Digital Government
NOAA and NASA prep for launch of next GOES
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA are preparing to launch a new weather satellite next month that will provide realtime weather data that will be used to develop shortterm weather forecasts. Data from the satellite called Geostationary Operational Environmental Satell
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DISA taps SAIC for $285M pact
The Defense Information Systems Agency last week awarded Science Applications International Corp. a $285 million taskorder contract to support the department's development of a standard worldwide technical infrastructure.Under the Defense Information Infrastructure (DII) Integration Contract SAIC
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Hacker attacks, other abuse continue to rise
Computer systems abuse from insiders and outsiders plagues federal agencies creating mounting financial losses according to an annual survey released last week. More than 50 percent of the 82 federal agencies surveyed reported that their computer systems were accessed by unauthorized individuals la
Digital Government
GAO wants DOD to develop strategy
The General Accounting Office issued a report last month that calls on the Defense Department to help forge a governmentwide strategy for using and gauging the success of telemedicine technology in the federal arena. The report comes at a time when federal use of telemedicine is increasing. In fisc
Digital Government
Avatar aims 250M drive at mobile computer users
Avatar Peripherals Inc. founded last November today unveiled a removablemedia hard disk drive designed for mobile users that with its small footprint and high capacity the company believes can take on established competitors. The company's Shark 250 available immediately is a portable device that
Digital Government
Hayes seeks to build upon Microsoft's federal success
When Peter B. Hayes came to Washington D.C. to become general manager of Microsoft Corp.'s federal district earlier this month he assumed control of one of the most successful divisions in one of the most successful businesses in the world. Hayes replaces Phil Lavery who recently left the federal d
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AWARDS
GTE Government Systems Corp. A $27.7 million award to provide ADP operations and maintenance services. Army CommunicationsElectronics Command Technology Applications Office Technical Contracting Division Fort Ritchie Md. 217194075. Horizons Technology Inc. A $479 433 award for engineering service
Digital Government
Northrop Grumman takes on IDIQs
Northrop Grumman Data Systems and Services Division reached a milestone recently when the company landed its 15th indefinitedelivery indefinitequantity contract. The win pushes the company further into the professional services market from its base in systems integration. The General Services Adm
Digital Government
IRS earns `C-minus' rating for security policies
The Internal Revenue Service last week received a 'Cminus' grade for work on its information security policies and procedures from a consultant who said the agency's biggest challenge is to match the protection it has developed for data to employees' need for access. Joseph Mahaffee a principal wi
Digital Government
Marines upgrade 386s to Pentiums, save money
Just as the famous Parris Island S.C. Marine boot camp instills guts in its recruits the base's computer division installed more powerful guts in the base's computers. The Depot Computer and Telecommunications Division (DCTD) at the Marine Corps' Recruit Depot Parris Island recently installed high
Digital Government
JIEO services deal is a boon for small businesses
The Defense Information Systems Agency's Joint Interoperability and Engineering Organization Systems Engineering program is a showcase for small businesses with skills ranging from satellite communications to logistics systems. DISA in January awarded the $610 million multipleaward pact to seven s
Digital Government
House panel seeks 30-day delay in Post-FTS 2000 RFP
Rep. Dan Burton (RInd.) chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee last week asked the General Services Administration to postpone its solicitation for PostFTS 2000 contracts for 30 days and form a task force to iron out differences between sectors of the telecommunications i
Digital Government
Three agencies collaborate on contractor database
Three federal agencies are working on a plan that will save time and money for government contractors and agencies conducting electronic commerce by creating a single interface to a distributed database of contractor data. The Office of Management and Budget recently asked the Defense and Treasury
Digital Government
Budget crunch forces HCFA to trim IT system
The Health Care Financing Administration last week disclosed that because of budgetary problems it has scaled back its plans for a massive computer system that will give the agency tighter control over the huge Medicare health program for the elderly. HCFA officials declined to comment on how they
Digital Government
NASA adopts firewall plan
Battered by hacker attacks on its home page NASA will move all its publicaccess servers outside of an agencywide firewall designed to protect sensitive internal networks. When the new security architecture is in place NASA employees no longer will have open access to the World Wide Web they will b
Digital Government
Services lure agencies
Interest in the General Services Administration's Schedule B/C integration program has exploded in recent months with an array of vendors queuing up to offer services and government buyers tapping the schedule for projects large and small. Since opening Schedule B/C to services early last year GSA
Digital Government
Senators eye USDA reforms
The Senate last week asked the Agriculture Department for assurances that its efforts to evaluate and control the agency's troubled informationtechnology investments are on track. Sen. Richard Lugar (RInd.) chairman of the Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry said at a hearing that he
Digital Government
Federal Bytes
For the record Just how much money did the Internal Revenue Service waste on Tax Systems Modernization?For months the agency has asserted that the amount is not nearly as much as the $4 billion that critics claim and that much of the money already spent on the program will result in useful systems
Digital Government
Cabletron, Bay Networks unveil new switches
Cabletron Systems Inc. and Bay Networks Inc. earlier this month introduced new switches with Cabletron unveiling workgroup and wiring closet Ethernet switches and Bay introducing a routing switch. Cabletron's SmartSwitch 6000 the company's new wiring closet switch supports up to 120 Ethernet ports
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