Digital Government
GAO wants USDA to finish Y2K contingency plans sooner
The General Accounting Office has pushed the Agriculture Department to cut its deadline for completing and testing its Year 2000 business continuity and contingency plans by three months.
Digital Government
SSA seeks tool to handle customer complaints
The Social Security Administration last month began searching for a commercial offtheshelf software package to use as an automated customerfeedback system that can collect, maintain and analyze data about phone calls the agency receives from the public. The current SSA system for handling caller
Digital Government
CSC wins computer forensics pact
Computer Sciences Corp. has won an $8.8 million task order to provide training and technical support to the Defense Department's Computer Investigations Training Program, Linthicum, Md. About 25 CSC trainers, engineers and computer forensics specialists will develop courses in a variety of technica
Digital Government
News Shorts
Washington, D.C., just inked a $28 million deal with Lockheed Martin IMS to install cameras and imaging systems at 40 city intersections in the nation's capital to deter motorists from charging through red lights. The deal is the latest in a rash of contracts designed to catch motorists running red
Digital Government
Palmtops Rescue L.A. Fire Data
Every spring, the Los Angeles Fire Department heads into the hills to root out excess dry brush and other combustible materials that can spark Southern California's seasonal wildfires. Each time, the brush collectors unearth clues that could lead to fire prevention. Unfortunately, the information o
Digital Government
Agenda
JUNE 89 Federal Electronic Contracting. Sheraton Premier. Tysons Corner, Va. This seminar will help attendees understand electronic contract requirements, use electronic catalogs and ensure payment with electronic funds transfer. Call (303) 5751560; Web, www.ucg.com/govt/ec2000.html. 89 Fourth A
Digital Government
Fedwire Briefs
Group calls for more IT funding 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 last week. A report by the Wo
Digital Government
Navy taps Comsat for satellite communications
The Navy tapped Comsat Mobile Corp. for a $112 million contract to provide global, highspeed data services to aircraft carriers and to amphibious ships that transport Marine expeditionary units.
Digital Government
EPA outlines plan for new IT office
The Environmental Protection Agency today unveiled its plan for a new Information Office, to be headed by its chief information officer, that will direct information technology, data collection and information dissemination for the agency.
Digital Government
Wireless net boosts shuttle operations
Before the space shuttle Discovery rocketed into space late last month, scores of NASA workers used a wireless computer network to track the thousands of pieces of equipment needed to launch the craft. Using a wireless localarea network built with technology from Intermec Technologies Corp., NASA
Digital Government
Windows 2000 shapes up with Beta 3
Longawaited and often delayed, Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 2000 Server and Professional products have finally reached the featurecomplete beta stage. Based on our tests with Beta 3, which was released in early May, both Windows 2000 products show strong promise as upgrade candidates. But we did enc
Digital Government
GSA hopes smart card gains fans
The General Services Administration hopes an upcoming governmentwide program for buying smart card products and technologies will help jumpstart the use of the cards by federal agencies. The Smart Access Card program, run by GSA's Office of Electronic Commerce, will cover a wide range of smart car
Digital Government
Roster Change
Sen. Bob Bennett (RUtah) has been named chairman of the Republican High Tech Outreach Team. The team was established last month by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (RMiss.) to address issues affecting the U.S. technology industry. The new Federal Information and Records Managers Council elected
Digital Government
No bias in screening, court rules
Is it OK to conduct job interviews using subjective criteria that may appear to favor one group of people over another? A case associated with this issue was recently decided by the Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and may have farreaching repercussions for privatesector and government employ
Digital Government
Rhode Island Considers E-Mall
Rhode Island may enter the multistate electronic commerce pilot project known as EMall.
Digital Government
Order and Law
Here's the vision: A police officer in Alabama stops a beatup Chevy Impala on a routine traffic violation. But instead of calling the license plate in to dispatch and waiting several minutes for an answer, the officer types the number into a mobile computer linked to a nationwide information syste
Digital Government
Intercepts
WLMP DROPOUTS? The battle over the Army's Wholesale Logistics Modernization Program escalated by Rep. James Talent (RMo.), who added language to the House fiscal 2000 Defense Department authorization bill that essentially puts the program on hold for two years has started to take industry casu
Digital Government
Army to award $400M fleet tracking pact
The Army plans to award this week a $400 million contract to create a system that will provide battlefield commanders the ability to precisely locate and communicate with battlefield support vehicles operating anywhere in the world. The Army Movement Tracking System is based on proven commercial ge
Digital Government
Now playing: 'Revolution in Business Affairs'
As the driving force behind the Defense Department's major acquisition reform initiative known as the 'Revolution in Business Affairs' Stan Soloway is among the most influential officials in DOD. As deputy undersecretary of Defense for acquisition reform and the newly appointed leader of the de
Digital Government