DHS Seeks CTO for Natl Protection & Programs Directorate
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DHS Seeks CTO for Natl Protection & Programs Directorate


DHS Seeks CTO for Natl Protection & Programs DirectorateThe Department of Homeland Security looks for a chief technology officer to work at DHS’ National Protection and Programs Directorate in Arlington, Virginia.

A USAJobs notice posted Friday says the incumbent will identify technologies that can aid the mission of the department’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications as well as oversee technology programs across CS&C components.

The selected applicant will also provide technical expertise for broadband communication programs, identify emerging technology platforms for communications interoperability, coordinate cyber research and development efforts and direct resolution of cybersecurity-related issues.

The position requires knowledge of cybersecurity and communications networks and systems acquisition, as well as previous experience in outreach engagement programs focused on communications and cyber innovation.

DHS will accept applications until Aug. 25.

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DHS, TSA Test New Touch-Free Biometric Fingerprint Tech
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DHS, TSA Test New Touch-Free Biometric Fingerprint Tech


DHS, TSA Test New Touch-Free Biometric Fingerprint TechThe Department of Homeland Security‘s science and technology directorate and the Transportation Security Administration have begun to test touch-free fingerprint scanners at two airports with the goal to shorten the passenger identity verification process.

DHS said Tuesday the Advanced Optical Systems-built biometric fingerprint platforms are currently used in certain lanes at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and Denver International Airport for travelers registered under the TSA Precheck program.

The touch-free scanners allow Precheck members to use fingerprints as their boarding pass and identity document.

S&T will assess the non-contact technology’s usability and compare such platforms with traditional contact sensors to address potential use errors.

The new fingerprint scanners were introduced by TSA’s Innovation Task Force, which works to identify technologies that can optimize screening activities.

The test series will support TSA’s efforts to determine whether biometrics can replace boarding passes in the future.

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NIST Seeks Comments on Updated Security, Privacy Controls Guidance
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NIST Seeks Comments on Updated Security, Privacy Controls Guidance


NIST Seeks Comments on Updated Security, Privacy Controls GuidanceThe National Institute of Standards and Technology has begun to seek public comments on a draft version of its updated special publication on privacy and security controls for government and industry data systems, Nextgov reported Tuesday.

NIST will accept public feedback through Sept. 12 with a plan to release the final draft of the document before the end of 2017.

The draft marks the fifth update to NIST’s Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations publication and seeks to modify the controls’ structure to make them more “outcome-based.”

NIST said the draft special publication aims to establish a consolidated set of controls for data platforms through the integration of privacy controls into the security control catalog and facilitate integration with the Cybersecurity Framework and other risk management and cyber approaches.

The draft document also introduces new controls based on empirical attack information and threat intelligence data and seeks to clarify the relationship between privacy and security to help streamline the selection of controls needed to address risks.

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DARPA Tests Elevated Sensor Mast Aboard Navy Patrol Ship
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DARPA Tests Elevated Sensor Mast Aboard Navy Patrol Ship


DARPA Tests Elevated Sensor Mast Aboard Navy Patrol ShipThe Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has tested a prototype of an elevated sensor mast aboard the U.S. Navy‘s USS Zephyr patrol coastal ship in an effort to boost the vessel’s communication range and capacity to detect, track and classify objects of interest.

DARPA said Tuesday the USS Zephyr crew facilitated a three-day effort near Naval Station Mayport, Florida to evaluate a prototype of the Towed Airborne Lift of Naval Systems.

The TALONS parafoil system is designed to lift communications payloads and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance instruments as heavy as 150 pounds at up to 1,500 feet above sea level to optimize the equipment’s range and effectiveness.

“In the next year, we will continue our cooperative relationship with the U.S. Navy and work toward fully automating launch and recovery, which would make the system even easier to use on manned vessels and compatible with unmanned surface vessels,” said Scott Littlefield, a program manager at DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office.

The demonstration aboard USS Zephyr follows a joint test in 2016 between TALONS and a prototype vessel from DARPA’s Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel program.

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Report: USMC Requests Additional 50,000 M27 Automatic Rifles for Military Troops
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Report: USMC Requests Additional 50,000 M27 Automatic Rifles for Military Troops


Report: USMC Requests Additional 50,000 M27 Automatic Rifles for Military TroopsThe U.S. Marine Corps has requested for an additional 50,000 automatic rifles for the service branch’s riflemen, combat engineers and light armored reconnaissance battalion scouts, Marine Corps Times reported Wednesday.

The 5.56 mm M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles, which will replace the service branch’s current M4 assault rifles, feature a 30-round magazine and can fire up to 40 rounds per minute in both semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes.

Gen. Robert Neller, commandant of the Marine Corps, said that he plans to equip every 0311 rifleman in the service branch with the M27 IAR weapon system.

USMC began to field the 4,000 system in 2010 initially to succeed the M249 automatic rifles before the service branch decided on using both weapon systems.

