Karen Evans, a federal employee of more than 20 years, became chief information officer of the Energy Department in January 2002. In December 2002, she became vice chair of the federal Chief Information Officers Council. The council is the principal forum for agency CIOs to develop recommendations for federal information technology management policy, procedures and standards. As vice chairman, Evans has called for federal CIOs to continue developing a governance process for IT architecture and to develop standards for common transactions between government agencies.
Just six months after acquiring the consulting arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers, IBM Corp. can already point to tangible gains in the federal marketplace.
The House Government Reform Committee has taken another important step in improving the government's acquisition system and practices: It approved May 7 the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003, sponsored by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va.
	The House approved a bill establishing a national nanotechnology research and development program. H.R. 766 authorizes $2.4 billion over three years for research of molecular technologies.
	The House Government Reform Committee approved the Services Acquisition Reform Act, a bill first introduced in the last congressional session but didn't make it out of committee.
	State and local governments can now buy information technology products and services through the Federal Supply Service's schedule contracts, under an interim rule published May 7 in the <I>Federal Register</I> by the General Services Administration.
A House committee has promised ongoing scrutiny of federal small-business programs after receiving evidence that large companies frequently are awarded contracts intended for small firms.
Governments worldwide are increasingly bullish about outsourcing, according to a new study of 22 nations by management consulting and technology services firm Accenture Ltd. of Hamilton, Bermuda.
The Food and Drug Administration is conducting a survey to learn if small businesses can support the Office of the Chief Information Officer IT Infrastructure Consolidation project. In fiscal 2004, FDA will consolidate its IT infrastructure into a single, shared-services organization under one provider. The agency will award a performance-based contract for one year with four one-year options. The contract is likely to include fixed price and IDIQ portions.
	The federal government has released a request for information on the Integrated Maintenance Data System Master Evolution Plan. It is seeking comments on the plan's content, including answers to questions such as whether a project can be successful based on the MEP, to what degree and by what means. There are numerous other aspects to this RFI. For more information, see solicitation no. SSG-IMDS-01 on fedbizopps.gov. Responses are due by June 6.
	The Headquarters Standard Systems Group of the Air Force Materiel Command is acquiring network-centric solutions, including information technology, networking, telephony, security and voice, video and data communications. The planned acquisition, which will support the Air Force's global information grid architecture, will establish an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for network-centric IT commercial products, security and systems solutions. Details can be found on fedbizopps.gov, solicitation no. SSG-03-001. Responses are due by May 30.
PEC Solutions Inc. has been hit with several class-action lawsuits filed on behalf of shareholders after the company's stock plunged 38 percent in a single trading day in March.
The Air Force is retiring the phrase "electronic form." Two years ago, when the Air Force Departmental Publishing Office was tasked with converting the service's 17,000 forms into electronic format, service officials decided the term "e-form" didn't describe what happens when documents are put online.
Federal grants to state and local governments are expected to increase substantially over the next three years, according to a market research firm's report.
Nine in 10 Americans think today's students may not have the math and science skills required for homeland security and economic leadership in the 21st century, according to a new survey.
Information technology is one tool being used by the political forces that shape the federal bureaucracy, and government IT professionals should consider the political landscape in pursuing their missions, a former federal IT executive advises.
Thirteen senior government information security professionals have agreed to serve on an advisory board to help define certification needs for IT security professionals.
The Professional Services Council is asking the Senate to modify a provision of the Jobs and Growth Reconciliation Tax Act to keep the earned income exclusion for U.S. citizens living overseas while working on U.S. government contracts.
