Digital Government

Smart card handbook updated

The General Services Administration and the Smart Card Interagency Advisory Board issued a revised smart card handbook.

Digital Government

Senate limits federal offshoring

An amendment that limits the use of federal funds to pay for work done in foreign countries passed the Senate Thursday by a vote of 70-26.

People

Online Extra: OMB is defining final phase for e-gov projects

Each of the Office of Management and Budget’s 25 Quicksilver e-government projects will be rolled out by the end of the summer, administration officials vow. Next: How they'll be used.<br>

People

OPM’s path to green paved by IT security

As the leaves turned brown last fall, Office of Personnel Management IT officials could only think about green. CIO Janet Barnes hoped OPM would become only the second agency to earn a green rating for its e-government work on the President’s Management Agenda scorecard.

People

OMB to demand more detailed business cases

Agencies can expect to do more work on their fiscal 2006 IT business cases than they’ve had to do in previous years. The Office of Management and Budget is considering requiring agencies to follow separate steps in filing business cases for ongoing projects and for initiatives’ development, modernization and enhancement phases. OMB also plans to change some rules for contract management and software buying.

People

GPO plans for digital future

The Government Printing Office may never be paperless, but officials expect it to use less paper.

People

Utah puts bids on RSS

The state's Purchasing and General Services Division is one of the first purchasing agencies to use the XML-based Really Simple Syndication format.

Digital Government

Fed Reserve upgrades for check images

The Federal Reserve used BMC modeling software to assess the loads of servers being used to transmit digital checks.

People

Feds to market electronic benefits payments

The government is preparing a multimillion-dollar campaign to persuade more citizens to accept electronic payments for benefits such as Social Security.

People

Agriculture launches electronic customer statement

The Agriculture Department has launched its electronic Customer Statement as part of an initiative to provide more e-government services for farmers and ranchers.<br>

People

Web tracking of tax refunds grows

The number of taxpayers using the IRS Web site to track the status of their tax refunds has almost doubled annually.

People

Customs delays air manifest requirement

Officials announced a five-month delay for requiring air manifests to be sent to border officials before cargo arrives.

Modernization

Xacta updates risk management app

The company says the upgrade will make it easier for federal agencies to document their information security environment and practices.

People

Clearing up the PART

OMB will have guidance clarifying use of the Program Assessment Rating Tool.

People

Bill would fund U.S.-Israel R&D

Bipartisan House legislation would create a fund for homeland security research by American and Israeli companies.

Digital Government

Justice could get privacy boss

The House Judiciary Committee approved a DOJ reauthorization bill that includes the creation of a senior privacy officer.

People

GAO updates IT management guide

The IT Investment Management framework models five stages of investment management maturity.

Modernization

Army has one name for networks

The service now calls all of its communications networks LandWarNet.

People

AT&T to manage Navy construction assets

The Navy awarded a pair of contracts worth $13.3 million combined.

People

National Security Agency names CIO

La Forrest Williams, a retired Air Force colonel, replaced Richard Turner.