Why outsourcing IT expertise could be a big mistake

As tempting as it sounds, federal agencies cannot afford – literally – to rely on contractors for technology innovation, at least according to one contractor.

Agencies update progress on transparency plans

Federal agencies are publishing charts, graphics and progress reports on their open government efforts.

Northrop award extends software work for Army air defense

Northrop Grumman Corp. will continue providing software development and life-cycle support for the Air and Missile Defense Workstation under a new Army contract worth $77.9 million.

TASC wins $600M contract to create counter-WMD technologies

TASC Inc. will provide advisory and assistance services to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to battle weapons of mass destruction.

Attain gains spot on $240M Army ERP award

Attain LLC has secured one of three spots on its largest prime contract win to date, a five-year award worth up to $240 million to support the Army's Enterprise Systems Integration Program.

Northrop hires staff as it readies new HQ

Northrop Grumman is gutting its new headquarters in Falls Church, Va., to be ready for a late-summer move-in. Only about half of its California-based staff will make the move.

Can agencies pay enough to attract top IT talent?

In the various debates about outsourcing, insourcing and federal pay, one issue almost always comes up: The tough competition for IT talent.

Kundra: Obama correct, IT purchasing a mess

The federal CIO agreed with President Barack Obama's comments on April 14, in which he complained about how the government buys IT.

Defense industry's confidence shaken by budget battles

The continuing resolutions paralyzed defense spending for months, and the damage remains even after the budget passes.

QinetiQ NA names senior VP for DOD, intell contracts

QinetiQ North America has named Scott Goldstein senior vice president and general manager of the National Systems Business Unit within the company's Mission Solutions Group. He will manage technology development and service delivery for contracts supporting the Defense Department and intelligence community.

Obama wants cool technology for Oval Office

Unaware his remarks were being overheard by reporters, Obama criticizes federal technology, workforce

Spacenet adds Cicat to its business orbit

Spacenet Inc., a subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., has acquired Cicat Networks Inc., a nationwide provider of broadband network solutions based in Chantilly, Va. Financial terms were not reported.

A discourse on the trials of the left-handed

A left-handed professor learns about the difficulties lefties have to overcome.

NARA's Foursquare mobile app coming to NYC, and World Bank names app contest winners

The National Archives and Records Administration is expanding its popular augmented reality mobile application to New York City this month, and the World Bank just announced the winners of its global application contest.

Recovering improper contractor payments is hit or miss across the board

Improper and fraudulent payments to federal contractors got attention at a House subcommittee hearing today.

ManTech continues to secure networks at DOJ ops center

ManTech International Corp. will provide network security and other IT services to U.S. attorneys under a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Justice Department valued at as much as $10 million.

4 contractors unveil path to trusted digital ID credentials

A quartet of contractors is combining their IT know-how to work on an initiative designed to protect the nation's infrastructure and further secure digital identification credentials.

Qwest bid protest dismissed, but GAO says it might have merit

The Government Accountability Office issued a decision in a bid protest by Qwest filed against an award by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under the Networx contract.

Coast Guard acquisition forecast may be unrealistic, says GAO

The Coast Guard acquisition unit might be setting itself up for disappointment because of its unrealistic forecast of a jump in available procurement dollars, a GAO official testified.

Federal slackers: What's the real story?

FCW cartoonist John Klossner suspects the frequent stories about underperforming feds is creating an unrealistic picture of the federal workforce.