Acquisition

SAIC faces challenge in False Claims Act defense

SAIC could be facing long odds in its defense against a False Claims Act lawsuit, says a watchdog group.

People

Open Government Initiative: The final cut

Here is a sampling of policy recommendations created by the public during the recent Open Government Initiative dialogue.

People

One hand clapping

As the curtain comes down on the Open Government Initiative's opening night, we figured it was time to hear from the critics. The reviews are decidedly mixed.

Digital Government

Air Force taps three for $600M air, space intell competition

Three contractors will compete for $600 million in software support and information analysis tasks to support the National Air and Space Intelligence Center over five years, the Air Force announced July 8.

Modernization

New bills would make RF spectrum inventories open to public

Bills pending in the House and Senate would create inventories of RF spectrum managed by the NTIA and FCC, along with a Web portal to make the information public.

Digital Government

IG: Secure Border Initiative lacks effective oversight

Short staffed and under pressure to implement the Homeland Security Department's high-profile program to improve border security known as the Secure Border Initiative, the Customs and Border Protection agency has made extensive use of contractor support services. So much so that contractors are doing inherently governmental work in violation of federal regulations, the department's watchdog said.

Digital Government

Panel approves record $3.3 billion IT budget for VA, with stipulations

Committee restricts more than $1 billion in development funds until CIO Roger Baker completes his review to identify programs that deserve funding in fiscal 2010.

Digital Government

Agencies' Web applications fail to provide meaningful services

Report recommends making line-of-business executives accountable for users adopting services and costs of online tools.

Digital Government

Government withholds details on contract to redesign Recovery.gov

Observers say the government should be more forthcoming about the award process and how taxpayers' money will be spent.

Digital Government

Elmo and the Brigadier General

Elmo, the fire engine red Sesame Street Muppet, will make a special guest appearance with Army Brig. Gen. Loree Sutton, director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, at a press conference in Philadelphia next week. She will unveil how Elmo and his pals can help kids deal with the stress of military deployments.

Ideas

CIOs Missing Out

In the June 15 issue of <em>Government Executive</em>, <a href="http://www.govexec.com/features/0609-15/0609-15s2.htm">"Racing to Innovate,"</a> author Andrew Noyes addresses the challenges facing federal chief information officers. In a recent excerpt in the online version, Noyes reiterates a major point of his well-done article, that "federal CIOs are key to Obama's change agenda." That may well be the case. But in a slow-developing nomination and confirmation process, we may not see any real effect until the end of the president's first term.

Digital Government

Ada turns back the clock

A year-old story about a programming language that fell out of favor 12 years ago takes the Web by storm.

Modernization

Cobol remains old standby at agencies despite showing its age

As mainframe programming language Cobol marks 50 years of service, dedicated government users make plans for keeping the reliable old applications humming along.