IG to IRS: Improve testing

The IRS' Integrated Financial System staff should improve transition planning and testing so that an enterprise financial management system is deployed successfully, according to a new report by the Treasury Department inspector general for tax administration.

DHS, GAO disagree on EA

A new Government Accountability Office report acknowledged the Homeland Security Department's progress in developing an enterprise architecture, but said the blueprint lacked sufficient detail.

Supercomputing tops R&D goals

Supercomputing and cyberinfrastructure are among the Bush administration's top priorities for agency research and development efforts in fiscal 2006. A recent White House memo asked agency officials to focus their 2006 budget requests on these areas.

Networx draws praise, questions

The General Services Administration's revised strategy for the $10 billion Federal Technology Services Networx telecommunications contract has been widely hailed by industry, but some companies have lingering concerns about the changes.

New road tech sought

The Federal Highway Administration is looking for a contractor to provide support for the Scanning Program, which identifies, evaluates and imports foreign highway technologies and practices that can be adapted to U.S. highways. The contractor will offer coordination and planning; assess foreign innovations and practices; and develop a report and implementation plan. The contractor must also make travel and accommodation arrangements for all scan team members.

Distance learning needed

The Coast Guard Integrated Support Command in Miami, Coast Guard Group in Key West, Fla., and Coast Guard Stations in Islamorada and Marathon, Fla., need contractors to provide IT equipment and services for distance learning centers.

Data mining tools needed

The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in Charleston, S.C., wants information on off-the-shelf data mining and analysis software, applications and tools. Federal, state and local government law enforcement agencies, civil disaster administrators, military disaster control personnel and area disaster and emergency response personnel will use the applications and tools.

From there to here

Aether Systems Inc., the once high-flying provider of wireless technologies to government and industry, has nearly completed a bold transformation that will see the company leave the wireless market and become a securities firm.

Doing business with DISA

Defense Information Systems Agency<br>P.O. Box 4502<br>Arlington, VA 22204<br>703-607-6900<br>www.disa.mil<br>

Buy Lines: Award opens door, but contract management keeps you in

The process is all too familiar. Teams of the best and brightest from government and industry work long and hard in the run up to a contract award.

CSC says it can meet IRS deadline for financial system

Computer Sciences Corp. anticipates that a new financial system it is building for the Internal Revenue Service will be ready for its scheduled October release, despite a warning from the IRS Oversight Board of possible delays.

DHS changes direction

For 3H Technology LLC, the Homeland Security Department's planned $5 billion Spirit program offered a chance to secure a firm toehold in the new department.

IG: CIO needs stronger role

&#009;The Homeland Security Department's Inspector General said a stronger role is needed for the department's CIO.

Dems question protections

&#009;A database of the nation's critical infrastructure is inconsistent and incomplete, and hampers Homeland Security Department efforts to prioritize and protect these resources, House Democrats said.

Kerry suggests merger

&#009;Sen. John Kerry, (D-Mass.) the Democratic presidential candidate, proposed combining the Commerce Department's Technology Administration with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for more efficient operations.

Infotech and the law: Court tightens law protecting contractors' pricing info

A new ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia provides greater protection for a government contractor's pricing when it's requested by a competitor, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Goat tracker wanted at USDA

&#009;The Agriculture Department wants to identify and track sheep and goats throughout the country to eradicate scrapie, a fatal nervous system disease characterized by twitching, intense itching, excessive thirst, emaciation, weakness and paralysis.

Labor works on budget system

&#009;The Labor Department wants information on off-the-shelf solutions for its e-budget system. The solutions will automate budget submission, integrate budget and performance and expand e-government initiatives via an automated electronic support system.

House explores wireless

&#009;The House of Representatives wants information to develop a wireless local area network for its House Mobile Computing Program. The network will cover committee hearing rooms and anterooms, conference rooms, self-scheduled meeting rooms, banquet rooms and cafeteria areas.

GAO: Agencies fall behind goals to certify IT systems

Federal agencies are making little progress on mandates to certify and accredit their information systems, and the poor showing is causing some lawmakers and IT security experts to be leery of agencies' efforts to secure federal IT systems.