Making recommendations

The House and Senate versions of the Defense Authorization bill make the following

recommendations to Defense Department officials.

Among the House's recommendations:

Navy officials must shift all legacy networks and applications to the Navy Marine Corps Intranet by Sept. 30, 2005. If the service misses the deadline, officials must submit a report to Congress about how to fund the older hardware and software because EDS, the prime contractor on the project, should not support NMCI beyond that date.

Legislation should be passed to increase DOD officials' scrutiny and responsibility for information technology systems.

DOD should reduce redundant and legacy IT programs.

The bill includes $3.5 million toward studying an enterprise resource planning program for the Army National Guard that adheres to DOD's business management modernization program and the Defense Business Enterprise Architecture.

The bill also includes $6 million for the study of a nationwide dedicated fiber-optic network for the Army National Guard so its armories will possess a fast, secure communications network.

Among the Senate's recommendations:

Review alternative methods for buying commercial satellite services and provide guidance about how to conduct such procurements.

Develop policies and procedures for management and oversight of contractor security personnel supporting armed forces in military operations and submit a report to Congress on contractor security in Iraq.

Allow top department and service acquisition officials to establish IT management policies and change them to take advantage of newer IT in weapons and weapon systems.

Include significant changes to cost, schedule and performance for software in major Defense acquisition programs in quarterly acquisition reports submitted to Congress.

Launch DOD's electronic-voting demonstration project by November 2006.

Mandate that department officials develop a comprehensive architecture for all business systems.