FCW Insider: Oct. 2

Post-election shutdown risk looms

Five weeks separate the November elections and the expiration date on the current stopgap funding measure keeping the federal government operational – and a path to avoiding a shutdown is not entirely clear.

Senators warm to idea of more pandemic funds, flexibility for DOD

The Defense Department's chief buying executive addressed accusations of money mismanagement while arguing for more COVID relief during an Oct. 1 Senate hearing.

VA on the fence about homegrown patient portal

The My HealtheVet tool used by more than 3 million veterans to access care at the Department of Veterans Affairs could be retired in favor of a tool from vendor Cerner as part of the agency's $16 billion electronic health record software upgrade.

NASA sets internal contact tracing app

NASA leverages commercial software, CDO Council for the agency's COVID tracing app.

Quick Hits

*** The House of Representatives passed a slimmed down version of the Heroes Act, the COVID-19 pandemic relief bill that includes support for state and local governments, unemployment benefits, stimulus for individuals and small business and also sector-specific funds. The overall bill is valued at $2.2 trillion, and includes a $1 billion infusion for the Technology Modernization Fund. The bill passed on a 214 to 207 vote No Republicans supported the bill and 18 Democrats also voted against it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had been in negotiations for a relief bill with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, but those talks appear to be on hold. Mnuchin had offered a $1.6 trillion package including direct payments to individuals, but House Democrats and the White House were divided on the overall amount and the funding priorities.

*** NASA has to start from scratch on a $700 million procurement because of a NASA worker's longtime friendship with an employee at the incumbent vendor. Washington Technology has more on this story.