People

House shaves funding for Veterans Affairs IT projects

House appropriators plan to decrease funds for the Veterans Affairs Department’s information technology projects because of sluggish spending and project delays.

Digital Government

VA sets performance, VLER goals in strategic plan

The Veterans Affairs Department is emphasizing performance measures and the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program among its top priorities in its new strategic plan for 2010 through 2014.

People

FLITE cancellation: VA pulls plug on modernization effort

The Veterans Affairs Department is canceling its $400 million financial system modernization program and directing the resources to other projects throughout the department.

People

The new CTOs: entrepreneurs in residence

The need to keep up with the fast pace of new technology is prompting many agencies to assign chief technology officers as dedicated lookouts for online opportunities.

Digital Government

VA patient scheduling app still not ready for prime time

The Veterans Affairs Department's second attempt to build an outpatient scheduling system may not get off the ground unless significant management deficiencies are corrected, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Digital Government

Army cites improper contracting in Arlington Cemetery scandal

The cemetery had no acquisition strategy, no integrated IT system and series of IT regulatory violations, the Army said.

People

Bright ideas abounded during VA innovation contest

The Veterans Affairs Department's recent innovation contest attracted a high percentage of employees, says CTO Peter Levin.

Digital Government

VA offers $80M in industry contest

The Veterans Affairs Department announced the third round of innovation competitions, this time with $80 million available for contracts to the winners.

Digital Government

Industry team to monitor some VA IT programs

The Veterans Affairs Department has awarded a contract worth up to $115 million to HPTi and its team members to evaluate information technology programs.

Acquisition

VA's Frye sees flexibility in the Federal Acquisition Regulation

Although many people in the acquisition community view the Federal Acquisition Regulation as a confining regulatory book, VA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Logistics Jan Frye takes a different approach.

Acquisition

VA said to fall behind on verifying veteran-owned businesses

Through April, the VA had verified only 14 percent of companies in Vetbiz.gov, a database of companies able to get set-aside contracts.

Acquisition

VA publishes draft solicitation for upcoming 'T4' IT acquisition

The Veterans Affairs Department is preparing to request bids on its $12 billion Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology IT services acquisition in June.

Digital Government

VA sets the telehealth table

VA's quiet leadership in telehealth is about to gain a much broader audience as policy-makers look to the technology as a possible means of reducing costs and improving access to care.

Digital Government

NASA, VA open-source plans spark debate

NASA and the Veterans Affairs Department drew criticism after announcing their latest plans for open-source software.

People

FCC, FDA, HHS also working on telehealth

The Veterans Affairs Department operates the largest telehealth program in the world, but other federal agencies are involved with the technology and supporting policies.

Cybersecurity

VA to secure 50,000 networked medical devices

The Veterans Affairs Department is making a special push to isolate and secure its 50,000 online medical devices this year, said CIO Roger Baker.

Cybersecurity

VA IT official defends work on data protection

Roger Baker, assistant secretary for information and technology at the Veterans Affairs Department, tells a House panel about work to prevent more data breaches.

Digital Government

Vets poorly served by VA call centers, audit finds

Callers to the Veterans Benefits Administration reach an agent and obtain accurate information only 49 percent of the time, an audit says.

Modernization

Bill would create Web portal for veterans' records

Rep. Niki Tsongas has introduced legislation to enable veterans to access their service records electronically through a Web portal.

Acquisition

Is open source the cure for what ails VA's e-records?

An industry group convened by VA CIO Roger Baker is advising that VistA move to an open source platform and phase out MUMPS.