/
Shanna Webbers: Expanded IRS Procurement Workforce Focuses on IT Priorities
Published on
Shanna Webbers: Expanded IRS Procurement Workforce Focuses on IT Priorities

Shanna Webbers, chief procurement officer of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), said IRS's recently expanded procurement workforce is working to understand the agency's information technology direction, Government Matters reported Sunday.

Webbers told Government Matters that her team is analyzing the agency's IT modernization plan so they can inform industry partners and simplify the procurement process.

This development comes as the White House advises IRS to modernize networks in response to a growing number of unpaid taxes.

The chief procurement officer also said IRS is sharing its agile procurement vehicle, known as Pilot IRS, with other agencies. IRS launched the procurement vehicle in 2019 to address the agency's data needs.

IRS collects taxes for the U.S. government and administers federal tax law.

//
John Somplasky Named VP of Program Excellence for DSA; Chairman Fran Pierce Quoted
Published on
John Somplasky Named VP of Program Excellence for DSA; Chairman Fran Pierce Quoted

Data Systems Analysts announced on Tuesday that John Somplasky has received a promotion to become the company’s new vice president of Program Excellence and Quality Management. 

Somplasky concurrently serves as DSA’s chief information security officer (CISO). He brings a strong depth of technical knowledge to the role as well as first-hand experience in the company’s cybersecurity program and information security management system. 

“John’s leadership in the management of DSA’s ISO and CMMI certifications and our cybersecurity program enables us to effectively serve our customers and expand our opportunities for growth and continued success,” said Fran Pierce, DSA’s chairman and CEO.  

Somplasky joined DSA in 2015 as the director of Quality Management and Program Excellence and was eventually promoted to senior director and named chief information security officer in 2016. 

Prior to his tenure with DSA, he served as a program director at Lockheed Martin specializing in program management, software development, systems engineering and troubled program recovery for over 23 years. 

About Data Systems Analysts

DSA provides solutions to its customers to achieve mission critical goals and is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2013 registered and appraised at CMMI Maturity Level 3 for Service Projects and for Development.

//
Andrew Rabinowitz Named New Co-CEO of K2 Integrity; Jules Kroll Quoted
Published on
Andrew Rabinowitz Named New Co-CEO of K2 Integrity; Jules Kroll Quoted

K2 Integrity announced on Tuesday that Andrew Rabinowitz, formerly of Marathon Asset Management, has joined the company as its new co-CEO and member of the board, effective on Sept. 20th. Alongside co-CEO Jeremy Kroll, who will also assume the role of deputy chair of the board, Rabinowitz will co-lead the company from its headquarters in New York City. 

"I've had the pleasure of working closely with the Krolls and Bob Brenner for many years, and my respect for the firm has deepened further as I have gotten to know Tom Bock, Juan Zarate, Danny Glaser, Chip Poncy, and other team members over the past few months,” said Rabinowitz. “I look forward to partnering with them on our shared vision to expand the business."

As co-CEO and board member, Rabinowitz will focus on driving growth across the firm's existing financial services and corporate clients in the U.S., European, Middle Eastern, and Asian markets, as well as on introducing new offerings throughout the coming year.

He brings a proven track record of building successful professional services businesses and leveraging his skill sets across technology, sales, finance, risk management, and compliance to create significant results for clients.

Previously, Rabinowitz drove growth for Marathon Asset Management for nearly two decades and most recently served as its president and COO. His leadership drove the company from the first days of the company into the more than $22 billion global player it is today. 

"I'm thrilled to join K2 Integrity to help the firm grow and to spearhead solutions for clients as they face the complexities of an increasingly challenging global marketplace," Rabinowitz added.

About K2 Integrity

K2 Integrity helps clients understand and manage risk so they can lead with confidence in a complex world—and build organizations that are safer, more transparent, and more resilient. By encouraging and enabling organizations to act with integrity, we can increase trust in institutions and promote prosperity and growth throughout the world.

////
Guidehouse, RELI Group Launch FedInnov8 Consulting LLC; CEO Scott McIntyre Quoted
Published on
Guidehouse, RELI Group Launch FedInnov8 Consulting LLC; CEO Scott McIntyre Quoted

Guidehouse and RELI Group, Inc. announced on Tuesday that the two companies have formed a new joint venture called FedInnov8 Consulting LLC to assist government clients with the procurement of top-tier talent and encourage disadvantaged business growth and efficiency.

"We are excited about the impact we can have in helping government agencies respond to their most challenging needs and improve the lives of the people they serve,” said Scott McIntyre, CEO of Guidehouse and five-time Wash100 Award recipient. 

FedInnov8 will support government agencies in numerous sectors, including healthcare, national security, defense, and financial services, offering a range of services including strategic planning, human capital transformation, cybersecurity, digital transformation and program management.

Guidehouse and RELI Group have years of experience helping organizations lead through inherent complexities by standing up risk management and technology strategies that encourage financial stability and operational efficiency.

"As respected partners with a proven history of delivering expertise in technology and management consulting services, our FedInnov8 partnership is supported by a real passion to extend the value we bring to underserviced areas,” McIntyre added. 

To learn more about FedInnov8, visit www.fedinnov8.com.

/
Paul Courtney Appointed Full-Time DHS Chief Procurement Officer
Published on
Paul Courtney Appointed Full-Time DHS Chief Procurement Officer

Paul Courtney, acting chief procurement officer at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has assumed the position on a full-time basis, Homeland Security Today reported Monday. 

Courtney joined DHS in June 2019 as deputy CPO and assumed the CPO role on an interim basis following the retirement of Soraya Correa in July. 

Prior to DHS, he worked at the Department of Justice as a section chief and head of contracting activity for over six years. Courtney said he will ensure that DHS remains transparent and open in its communications with industry in his role as CPO.

