Digital Government
GSA to test new buying concept
The General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service plans to develop by June up to five pilot contracts to test an innovative method of funding information technology projects. Agencies using the new method, called shareinsavings, can create contracts for IT systems that require litt
Digital Government
Group disbands intergovernmental panel
The Intergovernmental Enterprise Panel, a group established three years ago to promote sharing of information technology solutions among federal, state and local agencies, was disbanded last week by its parent organization, the Government Information Technology Services Board. G. Martin Wagner, a G
Digital Government
Wireless standard still a disconnect
Nearly six months have passed since vendors released a wave of wireless data products built to a new standard that promises interoperability among different vendors' products, but observers doubt whether this development will spur the industry toward a boom any time soon.
Digital Government
Visio enhancements ease diagramming
Need to create businessoriented diagrams, timelines or flow charts? Consider Visio Corp.'s Visio Standard 5.0 and its Business Bonus Pack addition, which started shipping this fall.
Digital Government
Tight budgets pinch training, CIOs report
Many agencies do not have the resources and budget to adequately train information technology managers to meet core competencies as required by the ClingerCohen Act, according to a draft of a survey of agency chief information officers.
Digital Government
HP debuts Gigabit Ethernet switches
HewlettPackard Co. last week unveiled a highend Gigabit Ethernet routing switch that helps round out the company's product line by addressing the backbone of the enterprise. The HP ProCurve Routing Switch comes in two models: the fourslot 9304M and the eightslot 9308M. Both are designed for loc
Digital Government
25 tapped for ITOP-II
Anticipating a growing need for services, the Transportation Department earlier this month awarded 34 prime contracts to 25 companies under a $10 billion information technology services followon contract. The sevenyear Information Technology Omnibus ProcurementII (ITOPII) contract will provide
Digital Government
Dell builds sales success around strong customer relationships
Dell Computer Corp. blew away the competition on the General Services Administration schedule last year. The gap between Dell and its closest competitor, Gateway Inc., spread from about $40 million in 1997 to almost $248 million in 1998. In sales reported from July 1996 through June 1997, the compa
Digital Government
Air Force lab develops tech to secure digital imagery
The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y., has developed a cuttingedge technology solution that aims to boost Internet security by preventing the fraudulent manipulation of photographs, videos and other digital media used throughout government and industry. The technology, known as digital wat
Digital Government
GTE to sell government group
Telecommunications vendor GTE Corp. announced today it plans to sell off its Government Systems subsidiary as part of a corporate effort to refocus its business lines.
Digital Government
Bell Atlantic rings up hardware sales
Although many companies on the General Services Administration schedule benefited from an increase in information technology services sales, one company is growing without relying on services. Bell Atlantic Federal attributes its phenomenal sales during the summer of 1998 to new hardware. In partic
Digital Government
Integrators aim high on software methodology
The software development processes used by federal contractors to write the programs that run the onboard systems of the space shuttle, fighter jets and other complex equipment are graded, like a lot of things in government. Not every company's development process goes through an evaluation, and n
Digital Government
Rivalry forming over FTS 2001 transition
While vendors on the General Services Administration's Technical and Management Support (TMS) Services program expect a huge boom in business thanks to the forthcoming transition to FTS 2001, they may be up against some unexpected competition from the Transportation Department's Information Technology Omnibus Procurement and the newly awarded ITOPII.
Digital Government
Defense gets tough with acquisition training criteria
The Defense Department last month significantly raised the requirements for training and education for its acquisition work force, issuing a broad new policy framework for continuous learning and launching a reassessment of all acquisition training needs. Released by Jacques Gansler, undersecretary
Digital Government
Clinton gives missile defense program boost
The Defense Department last week nearly tripled the budget for developing a national missile defense (NMD) system, but warned that the decision to go forward with such a system depends on whether the technology is capable of supporting it.
Digital Government
Federal Bytes
FUZZY LOGIC. The popularity of Furbys, the Gremlinlike toys that feature an evolving vocabulary and interpersonal skills, has had unexpected ramifications in the federal market. The National Security Agency this month banned Furbys from its premises because of security concerns. NSA was worried th
Digital Government
PBS picks Piatt as CIO
The General Services Administration Public Buildings Service has named William Piatt as chief information officer.
Digital Government
Schedule sales dominate fed buying
The General Services Administration schedule has become the government's preferred vehicle for buying information technology products and services, with the top 30 vendors racking up more than $800 million in sales during the 1998 summer buying season
Digital Government