Tech
GSA not interested in contracting 'monopoly,' official says
But head of Federal Acquisition Service says agency should be only provider of some services, such as telecommunications and credit cards.
Tech
Panel: Performance-based contracting slow to get traction
Acquisition advisory committee found that 42 percent of contracts classified as performance-based weren’t.
Tech
Study forecasts downturn in IT spending
Decline in spending on traditional technology will be offset by increase in "mission support services," report predicts.
Tech
Clearance applications not processed within target times
Average time for initial clearances granted in early 2006 was 446 days, GAO finds.
Tech
Federal employees begin receiving new ID cards
Presidential directive required agencies to distribute new high tech credentials to at least one worker by Friday.
Tech
Academic urges government-run emergency communications network
After the disastrous communications failures on Sept. 11, 2001, and during Hurricane Katrina, the current decentralized emergency response system shouldn’t be tolerated, professor says.
Tech
Income limits spur drop in use of free tax filing software
Auditors say cap conflicts with e-government initiative's goal of boosting overall electronic filing.
Tech
Web strategists tout candidate use of search ads
A recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project says more people are going online for political information.
Tech
Google seeks better access to government information
Online search giant says as much as 40 percent of public information on agency Web sites is unsearchable.
Tech
Report: E-Voting problems might infest midterm elections
Equipment failures and legal battles over new voter identification rules likely to result in delays and confusion, watchdog group says.
Defense
Defense official: Changes necessary to meet 'net-centric' goals
“Need to know" regime is changing to one that focuses on "the need to share," senior official says.
Tech
More FOIA funds, staff needed, group says
National Security Archive says recent Justice Department report on reforming Freedom of Information Act procedures fails to address resource constraints.
Tech
Business data breaches found to be more costly than thought
This year's major breach at the Veterans Affairs Department cost $7 million just to send letters to the affected veterans.
Defense
Agency explores new tool to connect intelligence dots
Document for prospective contractors offers blunt assessment of flaws in efforts to profile terrorists, including inability to move beyond “guilt by association” models.
Tech
Agency will test community reviews of patents
Initiative follows recent industry and congressional attention to backlog of patent applications and overburdened examiners.
Tech
State Department seeks advice on border cards
Agency issued a draft rule earlier this week, saying it is considering radio-frequency identification that can be read by machines from 30 feet.
Management
OMB official discusses possibility of reinvesting IT savings
Official also says agencies are on target to meet deadline next week for new high-tech ID cards.
Tech
Staffing plans for IT upgrade at FBI called inadequate
Program management office is almost fully staffed, but relies heavily on contractors and lacks plans to fill future gaps, GAO says.
Tech
Agency FOIA administration found to be improving
But several agencies have yet to properly address how they will reduce backlogs of requests, Justice report states.
Tech