Lawmakers will have to figure out how to handle the spate of appropriations bills that have yet to pass the legislative branch when Congress returns to session next week.
Lillian Karuri-Magero likes to solve problems. As small-business liaison officer for IBM Corp.'s public sector programs, Karuri-Magero recently stopped by the Agriculture, Defense, Education and Interior departments as well as the Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs departments. Her objective: Help agencies match IT projects with IBM's small-business providers.
Based on interviews with more than three dozen agency contracting officials, congressional staff and other professionals, the Professional Services Council's third biannual federal procurement policy survey offers a window into a community in the cross hairs. It portrays a workforce that lacks sufficient resources, training and support.
Powerful political and regulatory cross-currents could affect acquisition strategies and impinge on federal IT consolidation in the short term, but long-term prospects for continued consolidation remain strong.
After six tumultuous years and persistent calls for his ouster by retired military commanders, Defense Department Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is stepping down.
Observers have said that under the new leadership in Congress, federal IT issues will receive closer scrutiny, but it is unclear whether the White House's e-government initiative will sink or swim.
With the Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives next January for the first time since 9/11, the nation is likely to see changes in antiterrorism policy and increased domestic spending.
<font color="CC0000">(UPDATED) </font color> Now that the Democrats have taken over at least one house of Congress, President Bush's competitive-sourcing initiative could be under heavy scrutiny.
The chairwoman of the Senate Small Business Committee believes the agency has inhibited small firms from bidding on the GSA Infrastructure Technology Global Operations acquisition vehicle.
Federal IT has regained its public market momentum. Three successful initial public offerings in the past three weeks could re-ignite investor attention and interest in the federal IT sector.
We must recognize that the most significant commercial flight vulnerabilities are beyond airport security checkpoints, which are not necessarily the best defense.
