Cybersecurity
Bill would make fraud-detection available for TARP
Technology the credit card industry uses to detect fraud could be applied to the Troubled Asset Relief Program, according to an expert who helped draft a House bill that calls for the use of such technology.
Cybersecurity
Secret Service plans IT reboot
The Secret Service seeks information from companies as it prepares to modernize its information technology infrastructure.
Acquisition
Congress, Obama set boundaries for contractors
No one in Congress or the Obama administration is beating the drum for a new generation of acquisition reform, but a reform of sorts is under way nonetheless, and it might not be to the liking of contractors.
Modernization
Web-based health insurance portals get Senate committee nod
The health reform bill approved by the Senate Finance Committee would establish Web-based health insurance portals to be used by millions of consumers.
Cybersecurity
DHS would get more IT dollars under unified funding measure
A Senate-House committee wants to give the Homeland Security Department more money for several large information technology programs in fiscal 2010.
Digital Government
Lawmaker urges Obama to appoint cybersecurity coordinator
President Barack Obama should quickly appoint a cybersecurity coordinator to ensure computer defense efforts are coordinated, a House member who oversees cybersecurity programs said today.
Acquisition
DOD bill would open door to new buying process for IT
A defense task force has recommended the new acquisition process must be agile and capable of delivering IT systems in no more than 18 months.
People
Congress poised to kill DOD's pay-for-performance system
Labor unions have criticized the program for years.
Acquisition
Senate tries to put competition rules on earmark spending
Senate legislation would apply some of the rules for competition to spending under earmarks, but only for a single bill.
Digital Government
Government breaks small-business goals with stimulus funds
As of Oct. 2, the government overall has awarded 26 percent of the economic stimulus law's funds to contracts for small businesses, an estimated $4 billion.
Acquisition
Senators weigh in on GSA contract award
Some senators have raised concerns about persistent problems with the quality of federal contracting data.
Acquisition
GAO finds DOD contractors have made progress on ethics
Some Defense Department contractors and DOD itself have made progress with ethics programs, but improvements are still needed, GAO reports.
Digital Government
Stop-gap funding measure allows more time for appropriations negotiations
The legislation has $4.65 billion for the operations of Congress, GAO, the Congressional Budget Office and other federal organizations.
People
Agency insourcing plans make industry nervous
Although industry hears the rumblings of insourcing, experts say agencies aren't arriving at the potential savings with a full perspective of the government's costs.
People
Baseball and acquisition have a lot in common, for better or worse
Intensified oversight undermines support for procurement staff, writes columnist Bill Gormley.
Acquisition
Bill would let some growing companies keep small business contracts
Under a House bill, small businesses that have outgrown that status because of a government contract could have some cushioning when a contract is again competed.
Cybersecurity
DHS struggles to manage billions in IT investments, GAO finds
Despite some progress, DHS still has problems with managing major IT investments, the GAO finds.
Cybersecurity
Pressure builds on Obama to appoint cybersecurity coordinator
The co-chairmen of the House Cybersecurity Caucus say the continued absence of a White House cybersecurity coordinator impedes agencies' abilities to update their cyber policies.
Digital Government
Aides defend presidential powers in cybersecurity bill
Senate aides familiar with proposed comprehensive cybersecurity legislation say the bill would clarify the president’s authority for dealing with a cyberattack, not give the government sweeping new powers.
Modernization