Recovery board begins online dialogue with IT vendors

The Obama administration today launched a new Web site inviting information technology vendors and users to offer and comment on ideas for improving how government tracks spending related to the economic stimulus law.

The new Web site, thenationaldialogue.org, will operate until May 3.

As of 10:30 a.m. today, users had posted about 36 ideas. The most popular topics included enhanced analysis and data visualization, mapping of stimulus projects and decision support systems for recovery projects. One participant asked: “If you have an idea, can you trust it [will] not be stolen?”

Participants must register and log in to be able to post , comment and rate ideas. The ideas are being ranked by the community of users.

The Web site offers a video introduction from Earl Devaney, chairman of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, and Edward DeSeve, special adviser to the president for recovery implementation.

It offers discussion on topics including data analysis and visualization, data warehousing and data collection.

The Office of Management and Budget has issued two sets of guidelines to federal, state and local authorities to help them fulfill the transparency goals of the stimulus law. The stimulus spending is to be reported to the public in a centralized fashion on the Recovery.gov. Web site.