US Navy CIO tells purchasers to consider open source

Pentagon picks up a Penguin

By Lewis Page • Get more from this author

Posted in Applications, 7th June 2007 15:32 GMT

The US Navy has recently affirmed support for open source software, in pursuit of "an interoperable net-centric environment...which will improve the warfighter's effectiveness through seamless access to critical information".

Navy CIO Robert J Carey laid out new guidance in a memo, downloadable here. In it, he says "the misconception that open source software is is neither a commercial off-the-shelf nor government off-the-shelf solution has hindered the [Navy's] ability to leverage the benefits of open source software methodology. Open-source software has not received equal consideration during the the software acquisition process".

Carey says open source kit is now to be considered commercial-off-the-shelf, provided it falls within guidelines. This will allow Navy IT procurers to buy it using procedures they are familiar with. ®

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