Nine federal information technology programs are finalists for the American Council for Technology's Intergovernmental Solutions Awards, which recognize innovative use of technology to improve citizen services. The federal program finalists:

• Connect, Health and Human Services Department's Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. The open source software enables public and private health information systems to connect to the National Health Information Network. It enables health data to follow patients from one health provider to another.

• Disaster Assistance Improvement Program, Homeland Security Department. DAIP provides a single online access point for individuals applying for disaster assistance and helps the Federal Emergency Management Agency avoid duplication of benefits to applicants.

• Virtual USA, DHS. The program shows the location of assets such as power and water lines, valuable information for first responders during disasters.

• Mutlimodal HazMat Intelligence Portal, Transportation Department Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The initiative integrates data from more than 20 federal data systems to give agencies such as the Coast Guard a complete view of the movement of hazardous materials.

• E-Rulemaking, Environmental Protection Agency. This Web site details EPA's rulemaking process and allows the public to comment on EPA rules.

• FederalReporting.gov, EPA. This site enables federal agencies and recipients of federal awards to fulfill their reporting obligations.

• MAX Federal Community, Office of Management and Budget. This government-only collaboration Web site enables any executive branch employee to share information, collaborate on documents, discuss issues, post training opportunities and more.

• Lightweight Portable Security, Air Force. The Web-based application provides users remote access to their organization's private network and can turn an untrusted system, such as a home computer, into a trusted network client.

• Logistics Modernization Program, Army. The program streamlines planning, finance, acquisitions and maintenance of weapons systems, spare parts and services.

The winner will be announced May 24.