Cybersecurity

Energy’s Cyber Response Office Misspent Millions Due to Lack of Budget Management

Complaints alleged the relatively new CESER misspent $11.7 million, though the inspector general could only substantiate some of those claims.

Policy

Biden Executive Order on Competition Includes ‘Big Tech’

The executive order includes 72 programs and actions for the administration to take, four of which focus on increasing competition within the technology sector.

Modernization

More Underestimated Infrastructure Costs Could Raise VA EHR Price Tag $2.5B

The latest inspector general report shows more underreported infrastructure costs for the electronic health record program, prompting lawmakers to call a hearing for later this month. 

Cybersecurity

IG: SBA’s Cybersecurity ‘Not Effective,’ In Part Due to COVID

The pandemic created new cybersecurity problems for the Small Business Administration, according to the agency’s annual FISMA report.

Modernization

IRS Offering $7.5M for New Ideas to ‘Digitize’ and ‘Digitalize’ Paper Documents

The sixth solution challenge under the Pilot IRS program focuses on the process and pipeline for turning paper documents digital.

Digital Government

VA Secretary: Changes Coming to Electronic Health Records Program

Secretary Denis McDonough just completed a months-long strategic review of the multibillion-dollar EHR modernization program.

Modernization

VA Is Asking Congress for Fewer IT Dollars in 2022 But Plans to Spend More Than in 2021

The Transformational Fund has been marinating for five years and is ready to supplement the agency’s IT spending.

Digital Government

OMB Offers New Guidance For Implementing First Part of Evidence Act

The office repeatedly urged agencies to focus on results, not compliance, as they craft their plans. 

Artificial Intelligence

DARPA Wants AI That Can Learn From Others’ Experiences

The advanced research agency is putting up $1 million per project to overcome challenges associated with AI systems learning from each other.

Emerging Tech

White House, NIH Directors Weigh in on Proposed Health and Human Services Research Arm

The proposed $6.5 billion Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health will need a very specific work culture and an inspiring first leader to be successful, key officials said.

Cybersecurity

Bill Would Create Cyber Workforce Training Programs at CISA and VA

The two programs would look to increase the pool of cybersecurity experts for the public and private sectors, but with a focus on preparing trainees for federal jobs.

Digital Government

Coast Guard Starts Process of Upgrading Its Biometrics At Sea System

The BASS system enables officers to collect biometrics from detainees at sea and match that information against the Homeland Security database.

Digital Government

House Dems Propose $50M for Tech Modernization Fund in Fiscal 2022

The draft 2022 Financial Services and General Government funding bill includes millions for IT modernization at Treasury, GSA, OPM and more.

Digital Government

Advocacy Group Asks Biden Administration to Consider 7 Reforms for Governmentwide Contracts

A group of federal contractors want to see the governmentwide acquisition contract, or GWAC, program process improved for innovative and non-traditional vendors.

Modernization

HHS Puts Up $80M to Increase Number and Diversity of Health IT Workforce

The four-year effort will focus on improving data collection—especially around race and ethnicity—and training a more diverse health informatics and technology workforce.

Digital Government

ICE Is Consolidating IT Systems to a Single Vendor Platform

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is looking for a vendor to help with app development and shifting existing tools to the ServiceNow platform.

Artificial Intelligence

South Korea to Add Robots-on-Rails and AI Surveillance to DMZ Border

The demilitarized zone between North and South Korea will be getting new surveillance technologies in the coming months, Korean news outlets report.

Modernization

FBI Seeks a Vendor to Help with Multiyear IT Modernization Project

The Office of the Chief Information Officer is creating a new contract to help with the IT Modernization Initiative and other major efforts.

Digital Government

GSA Needs an IT Vendor to Help Manage Its Lease App: G-REX

The Public Buildings Service’s app undergoes biweekly maintenance updates and occasionally ships major enhancements.