News

As Gen. Joseph Dunford awaits confirmation as U.S. Marine Corps commandant, he is expected to soon address challenges resulting from the reduction in force size and sequestration, Defense News reported Tuesday. Paul McLeary reports the Marines are seeing their numbers fall to 174,000 or lower from the planned 182,000 as sequestration …

The FBI has opened bidding on a contract covering software licenses for version 2.0 of the Samsung Knox mobile security platform, Nextgov reported Tuesday. Aliya Sternstein writes the agency is looking for a vendor who can supply the bureau with up to 26,500 Knox licenses during a 12-month period. The …

Nick Nayak, chief procurement officer at the Department of Homeland Security for nearly three-and-a-half years, will leave the government in July and explore opportunities in the private sector, the Washington Business Journal reported Tuesday. Jill Aitoro writes that Nayak could stay at DHS past his planned departure date to help with the …

John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said Monday the U.S. has no plans to consult with Iran on potential military cooperation between the two nations to stop insurgency in Iraq, Agence France-Presse reported Monday. “There is absolutely no intention, no plan to coordinate military activities between the United States and …

The General Services Administration has been analyzing federal agencies’ network services purchases through its Networx telecommunications acquisition vehicle, said Mary Davie, assistant commissioner of the Office of Integrated Technology Services at GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service. With 136 agencies using Networx to buy network and telecom services, the GSA is able to determine current trends in …

A new Mobile Work Exchange survey of 154 federal information technology and human resources personnel highlights agencies’ progress towards achieving enterprise mobility and telecommuting program goals. Agencies have earned a B- grade for their efforts to adopt the Digital Government Strategy and a B+ for working to meet the goals …

The Energy Department is working to secure its research data hub in a private cloud computing platform, GCN reported Monday. Rutrell Yasin writes the agency intends to use the hub to provide information to its workforce and researchers within and outside its headquarters. Rob Bectel, chief technology officer and senior policy advisor with …

The U.S. Geological Survey is looking to enlist commercial drone operators to help the agency with geomapping and other aerial surveying missions, FCW reported Monday. Mark Rockwell writes that USGS is monitoring the Federal Aviation Administration‘s approval of unmanned aerial vehicles for commercial use. “When the FAA finally opens up …

The Defense Department has moved to protect civilians in Iraq amid a growing crisis in the country by sending the amphibious transport dock ship the USS Mesa Verde to the Arabian Gulf, American Forces Press Service reported Monday. Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby has confirmed that Defense …

The General Services Administration is planning to refresh its nearly 60-year-old multiple award schedules program. Tom Sharpe, commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, wrote in a blog Thursday that FAS is set to issue a mass modification in June for contractors to standardize their part numbers or Special Item Numbers …