Acquisition
DOD bill would open door to new buying process for IT
A defense task force has recommended the new acquisition process must be agile and capable of delivering IT systems in no more than 18 months.
Digital Government
NASA awards 152 small-biz research contracts
NASA awards contracts to 126 small businesses worth $91 million for research projects in areas including technology to monitor the health of space crews and transmitters for deep space communications.
Digital Government
Federal Benefits Roundup
Several key federal employee provisions are included in an agreement between the House-Senate conference committee working on the fiscal 2010 Defense authorization bill. The committee's report of the final legislation, released on Wednesday, includes a provision that would allow employees in the Federal Employees Retirement System to credit their unused, accumulated sick leave toward retirement. Currently, FERS employees receive 13 use-or-lose sick days per year. The provision puts FERS employees on par with those in the Civil Service Retirement System, which generally includes those hired prior to 1984.
Cybersecurity
IG faults HUD for stimulus law reporting problems
HUD falls on privacy and data security goals and misses deadlines as it tracks spending for the economic stimulus law, the IG's office says.
Digital Government
Navy lays course for Second Fleet migration to NMCI
The Navy’s Second Fleet Commander will use the Navy Marine Corps Intranet to support its newly established Maritime Operations Center in a move to further collaboration and boost cybersecurity capabilities.
Modernization
VA completes first phase of daunting health records program, CIO says
Roger Baker is also restarting some halted programs and attacking processing backlog
People
Congress poised to kill DOD's pay-for-performance system
Labor unions have criticized the program for years.
Modernization
VA looks to Web 2.0 technologies to improve management
Electronic health records initiative and social networking sites are among the projects under way.
Digital Government
Hill outlines new acquisition IT practices for Defense
Congress also cuts Military Health Systems' technology budget until it can improve its project management.
Modernization
Cloud-based e-mail and archives for agencies sparks security concerns
Government officials say the advantages of outsourcing these data services outweigh the risks.
Digital Government
Yep, Computers for Offensive Ops
The Defense Department shies away from talking about its cyberattack plans, but a <a href=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=8e86b740b9f47bbc28dff0d8af72e5ce&tab=core&_cview=>solicitation</a> released by the Air Force Electronic Systems Center yesterday indicates that the service definitely plans to have the capability to attack adversaries using computers.
Digital Government
A Cyber Challenge for DHS
Computerworld <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9138998/DHS_faces_challenge_in_hiring_1_000_security_experts">reports</a> that the Homeland Security Department's efforts to hire some 1,000 new cybersecurity experts could be stalled due to a lack of specialized skills as well as competition with other agencies and the private sector. DHS has a critical need for security professionals to handle tasks like intrusion analysis, malware reverse engineering, security auditing, secure code analysis, penetration testing and forensics, but the problem is there aren't enough security professionals to meet those needs, the article states. Experts also say that DHS must first address the relatively high rates of turnover within its mid- and upper-level cyber workforce, particularly at its National Cyber Security Division.
Modernization
Obama orders environmental measures for agencies
Federal data centers must be run in energy-efficient ways under a new executive order.
Acquisition
Senate tries to put competition rules on earmark spending
Senate legislation would apply some of the rules for competition to spending under earmarks, but only for a single bill.
Ideas
Intellipedia on the Block?
Colleague Marc Armbinder <a href="http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/10/shutdown_of_intelligence_community_e-mail_network_raises_concerns.php">posted</a> yesterday an item on his Atlantic Politics blog that the intelligence community is pulling the plug on <a href="https://www.ugov.gov/">uGov</a>, "one of its earliest efforts at cross-agency collaboration," Armbinder wrote.
Digital Government
Panel recommends improvements to E-Verify
A panel of experts recommends improving the E-Verify electronic employment verification system to reduce false reports and to use it in immigration reform efforts.
Modernization
NTIA awards grants for national broadband map
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is getting started on the $350 million broadband mapping project funded by the economic stimulus law.
Digital Government
States urged to create data catalogs
State and local governments should ramp up efforts to become more transparent, organization contends.
Digital Government