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House panel subpoenas Oracle heads over VA health record overhaul’s ballooning costs
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted 19-0 to subpoena Oracle Chairman and Co-founder Larry Ellison and Oracle CEO Mike Sicilia after VA announced plans to boost its contract with the tech giant by $17 billion.
Contracts
CMS taps Mathematica, Deloitte to improve effectiveness of its healthcare models
An agency spokesperson said the four-year Learning Insights for Action project “will enable CMS to efficiently target resources across models with varying periods of performance and support cross-model learning.”
Contracts
VA deploys new EHR at 3 Indiana-based medical facilities
The latest round of go-lives brings the total number of site rollouts this year to 11.
Contracts
VA boosts EHR modernization contract with Oracle by $17B
The modified agreement raises the contract’s total value to just under $27 billion.
Contracts
White House S&T strategy calls for new approaches to safeguard US research
The new science and technology guidance says the U.S. "will further strengthen its workforce by attracting and retaining top-tier global talent in critical national security S&T fields.
Contracts
VA seeks to extend its Oracle health record contract through 2031
“This action is necessary to continue [electronic health record modernization] deployment activities and associated support services until all VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) and related facilities have fully transitioned to the EHR system,” the department said in a Sam.gov solicitation notice.
Contracts
Pentagon awards Oracle up to $7B in software consolidation deal
The agreement merges Oracle's product and licensing services into one contract, which the Defense Department estimates will result in at least $441 million in savings.
Contracts
Transportation looks to AI to accelerate its modernization initiatives
Steven Bradbury, the agency’s deputy secretary, said AI has helped Transportation slash its software production timeline from 18 months down to 18 weeks.
Contracts
IARPA launches new acquisition marketplace
The intelligence community's lead research arm is looking to help agencies more rapidly procure innovative products from industry.
Companies
GSA is eyeing OneGov savings beyond software and tech, official says
GSA Deputy Administrator Mike Lynch noted that many of the roughly two dozen firms participating in the OneGov initiative “offer multiple products to federal government,” meaning that the strategy can ultimately lead to a broader range of cost savings.
Companies
Tech bills of the week: Leveraging AI for cancer research; Securing chatbots for underage users; and more
Congress’ latest bills look to apply AI for both public benefit and enhanced federal operations, namely safeguarding AI chatbots, helping the government strengthen pediatric cancer research and securing the U.S.-Mexico border.
Companies
Lawmaker warns of administration’s ‘fetishization’ of Silicon Valley startups
Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., discussed his plans to scrutinize Trump-era contracting practices, revive federal IT oversight and push for AI policy.
Contracts
FAA awards software and AI contract as part of air traffic control modernization
The agency’s contract with Air Space Intelligence includes deployment of a system that it says will serve as “the new technological backbone” of a modernized Air Traffic Control System Command Center.
Contracts
EHR modernization needs better cyber and privacy collaboration, GAO says
The Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization office needs to improve its interagency coordination to address potential privacy and security vulnerabilities in the new system, according to the watchdog.
Contracts
GSA joins White House’s fraud prevention task force
The agency said it will support the unit’s efforts by identifying waste, fraud and abuse across government contracting programs.
Contracts
OneGov’s discounted deals are ‘a first step’ to longer-term contracts, officials say
The General Services Administration has asked some companies to re-up their temporary price cuts while it continues to talk with them about becoming direct contractors on its Multiple Award Schedule.
Contracts
GSA inks latest OneGov agreement with Snowflake
Under the deal, federal agencies will potentially be eligible “for higher-tier discounts of up to 50% reduced consumption cost on compute, as overall usage increases.”
Companies
US tech official calls for ‘transformational’ use of AI in scientific discovery
Chief Technology Officer Ethan Klein said deploying AI agents across workflows will enhance scientific efficiency, which is particularly critical “because that underpins every one of these technologies that we're looking to develop.”
Podcasts
WT 360: NextGov/FCW’s Edward Graham on the world’s AI and robotics leadership race
Edward Graham, managing editor at NextGov/FCW, jumps in to take us through how a new White House memo on artificial intelligence security helps illuminate the competition between the U.S. and China.
Companies