Author Archive

Frank Konkel

Executive Editor

Frank Konkel
Frank Konkel is Nextgov’s executive editor. He writes about the intersection of government and technology. Frank began covering tech in 2013 upon moving to the Washington, D.C. area after getting his start in journalism working at local and state issues at daily newspapers in his home state of Michigan. Frank was born and raised on a dairy farm and graduated from Michigan State University.
IT Modernization

Pentagon Releases Second Draft RFP For Multibillion Dollar JEDI Cloud

The final JEDI draft request for proposal includes answers to more than 1,000 questions industry posed in the first draft RFP.

  • By Frank Konkel
Ellen Lord meets the “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 during the International Air Show in the Dubai World Center in November. Ellen Lord meets the “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 during the International Air Show in the Dubai World Center in November.
IT Modernization

DOD Official Says It Won't Halt Other Cloud Contracts Because of JEDI

The Defense Department pushed back against rumors that its JEDI cloud acquisition would stifle its other cloud contracts.

  • By Frank Konkel
President Donald Tr, ... ] President Donald Tr, ... ]
CIO Briefing

Despite Amazon Ire, Trump Not Involved in Pentagon Cloud Contract

The Pentagon plans to continue as planned with its cloud acquisition.

  • By Frank Konkel
Former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin Former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin
CIO Briefing

Shulkin’s Firing Leaves $16B Effort to Merge DoD/VA Health Records Up In The Air

Secretary Shulkin championed a contract with Cerner to develop a new health records system for Veterans Affairs, but the deal seems precarious now.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Congress Tells Pentagon to Justify Its Single Cloud Plan

The omnibus spending package directs the Pentagon to outline its cloud strategy and share reports, costs and other details related to its JEDI procurement.

  • By Frank Konkel
CIO Briefing

HUD CIO Abruptly Resigns

Amid allegations of corruption, HUD CIO Johnson Joy has resigned.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Pentagon's Commercial Cloud Will Be a Single Award—And Industry Isn't Happy

The Pentagon released a draft request for proposal for what is expected to be its largest cloud acquisition to date.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Defense Department Drastically Cuts Nearly $1B Cloud Contract

Amid industry criticism following a $950 million cloud computing contract last month, the Defense Department limited its scope and reduced its size down to $65 million.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Pentagon’s $1 Billion Cloud Deal May Signal New Era in Government Buying

Congress wants the Defense Department to buy technology faster. Now it's beginning to do just that.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

The FBI Wants Commercial Cloud

The FBI is asking industry for ideas regarding the adoption of cloud computing.

  • By Frank Konkel
CIO Briefing

Big Deal: General Dynamics Buys CSRA

General Dynamics just became an even bigger player in the federal IT space with its purchase of CSRA.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Protest Filed on $7 Million DOD Cloud Support Contract

The bid protest could slow down the Pentagon’s cloud acquisition effort.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Veterans Affairs Wasted Closer to $2 Billion On Failed IT Projects

The department misspent even more than government investigators initially believed in attempting to modernize its health records system.

  • By Frank Konkel
CIO Briefing

AT&T Captures Classified NSA Tech Contract

After a bid protest, AT&T can now move forward on work it will carry out under NSA’s classified Groundbreaker contract, worth billions.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Watchdog: GSA Assuming ‘Unnecessary’ Risk in Telecom Transition

The Federal Acquisition Service has doled out $9 million to agencies supporting the EIS rollout without receiving the required interagency agreements.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Defense Department’s $500 Million Cloud To Go Live In February

CSRA moves up the launch date for milCloud 2.0, the on-premise cloud computing solution it’s building for the Defense Department.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Pentagon Shuffles Cloud Steering Committee

The group shaping the department's cloud strategy gets a new chair and new faces.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

The Pentagon's Cloud Strategy Is ‘Evolving’

The department hasn't made a final decision on how many contracts it will award, a Pentagon spokesman said.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Pentagon Full Steam Ahead with Major Cloud Acquisition

Despite industry criticism, the agency clarified its aggressive cloud strategy will continue as planned.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Pentagon's Next Cloud Contract Could Be Worth Billions

The Defense Department intends to award a cloud computing contract next year that could disrupt the entire federal market.

  • By Frank Konkel