Modernization

Library of Congress Touts New Enhancements, More to Come for Congress.gov

The central portal for legislative data—including bills, hearings and historic documents—has been getting a continual makeover since 2016, with a host of new improvements rolling out this year.

Digital Government

GAO Issues Definitive List of Most Important Federal IT Acquisitions

The Government Accountability Office scored more than 100 federal IT projects and offered detailed breakdowns of the most “essential mission-critical IT acquisitions.”

Modernization

Pentagon Awards JEDI Cloud Contract to Microsoft for the Second Time

The decision follows a months-long legal challenge filed by Amazon Web Services.

Digital Government

IRS Offering Up to $7M to Develop ‘Data Mashing’ Tools In Support of Frictionless Acquisition

Using its experimental multiphase Pilot IRS contract vehicle, the agency issued a quickturn solicitation to improve data collection for a governmentwide effort to improve procurement.

Digital Government

Trump Administration Releases Draft Framework for the Ethical Use of Data

The draft Data Ethics Framework offers seven tenets for agencies to follow, complete with legal authorities, use cases and links to additional resources.

Modernization

Coast Guard Begins Deploying Pentagon’s New Electronic Health Records System

The service kicked off a deployment schedule that aims to have all land-based clinics using DOD’s MHS GENESIS by 2024.

Modernization

Last Chance For Agencies To Weigh In On TBM Self-Assessment

The comment period is closing on the self-assessment framework that agencies will use to measure their compliance with the mandatory Technology Business Management accounting standard.

Digital Government

DHS Shares People’s Personal Information with 11 Government Programs, Saving Taxpayers Millions

The agency released its annual report on automated data sharing, touting the economic benefits by reducing costs and erroneous and duplicative payments.

Artificial Intelligence

Navy Program Will Use AI on Drone Images to Predict Fleet Maintenance Needs

Simple Technology Solutions will use Google Cloud to build a machine learning tool trained on drone images.

Digital Government

VA Awards Sole Source Contract to Upgrade, Automate Its COVID-19 Visualization Tool

Contracting officials justified the $1.5 million award by citing a $6 million price tag to fully replace the tool.

Modernization

IRS Doesn’t Know How Many Legacy Systems It Has or How Much They Cost, IG Says

The tax agency needs to start with a single definition of what constitutes a “legacy system.”

Emerging Tech

Homeland Security Testing Lab Wants to Hear About the Best Temperature Screening Tools in the Market

The tools will be assessed and included on a list of recommended products for federal and local emergency responders and law enforcement.

Digital Government

IG: Agriculture Employees, Contractors Aren’t Being Disciplined for Improper Use of Agency Networks

The watchdog said inconsistent policies and reporting structures have led to minimal repercussions for people using agency IT in unauthorized ways.

Modernization

Technology Transformation Acting Director Talks Service’s Business Model and Future

Bob De Luca, the acting director of GSA’s Technology Transformation Service joins Nextgov to talk about how the program stays competitive, lessons from COVID-19 and what the next director needs to know.

Modernization

FPDS Reports Will Officially Move to beta.SAM by Mid-October

Users will no longer be able to run contract award reports through FPDS.gov, though that site will retain other capabilities.

Emerging Tech

Universal Service Fund Wants to Automate Verification of High-Cost Telecom, Broadband Areas

The Universal Service Administrative Company is looking at robotic process automation to streamline checks and balances before it subsidizes telephone and internet access in high-cost areas.

Emerging Tech

NASA Prepares to Launch Internal COVID-19 Contact Tracing Program

The agency is using the Salesforce platform to begin tracking potential infections and community transmissions on a voluntary basis.

Podcasts

Critical Update: GSA's Centers of Excellence Program Evolves

The Centers of Excellence program started out working with agencies one at a time. But in less than three years, the program has sped up, staffed up and spread out across government.

Modernization

VA Restarts Electronic Health Record Rollout

The initial deployment at a Spokane, Washington, medical center is now scheduled for October, while the new scheduling system will begin rolling out in August.