Also the problem is that Open source needs to jump through the same hoops proprietary software. That is a majority of the time they would need to be DSD approved and each open source project would need to pay a minimum of $50k to get DSD to qualify it. Without DSD approval open source will not get a look in when it comes to networks that are rated Protected and higher.
> imho, I would have thought that Open Standards are for more critical for a > government to require the use and enforcement of.. But even this would be a > great win for open source in general as this would also force big companies > to support properly open standards in their own products, which then also > increases the viability of open source products that also support the > standard in the future when migrations are considered. > > But as far as "active participation" in open source is concerned, it would > be great if any software commissioned by the government was then released as > open source. This may be problematic though, as the government would > (presumably) never actually write the software itself, but would outsource > it's development. Companies that do write the software would then have an > active interest in some kind of maintenance or ongoing support program with > the government, and would probably see releasing the code to the public as > an active threat to that interest. Still, the government could insist (as a > large enough customer), and that would be beneficial too > > That said, obviously there are OS business models that work based upon the > ongoing technical support requirements of organisations that do adopt the > software, so working with a vendor that does this necessarily means that any > bugs or features that the government finds or requires would be given back > to the community as well. > > Anyway, at least it something, and in general I think that Kate Lundy has > her head screwed on and is pushing in the right direction > > On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 4:50 PM, Kevin Saenz <[email protected]>wrote: > >> It's been a while since I have responded to slug emails. >> >> You need to put this in to perspective. There are a number departments that >> actually use open source, to some extent. You must bear in mind that there >> are others who have a strictly microsoft. >> >> I know of one department 6 years ago required the skills of Linux and Unix >> people to convert the department from opensource to microsoft only >> environment, because said department employed a "microsoft ranger", and to >> this date he is still their CIO. >> >> What you have to be aware to be successful with tenders or projects you >> need to sit on a board of vendors to even be considered for a job or >> contract for a scope of work. the Federal government is a large market and >> you have fight your case on a departmental and divisional level. >> >> there are other departments who employed the same web technology as >> President Obama. >> Yes Open source has a place in Public sector IT but sadly it's not in >> business critical areas of the sector, and it has been visible for a long >> time. >> >> >> >> >> >>>> The policy includes three principles as well as some draft text for >> government departments and agencies to include in future RFT documentation: >>>> * Principle 1: Australian Government ICT procurement processes must >> actively and fairly consider all types of available software. >>>> * Principle 2: Suppliers must consider all types of available software >> when dealing with Australian Government agencies. >>>> * Principle 3: Australian Government agencies will actively >> participate in open source software communities and contribute back where >> appropriate. >>> < >> http://www.katelundy.com.au/2011/02/03/welcome-news-for-open-source/comment-page-1/ >>> >>> >>> Policy available in HTML at >>> < >> http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/guide-to-open-source-software/index.html >>> >>> >>> Marghanita >>> -- >>> Marghanita da Cruz >>> http://ramin.com.au >>> Tel: 0414-869202 >>> >>> >>> -- >>> SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ >>> Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html >>> >> >> -- >> SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ >> Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html >> > -- > SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ > Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html > -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
