Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is proposing legislation that would grant agency chief information officers authority over their respective agencies’ information technology budgets, Nextgov reports.According to Joseph Marks’ report, Issa’s bill would also create agency-based assisted acquisition centers of excellence aimed at developing expertise and best practices in different technology purchasing categories.
Veterans Affairs Chief Information Officer Roger Baker said in October he is the only CIO that can move funds between IT projects or cancel them altogether, adding more CIOs should have similar power.
Agencies would then help other agencies by sometimes purchasing technology for them, the bill says, according to Marks.
Locations of those centers would be reviewed every two years, with the Office of Management and Budget director having authority to move the centers to another location.
Agencies would have to consult a center regarding most acquisitions of more than $500 million, Marks reports.
