owns Laurel Park and Pimlico Raceway, announced that Scott Borgemenke left his position as executive vice president for racing effective July 18.

“Scott helped MEC move forward on a number of important operational initiatives,” said Frank Stronach, MEC chairman and CEO. “We very much appreciate his efforts, and we wish him well.”

In a release, Borgemenke cited a conflict between corporate and family responsibilities as the basis for his decision. MEC officials did not immediately respond to a request for additional information regarding his replacement.

Rosecroft Suspends Live Harness Racing Until 2010
Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington (Prince George’s County) has temporarily suspended live harness racing with the intention to resume the live races in the fall of 2010. The track will continue simulcasting operations during the interim.

Alan Foreman, an equine racing attorney, acknowledged that the Maryland Racing Commission accepted Rosecroft’s request to suspend live racing. Foreman characterized the decision as an approach to minimize losses until the slots referendum either passes or is voted down. “If the referendum passes, they get 20% of the slots revenue [awarded to Laurel Park],” he said, presuming Laurel Park receives a slots license. “They’ve been hanging on by a thread for years and were only running two nights a week.”

Kelley Rogers, president of track operator Cloverleaf Enterprises, and Mike Hopkins, executive director of the Maryland Racing Commission, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

UMMS Names Olscamp BWMC’s Interim CEO
The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) has named Karen Olscamp as interim president and chief executive officer of Baltimore Washington Medical Center (BWMC).

Currently BWMC’s senior vice president and COO, Olscamp will take the helm when current hospital leader Jim Walker retires after a 39-year tenure at BWMC, including serving as hospital president and CEO for the past 16 years.

Olscamp has been responsible for the overall management of hospital operations. She received her bachelor’s degree in 1981 from the University of Rochester and her master of health services administration degree in 1987 from the George Washington University.

She serves on the board of Baltimore Washington Emergency Physicians, Baltimore Washington Senior Living and Shipley’s Choice Medical Park. Olscamp is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and is a member of the Maryland Association of Healthcare Executives.

Conmed Signs Transitional Contract With Arizona County
Hanover-based Conmed Healthcare Management, a full-service provider of correctional facility health care services to county detention centers, has signed an initial contract with Pima County, Ariz.

The agreement calls for Conmed to immediately establish and implement a transition plan designed to effectuate a seamless transition of medical, dental and behavioral health services at the Pima County Adult Detention Center (PCADC) from the existing vendor to Conmed. The transitional contract is valued at approximately $220,000.
 
During this transitional period, Conmed and Pima County will seek to formalize and finalize their agreement in principle to enter into a multi-year, $10 million per annum contract to cover the full suite of Conmed’s health care services for PCADC.

Under terms of the anticipated contract, Conmed would provide a turn-key inmate medical services platform that includes staffing of physicians, nurses and administrative personnel; dental services; mental and behavioral health screening services; and ancillary services such as laboratory and diagnostic X-ray; as well as pharmacy services.

Fortress Awarded Contract to Upgrade Orlando-Based Data Center
Columbia-based Fortress International Group, a company providing comprehensive services for the planning, design, development and maintenance of mission critical facilities and information infrastructure, has been awarded a design/build contract to upgrade the mechanical and electrical infrastructure at DataSite Orlando, a data center in the Florida city.

The contract includes critical system improvements with a potential project value that could exceed more than $20 million. Fortress International subsidiary Total Site Solutions is currently managing DataSite Orlando under a facilities maintenance contract and will also perform the design/build services.

The new contract calls for $1.8 million in immediate infrastructure improvements to be completed by the end of the year. This initial phase is the first of a potential number of planned upgrades the customer is planning to make over the coming quarters.

DataSite Orlando is a 130,000-square-foot, purpose-built data center providing co-location and custom data center suites to large enterprises that have large floor space requirements with significant power and cooling needs.

Ciena Expects $5 to $6 Million Q3 GAAP Loss
Linthicum-based Ciena Corp. expects to recognize a Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) loss totaling between $5 million and $6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2008, relating to commercial paper investments in Rhinebridge LLC and SIV Portfolio plc (formerly Cheyne Finance plc).

Ciena had previously recognized a loss of $13 million related to its investment in these two structured investment vehicles (SIVs), each of which entered into receivership and failed to make payment at maturity during the fourth quarter of Ciena’s fiscal 2007.

On April 30, Ciena’s commercial paper issued by these SIVs had a carrying value of $25.6 million. This estimated GAAP loss will not affect Ciena’s income from operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2008.

Arundel Government Web Site Ranks No. 2 Nationally in Poll
Anne Arundel County’s web site, www.aacounty.org, was recently ranked No. 2 in the nation for outstanding use of technology in service to citizens by the Center for Digital Government. It was cited for its value-added, user-friendly, up-to-date and informational qualities.

The jurisdiction was ranked No. 2 in counties with a population of 500,000 or more. Bill Ryan, the county’s information technology officer, responded to questions that included more than 100 measurements and data points about online service delivery, infrastructure, architecture and governance models.

Aerotek, TEKsystems Open New Office to Serve Wichita
Hanover-based Aerotek, a national staffing company, and TEKsystems, a provider of technology staffing and services, recently opened a new office in Wichita, Kan. Aerotek and TEKsystems are affiliated operating companies of Allegis Group, the largest staffing company in the U.S.

The new Aerotek location primarily will focus on placing individuals in engineering, light industrial, clerical, customer service, aviation, energy, environmental, construction, warehouse, scientific, automotive and call center positions. TEKsystems will place individuals in infrastructure, communications and applications development positions.

Cathedral Stone Products Completes Sustainable Masonry Project at Reagan National
Hanover-Cathedral Stone Products has completed work on Phase Two of Reagan National Airport’s Terminal A. Cathedral Stone worked closely with the airport and its historic preservation consultant, John Milner Associates, to formulate a plan that would restore and preserve the original masonry structure while guarding against future deterioration.

Much of Cathedral Stone’s consulting services and its exclusive Jahn Restoration Mortars system were sole sourced to provide repairs. The project, which composed 17,050 cubic feet of repairs, was completed over a period of eight months.

Mark Aug. 4 for the 20th MDA Sleep Inn & Comfort Inn Open
Monday, Aug. 4, is the date for the 20th Anniversary Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Sleep Inn & Comfort Inn Open at Queenstown Harbor in Queenstown (which is located at the split of routes 50 and 301 on the Eastern Shore).

Hosted by local hotel industry veterans Lou Zagarino and Cliff Wietstruk, the event reached a milestone last year when the organizers presented a check at the 2007 MDA Labor Day telethon. That donation brought the total donated from the 19 years of tournaments to just more than $500,000.

For more information on the upcoming event, call Amy Atanat at the MDA at 410-494-7106 or e-mail baltimoredistrict@mdausa.org or lou_zagarino@bwilodging.com.