Digital Government
Outsourcing pact back under fire
A Republican congressman has attached an amendment to a Defense Department spending bill that could derail the Pentagon's efforts to save billions of dollars by outsourcing operations of information technology support services to commercial contractors. Observers said the amendment, attached to the
Digital Government
Proposed bill would fund financial systems
Rep. Dan Burton (RInd.) last week introduced a bill that would fund improvements in agencies' financial management computer systems with the recovery of billions of dollars in overpayments made to government contractors. The proposed legislation, called the Government Waste Corrections Act, would
Digital Government
Identitech tackles info overload
Identitech Inc., a vendor of document management and workflow software, last month introduced a new data visualization tool to that uses colorcoded blocks to help users understand complex information at a glance. The Graphical Interface for Information Cognition (GIFIC) is designed to support busi
Digital Government
Forum Held on Integrated Public Safety
More than 100 emergency medical services (EMS) and 911 professionals, public safety officials and transportation experts gathered at the National Emergency Number Association's 911 Critical Issues Forum last Thursday and Friday in Alexandria, Va., to discuss a fiveyear plan for a nationwide intelligent transportation system. The system would integrate EMS and 911 services in an effort to reduce the time it takes to get help to people involved in serious automobile accidents.
Digital Government
Personal-use policy a recipe for disaster
A new policy recommendation made by the CIO Council would give federal employees greater liberty to use computers and other equipment for personal reasons but also could open the door to disputes between employees and management. The recommendation, issued March 10, would allow federal workers to u
Digital Government
NRC takes its reading rooms, reports online
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has decided to stop distributing paper copies of its documents to its reading rooms nationwide and now will provide future documents only on the Internet. The change, slated for Oct. 1, would coincide with the rollout of a new information system called the Agencywi
Digital Government
Roster Change
The U.S. Courts awarded Ralph DeLoach, the clerk for the Kansas Federal District Court, the Director's Award for Outstanding Leadership for organizing a workshop that led to longrange automation, staff education and training, and jury utilization plans. James Starr, the clerk for the New Hampshire
Digital Government
Air Force responds to vendors' complaints
After strong industry complaints about its controversial acquisition strategy for purchasing computer products, the Air Force this month announced it will loosen the criteria it uses to choose bidders when it develops the next contract under the acquisition. The Standard Systems Group released a sp
Digital Government
Entrust debuts PKI products for Microsoft platforms
Entrust Technologies Inc. this month announced a new set of security solutions for Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 95, 98 and NT 4.0 operating systems for users who cannot afford to wait for the release of the more securityminded Windows 2000. The announcement of two new publickey infrastructure (PKI)
Digital Government
Engineering vendors gear up for new sked
The General Services Administration is moving quickly to put in place a new engineering services schedule that could be worth more than $100 million over five years. GSA's Federal Supply Service released the draft request for proposals for the MultiDisciplined Engineering and Technical Services (M
Digital Government
On the Web, think like a publisher, not an author
Last year's favorite statement we loved to hate was, 'Did you get my email?' This year we've already learned to cringe when we hear, 'It's on the Web page.' These have become the latest dirty words in our Information Age. Not because 'It's on the Web page' might not be a true statement but becaus
Digital Government
New York Comptroller Scolds Departments Slack on Y2K Plans
New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall announced yesterday that key state agencies are making headway with their Year 2000compliance efforts, but he publicly chided those same agencies for hesitating to put solid contingency plans in place.
Digital Government
Nebraska Moves Y2K Litigation Bill
The Nebraska Legislature this week advanced a bill that would shield agencies targeted in Year 2000 lawsuits by curbing the damages plaintiffs would be able to collect. Nebraska's LB 661 states that only actual not consequential damages may be collected from litigation surrounding system failures related to the millennium date change.
Digital Government
Web shopping turns into proceeds for school tech
Say goodbye to the grocery receipts and mailin rebates that parents often put toward new school computers. A new World Wide Web site is turning Internet shopping transactions into proceeds for technology at K12 schools around the country.
Digital Government
OMB warns agencies about reintroducing Y2K errors
The Office of Management and Budget this week asked agencies to develop a plan that protects their Year 2000compliant systems from regulatory actions or information technology changes that could reintroduce software date errors in the fixed computers.
Digital Government
Schools scrimp on software investment
For a couple of years, schools have invested heavily in their infrastructure and hardware to infuse technology into the curricula, but software purchasing has been and still is low, according to a report this year by the Software Information Industry Association (SIIA).
Digital Government
States Demand Same Prices Offered to Fed IT Buyers
The New Jersey Assembly this week moved on legislation designed to give state contracting officials more leverage to coax better deals from vendors by asking for the same prices those companies offer federal agencies.
Digital Government
GAO unearths computer security weaknesses at NASA
Many of NASA's missioncritical information systems are vulnerable to attack, and almost all the systems do not meet the agency's own requirements for risk assessment, according to a General Accounting Office report released today.
Digital Government
Amendment may scrap Army's WLMP plans
An amendment attached to the fiscal 2000 Defense Department authorization bill could come close to scuttling the Army's plans to proceed with a $1 billion effort to modernize and outsource the service's wholesale logistics operations.
Digital Government