Industry

• Air Force to reshape ‘cost curve’ via targeted acquisition reforms

  A new series of acquisition changes called "Bending the Cost Curve" aims to make the overall Air Force acquisition process more responsive to technological advances, and reduce the time it takes to buy major weapons systems. The Air Force Research Lab will host a technology challenge program with the largest award in military history.

  Defense

  January 16, 2015
• GSA’s agile RFI beginning of ‘systemic change’ in IT acquisition

  The General Services Administration's 18F and the Office of Integrated Technology Services issued a request for information as part of its strategy to create a blanket purchase agreement where agencies can buy agile development services for IT projects. Experts say the RFI shows how the government is beginning to adopt industry best practices.

  Management

  January 09, 2015
• Trish Gilbert, Executive Vice President, National Air Traffic Controllers Association

  Members of Congress from both parties have signaled they're ready to consider privatizing air traffic control, or at least changing how it's funded. One reason is the FAA's struggle to modernize the systems that support safe flight. Many in Washington are wondering whether the system would function more efficiently as a commercial entity. Trish Gilbert, executive vice-president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive to explain NATCA members' concerns over the proposed switch.

  Federal Drive

  January 08, 2015
• Rep. Cummings demands answers from background investigation contractor on data breach

  Congressman Elijah Cummings wants KeyPoint Government Solutions to provide him with a briefing and answers to 13 questions about the December cyber vulnerability that put more than 48,000 federal employees at a greater risk of identity theft.

  Congress

  January 07, 2015
• Can government keep up with the private sector in digital technology?

  Digital technology has changed the way the private sector is doing business. Jeff Neal, senior vice president for ICF International, asks, "Is it too late for the government to catch up?"

  Technology

  January 07, 2015
• Jamison Cush, Chief Editor, TechTarget’s Technology Guide

  It may be called the Consumer Electronics Show, but the annual Las Vegas event has a lot to offer the government. From smart watches to faster phones to the Internet of things, there's plenty for enterprise CIOs to keep an eye on. Jamison Cush is the Executive Editor at Tech Target. He took a break from perusing the CES showroom floor to join Tom Temin on the Federal Drive and explain what's caught his eye.

  Federal Drive

  January 07, 2015
• New year may bring more small business help from Washington

  Gridlock in Washington in recent years has stalled tax bills and other legislation aimed at helping small companies, but such proposals are expected to be on the agenda in the Republican-led Congress.

  Congress

  January 01, 2015
• Program that backed Solyndra now showing successes

  The same program that funded high-profile flops like Solyndra, the California-based solar company that filed for bankruptcy, is now showing some success stories.

  Acquisition

  December 30, 2014
• Key decisions on drones likely from Congress

  By JOAN LOWY Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is on the verge of proposing long-awaited rules for commercial drone operations in U.S. skies, but key decisions on how much access to grant…

  Acquisition

  December 29, 2014
• Contractor security flaw puts data of 7,000 veterans at risk

  The Veterans Affairs Department says veterans using a specific contractor for home telehealth services found a vulnerability that potentially could've exposed personal information of veterans. VA said the vulnerability has been closed and it has offered those affected credit monitoring services.

  Defense

  December 24, 2014
• SAIC, Leidos founder dead at 90

  J. Robert Beyster (1924-2014) died Monday of natural causes. As the founder of SAIC and Leidos, Beyster believed in solving national security problems for the federal government at a fair price.

  Acquisition

  December 23, 2014
• Lockheed, Iron Mountain pay millions to settle overbilling allegations

  The Justice Department settled two different cases with large contractors, both of which allegedly overcharged the agencies under the False Claims Act.

  Management

  December 22, 2014
• Lori Walsh, Chief, Center for Risk and Quantitative Analytics, SEC

  For years the Securities and Exchange Commission has been seen as perhaps a step behind the securities fraudsters it's charged with stopping. But at least one branch is embracing the technological future, using the latest electronic tools to spot potential wrongdoing. Lori Walsh is the chief of the SEC's Center for Risk and Quantitative Analytics. It houses some of the agency's brightest minds, all focused on stopping new forms of Wall Street crime. She joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive to explain how they're going about it.

  Federal Drive

  December 22, 2014
• DoD unties services’ hands when buying commercial cloud

  A new memo from acting CIO Terry Halvorsen removes the requirement for DISA to be the main path to buy cloud computing services.

  Defense

  December 18, 2014