ATS nabs Homeland Security border patrol network deal

Advanced Technology Systems Inc. won a five-year, $11.9 million contract from the Homeland Security Department to support the development of an integrated network for border patrol field agents.

Homeland Security requests industry input on border cameras

The Homeland Security Department has published specifications for advanced video cameras it is looking to install along thousands of miles of Mexican and Canadian borders.

CDC passenger database hits turbulence

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recent proposal to set up a new passenger database to track possible disease vectors and bioterrorism outbreaks may overlap with other databases as well as raise privacy concerns.

Unisys lands $750 million TSA bridge contract

Unisys Corp. has begun work on a bridge contract worth up to $750 million over three years to provide IT managed services to the Transportation Security Administration.

Homeland Security IG announces 2006 tech audits

The Homeland Security Department's inspector general expects to carry out more than a dozen evaluations of IT operations at the agency in 2006.

U.S.Visit biometrics up and running, on time

The Homeland Security Department announced today it has finished on schedule installing biometric entry capabilities at the nation's 104 land border ports.

Homeland Security CIO needs more power, IG says

The Homeland Security Department's Chief Information Officer doesn't have the authority to integrate the department's IT infrastructure throughout, according to the DHS inspector general.

Congress earmarks funds for interoperable communications

Interoperable communications for first responders gets a boost in two pieces of legislation moving through Congress.

Skinner: Border surveillance system needs better integration

A new report from the Homeland Security Department's inspector general concludes that DHS' border surveillance procurement has been marred by delays, cost overruns and ineffective oversight.

TSA moves forward with biometric ID card programs

The Transportation Security Administration is seeking help in implementing two of its biometric ID card programs?one for pre-screened airport passengers and another for transportation workers.

Skinner: Topoff would benefit from effective info sharing

The federal government's biennial Top Officials exercise for homeland security would be more effective if IT systems were developed to track and share information more openly and efficiently among participating agencies and with the private sector, according to a new report from the Homeland Security Department Inspector General Richard Skinner.

Provision in House bill would expand Basic Pilot

The immigration bill expected to begin House debate this week contains a controversial provision that would dramatically expand use of a Homeland Security Department IT program that employers use to verify Social Security numbers for prospective employees.

Feds bring home poor grades on cybersecurity report card

The federal government deserves mostly "D" grades for cybersecurity, according to a report card issued today by the Cyber Security Industry Alliance.

DHS' IT weaknesses chronicled in series of IG reports

The Homeland Security Department's inspector general issued 16 reports highlighting IT weaknesses within the agency in the past six months, according to the just-released Semiannual Report to the Congress.

Multimax wins pair of Netcents tasks

Multimax Inc. has been awarded two task orders worth $75.7 million for communications support, testing and IT security services under the Air Force's Netcents contract.

Report slams DHS disaster medical system for mismanagement

The National Disaster Medical System is in disarray due to a lack of leadership and to persistent breakdowns in its planning, logistics and communications systems, according to a new report from senior Democrats on two key House committees.

Homeland watch

The Common Alerting Protocol, an XML standard for sending warning messages over many different types of networks, has picked up high-profile users since it debuted in 2004.

Hurricanes a boost for Integrated Wireless Network

Prospects might be brightening slightly for procurement activity on the multibillion-dollar federal Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) as a result of lessons learned from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

'Flexing of muscles'

The Homeland Security Department earlier this year experienced a significant setback to its information-sharing mission in the breakup of its partnership with a major law enforcement intelligence network.

DHS to distribute commercial IT to first responders

The Homeland Security Department is preparing to distribute geospatial information-sharing software and other commercial IT to local jurisdictions through its Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program.