Acquisition

FAR Council endorses SmartBuy

Proposed regulation would give SmartBuy more visibility among contracting officials

Acquisition

DOI agency awards financial systems support contract

Under the contract, worth up to $100 million, Accenture will manage the Minerals Management Service's royalty financial systems.

People

Report: Legal eagles can aid cross-government collaboration

A study commissioned by NASCIO encourages government officials to establish clear governance models before beginning work on projects that cut across agency or government boundaries.

Modernization

DOE to test thin clients

The department's CIO said testing will begin within three months and the computers could be installed at its headquarters within six.

Acquisition

Rule would make using SmartBuy mandatory

If approved, the rule would require contracting officers to seek out software or software services through a SmartBuy agreement, provided that it represents the best value.

Digital Government

Web 2.0 applications disrupt previous security measures

As government agencies use more applications based on Webservices, new vulnerabilities in those programs threaten to circumvent traditional cybersecurity.

People

Patent examiners struggle with backlog

GAO finds high turnover rate and quotas impede the patent review process

People

FEMA readies emergency system

Web-based disaster response system will push timely information to first responders

Acquisition

EPA awards Alion another waste cleanup contract

The company will provide analysis of waste samples, analytical and field support services, and technical information and electronic data transfer capabilities.

People

GAO: Census needs more risk management

Information technology for the 2010 census could arrive late and perform badly because of the bureau's poor planning, GAO said.

People

HSPD-12 plaintiffs get week extension on paperwork

Three appeals court judges working on the NASA case made the move after deciding they had not had time to consider all the material filed with a motion to extend the deadline.

Digital Government

Judge: NASA workers must submit to background checks

The 28 workers are supposed to turn in initial paperwork by today.

Digital Government

FCW asks... How does a country block access to the Internet?

As Myanmar’s military cracks down on nationwide protests, the country’s ruling junta is attempting to restrict the flow of information by blocking Internet access. How can it do that?

People

IT security group honors three feds

(ISC)2 gave its Government Information Security Leadership Awards to officials at DOD, HHS and CDC.

People

Emergency responders to have online info source

FEMA awarded a contract to make its Emergency Management Information System a single repository for emergency management information.

People

Tickets to travel

How border states, with the blessing of the Homeland SecurityDepartment, are setting their own card standards for identifying travelers at border crossings

People

McManus to leave government work

The Commerce Department's deputy chief information officer and chief technology officer has held the position for less than a year.

Digital Government

Commerce council to lead tech competitiveness efforts

With the demise of the Technology Administration, the Commerce Technology Council will take on the role of providing a forum for and coordinating technology policy departmentwide.

Modernization

DOE, industry commit to greener data centers

The department and the Green Grid, a consortium of IT companies, signed an MOU to implement energy management programs and adopt clean energy technologies.

People

Planners describe disaster strategies

Disaster preparedness leaders say they face crises expecting their best-laid plans will go awry