Modernization
House panel subpoenas Oracle heads over VA health record overhaul’s ballooning costs
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted 19-0 to subpoena Oracle Chairman and Co-founder Larry Ellison and Oracle CEO Mike Sicilia after VA announced plans to boost its contract with the tech giant by $17 billion.
TMF will have $200M to spend next year without appropriations, official says
The federal government plans to announce new projects receiving modernization dollars at the end of next month, ahead of a possible expiration for the fund.
VA deploys new EHR at 3 Indiana-based medical facilities
The latest round of go-lives brings the total number of site rollouts this year to 11.
VA boosts EHR modernization contract with Oracle by $17B
The modified agreement raises the contract’s total value to just under $27 billion.
FAA brings in AT&T for network modernization program
The Federal Aviation Administration is developing a potential 15-year contract with AT&T to support the overhaul of the air traffic control system.
VA seeks to extend its Oracle health record contract through 2031
“This action is necessary to continue [electronic health record modernization] deployment activities and associated support services until all VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) and related facilities have fully transitioned to the EHR system,” the department said in a Sam.gov solicitation notice.
Oversight and program management gaps slowing VA’s benefits processing system modernization, OIG says
The watchdog said cost estimate and project planning issues are among the top factors afflicting VA’s overhaul of its legacy Benefits Enterprise Platform.
The Technology Modernization Fund has saved little — but big savings are expected later — GAO finds
The head of GSA — which administers the TMF — argued that the GAO report understates the benefit of the program because it distinguishes between cost savings and cost avoidance.
How to find alien technology
I wanted to know how astronomers actually go looking for life in space.
NASA names 2,100 winners for SEWP VI
The $60 billion government-wide IT program expands the scope of what agencies can buy and how they can buy as the vehicle's proposed transition to the General Services Administration looms.
Trump’s return-to-work mandate for feds helped drive MetTel’s GSA upgrades
The company said it completed the network revamp under the General Services Administration’s $50 billion Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract.
Oracle wins $396M federal HR systems overhaul contract
The Office of Personnel Management is using the contract to consolidate more than 100 systems into a single platform covering 2 million federal employees.
VA deploys new EHR at 4 additional medical facilities
The latest round of go-lives comes as the Department of Veterans Affairs looks to speed up deployments of its new electronic health record system as part of an accelerated rollout schedule.
EHR modernization needs better cyber and privacy collaboration, GAO says
The Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization office needs to improve its interagency coordination to address potential privacy and security vulnerabilities in the new system, according to the watchdog.
How NIST’s torque tool could help keep air force jets flying
With roots in an unlikely Lego experiment from years ago, a new self-calibrating device developed with the Air Force and Snap-on could make torque calibration faster, more precise and easier to sustain.
EHR restart was ‘phenomenal’ despite persistent challenges at initial sites, VA secretary says
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins told lawmakers the department has rectified issues with its electronic health record modernization project moving forward and is “going to go back” and address problems at its initial deployment sites.
VA security personnel aren’t detecting knives or booze, according to a watchdog report assessing medical facility security
The Government Accountability Office highlighted that there are staffing shortages among VA police, but department officials say they have taken steps to address the issue.
Watchdog recommends nearly 100 ways for agencies to save tens of billions
Agencies have implemented a majority of previous Government Accountability Office recommendations regarding duplicative federal programs, generating almost $775 billion in financial benefits.
How Broadcom’s VMware buy meant a ‘fundamental shift’ for county tech
Leaders said the 2023 acquisition has led to negative changes in licenses, pricing and support, with many now considering moving away from the longtime vendor.
VA still on pace with EHR deployment after rollouts earlier this year, officials say
Other agencies are also looking to iterate on their version of the electronic health record system being used at the VA and DOD — including by bringing it onto ships at sea.
Growing agency talent is critical for modernization, Transportation’s IT head says
“When there is support and excitement, then you can do magic,” Pavan Pidugu, the Transportation Department’s chief digital and information officer, said about engaging personnel across the agency to drive meaningful IT modernization.
