Author Archive
IT Modernization
Mid-Pandemic, CDC Looks to Upgrade Its Biosurveillance Database
The system collects data from hospitals, local public health departments, pharmacies and more to give researchers and officials a view of how diseases spread across the country.
Emerging Tech
Agencies Have Spent At Least $2.6B on COVID-19 Supplies and Services
That number only reflects properly tagged procurements—real dollars spent in response to the coronavirus outbreak are significantly higher.
IT Modernization
COVID Response Delays Awards for GSA’s E-Commerce Platform Pilots
The online purchasing platforms were meant to be awarded and rolled out before the end of the year. But getting agencies equipped with teleworking tech has taken priority.
Data
How Census Is Building a Citizenship Database Covering Everyone Living in the U.S.
By March 2021, the bureau plans to release anonymized statistics while keeping the raw data on individuals' citizenship status confidential.
Emerging Tech
FCC Issues Waiver For Telecom Supporting Zoom and WebEx Traffic
Without the waiver, Inteliquent would be subject to “significant cost increases” that would prevent the companies from offering free teleconference services.
Emerging Tech
ICE Wants to Connect Its Facial Recognition System With a Pennsylvania County’s Gang Intel App
Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants to develop an offshoot of Lehigh County’s Gang Intelligence App over the next year.
IT Modernization
Agencies Have Spent More Than $300M In Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak
Federal buyers spent more than $4.8 million on hand sanitizer alone in the last two months.
Policy
How the Federal Tech Community Is Coping With COVID-19
“The IT leaders in the federal community, our contractor partners and our vendors are stepping up in incredible ways,” Federal Chief Information Officer Suzette Kent said.
CIO Briefing
GSA Warns of COVID-19 Contracting Scam and Price Gouging
After receiving reports of an imposter claiming to hold a GSA contract, officials are reminding agency buyers to verify vendor information.
Emerging Tech
Trump Administration Wants to Know What COVID-19 Tech From China Should Be Exempt From Tariffs
The administration has already lifted tariffs on 200 medical-care products from China in response to the coronavirus outbreak but wants to know what more is needed.
Cybersecurity
New Security Clearance Office Gets First Permanent Leader
The new program office is getting a permanent director nearly five months after shifting the background investigations process to the Defense Department.
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IT Modernization
Thrift Savings Plan Wants Help Protecting Federal Employees’ Retirement From Outside Cyber Threats
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board is working on a contract to help protect $611 billion in savings for some 6 million current and former feds.
Policy
Trump Relaxes Patient Data Rules to Allow Doctors to Use Personal Phones for Telehealth
The administration broadened telehealth coverage to all Medicare beneficiaries and eased HIPAA regulations for the duration of the pandemic emergency.
Emerging Tech
Government Partnership Offers Cash Prizes for AI Tools That Support Coronavirus Research
A new open research database and artificial intelligence challenge will help the U.S. crowdsource its pandemic response.
IT Modernization
Federal Mortgage Buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Are Moving To Commercial Cloud
The government’s housing loan programs are going through major cloud migrations, and learning key lessons in the process.
Data
Agencies Get Guidance on the Ethics and Rigor Required for Evidence-Based Decision-Making
The second of four policy documents related to the Evidence Act focuses on standards and practices for evaluation officers.
CIO Briefing
Agencies Post Opportunities for Reskilling Academy Grads to Use Their New Cyber Skills
Three agencies posted nine openings on the Open Opportunities site, offering temporary details to feds looking to sharpen newly acquired cybersecurity skills.
CIO Briefing
Federal Experts’ Tips for Effectively Managing Remote Teams
Whether permanent or as part of a contingency plan, teleworking requires a combination of culture changes and technology.
Data
NIH Uses Urgent Award Vehicle for the First Time to Address Coronavirus Outbreak
The agency is tapping a never-before-used emergency award vehicle to acquire predictive models for how the COVID-19 will spread.
IT Modernization