TSA at odds with DHS IG over audit
The Homeland Security Department inspector general's office recently released a report critical of the Transportation Security Administration and Unisys Corp. for their execution of a $1 billion IT services contract to get TSA off the ground. But the IG report acknowledges only in passing that the Information Technology Managed Services contract was conceived as a $3 billion to $5 billion program. And it holds TSA and Unisys responsible for $834 million in costs incurred to date, while mentioning only in a footnote that DHS itself spent some of that money on department programs not included in the scope of the project.
Avian flu prep takes flight slowly
The prospect of a mass disease outbreak puts a new spin on continuity of operations plans generally prepared for terrorist attacks or natural disasters. Federal IT leaders are aware of the need to prepare for a pandemic but, according to specialists, haven't grasped the scale and subtleties of the problem.
Agencies debate how much data is needed on HSPD-12 cards
Agencies are banding together to try to get the White House not to include the electronic National Agency Check indicator on the Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 identification smart card.
Online Extra | Meet the SOA Builders
While we haven't seen a lot of Web services-based deployment in the government sector yet, there is certainly no shortage of vendors offering tools that would help agencies move to component-based architectures, both as integrated platforms and as stand-alone applications.
Defense Messaging System hits its stride
Things appear to have leveled out a bit with the Defense Message System. Last year, DMS became fully operational at more than 500 locations worldwide, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Network Integration and Infrastructure last May gave the OK to enter the sustainment phase of its lifecycle. Most recently, the Defense Information Systems Agency awarded a contract, potentially worth $750 million, to Lockheed Martin Corp. to maintain and support the program.
DHS courts new border technology
The Homeland Security Department has given IT vendors wide latitude to design systems for improved border security under the Secure Border Initiative-Net program. SBI.net will form the technology leg of the overall Secure Border Initiative, which is aimed at gaining operational control of the borders with enhanced enforcement, surveillance, more personnel and better-integrated operations. SBI.net could amount to more than $2 billion in spending over several years, according to industry estimates.
Private sector gets into the game
As more and more agencies consider the move to centers of excellence under the Office of Management and Budget's Lines of Business initiatives for human resources and financial management, some are finding the private sector a viable alternative.
Q&A: Administration for Children and Families ready to serve
When the Office of Management and Budget named three consortia to lead the Grants Line of Business initiative, it marked a clear direction for the program. Agencies will have to use one of three shared-services providers for grants management systems or justify to OMB their rationale for building their own systems. GCN asked program managers from the Administration for Children and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation to describe their focus and how they are different from each other.
Rep. Todd Platts | Systems requirements law key to improved management
I chaired a hearing on implementation of OMB's Financial Management Line of Business initiative. The general consensus from that hearing was that the ideal of a governmentwide shared-services model is a worthy goal.
Q&A: Education working from the ground up
When the Office of Management and Budget named three consortia to lead the Grants Line of Business initiative, it marked a clear direction for the program. Agencies will have to use one of three shared-services providers for grants management systems or justify to OMB their rationale for building their own systems. GCN asked program managers from the Administration for Children and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation to describe their focus and how they are different from each other.
Q&A: NSF looks to the FastLane for Grants
When the Office of Management and Budget named three consortia to lead the Grants Line of Business initiative, it marked a clear direction for the program. Agencies will have to use one of three shared-services providers for grants management systems or justify to OMB their rationale for building their own systems. GCN asked program managers from the Administration for Children and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation to describe their focus and how they are different from each other.
UPDATED: Beaming across the border
DHS and State disagree on which security technology to use for border protection
GSA close to SmartBuy deal with Telos for two titles
The General Services Administration earlier this week announced they are close to an enterprisewide software deal with Telos Corp. of Ashburn, Va., for their information assurance and automated message handling system titles.
Wi-Fi to ride N.M. commuter rail
New Mexico officials have not finalized the details, but the service will likely be free.
Air Force IT modernization ahead of schedule
The Air Force's IT modernization effort is moving forward rapidly, and the service should reach its targets for 2012 ahead of schedule, according to the Air Force CIO.
Step-by-step migration
With the Office of Management and Budget expecting more agencies to migrate over the next few years to shared-services providers'otherwise known as centers of excellence'for human resources and financial management, the Housing and Urban Development Department's successful migration to the Treasury Department's HR Connect presents a valuable case study.
People on the move
President Bush has nominated former congressman Rob Portman to take the helm at the Office of Management and Budget.
DOD shakes up JTRS program
The Pentagon is reshaping its controversial Joint Tactical Radio System program with an eye toward curbing costs and centralizing management. The Defense Department's acquisition chief recently restructured JTRS to create an enterprisewide structure comprising three domains: ground; airborne, maritime and fixed (AMF); and network enterprise, each reporting to the JTRS Joint Program Executive Office under Kenneth Krieg, Defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics.
Congress eyes tax software pricing
As the number of individuals and businesses filing their taxes electronically continues to grow, an IRS official said Congress is paying close attention to how tax software developers price their products.
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