Va. governor outlines e-gov plan

Virginia Gov. James Gilmore unveiled a broad plan in May to immerse the

state in electronic government.

The plan, which touches on projects ranging from electronic procurement

to digital signatures to access opportunities for the underprivileged, is

to be carried out by a newly created Electronic Government Implementation

Division, the formation of which is also detailed in the executive order.

"Successful e-government will be achieved when all Virginia's citizens

and communities are efficiently using the tools of technology — especially

the Internet — to actively participate in their state government," Gilmore

said.

Highlights of the plan include:

* Electronic procurement: A request for proposals for a statewide system

will be issued with the goal of having it in place by March 1, 2001. And

Virginia's code would be examined to make sure no barriers to electronic

procurement would inhibit the process.

* Technology for administrative tasks: Every agency should be thinking about

applying technology in areas such as employee benefits, leave reporting

and accounting, travel planning, motor pool reservations and expense reporting.

* Digital signatures: Establish policies, practices, guidelines and

standards so that this security measure for verifying people's identity

can be used statewide.

* Seat management: The state is set to have a contract in place by September

of this year to outsource the responsibilities for all state employees'

computer needs.

* Digital divide: Establish a task force of public and private representatives

to develop a plan to address the disparity between those who have access

to technology and those who don't.