Digital Government
IRS to merge 11 data centers into 2 sites
The Internal Revenue Service plans to move forward this month with the merger of 11 data centers into two sites that will handle 3 trillion mainframe transactions annually. As one of the largest mainframe consolidation efforts in the federal government and possibly in the world, the project will up
Digital Government
Editorial
Don't gun down a good deal An FBI proposal to charge for running computer background checks on prospective gun buyers has run smack into a highly charged political wall. Some members of Congress and representatives of the gun lobby have charged the FBI with levying an unfair tax on gun dealers an
Digital Government
Microsoft provides sneak preview of new Office 2000 suite
NEW YORK Microsoft Corp. gave a sneak preview of the next version of its Office suite of productivity applications at last week's PC Expo in New York, in an event that was just like going to the movies right down to the tuxedoed ushers, the popcorn and the performance of the Microsoft officials
Digital Government
Roster
David Tuttle, program director for the Federal Aviation Administration's Flight 2000 program, plans to retire from government June 30. His replacement has not yet been named. Neil Planzer has become associate director of civil aviation at the Directorate of Operations and Training for Air and Space
Digital Government
Due diligence at cutting edge of contracting
You're convinced that performancebased contracting will save money for your mission and result in better vendor performance. And you're thinking big. You have a major systems development project that is going to modernize the way your organization does business. Or you're recompeting a contract to
Digital Government
Raxco unveils suite for Windows NT
Betting on continued growth of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows NT in the government market, Raxco Software Inc. has introduced an integrated suite of tools for Windows NT that is designed to help manage several essential functions that systems administrators often consider busywork. Systems managers and
Digital Government
Letters to the Editor
Lack of balance in WLMP story I have been exposed to the Army's Wholesale Logistics Modernization Program, which was discussed at length in your story, 'Bill targets logistics outsourcing' [FCW, June 1], from a different perspective. I work at the Logistics System Support Center (LSSC) in St. Louis
Digital Government
GAO: Command and control problems increase B-2A Bomber costs
The General Accounting Office reported last week that deficiencies in the command and control systems used aboard the Air Force's B2A Bomber limit the aircraft's ability to carry out its missions, causing the cost per plane to increase by more than $1.6 billion.
Digital Government
House forms Y2K task force to work with Senate
Reps. Constance Morella (RMd.) and Steve Horn (RCalif.), both of whom have led the House's investigation into how the federal government is managing Year 2000 fixes, have been appointed to lead a task force that will oversee efforts in the public and private sectors to address the millennium bug.
Digital Government
GAO wraps IRS' Y2K contingency plans
In a report issued June 15, the General Accounting Office said the Internal Revenue Service, like other agencies, needs to develop better contingency plans to guard against the possible failure of its computer systems in 2000.
Digital Government
NASA taps 7 vendors for multibillion-dollar desktop outsourcing pact
NASA has selected seven vendors for its multibilliondollar governmentwide program for outsourcing desktop hardware, software and management services.
Digital Government
U.S. Bank wins DOD purchase card pact
U.S. Bancorp, Minneapolis, today announced that its U.S. Bank International Merchant Purchasing Authorization Card Government Services Division has been selected as the provider of government purchasing cards for the Defense Department.
Digital Government
House moves to head off Y2K-disruption of Social Security payments
A House subcommittee, worried that the Year 2000 problem could disrupt the delivery of about 50 million Social Security retirement and disability payments, plans to study whether to transfer the responsibility of the payments from the Treasury Department to the Social Security Administration.
Digital Government
A new path for mainframe access
These Webtohost products, everincreasing in number, make it possible to provide access without the laborintensive process of porting mainframe applications to the Web. The new products typically provide a browserbased interface, which users from any platform can use, and server software that s
Digital Government
NASA to send weather info to pilots
NASA has selected two vendor teams to begin working on a new system to deliver advanced, realtime weather information to commercial airline pilots and operations centers. Winning team leaders Honeywell Inc. and Boeing/McDonnell Douglas Corp. each will receive up to $2.4 million over the next 18 mo
Digital Government
Visiting Naval Observatory page is time well spent
To synchronize your watch to official U.S. time, visit the home page of the Time Service Department at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.
Digital Government
House recoils at FBI gun-check fee
An FBI proposal to charge gun dealers for running computer background checks on potential customers drew heated opposition from Congress and lobbyists last week. Testifying before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, FBI officials said the fees are necessary to cover the overhead
Digital Government
Contractors believe the GSA schedule is necessary for government business
Bowing to the wishes of their longstanding federal customers, information technology vendors have flocked to the General Services Administration's multipleaward schedule (MAS) this year in record numbers. Bill Gormley, assistant commissioner for acquisition at GSA's Federal Supply Service, said t
Digital Government
TechNet focuses on better communications
WASHINGTON, D.C. Industry vendors displayed a wide range of new technology at the TechNet '98 Conference, sponsored by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, ranging from Defensespecific solutions to commercial products. But the focus clearly was on better communications. '
Digital Government