/
IRS Names Winners of Online Tax Info System Design Challenge
Published on
IRS Names Winners of Online Tax Info System Design Challenge


IRSbuildingThe Internal Revenue Service has revealed the winners of the agency’s “Tax Design Challenge” crowdsourcing competition that sought designs for a future online tax information system.

The tax collection agency said Friday the three-week challenge received 48 submissions that a review panel considered for three prize categories such as overall design, best taxpayer usefulness and best financial capability.

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said the winning designs show potential features of a future online taxpayer account.

Andrew Miller’s IRS MyService received first place awards for overall design and best taxpayer usefulness worth $10,000 and $2,000, respectively, while second place spots for both categories went to Andrea Angquist’s IRS 365 for a total of $6,000.

For best financial capability, Sam Nguyen and Vidhika Bansal’s Taxes won the $2,000 first place award and Dante Vono’s MyTax Online made second place for $1,000.

IRS held the challenge in collaboration with the Mortgage Bankers Association — the sole sponsor of monetary prizes — to call on teams of designers, developers and thinkers across the U.S. to present options for taxpayer interactions.

MBA President and CEO David Stevens said the organization will work with IRS and stakeholders to build on the results of the challenge.

/
Army Times: US Army Cancels M4 Carbine Upgrade Effort
Published on
Army Times: US Army Cancels M4 Carbine Upgrade Effort


military in trainingThe U.S. Army has halted its effort to upgrade the ergonomics and accuracy of its M4 carbine assault rifles after it reviewed proposals from industry, Army Times reported Sunday.

Kyle Jahner writes the M4A1+ initiative was part of the Army’s ongoing upgrade of M4s to M4A1s, which the report says is 25 percent complete.

The Army intended to incorporate a heavier barrel into the carbine for prolonged use, safety controls and automatic burst mode after the M4 barrels were distorted in Afghanistan during extended use, according to the report.

During the market survey, the service sought an extended Picatinny rail, a floating barrel, flash suppressor, brownish color for new parts, removable iron sights and a sniper-style single-stage trigger, Jahner reports.

/
Laura Bucheit Named Assistant Director for FBI’s Security Division
Published on
Laura Bucheit Named Assistant Director for FBI’s Security Division


Laura Bucheit
Laura Bucheit

Laura Bucheit, former special agent in charge for the FBI‘s Las Vegas division, will transition into a new role as assistant director for the bureau’s security division in July.

The FBI said Monday Bucheit’s 20-year career at the agency also includes roles in the criminal investigative division, inspection division, San Francisco division and as special assistant to former FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Bucheit is also a former officer for San Diego’s police department and as a contract performance consultant at the Naval Special Warfare Center Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training Center.

The FBI started the security division in December 2001 to protect and keep bureau personnel, information, operations and facilities through services that work to address changing and emerging threats.

House OKs $3.5B Capitol Complex Maintenance Package; Hal Rogers Comments
Published on
House OKs $3.5B Capitol Complex Maintenance Package; Hal Rogers Comments


CapitolDomeThe House has passed a bill that seeks to allot $3.48 billion in funds to secure and maintain of the Capitol complex.

Lawmakers voted 233-175 to approve the fiscal year 2017 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill for the annual budget for the offices of House members, support agencies of Congress, security and police forces, services for visitors and Capitol operations, the House Appropriations Committee said Wednesday.

The committee noted that the proposed funding package is $73 million more than the fiscal year 2016 level in order to address security efforts and health and safety repairs to damaged facilities.

The bill also seeks to prevent pay hikes for members of Congress in fiscal year 2017.

/
Susan Rice: President Barack Obama Eyes New US Military Aid Pact With Israel
Published on
Susan Rice: President Barack Obama Eyes New US Military Aid Pact With Israel


ArmyChopperIsrael has expressed interest to sign a memorandum of understanding over a military assistance package with the U.S. government before President Barack Obama leaves office in January, the Jerusalem Post reported Monday.

Herb Keinon writes Susan Rice, U.S. national security adviser, said Obama would like the new MOU with Israel to be signed under his term.

“Israel currently receives more than half of the United States’ entire foreign military assistance budget,” Rice said at the AJC Global Forum.

“And, we’re discussing a new agreement with Israel that would guide our military assistance until 2029,” she added.

Israel has requested up to $5 billion in annual military assistance from the U.S. government in order to address regional challenges, while the U.S. plans to maintain the level of military aid at approximately $3 billion and reduce the portion of that package that could be spent in Israel, Keinon reports.

Israel is allowed to use 26 percent of that military aid package in the country under the current MOU that is scheduled to expire by the end of 2017, according to the Jerusalem Post.

/
FAA Seeks Chief Data Officer to Manage Information Assets
Published on
FAA Seeks Chief Data Officer to Manage Information Assets


Federal aviation administration (FAA)The Federal Aviation Administration is searching for a chief data officer who will oversee the management of information assets as well as a staff of chief scientific advisers for software integration, engineers and risk management officers.

The CDO will direct and analyze the integration of information into the National Airspace System, develop business and strategic plans for enterprise-level data initiatives, engage in industry and research activities and communicate with stakeholders, a USAJobs notice stated Friday.

The incumbent will also coordinate activities with other components of FAA and collaborate with the Nextgen program’s associate administrator, the Air Traffic Organization’s chief operating officer and the Office of Finance and Management’s chief information officer.

