Wolf to probe FBI case file system

The FBI's foundering Virtual Case Files program is coming under increased scrutiny from the congressional panel with oversight of the bureau's budget.

DHS may get a makeover

A House panel will meet Thursday to discuss consolidating the Border and Transportation Security Directorate's Customs and Border Protection agency and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit.

Anteon to build Army live-training ranges

Anteon International Corp. has won a $350 million contract from the Army to design and build live-training ranges that digitally gather and record data on the training for quick feedback and reviews.

Buy Lines: Why should we pay more for free trade?

Ever since Congress created the Trade Agreements Act exemption to the Buy American Act, the U.S. Trade Representative has been able to use the purchasing power of the federal government as a lever in free trade negotiations.

Infotech and the law: Size regulations still an issue with SBA rule

Recently, the Small Business Administration issued a final rule to amend its small-business size regulations. Buried in this rule is a potentially confusing requirement for small businesses to provide updated size certifications following certain types of mergers or acquisitions.

Have a (hot) seat

Safavian brings to the job an understanding of both public and private sectors, as well as of Congress. Before working at the Office of Management and Budget, he was chief of staff for GSA Administrator Stephen Perry and also worked for two congressmen.

DISA looks for broadband

The Defense Information Systems Agency is looking for a contractor to design and install a dense-wave-division, multiplexed, optical transport network that will allow delivery of IT services over a broadband gigabit optical network.

FAA seeks research support

The Federal Aviation Administration wants airport technology, research and development services, and technical and engineering support for its Airport Technology Research and Development Branch. The branch conducts research, tests and demonstrations related to runway support, planning and design, pavements, capacity enhancement, capacity and delay computer modeling, wildlife hazards, lighting and markings, and rescue and firefighting. The Technical Center is next to Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey.

Procurement software for VA

The Veterans Affairs Department wants procurement software for contract management administration. The contractor must provide software through an Internet connection, and supply maintenance and training. The vendor also must set up a repository for storing contracts and related correspondence as image and data files. The work will be done at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Miami.

Probe sought for no-bid ANC contracts

Leaders of the House Government Reform Committee want GAO to review agency awards of sole-source small business contracts to Alaska Native Corporations.

Rep. Davis keeps pressure on Networx program

The chairman of the House Government Reform Committee is holding a third hearing tomorrow on GSA's huge Networx telecommunications program.

Collins wants answers on missing data about federal charge card holders

Sen. Susan Collins is drafting a letter to the General Services Administration and Bank of America asking how it will protect the personal data of federal credit card holders, following last week's revelation that the company had lost backup tapes containing personal information on 1.2 million federal employees.

Buy Lines: Get It Right review process needs work now

Later this month, the General Services Administration inspector general is expected to release the first of two reviews of the GSA Client Support Centers as required by the 2005 defense authorization bill. They follow the December 2004 report on the centers, done by the GSA IG, on the recommendation of GSA Administrator Stephen Perry.

Infotech and the law: One decision, a wave of contracting consequence

A recent decision by the Government Accountability Office reflects the federal government's scrutiny and continued oversight of purchases from General Services Administration Schedule contracts.

Davis to bring brighter spotlight to government IT

The elimination of the House subcommittee that focuses solely on IT does not mean that federal agencies and contractors should expect oversight by lawmakers to relax.

Budget roundup

President Bush wants to increase IT spending at the Homeland Security Department by a whopping 25 percent in fiscal 2006 to $6.0 billion from $4.8 billion.

For '06, GSA will try to sell Congress on e-gov?again

The General Services Administration hopes the success of its Quicksilver projects will convince Congress to let it use surplus funds from its IT sales and services operations to support e-government initiatives next year.

Bush highlights IT health architecture, U.S. Visit in State of Union

President Bush last night gave a nod to two federal IT initiatives in his fifth State of the Union address: the federal health IT architecture and the government's entry-exit system.

DHS loses another key executive

The Homeland Security Department yesterday announced that undersecretary for border and transportation security Asa Hutchinson would leave his post on March 1.

Senate probes FBI case file project

The Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and State likely will hold hearings Feb. 3 on the FBI's Virtual Case File project, a troubled $170 million project that the Justice Department's IG called a failure.