News and buzz in the acquisition and IT communities that you may have missed this week.
The Postal Service issued a draft solicitation for the Federal Cloud Credential Exchange. The goal is to create a cloud-based service to perform identity authentication and verification. Agencies could plug into the service, integrating it with any application that adheres to the standards.
IT Lab Director Charles Romine said the organization collaborates with an ever-growing number of agencies on technology challenges. He said the Lab also is focusing on questions around cloud, cybersecurity, mobile computing and big data. January 10, 2013
After the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) certified the first cloud-computing services company last month, the General Services Administration is predicting a steady wave of new approvals later this year. The length of time it has taken the initial 78 companies or products in the FedRAMP pipeline to gain approval is a testament to the rigorous process, said Dave McClure, GSA's associate administrator in the Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies.
Bob Brese, the agency's CIO, said cloud service and security operations center will help make the move to smartphones and tablet computers easier. December 20, 2012 (Encore presentation January 31, 2013)
The agency cites its desire to streamline services as the reason to phase out the site. But industry experts say use of apps.gov has been minimal and there was no clear market for the portal. OMB launched the site in September 2009.
Malcolm Jackson, the agency's CIO, said two new contracts for IT hardware and email will begin to transform the way EPA buys and uses technology. November 29, 2012
The National Archives and Records Administration awarded technology company Unisys Corporation a contract worth up to $7.2 million to oversee the transition of the agency's 4,500 users to the cloud-based Google Apps for email and collaboration.
Mark Day, director of the Office of Strategic Programs for GSA's Integrated Technology Service will give his thoughts on a variety of acquistion and management issues. November 27, 2012
Frank Baitman, the HHS chief information officer, said the agency will move its HR systems to a shared services provider in the coming year. He said HHS also will issue a solicitation for cloud services in 2013. November 15, 2012
The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded a five- year, $36 million contract to HP Enterprise Services to move 600,000 VA users to the cloud for email and calendar use.
FedRAMP is reviewing six applications from vendors and plans on awarding at least three with the authority to operate by the end of the year. GSA's Kathy Conrad said a survey identified more than 80 opportunities for cloud services. GSA to hold FedRAMP webinar tomorrow.
Terry Edwards, the director of the Office of the Chief Systems Engineer and chief information officer for the assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology, said his office helps acquire technology and ensure standards are met. November 1, 2012(Encore presentation December 27, 2012)
EPA's 25,000 email users will be fully migrated to the cloud by early 2013 thanks to collaboration solutions provided by Lockheed Martin and Microsoft.
Sean Patton of Lockheed Martin talks about the EPA's migration to a collaboration and communication service. Sanjay Koyani discusses a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other Health and Human Services components to get better leverage out of the information it has. Engineer Norman R. Augustin talks about a new report on STEM prepared by the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council.