White House, Congress look to stretch e-gov dollars

Government officials are optimistic Congress will approve the president's request for a $45 million e-government fund in the fiscal 2003 budget this fall.

Eye on the States: New winds blowing, IT companies must adjust their sails

Everywhere you turn, there are signs it's a new day in state and local government. Tax collections are failing to keep pace with state spending needs. Spending cutbacks are widespread. The governors, once again, are looking to the federal government for relief.

E-Gov: Beneath the surface, a Washington Technology Special Report

How big is the e-government opportunity for integrators? Judging by the $5 million the White House is spending on its much-ballyhooed 24 initiatives, not very. But those projects are just the tip of the iceberg ? models and catalysts for more ambitious, big-dollar programs on the horizon. We uncover real opportunities for making money.

Letter to the Editor: Bungled bundling

The July 15 article, "WorldCom's troubles jeopardize contracts," provides an excellent overview of why "nervous [federal] agencies are eyeing alternatives" if WorldCom's situation worsens. A related online article July 9, "DREN contract continues to haunt DISA," describes how the problems at WorldCom, as well as those at Global Crossing, have led to "the never-ending saga" of the efforts to re-award the $450 million Defense Research and Engineering Network contract.

WorldCom's woes

Georgia will revise work requirements and seek new proposals for its major communications outsourcing project in response to the uncertain prospects of WorldCom Inc., state officials said.

HIPAA: $3 billion opportunity

Information technology firms could rake in $3 billion helping state governments comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, according to the market research firm Input Inc. of Chantilly Va.

ACS wins $9 million Texas outsourcing deal

Affiliated Computer Services won a five-year contract from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts for application outsourcing support.

Searching for business soul mates

Like many business relationships, the strategic partnership between systems integrator IBM Corp. and mobile computing provider Xybernaut Corp. was sparked by compatible goals. In this case, each company wanted to strengthen its position in the homeland security market.

OMB may restrict use of GSA schedules

Information technology vendors are fuming over a Bush administration proposal to restrict the types of contracts available on the General Services Administration schedules.

Letters to the Editor

Readers react to Balutis consulting questions

ACS stretches Indianapolis outsourcing deal

Affiliated Computer Services Inc. has won a two-year, $25 million extension from for IT outsourcing services.

CSC wins $60 million UK outsourcing deal

Computer Sciences Corp. has nabbed a seven-year contract from the United Kingdom's Department of Health for information technology outsourcing.

California nightmare: County declares CSC in default

Computer Sciences Corp. and San Diego County negotiators are desperately working to settle a contract dispute after county officials charged CSC with being in default on a groundbreaking information technology outsourcing project.

Outsourcing gathers steam

The Transportation Security Administration is being asked to go from zero to 50,000 ? people, that is ? in one year. Signed into existence by President Bush Nov. 19, 2001, as one of the first homeland security initiatives, the TSA was created in part to provide the infrastructure for protecting the nation's airports and travelers.

Lawmakers revive outsourcing bills

As White House officials consider new rules to replace the A-76 process for private-public competition, several lawmakers are preparing to re-introduce legislation that would make it more difficult to outsource government work to the private sector.

GAO overturns NASA award

The General Accounting Office has ordered NASA to reconsider the January award of a $143 million contract to DynCorp after a subsidiary of Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls Inc. protested the choice, claiming the agency's "best value" determination was flawed.

Across the Digital Nation: Business process outsourcing may be next frontier

State and local government organizations have long had a skeptical view of the need to outsource functions to vendors. Political realities, turf battles and cost constraints have made outsourcing a highly contentious issue.

Attitude adjustment

Following years of entrenched opposition to information technology outsourcing, state and local government officials are recognizing it can help them overcome staff shortages and modernize their technology and services.

Reform drama

The White House intends to act quickly on recommendations by a high-level government panel that call for sweeping changes in conducting public-private competitions. But Congress could slow implementation of some of the planned reforms until it has a chance to review administration proposals and put its own stamp on the new rules.

EDS: Despite report, NMCI project's on track

In a conference call with reporters, Electronic Data Systems Corp. officials said the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet project is undergoing changes but is not hamstrung, despite a report claiming otherwise based on an internal EDS e-mail message.