Digital Government

Getting in the big-data game

Government faces a multitude of challenges in using big data effectively -- including legal obstacles and cultural barriers -- but experts say the reward is worth the risk.

People

GAO: Agencies need to improve IT Dashboard data

Of 80 investments reviewed, 27 had ratings that were inconsistent with investment risk, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Acquisition

What to expect from GAO this year

The congressional watchdog's director of IT management issues previews the upcoming oversight agenda.

Cybersecurity

GAO: Security breach response by feds is uneven

Auditors find that "none of the agencies we reviewed consistently documented the evaluation of incidents and resulting lessons learned."

Acquisition

GAO: Networx contracts not as effective as they might have been

GAO said a slow transition was part of the reason GSA did not make the most effective use of its telecom contracting vehicles.

Acquisition

GAO denies OASIS protest

The protesting firm, Aljucar, Anvil-Incus & Co., says it will seek redress in the Court of Federal Claims.

Acquisition

10 reports worth a second look

Among the most interesting Critical Read pieces FCW published in 2013 were ones covering the security clearance process, performance management and FISMA.

Cybersecurity

DHS gets first 'clean' audit

An independent auditor also found that the department's IT controls were among the significant deficiencies.

Acquisition

Reverse auctions grow up

Steve Kelman contends that the recent GAO report shows the practice has truly arrived

Acquisition

Experts debate value of reverse auctions

Addressing fees and the need for oversight and guidelines would help avoid what one lawmaker called the trap of 'making it up as we go along.'

People

A PortfolioStat progress report

The Office of Management and Budget launched PortfolioStat last year to help 26 major agencies identify and reduce duplicative IT investments. Here's how they’re doing.

Acquisition

GAO: Take account of reverse-auction growth

GAO recommends issuing governmentwide guidance aimed at helping agencies maximize competition and savings when using reverse auctions.

Digital Government

GAO: NASA needs to reflect IT investments in EA

NASA officials said their failure to comply with the PortfolioStat directive does not translate to a lack of oversight.

Acquisition

Can IT procurement be saved?

The problems with large federal IT projects are deep, broad and mostly immune to quick fixes. So what's to be done?

People

9 keys to avoiding another HealthCare.gov

Testimony from GAO's Powner on best practices for IT spending.

People

GAO: More savings to be had in PortfolioStat

Audits suggest the government is not making the most of existing IT savings initiatives or its largest legacy investments.

Modernization

Automated collision prevention: On the way or out of reach?

Technology that would enable vehicles to avoid impending crashes has moved into the real-world test stage, but creation of the massive wireless communications network required to make such a system work remains a major roadblock.

Modernization

Shutdown stalled FedRAMP authorizations, GAO IT reports

Cloud providers, Government Accountability Office expect backlogs to be cleared by Thanksgiving.

People

CMS struggles to remove sensitive information from cards

Fifty million Medicare cards reveal their holders' Social Security numbers, exposing them to identity theft.

Modernization

AWS can resume CIA cloud project

Although IBM plans to appeal a judge's ruling, Amazon Web Services is ready to go back to work.