Digital Government

IRS Floats Experimental Contract Vehicle to Help Administration Meet Procurement CAP Goals

The tax agency is using Pilot IRS—an iterative funding vehicle—to work on a governmentwide acquisition initiative.

Cybersecurity

NTIA to Host Proof-of-Concept Summit in Software Transparency Effort

More agencies are starting to ask suppliers for a software bill of materials in building a foundation for better, faster cybersecurity.

Ideas

How 5G Could Change Government’s Pandemic Response

The main benefit of 5G, especially for public sector applications, is the enablement of machine-to-machine communications.

Emerging Tech

State Department Brings Financing Partners to Help Fund Huawei Alternatives

The State Department is working with financial institutions to help close deals for Western technology providers around the globe, an official says.

Modernization

Senate Passes Veterans Affairs IT Reform Act

The bill would require annual reports on projects that cost more than $25 million and affirm CIO authority in planning.

Digital Government

Congress Hammers Big Tech on Business Practices

House lawmakers grilled the tech chiefs of four of America’s largest companies, continuing its investigation into possible antitrust violations.

Cybersecurity

Was the Pentagon’s Blacklist of Chinese Companies Justified?

An independent study of the list found China uses its favored companies to wipe out competition and spread economic influence.

Digital Government

Survey: Tech Employees Less Comfortable Negotiating Salary in COVID-19 Era

Fewer employees at large tech companies are talking salary with their managers during the pandemic.

Ideas

Lawmakers Keen to Break Up 'Big Tech' Like Amazon and Google Need to Realize the World has Changed a Lot Since Microsoft and Standard Oil

Those cases may seem similar to today’s situation, but this era is different in one crucial way: the global technology marketplace.

Emerging Tech

How the Energy Department Is Powering NASA’s Soon-to-Launch Mars Rover

Undersecretary for Science Paul Dabbar offered a glimpse into the agency’s efforts beyond Earth.

Modernization

CBP Gets $15M from Modernization Fund to Ditch Its Last Mainframe

The Customs and Border Protection Agency plans to upgrade a system that tracks imported goods and still relies on COBOL. 

Podcasts

Critical Update: Reinventing the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Technology is important but keeping and developing talent will be crucial, NGA Director Vice Adm. Robert Sharp says.

Ideas

The Mindsets of Innovators in Government

A series of Interviews with high achievers reveals some surprising things about what it takes to get things done in the bureaucracy.

Emerging Tech

DOD, HHS Preparing for Large-Scale Manufacturing of COVID-19 Treatments

The agencies set up a phased OTA contract to test manufacturing capabilities at scale to ensure the industry is ready to meet demand as new treatments are approved.

Ideas

Shift Left: DevSecOps and the Path to Continuous Authority to Operate

DevSecOps, containerization and cloud native security methods are here, but streamlining their use is an ongoing challenge in government.