Newsbriefs

The Homeland Security Departmentwill begin testing an InternationalRegistered Traveler program at threeairports starting June 10 to expediteclearances for prescreened travelers.The Customs and Border Protectionagency will operate the six-month pilotprogram at JFK International in NewYork; George Bush Intercontinental inHouston; and Washington Dulles.Applications to participate are due byMay 12.The General Services Administration isasking the 62 small businesses on itsfive-year, $15 billion Alliant SmallBusiness contract to extend their offersuntil Oct. 28. "GSA is being proactivein the [Alliant Small Business contract]evaluation by conducting a newpast-performance survey based uponthe information provided in the existingproposals," the agency wrote.The Federal CommunicationsCommission has adopted an orderallowing transmission of federal governmentemergency alerts via textmessage to cell phone users nationwide.The failure to identify a federalagency to oversee transmission of theemergency alerts could stymie theorder, FCC Commissioner MichaelCopps said in a statement.Vowing to fight what it called rampantfederal contracting myths, theProfessional Services Council launcheda Web site to be a clearinghouse ofinformation on government procurementissues. SmartContracting.org,provides an overview of reform proposalsand concerns related to governmentprocurement policies and practices.Avineon Inc. has restructured into two divisions,Federal Systems and CommercialSystems, to foster growth in both markets.The reorganization of the Alexandria, Va.,business is designed to improve customerservice, spur growth and create efficiencieswhen planning and managing projectsfor each division, the company said in astatement.Raytheon Co. is teaming with Harris Corp.and Hewlett-Packard Co. to chase a $30 millionAir Force contract for the GlobalBroadcast Service Satellite BroadcastManager transition contract.Raytheon has worked for 10 years on theGBS program, a mission-support system themilitary uses for wideband IP broadcasts, thecompany said.The pace of task orders coming out of theEnterprise Acquisition Gateway for LeadingEdge IT contract at the Homeland SecurityDepartment slowed in the first half of fiscal2008, in contrast to the previous year, accordingto new DHS data. Between Oct. 1, 2007,and March 10, DHS awarded 16 task ordersworth $200 million under the EAGLE solutions.In fiscal 2007, it awarded 133 EAGLEtask orders worth $3 billion.DHS extends work visa timeframeThe Homeland Security Department's newrule more than doubles the number ofmonths that a foreign student may stay in theUnited States after graduation while applyingfor a work visa. Under the interim rulereleased April 4, the department is extendingthe Optional Practical Training period from12 to 29 months for eligible foreign workerswith degrees in science, technology, engineeringor mathematics.The Homeland Security Department shouldinstall more ground and air radars along theU.S. border with Canada and boost the numberof manned and unmanned aircraftpatrols over the area, Sen. Jon Tester (DMont.)wrote to Senate colleagues.Water utilities should begin work immediatelyto secure their systems against catastrophiccyberattacks, says a study from the AmericanWater Works Association and HomelandSecurity Department.A 2005 cyberattack on gauges dumped1 billion gallons of water in St. Louis, and in2006 malicious software threatened waterquality in Harrisburg, Pa.