Digital Government
NASA to launch electronic RFP system for major projects
Within the next two months NASA will embark on a pilot project that will enable vendors to submit bids and proposals for large projects electronically. NASA allows vendors to use email to submit proposals for small projects, those that typically are under $1 million. But for larger projects that r
Digital Government
Illinois tops recent E-Rate distribution
The seventh wave of ERate commitment letters released Friday distributed more than $50 million throughout the nation, with Illinois receiving $8.3 million, the most of any state.
Digital Government
The dawning of Linux
Linux, the Unixlike operating system that has been a computer scientist's plaything for the better part of a decade, is beginning to get some serious attention from federal agencies. The Defense Department, intelligence agencies, the General Services Administration and other organizations are runn
Digital Government
OPM regs clear up lump sum confusion
If you are uncertain about how much money your unused annual leave is worth at retirement, you're not alone. The Office of Personnel Management isn't so sure, either. Fortunately, OPM has taken steps to change this situation with governmentwide regulations concerning lump sum payments to compensate
Digital Government
NOAA uses GPS to measure monument height
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week used a hightech tape measure to help it determine whether the Washington Monument is going to turn into the Leaning Tower of Washington. NOAA began a measurement project last week in cooperation with the National Park Service, which is
Digital Government
Senator insists on IT results
Sen. Fred Thompson (RTenn.), chairman of a committee that oversees government management, last week sent letters to 24 agencies encouraging them to correct longstanding management problems that include troubled information technology projects. The letters are meant to send a message to agencies,
Digital Government
Group offers option to A-76 competition
An industry group last week unveiled a new model for public/private competitions that would replace unpopular outsourcing guidelines laid out by the Office of Management and Budget. Under the proposal, developed by the Professional Services Council, an independent manager would oversee agency contr
Digital Government
NASA seeks input on celestial net
NASA is asking industry for its help in developing an Internetlike network to support endtoend communications across the solar system. In a Commerce Business Daily notice published this month, NASA asked for input on how the private sector could help the government bring to fruition a network th
Digital Government
Mounting an anti-virus defense
An tivirus software, which often was viewed as the security stepchild to sibling powerhouse technologies such as intrusion detection and firewalls, has been elevated to a new market status following the 'Melissa' virus, which in March infected machines worldwide via email. Once sold mainly as a s
Digital Government
FAA OKs early version of air traffic control system
The Federal Aviation Administration has conditionally accepted an early version of the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System, according to Raytheon Co., which developed the system.
Digital Government
Small biz terms force PTO to cancel PC buy
The Patent and Trademark Office this month canceled a $171 million small business setaside desktop acquisition after it was informed by the Small Business Administration that it could no longer award the contract to a team composed of a small business and a large manufacturer.
Digital Government
GAO drafts financial management guide
The use of businessoriented financial management systems is a key element in agencies' efforts to comply with federal management and performance laws, according to the General Accounting Office. In a study of nine private and publicsector finance organizations, GAO found that the use of technolo
Digital Government
GAO report tries to sort out risk-assessment confusion
Facing growing security threats to increasingly complex government computer systems, the General Accounting Office last week released a report to help federal agencies determine how vulnerable their systems are and how to make them more secure. Although GAO's report, 'Information Security Risk Asse
Digital Government
USDA begins rollout of HR, finance system
After months of pilot tests, the Agriculture Department is ready to roll out a nationwide system that will provide more timely and efficient human resources management services. The USDA last week turned on the Combined Administrative Management System in Georgia, which is the first state to begin
Digital Government
Report: USPS must step up audits
The General Accounting Office has criticized the U.S. Postal Service's National Change of Address program for not sufficiently policing the software used by companies that are licensed to access the database of new addresses. NCOA, based in Memphis, Tenn., is responsible for the database of new add
Digital Government
Spinning a Web of information
It probably helps that Rich Kellett spends his free time whipping around pommel horses, sprinting across mats, launching into handsprings and folding his spinning torso around parallel bars. As the head of the General Services Administration's Emerging Information Technologies Policies Division, Ke
Digital Government
Palm IIIx packs more of a punch
I'll make this clear from the getgo: I haven't yet seen a handheld computer I would want to take on the road with me. If it doesn't have a keyboard, it won't get my allegiance. That said, 3Com Corp.'s Palm IIIx comes as close to converting me as any unit the FCW Test Center has tested. And, thanks
Digital Government
Letter to the Editor
Defending his record I was surprised and disappointed to read Bureaucratus' column in the Aug. 16 edition of Federal Computer Week ['Comptroller general wrong about fed managers']. I would normally ignore such musings, but the column was so far off base I felt that some reply was in order. The tes
Digital Government
DOD: Face Y2K on your own
The Defense Department, expected to be the federal agency to respond to potential crises brought about by the Year 2000 problem, this month said it does not plan to react to all requests for help from state and local civilian authorities. DOD adopted the position in an Aug. 12 message sent to all t
Digital Government