Pressure mounts to block TWIC sole-source award

Several U.S. biometric ID card companies are urging Congress to overturn a law that would award of a significant part of the upcoming Transportation Workers Identification Credential contract to a company backed by a foreeignentrepreneur and casino owner.

Congress earmarks $2.4 billion for port security

The grant money can pay for purchasing and upgrading security equipment, including IT products, to enhance terrorism preparedness.

Fallout lingers from Cunningham bribery scandal

Federal investigators are pursuing evidence that federal contractor Mitchell Wade and others may have supplied former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham with prostitutes and use of limousines and hotel rooms, according to a story in the <i>Wall Street Journal</i>.

TWIC database award on hold

Nothing is final about a proposed sole source contract for an airport industry group to operate a central database for the upcoming Transportation Worker Identification Credential, a Homeland Security Department spokesman said Wednesday.

Contractors: Homeland's TWIC database strategy flawed

Several federal contractors are objecting to an apparent sole source contract that the Homeland Security Department is planning to award for database management as part of the upcoming Transportation Worker Identification Credential.

GSA to enroll vendors for intelligent ID card work

The General Services Administration will release a solicitation in about a month for systems integrators to prepare packaged goods and services to create a federal employee identification card using smart-card technology.

DHS plans privacy safeguards for border-crossing card

The Homeland Security Department is considering using an identification number, rather than a name, on its new border crossing card as a method to help protect privacy, a top department official said today.

Johnson: Agencies need to keep focus on improvement

Federal agencies are realizing unprecedented success in improving administration and management, but they still need to apply greater "clarity, transparency and candor" in implementing improvements, said OMB's Clay Johnson.

'Buy American' push alarms IT contractors

Congress is considering approving "buy American" provisions for federal procurements that could have negative effects on federal IT contractors, according to the Information Technology Association of America, told Washington Technology.

Biometric ID plan accelerates

After three years of little movement, the plan to furnish transportation workers with biometric ID cards is suddenly on the fast track.

Chip wars

Controversy over which type of radio frequency identification chip should be used in border-crossing cards has become a divisive issue for industry and government officials.

Homeland watch: In brief

The 144-page request for proposals for the Secure Border Initiative-Net surveillance system holds a few surprises.

Homeland watch: In brief

The 144-page request for proposals for the Secure Border Initiative-Net surveillance system holds a few surprises.

Homeland scales back TWIC solicitation

The Homeland Security Department announced it has restructured a pending contract for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential by limiting the scope of the initial implementation contract to just the enrollment of eligible workers.

Open source approach reshapes intelligence-gathering

New forms of intelligence-gathering?including the availability of open-source information on the Internet?are becoming increasingly important for fighting terrorism and may even reduce the need for more traditional collection efforts.

DHS slow to adopt interoperable radio standards

The Homeland Security Department is not expected to adopt its first standard for interoperable, digital, wireless communications for first responders until the end of 2007, according to a report from DHS inspector general Richard Skinner.

Agencies lack guidelines for sharing terrorism info

Federal policies for information-sharing against terrorism are fragmented and haphazardly applied, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Skinner: FEMA lacked common IT system during Katrina

IT shortcomings contributed to the federal government's failures in responding to Hurricane Katrina, according to a new report from Homeland Security Department Inspector General Richard Skinner.

DHS strives for single, multiuse biometric ID card

The Homeland Security Department is working to help develop a single biometric card and reader that can handle multiple requirements for secure border crossings, Secretary Michael Chertoff said April 11.

DHS releases Secure Border RFP

The long-awaited request for proposals for Secure Border Initiative-Net was released today by the Homeland Security Department, which is calling the project the "most comprehensive effort in the nation's history" to gain control of the borders.