People

NIEM releases first draft of info-sharing specs

By encoding their information within a standardized set of metadata, agencies could make their resources more easily accessible to other agencies.

People

OMB’s Evans: Agencies will meet PIV I by Oct. 27

Agencies have less than three weeks to make sure their processes to issue federal ID cards and register employees meet the requirements outlined in Federal Information Processing Standard 201-Personal Identity Verification I.<@SM>

People

EPA IG says IT programs require more oversight

Environmental Protection Agency IT project managers did not provide sufficient oversight of several programs, resulting in increased costs and scheduling delays, the agency’s inspector general has concluded.

People

Lawsuit by vendor could delay e-passport

A spurned vendor’s lawsuit against the Government Printing Office over the rejection of the vendor’s electronic passport technology could further slow the introduction of the upgraded documents, according to industry observers.

Modernization

VA testing methods to gain more value from DOD demographic data

The Veterans Affairs Department has begun testing how to define or characterize demographic data imported from the Defense Department that VA could store in a repository for use among the many services that require such data.<@SM>

People

FirstGov moves to cluster technology to expand search engine capabilities

Users of <a href="http://FirstGov.gov">FirstGov.gov</a> will soon have access to significantly more online government data, thanks in part to an expanded search function, General Services Administration officials said.

Modernization

Broader implementation of HSPD-12 could boost PKI use

Government implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 could spur more effective use of digital certificates by agencies.

Modernization

OMB expects more details on paperwork cuts

Agencies not meeting paperwork reduction goals will have to electronically file information with the Office of Management and Budget about how they are complying with burden reduction laws.

Modernization

IT security requirement baked into FAR

One of the final pieces to improved agency IT security across government finally is in place: As of Sept. 30, contracting officers must include cybersecurity requirements in acquisition planning.

Modernization

Procurement is key to security, IT execs say

Procurement officers have the power to significantly improve the security of government IT systems by including software reliability and security requirements in the contracts they award to vendors—and strengthen the country’s cyberinfrastructure in the process.

People

Interior cancels contract for troubled financial-systems consolidation project

The Interior Department’s project to consolidate an array of financial applications into one integrated enterprise resource planning system has ground to a halt with the department’s removal of systems integrator BearingPoint Inc.

Modernization

SBA weathers storm of criticism over loan processing

Small Business Administration inspectors working in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast have been hampered by a damaged regional IT infrastructure and a new centralized loan processing system that is still working out its kinks.

People

GPO fast tracks FDSys project

The Government Printing Office is setting an aggressive timeline for its massive project to digitize nearly every federal document published since the birth of the nation.

Modernization

HHS awards contracts to jump-start health IT network

The Health and Human Services Department has awarded three contracts totaling $17.5 million to public-private groups to accelerate the adoption of health IT and the secure portability of health data.

People

House bill would grant Veterans Affairs’ CIO budget authority

Lawmakers are poised to introduce legislation that would give the Veterans Affairs Department’s CIO authority over the VA’s IT budget, personnel and assets.

People

GSA selects Aquilent for FirstGov.gov refresh project

The General Services Administration has awarded Aquilent Inc. an $836,000 contract to provide services for the design and testing of the rebranded FirstGov.gov, the company said today.

Modernization

Next version of Data Reference Model gets down to business

The working group applying the finishing touches to the latest version of the Data Reference Model says this edition will benefit from previous missteps.

Modernization

Speaking in Tongues

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Modernization

GAO issues acquisition best practices framework

The Government Accountability Office has found that acquisition success depends on instituting best practices in four broad areas, including data management and security.

Modernization

The GCN Awards

The stories behind GCN’s 10 award-winning technology programs in the following pages convey a palpable sense of urgency, going a long way toward dispelling the common perception of government as a slow-moving behemoth.