Cybersecurity
States told to expect Real ID draft regs by end of the year
The Homeland Security Department will issue draft regulations by the end of the year to specify how states should implement mandatory federal standards for driver’s licenses.
Cybersecurity
Agencies focus on HSPD-12 challenges ahead
A variety of challenges, including card and certificate management, information systems interoperability and program costs, await federal agencies.
People
OPM lauds five agencies for management excellence
Linda Springer, director of the Office of Personnel Management, presented the 2006 Presidential Award for Management Excellence this week.
People
Vermont portal deal won by NIC
The state of Vermont has awarded NIC Inc. a six-year contract to build and manage its e-government portal.
Digital Government
Allen amendment to help minority institutions
The program, which will provide grants for universities, colleges and other organizations to buy digital networks, was approved as part of the VA spending bill.
Cybersecurity
Air Force leaders hold Cyber Summit
The service plans to bring full-scale military operations to cyberspace, and the summit was intended to map the way.
Modernization
Agencies improve financial rigor
All major federal agencies beat out the private sector for the second consecutive year by completing their Performance and Accountability Reports and financial statements on the 45-day accelerated schedule.
Modernization
USDA seeks encryption software for mobile devices
The department could buy as many as 150,000 licenses through blanket purchase agreements with businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.
People
DOD plans major overhaul of service buys
In response to a GAO report, DOD officials say they plan to take a more strategic approach to services, aligning them more closely with the department's mission.
People
SEWP may not be the right recipe for DOD, IG finds
Studying a sample of SEWP orders in fiscal 2005, the IG found rule violations in almost all of them.
Modernization
Mimi Browning | Executive Suite: The myths and realities of IT cost savings
The perennial congressional question—“What did I get for the $200 million I gave you last year?”—can be difficult to answer.
People
OMB to grade agencies on health IT interoperability plans
The date reflects the timeline in an August White House executive order for agencies to include health IT interoperability standards, and quality and price transparency when they acquire and update systems for health data exchange.<@SM><@SM>
Modernization
Senators to FBI: Get a VCF refund
The Senate’s draft of the appropriations bill for the Justice Department and the FBI would order the bureau to use “all means necessary” to try to recover funds from the vendor of its failed Virtual Case File project.
People
GAO to IRS: Mandate e-filing for tax preparers
Paid tax preparers should have to file tax returns electronically to help the IRS reap more savings, a report states.
Cybersecurity
DHS IG sees substantial risks for core SBInet program
House panel told DHS did not lay the foundation to oversee and assess contractor performance and control costs.
People
Senate threatens to cut DTS funding
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) plans to introduce legislation to kill the travel portion of the system, while preserving its back-end accounting functions.
Modernization
Long view of IT oversight
FDA eases OMB 300 reporting requirements with portfolio management software.
Modernization
Interior launches FBMS in two bureaus, BLM next
The Department of Interior’s Financial Business Modernization System is up and running.
Acquisition
Find ways to share contractor performance data, GSA tells agencies
Agencies have not made a concerted effort to share the information with one another, leaving them vulnerable to using poor-quality contractors, a Federal Register notice states.
Modernization