The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a field hearing on technology and the federal government Friday in Northern Virginia, where they heard testimony from large and small information technology companies and government officials about the top technology issues affecting government today.

The hearing was meant to provide access to extensive private-sector IT expertise within Northern Virginia and the National Capital region. It was also an opportunity for federal officials and state and local government partners to share best technology practices amid top technology challenges, including cybersecurity, cloud conversion and data center consolidation, and look at innovative ways to promote efficiency in government IT operations.

Alan Chvotkin, Executive Vice President and Counsel for the Professional Services Council, delivered testimony at the hearing. He said, in part:

“The issues of how the government acquires services, including information technology and cybersecurity improvements and efficiencies, continue to challenge the federal government and industry. Although gains have been made, it is crucial that Congress and the executive branch continue addressing the current and future obstacles in these areas and that the government use innovation to remedy such challenges. While others today will focus specifically on IT and cyber challenges, my comments will focus on the role the federal acquisition process plays in fostering innovation, particularly in the area of services, so that the challenges in these and other areas can be addressed.”

Others in attendance to testify included private-sector representatives from Microsoft, Google, and a number of smaller information technology companies and their trade associations, as well as government officials from the Office of Management and Budget and the Federal Acquisitions Institute.