SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 28, 2012 item	Sep. 30, 2011
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Number of reporting segments			4
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Contract revenue	$ 21,547,000	$ 28,605,000	$ 70,496,000	$ 77,159,000
Segment profit (loss) before income taxes	1,380,000	2,368,000	(20,591,000)	3,011,000
Net income (loss)	787,000	2,165,000	(17,600,000)	2,609,000
Segment assets(1)	42,386,000	58,224,000	42,386,000	58,224,000
Engineering Services
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Contract revenue	9,314,000	8,496,000	25,454,000	26,080,000
Segment profit (loss) before income taxes	224,000	308,000	(985,000)	171,000
Net income (loss)	73,000	252,000	(712,000)	132,000
Segment assets(1)	10,885,000	10,111,000	10,885,000	10,111,000
Energy Efficiency Services
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Contract revenue	8,592,000	16,090,000	34,510,000	39,074,000
Segment profit (loss) before income taxes	863,000	1,513,000	(19,848,000)	2,364,000
Net income (loss)	521,000	1,428,000	(17,049,000)	2,073,000
Segment assets(1)	11,712,000	32,429,000	11,712,000	32,429,000
Public Finance Services
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Contract revenue	2,534,000	2,502,000	7,413,000	7,382,000
Segment profit (loss) before income taxes	334,000	549,000	652,000	698,000
Net income (loss)	217,000	500,000	413,000	606,000
Segment assets(1)	3,493,000	4,080,000	3,493,000	4,080,000
Homeland Security Services
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Contract revenue	1,107,000	1,517,000	3,119,000	4,623,000
Segment profit (loss) before income taxes	(41,000)	(2,000)	(410,000)	(222,000)
Net income (loss)	(24,000)	(15,000)	(252,000)	(202,000)
Segment assets(1)	1,138,000	2,321,000	1,138,000	2,321,000
Unallocated Corporate
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Segment assets(1)	38,287,000	32,413,000	38,287,000	32,413,000
Intersegment
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Segment assets(1)	$ (23,129,000)	$ (23,130,000)	$ (23,129,000)	$ (23,130,000)