FCW Insider: Oct. 27

Rethinking technology governance

A U.S. Digital Service veteran is looking for civil servants and other federal IT stakeholders to talk about governance obstacles that hinder successful acquisition and deployment of big and small technology projects.

OPM directs agencies on civil service overhaul

A memo from acting personnel chief Michael Rigas told agencies they could look outside the boundaries of a recent executive order for jobs to reclassify, but that the Office of Personnel Management would make final determination.

State Dept. awards EIS data network contract

The State Department awarded MetTel a task order for data services worth over $700 million.

Quick Hits

*** The Department of Veterans Affairs launched their new commercial electronic health record at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Wash. on Oct. 24. The go-live of a commercial software system from Cerner also includes four outpatient clinics and the regional West Consolidated Patient Account Center in Las Vegas which supports some billing and accounting functions and customer service.

The go-live date, which was scheduled for March, faced delays because software integrations across systems weren't ready in time, and then longer delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

*** A group of Senate Democrats led by Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) are pressing Customs and Border Protections for details on the warrantless collection of location data on Americans via a contract with contractor Venttel.

"CBP is not above the law and should not be allowed to buy its way around the Fourth Amendment," the lawmakers wrote in an Oct. 23 letter.