“Additionally, please know that Nina Ferraro, Acting Deputy Chief Procurement Officer, and Jaclyn Rubino, Executive Director of Strategic Programs Division, serve as other representatives on my behalf to discuss matters of importance with you and your members,” he said in his message to industry association leaders.

//
CISA Updates Land Mobile Radio Guidance Documents
Published on
CISA Updates Land Mobile Radio Guidance Documents

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has updated a suite of documents explaining the fundamentals of a land mobile radio system and the importance of such technology to public safety communications.

CISA said Monday that revisions to "Funding and Sustaining Land Mobile Radio (LMR): Materials for Decision-Makers" reflect FirstNet nationwide wireless broadband network advancements, Project 25 digital two-way radio interoperability standards and emergency communications grant guidance for fiscal year 2021.

The agency first released the documents in 2016 and worked with its SAFECOM organization and the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators to update the content.

One of the materials is a brochure for non-federal government leaders about funding and sustainment of LMR systems for first responders.

The other documents are intended to educate decision-makers on the possible impact of emerging technology on LMRs and to help acquisition managers understand standards-based procurement for public safety interoperability.

/
Agriculture Department Proposes Cloud-Based Civil Rights Complaint Tracking System
Published on
Agriculture Department Proposes Cloud-Based Civil Rights Complaint Tracking System

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) looks to develop a cloud-based, enterprise-wide system of records intended to track civil rights discrimination complaints against the agency’s programs and activities.

The Civil Rights Management System will consist of an application suite and will be facilitated through the Salesforce platform under the USDA Office of the Chief Information Officer, according to the notice published Tuesday on the federal register.

Previously known as the Program Complaints Management System, the platform will help manage the needs of agency leaders responsible for ensuring compliance with civil rights laws and regulations. 

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) is in charge of maintaining the system records and lodging the hard copies at the National Archives and Records Administration. 

The document noted that physical security measures are put in place to prohibit the access of unauthorized persons. The electronic records are kept in secure file servers and the OASCR has ensured the use of physical access controls, firewalls and intrusion detection tools. 

Proposed revisions to the notice include the updating of system location, records’ categories, storage, safeguards, retention and disposal. Comments on the proposed system are due Sept. 16th.

//
GRSi Secures 5-Year NIH Biomedical Tech Support Contract
Published on
GRSi Secures 5-Year NIH Biomedical Tech Support Contract

GRSi has secured a potential five-year, $12 million contract to provide technical support services to a National Institutes of Health organization focused on exploring biomedical technology.

Bethesda, Maryland-based GRSi said Monday it will perform enterprise engineering work for the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB).

The information technology company will also secure NBIB systems, provide service desk support to the institute and ensure continuous operations for the agency’s scientific mission.

The NIBIB contract comes less than one week after GSRi announced a $32 million contract to provide infrastructure design, application development, cybersecurity and other IT services to the NIH Office of the Director.

/
Robin Carnahan Wants GSA to Use Data to Improve Service Delivery, Inform Decisions
Published on
Robin Carnahan Wants GSA to Use Data to Improve Service Delivery, Inform Decisions

Robin Carnahan, head of the General Services Administration (GSA), said she wants to focus more on how GSA can improve the delivery of services to agencies and industry partners and intends to do that by gathering data to better inform decisions, Federal News Network reported Monday.

“I’m very interested in feedback from both customers and our, our industry partners, we’ve got to have both sides of those customers,” Carnahan told FNN in an interview.

“I tend to be very data-driven, and results and impact-driven. You can only get that if you have both sides of that equation that are at the table and trying to figure out how to get the best results,” she added.

Carnahan said her four-year experience as head of the state and local consulting practice at GSA’s 18F organization enabled her to learn about the importance of procurement and technology in government service delivery.

“What I was able to do at 18F was to dig deeper into those issues on somebody wants to government to work well. It turns out technology and procurement have to get fixed if you’re going to have government work well. That time at 18F helped me understand the scale of the problem,” she noted.

At 18F, Carnahan said she collaborated with trained technologists to identify approaches to improving the delivery of government services to the public and helped non-technical government officials how to implement their policy priorities through technology.

“Those are really, really valuable lessons that I am using every day in this job as administrator,” she said. “So that’s why the implementation role that GSA plays and supporting our agency partners and implementing through technology or anything else is so important."

/
Treasury, Code for America Seek to Drive Child Tax Credit Enrollment With New Tool; Wally Adeyemo Quoted
Published on
Treasury, Code for America Seek to Drive Child Tax Credit Enrollment With New Tool; Wally Adeyemo Quoted

The Department of the Treasury has partnered with civic technology nonprofit Code for America to introduce a bilingual sign-up tool to enable eligible U.S. families to enroll and claim their child tax credit (CTC). The Treasury said Friday the new tool is expected to come online in the next few weeks.

The department also announced plans to build a permanent multilingual platform to enable more citizens who do not regularly file taxes to sign up and claim CTC for their children. The Treasury will also work with Congress to provide resources for the initiative.

The Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service said they disbursed the second month of advance CTC payments worth more than $15 billion to families as part of the American Rescue Plan, covering an additional 1.6 million children. 

The U.S. government issued eligible families a monthly payment of up to $300 for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 to 17.

“Today 61 million children across America are benefiting from the advance Child Tax Credit, helping families put food on the table and meet the needs of the next generation,” said Wally Adeyemo, deputy secretary of the Treasury. “We want every eligible family to have access to the advance Child Tax Credit, which is why we will continue our outreach efforts to drive enrollment as our children return to school.”

1 … 1,020 1,021 1,022 1,023 1,024 … 2,621