Jim Bryant | Tech demos welcome

South Carolina CIO Jim Bryant spoke recently with Washington Technology about disaster preparedness, major statewide IT initiatives, and building public-private relationships.

Oasis ratifies emergency data standard

A new open IT standard, capable of facilitating emergency data sharing across local, regional, national and international governments and organizations has been ratified by the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards.

MicroTech wins $365M Veterans Affairs' contract

As the Veteran's Affairs Department undergoes a major process and systems transformation, the agency will buy up to $365 million worth of Microsoft software and services from MicroTech LLC.

ITAA names Bond president

<font color="CC0000">(Updated)</font color> Phillip Bond, senior vice president of government relations at Monster Government Solutions Inc., has been named president and CEO of the Information Technology Association of America, the group announced this morning.

Saber completes Covansys buy, wins two contracts

Saber Corp. has completed its $40 million acquisition of Covansys Corp.'s state and local government practice.

SBA proposes women-owned small-biz assistance

The Small Business Administration is proposing to implement a new regulation aimed at providing more contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses.

Viisage reels in new Real ID work

The Pennsylvania Transportation Department, seeking to bolster its IT security for state driver's license processes, has awarded Viisage Technology Inc. a series of contracts worth $45.5 million.

RSIS lands $111 million DARPA tech services deal

RS Information Systems Inc. has won a five-year, $111 million seat management and services contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Losing ground on interoperability

Government interoperability and disaster preparedness experts painted a bleak picture of how much progress states have made toward communications interoperability since Hurricane Katrina blasted the Gulf Coast last year.

Small business: In brief

The rhetoric between congressional leaders and the Small Business Administration continues, with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) firing the latest shot.

Your reservation is ready

We've grown fond of the way the Internet has made some of life's most tedious and time-consuming transactions less onerous. We no longer have to register our vehicles, pay parking tickets or even file taxes in person. Just fill out a form online, press "send," and get back to whatever you were doing. Citizens who receive public assistance are pressing for the same kind of online access from human services agencies.

L-3 Communications loses visionary leader

Frank Lanza, chairman and CEO of L-3 Communications Inc., died last night, the New York-based company announced in a statement today.

NASCIO issues primer on public-private partnerships

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers has released a brief on public-private partnerships with specific suggestions for companies working on IT initiatives with states.

Rossotti: Transformation requires removing barriers

The greatest challenge facing an organization intent on major changes is convincing people that such change is possible and getting them to buy into it, former IRS Commissioner Charles Rossotti said today at the National Association of State CIOs midyear conference.

Kerry blasts closure of Veteran's Contracting Office

The closure of the Veteran's Contracting Office at the Small Business Administration and the planned cancellation of the Veterans Advisory Committee in September have drawn the ire of Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).

The new sheriff in Indiana

Karl Browning is intent on using IT to make the state of Indiana's government run more efficiently and with far more oversight of contracts and performance for both government agencies and private-sector partners.

Survival Guide: Perspectives from the field

As Gulf Coast businesses and residents look to get back to living normal lives after Katrina, Rita and Wilma, a new hurricane season approaches. And most businesses are not ready for what is likely to be another round of powerful storms, said Sue Hornstra Kerr, co-founder and co-president of Continuity First.

Small business: In brief

Logistics Applications Inc. finally won a facilities management services contract with the Energy Department, after the company's initial 2005 win of the deal was protested by the National Treasury Employees Union.

Alion buys Micro Analysis and Design

With an eye on improving its modeling, simulation and engineering capabilities, Alion Science and Technology Corp. has acquired Micro Analysis and Design Inc.

Montana re-ups NIC for portal services

A subsidiary of NIC Inc. has won a five-year contract extension to continue managing e-government services for Montana.