Author Archive

Alice Lipowicz

Alice Lipowicz is a staff writer covering government 2.0, homeland security and other IT policies for Federal Computer Week.

Coast Guard seeks new IT directorate

To fully carry out its modernization plans — including a new command structure for IT — the Coast Guard must obtain additional authorization from Congress, GAO says.

Industry, government don't see eye to eye on Networx

Survey says the two sides have polar opposite views of the huge Networx telecommunications contracts. Which side might be guilty of wishful thinking?

DHS plans $8B spending spree by Sept. 30

The Homeland Security Department has more than half of its IT budget yet to obligate in fiscal 2012.

GSA's leader steps down over wasteful spending report

Martha Johnson, two other top GSA officials, out as IG details extravagant spending and rules violations connected to Western Regions conference.

GSA holds March Madness contest--for federal buildings

Everyone is familiar with the 16-bracket March Madness competition format for basketball, but what about putting federal buildings into those brackets and up for a vote?

GAO upholds NikSoft's protest of ID management contract

The Justice Department did not properly evaluate pricing, past performance and organizational conflict of interest allegations in its award of a recent $844K contract, an audit concludes.

VA CIO sheds light on search for Microsoft alternatives

The Veterans Affairs Department is one of several federal agencies looking for alternatives to MS Office, says CIO Roger Baker.

VA looks for Microsoft alternatives

Microsoft Office is the government's dominant productivity suite, but the Veterans Affairs department would like to find a less expensive alternative.

Google names new top lobbyist in DC

Internet giant names former House lawmaker to head up its Washington lobbying operation.

DHS demands turnkey-ready border system

The Homeland Security Department is giving a strong warning to vendors about its needs for the next phase of border surveillance technology strategy.

Agencies stuck with tab for federal contractor pensions, taxpayer group says

The Citizens Against Government Waste taxpayer group is investigating the extent to which federal agencies are on the hook for expensive contractor pension benefits.

Finding NASA's new multi-player game on Facebook takes one giant leap

If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we make NASA's new space history trivia game easy to find on Facebook?

White House aide Tom Gavin to join IT trade group

Tom Gavin, special assistant to the president, is heading to the Information Technology Industry Council.

White House schedules Tweetup during SOTU

Followers of the @WhiteHouse Twitter account are being invited to the White House to live-tweet during the State of the Union speech.

OMB's Lew to take over as White House chief of staff

OMB head to become Obama's right hand.

$27B later, Deepwater project killed

The Coast Guard officials didn't mince words in declaring the decade-old acquisition program over. What lessons do they say they learned?

Federal spending data not yet machine readable

The federal government would make a breakthrough in transparency if it structured its spending and budget data to be machine-readable, according to a Cato Institute report.

High-tech projects hit the most wasteful list

Sen. Tom Coburn's annual list of wasteful government spending does not spare new technologies.

Lucrative VA projects get 2012 funding OK

2012 omnibus budget brings millions to VA projects. Where's the money going?

Earl Devaney to resign from Recovery board

Earl Devaney, who chairs the board overseeing economic stimulus law spending, is retiring after 41 years of federal service, according to a news report.