Frist shuffles Senate committee assignments

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has announced proposed changes in committee chairmanships and memberships for the 109th Congress. The changes will be voted on by the Republican conference after the Jan. 20 inauguration.

Federal Supply Service's Heffernan to retire Dec. 31

Don Heffernan, CIO of the Federal Supply Service, will retire at year's end after 30 years of federal service.

GSA ups pressure for performance-based deals

Before signing to use the General Services Administration's procurement services, agencies will need to answer a simple question: Why can't this buy be performance-based?

Buy Lines: FPP's Savafian needs to hit the ground running

In November, Congress finished two tasks many thought it wouldn't: work on all appropriations bills, thus avoiding a long-term continuing resolution, and the confirmation of David Savafian as the new administrator for Federal Procurement Policy. Both are welcome turns of events.

Congress defuses funding attacks

	Congress has given two of the administration's top management priorities -- competitive sourcing and e-government -- a shot in the arm.

Failure to telecommunicate: $5M

	If agencies under the Commerce, Justice and State appropriations bill do not, by mid-to-late January, offer all eligible workers the opportunity to telecommute, they will lose $5 million under a provision passed as part of the fiscal 2005 Omnibus spending bill.

Tech subcommittee director leaves

	Robert Dix, staff director for the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census, will leave Capitol Hill for a job in the private sector after Jan. 1, said David Marin, press secretary for the Government Reform Committee.

Styles slams share in savings

Roughly 30 agencies are working on 45 programs that may use share-in-savings contracts, but the former head of federal procurement is trying to put the brakes on the use of the buying method.

Infotech and the Law: Negative performance review? You now have relief

For the past 10 years, the Federal Acquisition Regulation has required formal evaluations of contractor performance, which have become an inherent part of source selection decisions.

Tech help needed at port

	The U.S. Trade and Development Agency seeks proposals for technical assistance on a security project at the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda, which is planning to expand its container-handling capacity.

VA seeks diet management software

	The Veterans Affairs Department wants dietetic management software for office and administrative nutrition functions for fully integrated health care systems at eight medical centers. The selected vendor must buy and install the software as well as provide training and maintenance support.

AF needs digital video recording

	The Air Force Air Warfare Battlelab is looking for commercial or government technologies for digital video recording systems to record and play back the displayed images crew members see when flying combat aircraft. The systems will be used on MC-130E, MC-130H and MC-130P aircraft and should provide subsequent playback of recordings on a desktop monitor. Up to four displays will be recorded, including a combination of mapping radar, terrain-following radar, and forward-looking radar displays.

Wave of successes

For Ray Oleson, chairman and chief executive of SI International Inc., the company's stellar financial performance blended with other major achievements to create "the perfect storm" that has boosted the company's stock 70 percent since mid-August.

Doing Business With National Security Agency/Central Security Service

National Security Agency/Central Security Service<br>Fort Meade, Md. 20755<br>301-688-6524<br>

Davis voices concerns over Networx minimum revenue guarantees

Rep. Tom Davis (R- Va.) has two suggestions for garnering greater participation from industry and government agencies in the Federal Supply Service's Networx telecommunications program.

Tech subcommittee director heads back to private sector

Robert Dix, staff director for the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census, will leave Capital Hill after Jan. 1.

GAO to investigate voting irregularities

The Government Accountability Office will investigate irregularities in the 2004 general election, including an examination of the security and accuracy of electronic voting machines.

Expanded Networx contract worth $20 billion

The addition of a wide range of technologies and services to the General Services Administration's next-generation telecommunications contract has boosted the potential value of the vehicle to $20 billion.

Buy Lines: Newcomers make hard work pay off

Newcomers to the public sector inevitably ask: "What should my company do to be successful?" I usually respond by asking where the company has had success in the private sector. That's because government policy favors "commercial" products and services over those that are unique to the government.

DOD looks for ID management

The Defense Department wants industry's help crafting an identity management strategy that balances security with a user's right to privacy.