Emerging Tech
VA Exploring Options for a Grand Challenge to Prevent Suicide
The agency is looking for a contractor to help run a possible multi-phase competition, including outreach and potentially raising private-sector funds for the prizes.
Modernization
GSA Suggests Using ‘Secret Shoppers’ to Evaluate Call Centers
The contact center within GSA’s Centers of Excellence offered a template for using mystery shoppers to measure performance.
Modernization
In COVID relief, lawmakers look to help states with legacy IT
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging House leaders to include funding for states to modernize their technology infrastructure with an eye to a cloud-first approach, shared services that deliver functionality to cities and towns and some oversight of state technology plans as a condition of receiving funding.
Digital Government
Decisions To Reopen GSA Regional Offices Will Be Made At the Local Level
The agency’s open floorplans and other concerns make it difficult to reopen offices, but GSA’s telework culture has kept operations running smoothly, according to an agency official.
Modernization
Amazon Files Another Protest Over JEDI Contract
Microsoft responds by blasting Amazon Web Services for trying to force a do-over for the multibillion-dollar cloud contract.
Modernization
Centers of Excellence Team With Another Health Agency Amid Pandemic
FDA became the fourth agency in 2020 to join the Centers of Excellence program; ninth overall.
Modernization
Homeland Security’s Biometrics Database Is on Its Way to the Amazon Cloud
The Office of Biometric Identity Management released a privacy impact assessment as the program begins moving the nation’s biometric database to Amazon’s GovCloud.
Digital Government
Esper Says Pentagon Is Bracing for a ‘New Normal’ That Lasts ‘An Extended Period of Time’
"What do we do over the next 6, 12, 18 months?" the defense secretary asked at a Monday virtual event.
Ideas
Preparing for the New Normal
We’ve figured out how to use technology to help conduct business without needing to be face to face, and in many ways it’s a lot more efficient.
Modernization
DISA wants to scale web-browsing protection pilot
The Defense Information Systems Agency has expanded use of a web-browsing pilot that protects DOD’s networks via cloud-based internet isolation. Production is expected to begin this summer.
Podcasts
Critical Update: How State Department IT Was Set Up to Deal with COVID-19
State Department CIO Stuart McGuigan joins Critical Update to talk about his vision for the agency and how the department’s decentralized nature made for an easy transition to mass telework.
Cybersecurity
FCC Wants Help Interpreting Law to Fund Replacement of Huawei, ZTE Equipment
The commission is giving stakeholders 15 days to weigh in on a related rulemaking.
Modernization
GSA to Partner with NIH in Centers of Excellence Initiative
One of the National Institutes of Health agencies will formulate and adopt a modernization strategy under the partnership.
Artificial Intelligence
Sammie Finalists Highlight Outstanding Accomplishments of Federal Employees
Dr. Anthony Fauci is one of 27 career civil servants recognized in the Partnership for Public Service’s prestigious annual awards program.
Emerging Tech
The Army Wants a Wearable COVID-19 Detector
Due to the urgent need, the managing consortium has suspended some—but not all—of its members-only restrictions.
Digital Government
Defense Innovation Board Director Moves to Google
It’s another sign of the healing relationship between the Defense Department and big tech.
Digital Government
What Feds Teleworking During the Pandemic Need to Know About Complying With the Hatch Act
Special counsel releases guidance on what counts as “on duty” while working from home, and what not to do during video conferences.
Ideas
3 Ways Technology Meets Empathy to Solve Overwhelmed Agency Phone Lines
Conversational technology can be an excellent way to deflect repetitive questions to AI that can act like a live FAQ around constantly changing information.
Modernization
Trump wants foreign gear out of the U.S. grid
An executive order issued by the Trump administration May 1 declared a national emergency and imposes new restrictions on the purchase and use of foreign-made equipment and technology used in the U.S. bulk-power system.
Emerging Tech