FCW Insider: April 21
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
White House lays out plans to open agencies, move off mass telework
In a new document, the federal government explains plans to align a reopening of all federal agency functions and a return to in-person work with national guidelines promulgated by the White House and health officials on bringing back a state of normalcy when a decline in the COVID-19 pandemic occurs. Lia Russell reports.
The federal government's identity crisis
For decades, PIV and CAC cards have been the primary tools for agencies and contractors to verify the identity of employees and contractors. The COVID-19 outbreak could change that. Check out Derek B. Johnson's deep dive.
Essye Miller to retire as DOD principal deputy CIO
The intelligence community's CIO, John Sherman, will step in to the post of Defense Department’s principal deputy CIO in June. Lauren C. Williams has more.
Why right now is the most challenging time in history for government CIOs
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented CIOs at all levels of government with unprecedented challenges to respond to the critical needs of the country. Mark Forman, vice president of digital government strategy at SAIC, explains.
Quick Hits
*** The Defense Department's top acquisition official touted progress made in issuing contracts for needed medical equipment under the Defense Production Act.
At an April 20 briefing, Ellen Lord said that DOD has issued contracts under the Defense Production Act to 3M, the leading manufacturer of N95 masks, as well as to O&M Halyard and Honeywell. DOD expects to add 39 million such masks over 90 days. So far, Lord said that DOD has given the Department of Health and Human Services and Federal Emergency Management Agency 10 million N95 masks out of its stocks with another 10 million primed for delivery.
DOD has also issued nearly 6,000 contracting actions in response to the pandemic, valued at more than $1.5 billion. The largest chunk went to medical construction for mobile hospitals for the military at $700 million with another $415 million going to support HHS for 60 decontamination systems that can make face masks reusable up to 20 times.
*** The joint Defense Department and Veterans Affairs Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization program office launched what it’s calling a new data sharing capability to exchange health data with providers outside DOD and VA.
The move comes as DOD and VA have each paused massive electronic health record upgrades to focus on COVID-19 care.