People
NSPS: The final act
The drama of the Defense Department's pay-for-performance system, which began nearly six years ago, has turned into a tragedy.
Cybersecurity
Cyber warfare: Sound the alarm or move ahead in stride?
Military leaders and analysts say evolving cyber threats, which some believe could produce a "digital Hurricane Katrina," will require the Defense Department to work more closely with experts in industry.
Acquisition
4 lessons in rapid acquisition learned from DOD's new ATVs
DOD's purchase of all-terrain vehicles reinforces lessons about buying quickly and offers insights for improving rapid acquisitions, experts say.
Digital Government
Death of pay-for-performance: For better or worse?
Some feds say NSPS was a bad idea from the start, but others say it was a good idea gone sour.
Digital Government
While security clearances speed up, quality lags, GAO says
Although OPM and DOD have made significant progress in improving the timeliness of the personnel security clearance process, agencies still need to improve the quality of clearance investigations, according to GAO officials.
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
GSA, DISA want advice on buying commercial satellite services
GSA and DISA are seeking input from industry for a joint acquisition program that they plan to establish to meet civilian and defense agencies' needs for satellite services.
Modernization
Air Force activates new cyberspace defense unit
Combat communications wing supports new Space Command
Cybersecurity
Pentagon authorizes outside firm to manage access to some DOD systems
Exostar is now permitted to issue digital certificates and smart cards on its own behalf
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.
People
Experts: Social media here to stay
While the Defense Department reviews the use of social-media tools, experts caution against trying to implement overly restrictive policies.
People
State struggles to track contractor data: GAO
The data contractor personnel tracking system's information is so poor that GAO said it couldn't draw conclusions or recognize trends about contractor personnel numbers.
Digital Government
DOD looks to industry for best technologies to help combat troops
The Defense Department wants industry to lead the way to quickly acquire the tools of tomorrow’s trade.
People
All eyes are on DOD's social-media policies as review nears completion
As the Defense Department reviews the use of social media tools, experts warn against overly restrictive policies.
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.
Cybersecurity
Web 2.0 review could lead to restricted use of social networking in DOD
A review on how social media should be used at the Defense Department will likely lead to a policy that allows the use of Web 2.0 tools with restrictions due to security concerns, according to a DOD spokesman.
Digital Government