Acquisition

Letter: The danger of standard configuration

If agencies become overly focused on adhering to vendor-specific solutions, they run the risk of missing out on innovations that could better address their users' needs.

People

Registration to ease international travel

Provisions in the fiscal 2008 spending bill call for expanding Registered Traveler.

People

IT crucial to USPS’ updated business strategy

But the president of the American Postal Workers Union worries that cutting labor costs is too central to the plan.

People

Acquisition official: DOD, industry must communicate

To improve the process of awarding contracts, full engagement is crucial, Shay Assad wrote in a new memo.

People

The FCW Punch Line Contest: Who’s laughing now?

Find out who the winner and runners-up were for the "You know you have been a fed too long when..." contest.

Ideas

Web Headlines

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People

Senate confirms new Census director

Stephen Murdock has said he supports moving the census to an online format.

People

Rule will make passport cards scannable from several feet away

Border guards will be able to access the card's unique identifying number, but no personally identifiable information.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: Changes at a big IT vendor

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Modernization

2008 Watch List: Security initiatives show promise

Officials express guarded optimism as milestones for major projects converge

Acquisition

2008 Watch List: OFPP to rein in interagency contracts

New policies likely will target duplicative contracts that offer little additional value

People

Management briefs

Rand: Feds should not drop pay-for-performance efforts; GAO gives FAA good marks for hitting acquisition targets; DOD’s Gallagher moves to DHS to assist with HSPD-12

Modernization

2008 Watch List: EVM for everyone

Office of Management and Budget mandate will propel EVM further into the mainstream

Acquisition

SBA rule a 'slap in the face' to women, lawmaker says

The agency's attempt to help women small-business owners is too narrow, members of Congress say.

People

HSPD-12 credentials still few and far between

OMB's latest report shows less than 1 percent of employees have compliant identification cards.

Ideas

Defense Taps CSC for Huge Telecom Pact

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People

Labor plans FM LOB competition

The department wants to modernize its financial management functions, and reduce disparate and overlapping systems and data.

People

Letter: Core competency reconsidered

Information technology management must be treated as an essential function at the Defense Department and other agencies.

Digital Government

Bush signs FOIA reform bill

The OPEN Government Act of 2007 establishes a Web-based tracking system for Freedom of Information Act requests.

Acquisition

Green IT formalized in FAR, federal policy

Agencies will have to give preference to environmentally friendly products and services, and they will have to require use of EPEAT in PC products when they are available.