The role also entails interaction with high-level executives within FAA and across the federal government such as members of the Executive Branch and Congress, the notice said.

FAA is open for CDO applications until July 12.

/
Mary Davie: GSA, NASA, NIH to Conduct IT Hardware Buying Events Through September 2016
Published on
Mary Davie: GSA, NASA, NIH to Conduct IT Hardware Buying Events Through September 2016


Mary Davie
Mary Davie

The General Services Administration, NASA and the National Institutes of Health will each hold buying events from June to September in an effort to increase participation of federal agencies in the Government-wide Strategic Solution for Desktops and Laptops initiative.

Mary Davie, assistant commissioner of the integrated technology service office at GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, wrote in a blog entry posted Thursday the three agencies will conduct the events to comply with an Office of Management and Budget-issued memorandum that calls for interagency collaboration and industry feedback to increase efficiency in government IT hardware acquisitions.

She said research showed that agencies awarded over 10,000 individual contracts and delivery orders to procure desktop and laptop computers during fiscal year 2014 and the cost of those products varied by nearly 300 percent.

An OMB-formed team of IT and procurement professionals from NASA, GSA and NIH collaborated with other several other federal and industry partners to establish the GSS program in efforts to drive pricing transparency and address challenges agencies face when they buy computers.

“GSS currently gives agencies a choice of three desktop and three laptop configurations that meet the federal government’s requirements for more than 80 percent of systems purchased,” Davie noted.

“In addition to the six standard configurations, GSS for Desktops and Laptops has pre-negotiated policies and terms and conditions, and includes significant small business participation–over 85 percent, ensuring that agencies save time and meet socioeconomic goals.”

/
Reports: South Korea Links North Korea’s Cyber Campaign to Theft of 40K Defense-Related Files
Published on
Reports: South Korea Links North Korea’s Cyber Campaign to Theft of 40K Defense-Related Files


cyber-hack-network-computerA police agency in South Korea has found that North Korean hackers were responsible for cyber attacks on two South Korean firms that resulted in the theft of at least 40,000 defense-related files, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Alastair Gale and Kwanwoo Jun write the South Korean national police agency said the cyber incidents also led to the theft of approximately 2,000 communications systems-related documents.

A spokesman for Hanjin Group’s subsidiary Korean Air Lines Co. said the stolen files included designs for the wings of an F-15 fighter aircraft and pictures of parts of unmanned reconnaissance planes, the newspaper reported.

A military official in South Korea said the stolen documents were not classified and “will likely have a negligible impact on national security,” according to the report.

“North Korea turns out to have been preparing for a long time to try to launch a countrywide cyber attack,” the South Korean police agency said.

Jack Kim also reports for Reuters the data breaches at two South Korean conglomerates — Hanjin Group and SK Holdings — are part of a larger cyber attack campaign that North Korea launched in 2014.

North Korea’s cyber hacking campaign was detected in February and compromised over 140,000 computers at 160 government agencies and companies in South Korea, the report said.

A spokesman for SK Holdings said the cyber attack affected four of its group affiliates.

Police officials told Reuters they traced the hack to an internet protocol address based in Pyongyang, North Korea, that zeroed in on network management software used by government agencies and private firms.

They also found that the IP address was similar to the one used in a 2013 cyber attack on computer networks of South Korean banks and broadcast stations, Kim reports.

/
Vice Adm. Thomas Moore Takes NAVSEA Command Post
Published on
Vice Adm. Thomas Moore Takes NAVSEA Command Post


Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Thomas Moore, former program executive officer for aircraft carriers, took on the role of chief of the Naval Sea Systems Command during a ceremony held Friday at the Washington Naval Yard.

The Navy reported Friday Moore succeeds Vice Adm. William Hilarides, who has retired after a 39-year military career.

President Barack Obama nominated Moore, then a rear admiral, as NAVSEA commander in May with a designation for a promotion in rank.

Moore, a 35-year Navy veteran, was former director of fleet readiness before he assumed the role of PEO for aircraft carriers in 2011.

He also served as major program manager for in-service aircraft carriers and overhaul project officer for aircraft carriers USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).

NAVSEA has a workforce of approximately 70,000 military and civilian staff and is responsible for the design, construction, procurement and maintenance of the service branch’s ships, submarines and weapons systems.

/
GAO: GSA, OMB Should Update Goals, Performance Measures for Digital Services Projects
Published on
GAO: GSA, OMB Should Update Goals, Performance Measures for Digital Services Projects


softwareThe Government Accountability Office has recommended to the General Services Administration and the Office of Management and Budget to update their goals and performance measurement strategies for IT service delivery to agencies.

GAO said Friday it has also suggested that OMB update the U.S. Digital Service‘s policy to define the expected relationship and collaboration between chief information officers and digital services teams.

GAO’s draft report noted GSA’s 18F unit and USDS have delivered a variety of services including software development, acquisition consulting, quality assurance, problem identification and software engineering to support agency IT efforts.

Specifically, GAO said 18F worked on 32 projects for 18 agencies while USDS worked on 13 projects for 11 agencies.

Project managers that have engaged with the two agencies for IT projects reported that they are mostly satisfied with their digital services projects.

Sixteen of the project managers who worked with 18F were very satisfied while six were very satisfied with USDS, the report stated.

GAO noted that 18F and USDS do have goals and performance measures that are not outcome-oriented and have not completely measured program performance — thus needing further work in those areas.

1 … 2,550 2,551 2,552 2,553 2,554 … 2,704