Author Archive

Wade-Hahn Chan

Census field data contract to be reworked

The Census Bureau is renegotiating its contract with Harris Corp. for the Field Data Collection Automation portion of the 2010 census.

Harris role in Census reduced

The 2010 census will return to using paper questionnaires, leaving a smaller role for handheld computers under development by Harris.

The trouble with security clearances

Lawmakers decry inefficiency in screening process.

Arizona to offer WHTI-, Real ID-compliant licenses

As the deadline for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative approaches, another border state has decided to offer enhanced driver's licenses to its citizens.

Governors pressure feds on Real ID funding

Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons are calling on the federal government to issue the long-awaited regulations for the Real ID Act of 2005 and also to pump more money into the program.

NASA has yet to follow through on IEMP, GAO reports

NASA must show connections among its myriad management systems before it can integrate them, according to a GAO report.

US-VISIT security flaws puts sensitive data at risk, report finds

Steven Pecinovsky, director of DHS' GAO/Office of Inspector General Liaison Office, concurred with GAO's report findings, noting that Customs and Border Protection is moving to address some of the issues.

Congress receives DHS Real ID request

DHS released its plan to push forward new nationally standardized drivers' licenses to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.

Contractor bonus calls NOAA's oversight into question

Lawmakers would like to know why NOAA awarded a bonus fee to a contractor working on satellite programs that suffer from schedule delays and cost overruns.

Is Charbo doing his job at DHS?

Fed up with mounting cybersecurity breaches at DHS, legislators brought their frustrations to bear on CIO Scott Charbo June 20, accusing him of not doing his job.

Coast Guard issues TWIC card reader RFI

The Coast Guard has pushed its implementation of TWIC forward by publishing a request for information for rugged hand-held card readers.

State, DHS issue, border security card RFP

The State and Homeland Security departments are pushing forward with a controversial program to upgrade border security by creating a passport card system for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).

GPO issues smart card RFP

The Government Printing Office wants to improve its smart card delivery capabilities with more technology.

DHS has yet to replace failed RFID plan

DHS still has no secondary plan for implementing biometric exiting procedures at land-based borders, Rep. Bennie Thompson said yesterday.

DHS pushes biometric exit plan despite flaws

DHS has pushed biometric exit procedures out of the pilot testing phase even though officials recently said they are not ready to be implemented.

General Dynamics to tackle Justice's national wireless project

General Dynamics C4 Systems has won a 15-year, multibillion dollar contract from the Justice Department to provide interoperable wireless communications services as part of its Integrated Wireless Network program.

NARA seeking vendor to secure info

The National Archives and Records Administration wants to make sure in the event of a disaster its data is safe.

REDE wins $14M DOE IT award

REDE, a small 8(a) company, has been awarded a $14 million contract for information technology and telecommunications support from DOE for its Oak Ridge, Tenn., division.