Viisage to buy Identix

Viisage Technology Inc. will purchase Identix Inc. for $770 million in an all-stock transaction.

PTO brokers pact for examiners to get more access to open-source code

Representatives of the Patent and Trademark Office and open-source software vendors have agreed to improve software code resources available to patent examiners to better determine whether an invention is new or not obvious.

GSA plans February industry briefing on Alliant

The General Services Administration will hold its industry day on the Alliant contracts in February to discuss any changes made to the massive IT project.

Massachusetts names Pepoli acting CIO

Massachusetts has named Bethann Pepoli acting CIO of the state's Information Technology Division following the unexpected resignation of Peter Quinn from that post last month.

EPA opens competition for help desk services in Boston facility

The Environmental Protection Agency has started the clock on a study to determine whether IT maintenance services in its Boston office should be outsourced to the private sector or retained within the agency.

Outsourcing draws buyers' interest in CSC, ACS

Rumors are swirling through the government market that CSC and ACS might be purchased because of the allure of their outsourcing operations.

Northrop Grumman unveils new tech services sector

Northrop Grumman Corp. has added a new technical services business sector to its corporate structure to focus on providing more integrated product and life-cycle solutions to its clients.

Laurence named ITAA interim president as Miller chases Senate seat

Sybase's Robert Laurence will serve as interim president of the Information Technology Association of America, succeeding Harris Miller, who is considering a run for the U.S. Senate in Virginia.

ISC protests FedBizOpps contract award

Information Sciences Corp., the incumbent vendor, is suing the General Services Administration over a contract the agency awarded to Symplicity Corp. last month.

USDA seeks integrated financial-management system

The Agriculture Department wants to replace its core financial-management system with an updated one that provides general accounting, funds management and financial reports.

Treasury considers HR Connect hosting options

The Treasury Department seeks comments from federal and commercial data center providers about the availability and cost savings of alternative hosting and infrastructure support services options for the department's human resources system.

Labor to conduct A-76 competition for financial systems operation

The Labor Department will conduct a study to see if certain functions within its financial accounting office, including IT system support, should be outsourced to the private sector or kept in-house.

Symantec buys instant-message software firm

Symantec Corp. will acquire IMlogic Inc., an instant-message software maker, the company said yesterday.

Microsoft to issue software patch to fix WMF vulnerability

The Windows Meta File vulnerability is particularly dangerous because computers can become infected by displaying images containing malicious code on Web sites and in e-mail or other files.

Rule subjects contractors, feds to uniform HSPD-12 scrutiny

Agencies will have to authenticate the identities of all current contractors who have not already been cleared.

Court reinstates OTI as e-passport RFID chip vendor

A federal judge has set aside the Government Printing Office's decision to eliminate On Track Innovations Ltd. from competing to provide radio-frequency identification tags for U.S. passport.

Business groups team to boost opportunities for women entrepreneurs

To promote more opportunities for women entrepreneurs, Women Impacting Public Policy, a leading women's business advocacy group, is teaming with the American Small Business Coalition.

IAC forms new interest groups

The Industry Advisory Council has dropped e-government from the name of one of its shared interest groups and adjusted the name of its procurement group to reflect changes in the market.

CSC books $575M in smaller government IT deals

Computer Sciences Corp. signed almost 100 previously unannounced contracts and subcontracts worth $575 million since Oct. 1.

MSGI Security Solutions Inc. to complete purchase of AONet

New York company tries to grab more of the data recovery and secure storage market.