Jason Miller covers civilian agencies in the federal government with a focus on technology and acquisition. He is also an executive editor at Federal News Radio. Jason's reports can be heard Monday - Friday on the Federal Drive and In Depth.

Inside the Reporter's Notebook: 2014 IT budget passback is much ado about nothing

News and buzz from the last two weeks includes a new legislative proposal from Rep. Darrell Issa on suspension and debarment and round two of the Presidential Innovation Fellows program.

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Agencies slowly knocking down cybersecurity barriers to going mobile

Through the Digital Government Strategy, several initiatives are underway to address IT security concerns. DHS created a security baseline architecture and is testing it through five use cases. GSA created a new secure online content platform for agencies to move websites and applications into a mobile environment.

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Postal Service's IG's office proclaims 2013 as year of mobile

Gary Barlet, the OIG's chief information officer, is taking a three-pronged approach to helping employees access data from anywhere, at anytime. The steps include virtualization, a BYOD strategy and cloud services.
February 7, 2013

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USPS employees to see less overtime, more buyouts under 5-day delivery plan

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said the service can no longer afford to delivery first class mail six-days a week. He said cutting back by one day a week would save about $2 billion a year. USPS still would have a $14 billion deficit and needs help from Congress to address other fiscal challenges.

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Agencies turn to HRStat to make better sense of workforce data

The Office of Personnel Management is doubling the number of departments to 16, taking part in data-driven reviews. The goal is to take the mounds of information available about an agency's workforce and spot trends to help plan for the future.

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OMB offers first major rewrite of grant-making, oversight processes

New proposed guidance from the Office of Management and Budget would streamline and consolidate grant regulations for every agency. Comments on the recommendations are due May 2.

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GSA's strategy for OASIS leaving vendors discontented

At an industry sponsored event, GSA tried to clarify its plans for the multi-billion dollar governmentwide contract, which will let agencies buy complex services from one place. Questions about how OASIS fits with the administration's strategic sourcing initiative and the expectation for price standardization were among the biggest areas of concern from companies.

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OMB lays out 11 goals to give Section 508 some punch

Steven VanRoekel, the federal chief information officer, and Office of Federal Procurement Policy Administrator Joe Jordan issued a memo detailing a new strategic plan after a recent Justice Department compliance survey found mixed results. This is the fourth memo since 2005 from the Office of Management and Budget trying to get agencies to meet the law's requirements. David Capozzi, executive director of the Access Board, said new 508 regulations could be to OMB for approval this spring.

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NASA CIO Cureton to retire in April

Linda Cureton has decided to leave government service after 30 years, including the last four as the space agency's chief information officer.

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FAA's deputy CIO Cooper to leave government

Steve Cooper will head back to the private sector to his former management consulting business.

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Inside the Reporter's Notebook: Web analytics tool, reaction to FAS commissioner and FedRAMP

News and buzz in the acquisition and IT communities that you may have missed this week.

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Experimental website aims to overhaul RFP process

The Presidential Innovation Fellows Program and SBA launch RFP-EZ to make finding and bidding on Web and digital services contracts worth $150,000 or less easier. The team of three found the six-month project also could test out tools for contracting officers to write better RFPs.

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Perakslis shifting the FDA to a data-centric approach

The Food and Drug Administration's new Information Management Strategic plan is helping to create a new infrastructure to support using data to meet its mission.
January 24, 2013

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NASA readies draft RFP for SEWP V

NASA announced earlier this week it would release the draft request for proposals on or about Feb. 8, with a final solicitation scheduled for early summer.

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VanRoekel dismisses need for IT reform, calls for more flexibility

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held its first hearing on the steps needed to reform IT management across government. But federal CIO Steven VanRoekel said he has the authority needed to improve how agencies spend money on technology programs. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the committee's chairman, is developing legislation to update laws governing the management of IT.

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GSA names Sharpe new FAS Commissioner

Tom Sharpe will move over from the Treasury Department to take over the Federal Acquisition Service.

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Commerce considering managed service to fix cyber weakness

The Commerce Department issued a request-for-information asking for input from vendors around 11 cyber capabilities.

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CIOs expected to know more under new core competencies

The CIO Council updated the Clinger-Cohen Act core competencies and learning objectives.

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Patience running thin with White House open government efforts

The White House reaffirmed its commitment to an open and transparent government in President Barack Obama's second term. But government watchdog advocates say their frustration is growing with the slow and inconsistent progress agencies are making to make information more easily available.

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NNSA CIO Osborn retiring

Bob Osborn, the National Nuclear Security Administration's chief information officer, is leaving the government after more than 36 years of service.

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