Note 3 - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Detail) - The composition of selected balance sheet accounts is as follows: (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Contract receivables, net:
Retainages and fee withholdings	$ 600,000
Other unbilled receivables			1,500,000
Total unbilled receivables			0.6
Contract receivables, net	56,214,000		48,112,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,200,000		2,538,000
Property and equipment, net	13,540,000		12,511,000
Other noncurrent assets:
Other	4,210,000		4,388,000
Other noncurrent assets	207,876,000		209,399,000
Accrued compensation and employee benefits:
Accrued compensation and related taxes	15,013,000		14,933,000
Other accrued expenses:
Other	4,070,000		5,307,000
Other long-term liabilities:
Other long-term liabilities	35,190,000		34,941,000
Accounts Receivable [Member]
Contract receivables, net:
Billed receivables	20,773,000		14,785,000
Revenues recorded in excess of milestone billings on fixed-price contracts with state and local government agencies	8,613,000	[1]	6,828,000	[1]
Retainages and fee withholdings	624,000	[1]	587,000	[1]
Other unbilled receivables	27,126,000	[1]	27,114,000	[1]
Total unbilled receivables	36,363,000	[1]	34,529,000	[1]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(922,000)	[1]	(1,202,000)	[1]
Contract receivables, net	56,214,000	[1]	48,112,000	[1]
Prepaid Expenses And Other Current Assets [Member]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
Refundable income taxes	1,221,000		1,507,000
Restricted cash	256,000		255,000
Other	2,723,000		776,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,200,000		2,538,000
Property, Plant, And Equipment [Member]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
Leasehold improvements	12,980,000		11,218,000
Software	10,251,000		10,224,000
Furniture and other equipment	9,802,000		9,841,000
Property and equipment	33,033,000		31,283,000
Less accumulated depreciation	(19,493,000)		(18,772,000)
Property and equipment, net	13,540,000		12,511,000
Other NonCurrent Assets [Member]
Other noncurrent assets:
Deferred compensation plan investments	1,510,000		1,459,000
Equity investment	869,000		910,000
Other	1,831,000		2,019,000
Other noncurrent assets	4,210,000		4,388,000
Accrued Compensation And Employee Benefits [Member]
Accrued compensation and employee benefits:
Accrued compensation and related taxes	4,991,000		5,881,000
Accrued vacation	5,708,000		4,799,000
Accrued pension liability	2,705,000		2,800,000
Other	1,609,000		1,453,000
Accrued compensation and employee benefits	15,013,000		14,933,000
Other Accrued Expenses [Member]
Other accrued expenses:
Deferred rent liability	1,300,000		1,265,000
Deferred gain on sale of building	676,000		676,000
Accrued interest	203,000		114,000
Other	1,891,000		3,252,000
Other accrued expenses	4,070,000		5,307,000
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Other long-term liabilities:
Accrued pension liability	25,407,000		26,057,000
Deferred rent liability	6,442,000		5,389,000
Deferred compensation plan liability	1,510,000		1,459,000
Deferred gain on sale of building	1,183,000		1,352,000
Other	648,000		684,000
Other long-term liabilities	$ 35,190,000		$ 34,941,000

[1] At March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, unbilled retainages and fee withholdings of $0.6 million were not anticipated to be billed within one year. Additionally, at December 31, 2012, $1.5 million of the other unbilled receivable balances were not scheduled to be invoiced within one year.