EPA official defends handling of IBM case; NIH to crack down on encryption [+ more from FCW.com]

Having trouble viewing this email? View as a web page. Daily News April 14, 2008 http://www.fcw.com Daily News for IT professionals in government Subscription Services | RSS | Blogs | Jobs | Events | Contact Us Poll: FCW Movie Madness What is the best government-themed movie? The Manchurian Candidate or All the President's Men? Vote on these and other Sweet 16 pairings in our bracket contest. Read More Get a Life: Airline misery There may be no data on how many federal employees were stranded at airports last week, but certainly there must be stories to tell. Blogger Judy Welles knows your pain. Read More ADVERTISEMENT FEDERAL IT NEWS IBM case: A question of due process Agencies were unaware of the suspension while investigators followed procedures. NIH to crack down on encryption Further investigation reveals stolen laptop contained SSNs of 1,200 research participants GAO: HSPD-12 program needs clear goals OMB and auditors differ on priorities for achieving identity verification goals. ADVERTISEMENT - Sponsored by Sun Microsystems Virtualization Webcast Series: Register Today! Receive a complete primer on Virtualization in this Sun Microsystems Online Conference. Learn how virtualization techniques can help organizations maximize platforms, simplify IT infrastructure, and bring new levels of efficiency, manageability, and agility to a growing organization. The first session, Virtualization 101 for Government will be held April 15 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Register Now! HIGHLIGHTS Contractors are here to stay One scholar argues that government must rely on contractors or reduce its mission. Kelman: The not-so-obvious lesson A tale of procurement woe shows that contracting officials need to be trusted business advisers. Editorial: Rewarding innovation The Census Bureau's decision to return to paper is indicative of government's lack of incentives for innovation. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT - Sponsored by GovSec Register now for GovSec, U.S. Law and Ready 2008 Offering a 360° view of the latest physical and cyber security products/services, this dynamic two-day event provides learning and networking experience and fosters communication and camaraderie across all jurisdictions. April 23-24 in Washington, D.C. Register today! ALSO ONLINE Letter: Taxpayers lose under many agency-oriented contracts The fed should be unifying, consolidating, and integrating its sprawling acquisition enterprise to save resources. Letter: Set a DOD PowerPoint standard One reader, who is not fond of PowerPoint's bullets, writes: "The use of bullets within the Department of Defense should be limited to weapons." 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