State & Local special report | Helping hands

Tough times lie ahead, but top integrators aim to bring efficiency to struggling state and local customers.

GSA pumps up cooperative purchasing

A recent Input Inc. report shows that state and local purchases under GSA's IT schedules grew to $361.2 million in 2007, a marked increase compared to 2006. Inputprojects sales under cooperative purchasing to continue to grow at a compound annual rate of 24.6 percent, surpassing $1 billion by 2012.

Court stands tough on conflict of interest

During the last week of February, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ordered the Defense Department not to exercise any future options that extend a support services contractwith Lockheed Martin Corp. for DOD's Tricare medical services program. The order follows a decision last year that the contract award violated organizational conflict of interest rules.

Registered traveler debuts in Washington

Dulles International and Reagan National airports have become the 15th and 16th airports in the country to begin offering the Registered Traveler service.

FCC closes spectrum auction

The FCC is weighing its options to improve public safety communications after it failed to attract an appropriate bid for creation of a nationwide wireless broadband network for first responders.

GAO: Cutter delivery might veer off schedule

The Coast Guard's first national security cutter constructed as part of the $24 billion Deepwater program might not be ready by its scheduled date, according to a new report.

Legislation to regulate data resellers raises concerns

Conducting privacy impact assessments on data brokers' proprietary databases could discourage companies from offering their services to assist federal agencies, the OMB official says.

Info-sharing czar touts U.S. progress

But Thomas McNamara says cultural and administrative challenges still impede getting government to better share homeland security, law enforcement and intelligence data.

Law enforcement welds together intell networks

State and local law enforcement agencies are moving to strengthen their links with the National Counter Terrorism Center's classified online information repository.

Davis issues warning over contractor bill

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has passed a measure that Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) is warning could result in the removal of prominent government contractors.

Winter Olympics security hinges on information sharing

Information sharing needs to improve between the U.S. and Canada, and between public agencies and the private sector, to prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics, an industry expert told Congress.

Proposal would better explain small-biz rules

A new proposed rule aims to clarify for contracting officers several procurement rules regarding small-businesses set-asides.

Auditors: Lack of Project 28 testing added to delays

DHS will hire Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory to test the next-gen technology system that DHS plans to deploy to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

Canada to release security standards for exporters

The draft of updated security measures for Canadian transportation and trade companies that want preferential treatment in trade with the U.S. will be released March 31.

BSA: Congress must fund high-tech initiatives

A group representing the U.S. software industry and its hardware partners is calling on Congress to provide full funding for a number of high-tech initiatives in President Bush's 2009 budget.

AF cyberstrategy to focus on disrupting attacks

The new Air Force Cyber Command has issued a strategic vision statement outlining the military unit's goal of strengthening cyberspace capabilities to defend national interests.

Judge halts Alliant, rules against GSA

A federal judge has ordered GSA to stop all work on the $50 billion Alliant contract, ruling that the agency failed to consistently apply its award criteria when assessing the bids of the 62 vendors.

Maryland lawmakers vote on state IT department

Maryland's House of Delegates approved a bill this week that would create a Department of Information Technology.

DHS launches Northern Border pilot programs

While DHS prepares a prototype solution for protecting the northern border, new technologies already are being tested in the field, according to a new report.

SBInet is no teacher's pet

Troubled border project offers tough lessons.