Pentagon is developing insect like sensors — DorobekINSIDER’s 7 stories you need to know

The SEVEN stories that impact your life for Tuesday the 7th of August, 2012

1. HP Enterprise Services is close to closing a $2.1 billion dollar Navy contract to continue operating the Navy and Marine Corps Intranet. GovConWire reports, HP owns and controls most of the infrastructure and software for running the NMCI after obtaining the program in 2008. The contract’s ceiling value will be increased from its current $3.39 billion amount to a maximum $5.51 billion.
2. The Defense Information Systems Agency has issued a draft request for proposal for mobile device management and a mobile applications store. FedScoop says, the MDM capability should provide the application and user level “traffic cop” to enforce policy for network and end devices. The MDM institutes the policy, security and permissions that define the functions the user is enabled to conduct on the mobile device.
3. The National Center for Telehealth and Technology has released an app to help service-members and veterans cope with stress and self-assessment when returning home. The LifeArmor app will provide information on 17 post-deployment issues. It also provides tips for families and friendships, life stress and anxiety, mild traumatic brain injury, anger, substance abuse and military sexual trauma.
4. The Pentagon is looking for engineers to develop an advanced imaging sensor concept that mimics those in insects. NextGov says the bug-inspired technology could give drone and satellite imagery systems added sophistication to zero in on hard-to-detect targets. Engineers can draw new lessons from insects’ ability to see and sense moving objects, the Defense Department suggests. DOD will start taking proposals on August 27.
5. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is making it easier for agencies to test the use of logical access control for applications. Federal News Radio reports, NIST is selling test smart cards currently under Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12. It is also selling security cards with functionality that may be included in the future. NIST is reviewing changes to the HSPD-12 standard.
6. The General Services Administration has made some fixes to its Systems for Award Management website. Federal Computer Week says the site originally went live on July 31st, but was taken offline a few days later after experiencing some technical problems. GSA officials worked with IBM, the project’s contractor, to fix performance issues. And it’s now back up and running. The site is designed to central database for federal contracting data. GSA has completed the first phase of a long and bumpy transition away from outdated information systems, combining several governmentwide databases in a bid to become more efficient.
7. And on GovLoop, we’ve released our new Leadership Guide, which looks at 10 traits of a “great government leader.” You can also find a three-part companion series we developed, which goes into even greater depth, bringing you the experience and research of six distinguished subject matter experts from around government.

On today’s program

• Doing more with less — that’s the mantra these days, right? But is it time to just do things differently? We’ll talk to Chuck Prow — the General Manager of IBM’s Global Business Services’ Public Sector business — and get his thoughts. He is the author of a new book — Governing to Win.
• Has twitter, facebook, istagram killed emergency management? Maybe so says Adam Crowe. He says it’s time for an emergency management revolution. You’ll learn why.