Digital Government
Army to equip soldiers with 'electronic umbrella' system
The Army plans to provide U.S. forces poised for deployment to the Balkans with more than 40 sophisticated, computerbased systems that could provide troops in Kosovo with an 'electronic umbrella' capable of neutralizing incoming artillery, rocket and mortar shells. The House Armed Services Committ
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Federal Bytes
Y2K SURVIVAL GEAR. During a recent hearing on personal preparedness for the Year 2000, Sen. Robert Bennett (RUtah), chairman of the Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem, presented Sen. Chris Dodd (DConn.), the committee's vice chairman, with a special gift. Dodd received a
Digital Government
Hill must fully embrace the Net
When it comes to agencies developing information technology systems, Congress can be quick to offer helpful criticism. But when using IT or developing systems for the Hill, Congress frequently does not get it. The latest case in point is the House of Representatives' effort to upgrade a system that
Digital Government
Netcast nets deal for House Webcasts
After a threemonth trial, an Alexandria, Va.based company that specializes in broadcasting events over the Internet has signed a longterm agreement with the House of Representatives' Science Committee to air 50 hours a month of live testimony during committee hearings. Under the $6,000amonth
Digital Government
New DOD Web site targets Y2K education
The sky is not falling, according to a new Defense Department World Wide Web site that makes a concerted effort to distinguish among gloom, doom and truth when it comes to the Year 2000 computer glitch. DOD's new Confronting Y2K Web site is designed as an antidote to the anxiety and reckless rumors
Digital Government
Edge carves out niche in network management
Edge Technologies Inc., a 6yearold products and services company, is a niche player that prides itself in its ability to take on 'the big guys' in the industry, such as HewlettPackard Co. Based in Fairfax, Va., Edge devotes its time and energy to building tools and applications and providing ser
Digital Government
Group: NIH must hike IT spending
Biomedical researchers are starving for computing resources, and the National Institutes of Health should spend more money on computer hardware, software, training and computer science research to support them, an NIH advisory group said June 3. A report by the Working Group on Biomedical Computing
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Letters to the Editor
SPS: Not as bad worse I enjoyed reading the article 'DOD buried under' [FCW, May 24] regarding the Defense Department's Standard Procurement System (SPS), which purports to facilitate the DOD mandate for paperless acquisition by 2000. The article accurately captures some of the more superficial
Digital Government
Senate, Clinton clash over Defense bill
The Senate last week passed the fiscal 2000 Defense appropriations bill, exceeding the Clinton administration's proposed budget by nearly $1.4 billion and prompting the White House to issue a cautionary statement regarding what it called unnecessary funding. According to a statement issued by the a
Digital Government
Machinery of hope
INGELHEIM, Germany For most people, computers can bring tears of frustration when the machines do not work. But for Billi, a teenager from Kosovo's capital city, Pristina, tears flow because of the hope she sees in computers. Amid the sorrow and confusion that permeate one of Germany's largest K
Digital Government
Senate OKs accounting revisions
The Senate has agreed to a proposal sought by Defense Department officials to revise cost accounting standards (CAS) that are designed to ensure that contractors do not overcharge the government.
Digital Government
Pentagon renovation takes the long view
Information technology advances at such a fast pace with today's technology obsolescent in 18 months most IT managers probably have not bothered to add 'longrange planning' to their lexicon. But longterm planning definitely stands as a priority for Col. Robert Kirsch, the IT project manager f
Digital Government
GSA redesigns fed regulation tracking system
By replacing an old mainframe database system with a new World Wide Webenabled system, the General Services Administration is making it easier for federal agencies to submit, manage and update their regulatory information. The Office of Management and Budget requires all agencies to publish in the
Digital Government
EPA CIO left hanging by proposed IT revamp
The Environmental Protection Agency last week unveiled a major overhaul of its entire information technology operations that would unseat the current chief information officer and affect some 400 other agency employees. The plan, announced last week at an agencywide meeting, aims to dismantle organ
Digital Government
Doll on Deck at NASIRE
When Steve Kolodney announced he was leaving his job as the state of Washington's chief information officer, he also left open his slot as the National Association of State Information Resource Executives' heir apparent.
Digital Government
COMSAT wins $112M Navy pact for global net circuits
Communications Satellite Corp. last week won a $112 million contract to provide the Navy with the global communications circuits vital to the service's 'networkcentric' warfare strategy. The fiveyear contract calls for COMSAT's Mobile Corp. subsidiary to provide the Navy with 64 kilobits/sec pipe
Digital Government
Feds tap chief knowledge officers for key info management role
The General Services Administration last week created its first chief knowledge officer position, which many federal information technology experts believe will become more prevalent as agencies try to sort out and use the vast amount of information stored in their systems and posted on the World W
Digital Government
Connecticut legislature avoids computer privatization
The Connecticut state legislature wrapped up its 1999 session last week without taking up any of a smattering of procedural bills pending on the state's $1 billion deal to privatize its computer operations.
Digital Government
IT vendors seek relief from award audits
A group representing federal information technology contractors last week asked the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to eliminate General Services Administration policies that allow government buyers to conduct audits after a contract is awarded and to demand price adjustments. The Government E
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