VA Looks for Open Source 'Custodial Agent'

In a draft request for proposals released April 1, the VA embraces an open source development model first proposed earlier this year in a request for information, under which a central body termed the "custodial agent" initiates open source projects, accepts or rejects other proposed projects, and manages the process of placing code into the codebase.

The RFP is for the agent. VistA is already open source in the sense that its source code is available for download, but not open source in the sense that the VA will not incorporate modifications made to the source code by the public.