Capital Roundup:In brief

The Business Software Alliance and the Information Technology Association of America are pushing for the creation of a cybersecurity agency as part of the proposed Department of Homeland Security.The BSA made its case in a letter to Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on technology and procurement policy. David Marin, legislative director and spokesman for Davis, said the congressman believes cybersecurity "in general, needs to receive greater attention than it did in the president's proposal. [Davis] would support a cybersecurity secretary, but does not believe an entirely separate agency is necessary."The Senate unanimously approved e-government legislation to create an Office of Electronic Government within the Office of Management and Budget and establish a four-year, $345 million fund for interagency projects.The fund would receive $45 million in the first year, fiscal 2003, the same amount as President Bush requested in his budget proposal. With the passage of S. 803, "we come a step closer to achieving the important goal of providing Americans the same 24-7 access to government information and services that is now available to them from the private sector," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., co-sponsor of the bill.A draft of a new version of OMB's A-76 circular is almost complete, Angela Styles, administrator of OMB's Office of Federal Procurement Policy, said recently at a congressional hearing.The circular dictates rules for public-private competitions for government work. The draft is based on recommendations of the Commercial Activities Panel, of which Styles is a member.The draft should be released for a 60-day comment period this summer, Styles said.