The Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic (NIWC Atlantic) has updated its assessments and authorizations procedures to implement a risk management framework to improve cybersecurity across the U.S. Navy.

The Navy said Monday that NIWC Atlantic’s Command Information Office is working with Naval Information Warfare Systems Command’s information office to implement RMF and create “entry criteria” for the validation and testing of security controls.

NIWC Atlantic seeks to maintain authorizations for cloud hosting and data center services by simplifying A&A schedules and monitoring progress in the authorization process.

Brianeisha Eure, command information systems security manager at NIWC Atlantic, said the command unit has over 50 authorization packages encompassing network and hosting support, video services, telephony and command support.

She noted that the modified procedures seek to test security controls at the A&A team level before they are inherited by other teams. Matthew Colburn, RMF lead at NIWC Atlantic, said the modified review process helped speed up validation from six months to 2.5 weeks.

The initiative also helped reduce the amount of expired software and authorization packages by 80 percent, NIWC Atlantic noted.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is looking for public input on the implementation of its portal for recording COVID-19 data from various health institutions.

HHS said in an information collection request published on the Federal Register that the HHS Teletracking COVID-19 Portal collates data from 5,500 hospitals on a daily basis to monitor COVID-19 patient testing, resource allocation, bed capacity and other supply needs.

The portal also includes data that hospitals initially submitted to HHS through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Module under the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) which has been a key factor to the White House’s pandemic response efforts, according to the notice.

HHS noted that the daily collection of COVID-19 information is crucial for identifying needs for federal support in addition to being “the most effective way to detect outbreaks”. The department will accept responses to the ICR through Feb. 22nd.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology (DHS S&T) Directorate has earmarked $36.5 million to fund a 10-year research effort on counterterrorism technology and the security of crowded places.

DHS said Monday that it seeks multidisciplinary academic entities that will work with the department and other experts in mathematics, analytics and engineering for efforts under DHS’s newly established Center of Excellence for Engineering Secure Environments from Targeted Attacks. 

The department intends to select a university or institution as the center lead that will manage homeland security issues with a focus on combating domestic terrorism, extremism and targeted attacks in crowded places including cities.

William Bryan, acting undersecretary for S&T, said the funding opportunity is meant to help DHS mitigate long-term threats to the country's built environments and surface transportation through new engineering concepts.

DHS plans to hold a webinar for the funding opportunity on Feb. 4th. Proposals for the initiative are due on March 10th.

President Biden signed an executive order that directs federal agencies to purchase U.S-made products and services as part of efforts to support U.S. businesses, manufacturers and workers and strengthen the enforcement of Buy American laws.

The EO orders a centralized evaluation of agency waivers of Buy American provisions and requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to post waivers on a public website, the White House said Monday.

“This Executive Order fulfills President Biden’s promise to make Buy American real and close loopholes that allow companies to offshore production and jobs while still qualifying for domestic preferences,” the document reads.

The policy creates a new position – director of Made-in-America – at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to oversee the EO’s implementation, orders an increase in the domestic content threshold and directs agencies to use the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to establish connections with domestic suppliers. 

Agencies should also submit reports on how they implement Made in America laws and offer recommendations for achieving the administration’s objectives related to such regulations.