SBInet tower construction begins

The construction of 17 permanent towers for the SBInet system at the border of Arizona and Mexico started May 4.

Booz Allen banks on agility and independence

Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. spins off its commercial business so it can concentrate on opportunities as a trusted broker in the government market.

Stimulus money deadline looms large

The Recovery.gov Web site for tracking economic stimulus law funds is racing to meet an October deadline, official says.

Group to develop smart grid standards

The Institute of Electrical and El0ectronics Engineers is launching an effort to develop common and interoperable standards for smart electricity grid technologies.

Senate bill would suspend competitive sourcing

Federal agencies would be encouraged to bring previously contracted work in-house under a new bill introduced by Sen. Barbara Mikulski.

SBInet spending plan falls short: GAO

The Homeland Security Department has met only three of the 12 conditions set by Congress for its Secure Border Initiative spending plan, according to the GAO.

States to receive funds for flu response

The president's request for $1.5 billion to deal with the swine flu outbreak includes money to help states respond to the disease, an HHS official said.

Recovery board solicits IT vendor ideas online

The panel overseeing the economic stimulus law debuted a new Web site today to invite ideas from IT vendors, experts and consumers.

GAO: NOAA satellite procurement in trouble

NOAA's next-generation weather satellite procurement is running up costs and falling behind schedule, according to a new GAO report.

Seattle firm tracks swine flu

A private firm is providing updates on the swine flu outbreak in Mexico to U.S. health agencies and the public.

Cities track stimulus money on new Web sites

Several cities have established Web sites to track the $50 billion in economic stimulus spending cities will get.

OMB wants industry input on tracking stimulus dollars

Starting April 27, OMB and the stimulus oversight board will ask the IT community how to best achieve transparency for reporting spending under the economic stimulus law.

Group updates federal contractor misconduct database

The largest 100 federal contractors have paid $26 billion in penalties related to admitted and alleged misconduct since 1995, according to a watchdog group.

E-Verify deadline postponed again

The Homeland Security Department has extended until June 30 the deadline for contractors to begin using the employment verification system.

General Dynamics unit gets Medicare contract

General Dynamics IT's VIPS unit wins contract from Medicare and Medicaid services center.

Mapmakers face stiff tax burden

Mapping and surveying contractors will be hit with a 13 percent withholding of income tax from their federal contracts, a trade association official says.

Coast Guard schedules TWIC reader meeting

The Coast Guard will hold a public meeting to discuss its new risk-based rule for using Transportation Worker Identification Credential readers at port facilities.

H-1B petitions fall short of cap

U.S. immigration authorities have received only 42,000 H-1B visa applications in the latest tally.

General Dynamics wins USCIS contract

The company will produce blank identification cards for USCIS to be used for new immigrant work eligibility cards.

Defense contractors see mixed impact from Gates proposals

Defense contractors see potential gains, losses under Gates' plan