Digital Government
Education chooses Andersen for modernization
Education Department officials plan to announce tomorrow that the department has chosen Andersen Consulting to oversee modernization of the troubled computer systems the agency uses to run billions of dollars in federal student aid programs.
Digital Government
Gila County, Ariz., Saves Time and Money With New Voice/Data Integration Tool
The Gila County, Ariz., Courthouse is using a new Cisco Systems Inc. router to help connect smaller departments throughout the region. The new network system is expected to save the county money by reducing longdistance telephone charges, while the enhanced videoconferencing made possible by the system will reduce the cost of transporting prisoners.
Digital Government
OMB: Agencies making strides in financial functions
While federal agencies are expected to perform better than ever in their financial reporting to Congress, key areas of improvement include wider use of commercial financial management systems and modernizing financial practices with electronic commerce, according to a report issued publicly Wednesday by the Office of Management and Budget.
Digital Government
USGS keeps tabs on possible floods from Bret
A pair of new stations used to track the volume of water in streams and rivers are helping the U.S. Geological Survey to understand and respond to flooding in Texas in the wake of Hurricane Bre
Digital Government
Feds working on Y2K will get to carry over leave
The Office of Personnel Management has made it easier for government employees who must stay on the job until the Year 2000 problem is fixed to carry over annual leave days that they cannot use this year.
Digital Government
Grants provide teachers with tech training
Vice President Al Gore announced Tuesday that 400,000 new teachers will receive training in using classroom technology through $135 million in new grants from the Department of Education, as well as $195 million from privatesector sources.
Digital Government
DOD to States: Face Y2K on Your Own
The Defense Department, expected to be the federal agency to respond to potential crises brought about by the Year 2000 problem, this month said it does not plan to react to all requests for help from state and local civilian authorities.
Digital Government
Hawaii's Taxation Department Signs 'Benefits-Funded' Contract to Smooth Tax Process
Hawaii's Department of Taxation signed a fiveyear, $50 million contract with American Management Systems Inc. to field an Integrated Tax Information Management System (ITIMS) to improve taxpayer service and collection efforts.
Digital Government
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Takes Fresh Approach to Procurement
Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is testing the final phase of a electronic forms and signature system that streamlines the data collection and authentication process for purchase ordering.
Digital Government
U.S. forced to open electronic case files
A lawsuit brought against the Justice Department by a nonprofit agency has led the department to release information about federal prosecutions that it previously would not make public.
Digital Government
University of Texas at Arlington Students Must Be Computer Literate to Graduate
University of Texas at Arlington officials now require students to exhibit computer literacy in five distinct areas in order to graduate from the school.
Digital Government
Annual report on state networks due
The National Association of State Telecommunications Directors will release its annual report on state networks next month.
Digital Government
FTS releasing solicitation for distance-learning services
Kicking off the second of its three new business lines, the General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service (FTS) today will release the solicitation for a new governmentwide contract to provide broadband distancelearning services.
Digital Government
University of Utah Human Resources Team Streamlines Payroll Process
The University of Utah is about to begin its first full academic year with a new human resources/payroll solution that combines scanning terminals, the Internet and the school's intranet to streamline the employee timekeeping process.
Digital Government
What fiscal rules apply to interagency transactions?
A reader raised the following question: Many government acquisitions are being accomplished through interagency transactions. For example, the General Services Administration manages several programs that support other agencies. Some of these programs employ a revolving fund that may be exempt from normal constraints on the use of appropriated funds. Does an interagency transaction allow the user to take advantage of these exemptions?
Digital Government
Report: USPS must step up audits
The General Accounting Office has criticized the U.S. Postal Service's National Change of Address program for not sufficiently policing the software used by companies that are licensed to access the database of new addresses. NCOA, based in Memphis, Tenn., is responsible for the database of new add
Digital Government
USDA begins rollout of HR, finance system
After months of pilot tests, the Agriculture Department is ready to roll out a nationwide system that will provide more timely and efficient human resources management services. The USDA last week turned on the Combined Administrative Management System in Georgia, which is the first state to begin
Digital Government
GAO report tries to sort out risk-assessment confusion
Facing growing security threats to increasingly complex government computer systems, the General Accounting Office last week released a report to help federal agencies determine how vulnerable their systems are and how to make them more secure. Although GAO's report, 'Information Security Risk Asse
Digital Government
GAO drafts financial management guide
The use of businessoriented financial management systems is a key element in agencies' efforts to comply with federal management and performance laws, according to the General Accounting Office. In a study of nine private and publicsector finance organizations, GAO found that the use of technolo
Digital Government