<FONT SIZE=2>If integrators want to look at the future of network-centric procurement, a good starting point is the Joint Vision 2010 and Joint Vision 2020 documents, said Louis Ray, president and chief executive officer of Matcom International Corp., an IT and engineering services provider in Alexandria, Va., that does work in military tactical data links. </FONT>
<FONT SIZE=2>In July, MTC Technologies Corp. began work on a first-of-its-kind project that essentially will turn Air Force refueling aircraft into flying data routers.</FONT>
<FONT SIZE=2>An expected high turnover among state governors following next month's elections could slow the pace of new technology projects, as newly elected executives devote their first year to developing strategies and programs that reflect their individual priorities.</FONT>
The House version of the E-government Act of 2002, H.R. 2458, was approved by voice vote of the House Government Reform Committee Oct. 9. The bill, co-sponsored Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., codifies a new Office of E-government within the Office of Management and Budget and includes appropriations for an e-government fund that increase from $45 million in 2003 to $150 million in 2006.
<FONT SIZE=2>Soon after New Year's Day, a Boeing Co. 737-400 research and test airplane will take off from Seattle. The plane, called Connexion One, will carry equipment to test satellite-based communications systems for air traffic management.</FONT>
<FONT SIZE=2>The Army is seeking sources for a monitoring and management system for its telelogistics program that can provide integrated watercraft systems management, support logistical functions and track and prioritize information. Details can be found at www.FedBizOpps.gov, Solicitation No. DAAE0703RT002. Responses are due Oct. 18.</FONT>
<FONT SIZE=2>The Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in Charleston, S.C., is planning an RFP for engineering and technical services to support experimentation and training exercises. The contractor will provide software development, engineering, operational planning, technical expertise and support and management to the involved facilities. </FONT>
<FONT SIZE=2>The Defense Information Systems Agency is issuing a request for proposals for the Joint Staff Support Center for an Integrated Information Management System. Support services will be needed for three sites at the Pentagon and one at Fort Detrick, Md. </FONT>
<FONT SIZE=2>Mark Forman, the administration's e-gov czar, is waiting for industry to bring government the next iteration of customer relationship management. </FONT>
Fast feds:<FONT SIZE=2> The main Web page for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services loaded in less than half a second, among the fastest on the Web, according to benchmarker Keynote Systems Inc. Other speedy sites: FBI, Supreme Court, Centers for Disease Control and Library of Congress, all loading in less than a second.</FONT>
The General Accounting Office has concluded that four of the 100 largest federal contractors are incorporated offshore in tax haven countries as a way of lowering their corporate taxes
Whatever the White House's new draft cybersecurity plan lacked in specific requirements for the private sector, it more than made up for in proposed spending to improve security at federal agencies.
<font SIZE="2">Even though Congress has failed to agree as of this writing on any of the 13 spendingbills for fiscal 2003, lawmakers are expected to approve the president's $52 billionspending request for information technology products and services.</font>
<font SIZE="2">Cybersecurity strategy</font><font SIZE="2">The White House Sept. 18 released a draftwith a 60-day comment period. The plan sets out security recommendations for home computerusers, businesses, industries and government agencies. The plan pushes the philosophy thatthe federal government cannot act alone in protecting against cyberattacks. </font>
The government sector is going to be the single largest vertical market for biometric technologies through 2007, when spending is expected to reach $1.2 billion, according to International Biometric Group LLC, a New York-based research and consulting firm. IBG estimated the government market for biometrics in 2002 would be $217 million. The global market for biometrics will hit $4 billion by 2007, according to IBG's annual forecast released last month. The largest biometric market segment will continue to be fingerprint technologies, followed by facial recognition and iris scanning, said Mike Thieme, director of special projects for IBG. IBG's forecast is based on vendor revenue, which it defined as sales of hardware and software that are related to the core biometric technology, with adjustments made based on a variety of economic and political factors, Thieme said.
<!--HEADING--><font SIZE="2">Address:</font><!--/HEADING--> <!--STORY--> <font SIZE="2">General Accounting Office</font> <!--/STORY--> <!--STORY--> <fontSIZE="2">441 G St. NW</font> <!--/STORY--> <!--STORY--> <font SIZE="2">Washington, D.C. 20548</font> <!--/STORY--> <!--STORY--> <fontSIZE="2">(202) 512-5500</font> <!--/STORY--> <!--STORY--> <font SIZE="2">www.gao.gov</font> <!--/STORY--> <!--STORY--> <font SIZE="2">Founded:1921</font> <!--/STORY--> <!--STORY--> <font SIZE="2">Comptroller general: David Walker</font> <!--/STORY--> <!--STORY--> <font SIZE="2">Employees:3,275</font> <!--/STORY--> <!--STORY--> <font SIZE="2">What it does: GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency,often referred to as the watch dog for Congress. It studies how the federal governmentspends money and advises Congress and federal agencies on what it finds, with recommendedactions if necessary. GAO evaluates programs, audits expenditures and issues legalopinions.
