Digital Government
DISA Awards 23 Small Businesses Spots on $7.5B IT Innovation Contract
The restricted pool awards come a year after large business awards, which were subsequently protested.
Emerging Tech
The World Cup’s Instant-Replay Problem
As the final between the United States and the Netherlands approaches, teams and fans fear a champion decided on a technicality.
Emerging Tech
Pentagon Looks into Virtual Reality to Prepare Troops for Nuclear War
The tech would let troops run through more exercises more frequently and at less cost than traditional training in the real world.
Emerging Tech
SEC Wants a Subscription for Blockchain Data
The agency is asking for quotes from companies that offer a window into what’s happening on blockchain ledgers.
Emerging Tech
NOAA Wants Hybrid Drones to Patrol the Coast
The agency wants an unmanned system that can fly like a plane but take off and land like a helicopter.
Emerging Tech
A Startling Spike on Mars
Methane gas is a potential indicator of life on the red planet, but it’s proving difficult to track.
Emerging Tech
The Gig Economy’s Storage Hustle
A startup called Neighbor bills itself as an “Airbnb for storage,” allowing hosts to rent out their empty sheds, closets and basements for other people’s stuff.
Emerging Tech
The Intelligence Community Wants to Hear Your Cutting-Edge Tech Pitch
ODNI is expanding one of its major vendor outreach programs to speed up adoption of emerging tech and modernize the intelligence community’s IT infrastructure.
Modernization
Watchdog: Poor Oversight Put GSA’s $50B Telecom Transition Over Schedule, Over Budget
The agency hired contractors to help with a smooth transition but ended up spending lots of money for little movement.
Digital Government
The Government’s Historic Spending Spree Continues
Spending data from the Government Accountability Office confirmed last year’s predicted spending spree and early fiscal 2019 data suggests historical spending levels continued.
Emerging Tech
U.S. Army Making Synthetic Biology a Priority
New thermal cloaking, insect proof uniforms are on the horizon, if the U.S. can get out in front of China.
Modernization
GSA Releases Draft Requirements For Governmentwide E-commerce Pilot
Interested vendors have until Aug. 1 to weigh in on the project, which is expected to officially kick off by the end of the year.
Cybersecurity
Report: Pentagon Should Assume U.S. Satellites Are Already Hacked
As U.S. and its allies tether more of their military operations to government and commercial satellites, they need to start taking cybersecurity more seriously.
Emerging Tech
What Happened When I Rented an E-Scooter for (Almost) a Month
Bird’s new monthly rental program could force users and cities to reconsider e-scooters as a real mode of transportation. But there are some drawbacks.
Emerging Tech
Agriculture Unleashed 320 New Inventions in 2018
The agency detailed them all in its annual Technology Transfer Report.
Digital Government
OMB Adds Customer Experience, Data Policy Updates to Annual Budget Guidance
The Office of Management and Budget released an update to Circular A-11, outlining how agencies should be thinking about their fiscal 2021 budget requests.
Emerging Tech
You No Longer Own Your Face
Students were recorded for research—and then became part of a data set that lives forever online, potentially accessible to anyone.
Emerging Tech
Lawmaker: Human Problem at Pentagon Worse than Tech Problem
Rep. Jim Cooper says Congress shouldn’t accept a government topped by acting political appointees.
Artificial Intelligence
AI, Cyber Get Big Boost in Senate-Passed NDAA
The legislation would free up some $600 million for AI and cyber research, lock down the federal supply chain and prep the Pentagon for the cloud.
Ideas