Marines from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines first used the M27 IAR platform in combat at Garmser, Afghanistan in 2011.

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Industry Experts Advise GovCon Firms to Prepare for Possible Govt Shutdown
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Industry Experts Advise GovCon Firms to Prepare for Possible Govt Shutdown


Industry Experts Advise GovCon Firms to Prepare for Possible Govt ShutdownIndustry experts and former White House officials have urged government contractors to start discussing the effects of a potential federal shutdown in October with contracting officers, Government Executive reported Monday.

David Berteau, president of the Professional Services Council, said Monday at a PSC-hosted event in Virginia that GovCon companies should maintain relationships with agency employees to continue to seek information from them in the event of a shutdown if Congress fails to approve a spending package for fiscal 2018.

Industry experts said contractors should consider several factors in the wake of a shutdown, such as the need to notify employees of a stop work order and capacity to pay staff if companies fail to receive reimbursements from agencies.

“Now is the right time to understand the nature of your contract,” said Alan Chvotkin, an executive vice president and counsel at PSC.

The panelists also advised GovCon firms to take into account their expenses related to stop work orders and renewal option on their contracts, the report added.

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GAO: DoD Should Expand Use of Checklists to Aid FMS Clients in Requirements Specification
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GAO: DoD Should Expand Use of Checklists to Aid FMS Clients in Requirements Specification


GAO: DoD Should Expand Use of Checklists to Aid FMS Clients in Requirements SpecificationThe Government Accountability Office has called on the Defense Department to issue guidelines to expand the use of checklists and other tools in order to help program offices and foreign military sales customers define requirements and facilitate the delivery of services and equipment.

GAO made the recommendation after it analyzed FMS-related acquisition data between fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2016 as well as examined 32 FMS cases, the agency said in a report published Monday.

The report showed that firm-fixed-price contracts made up 99 percent of contract awards over the past decade and noted a rise in the use of fixed-price-incentive contracts by service branches for certain cases where cost savings could be achieved.

The congressional watchdog also identified factors that appear to contribute to price hikes and delays in FMS programs.

These include the discovery of defects in equipment during the testing phase, budget uncertainty and delays in contract awards.

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Report: North Korea Delays Planned Guam Missile Strike
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Report: North Korea Delays Planned Guam Missile Strike


Report: North Korea Delays Planned Guam Missile StrikeNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has postponed his plans for a missile strike near the U.S. territory of Guam, Reuters reported Tuesday.

The report said North Korea’s threat to fire missiles toward Guam heightened tensions in the region and President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. military would be ready if Kim acted on his plans.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said any military action on the Korean peninsula can only be initiated with South Korea’s consent and that he will exert all means necessary to prevent war.

The Korean Central News Agency released photos of Kim pointing at a map that showed a missile flight path heading for Guam.

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SBA Selects 21 Awardees for Small Business Innovation Support Grants; Linda McMahon Comments
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SBA Selects 21 Awardees for Small Business Innovation Support Grants; Linda McMahon Comments


SBA Selects 21 Awardees for Small Business Innovation Support Grants; Linda McMahon CommentsThe U.S. Small Business Administration has awarded grants to 21 state and local economic development entities, small business development centers, colleges and universities in support of efforts to foster small business innovation.

SBA said Monday that it issued one-year grants worth up to $125,000 in fiscal 2017 for 16 recipients under the Federal and State Technology partnership program which aims to stimulate economic development through outreach and technical assistance for small businesses.

The FAST program also helps partners compete for Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

SBA noted that the FAST grant recipients will look to help commercialize technology through SBIR grants, assist small business R&D efforts, transfer technology from universities to small businesses, develop proposals for small businesses and support technological innovation.

The agency also awarded grants up to $200,000 to five Small Business Technology Development Centers that aid technology-driven small businesses.

“SBA is looking forward to working with these organizations to increase the understanding of the SBIR/STTR programs,” said Linda McMahon, SBA administrator.

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GAO: OMB Should Implement Strategies on Reporting Requirements
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GAO: OMB Should Implement Strategies on Reporting Requirements


GAO: OMB Should Implement Strategies on Reporting RequirementsThe Government Accountability Office has urged the Office of Management and Budget to fully implement the process used to accelerate reporting requirements.

GAO said in a report published Monday that it recommended OMB to reference report modification proposals on the President’s annual budget as required under the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010.

The government watchdog also directed OMB to email instructions to agencies regarding the submission of proposals to eliminate or modify reports in accordance with guidance on GPRAMA and the Circular A-11 directive.

OMB published three lists which contained 523 proposals in total since the passage of GPRAMA in 2010.

The agency cited the relatively static nature of reporting requirements as a cause for only implementing the report modification process every other year.

The government watchdog also discovered that the OMB has published agencies’ proposals on the Performance.gov website and not on the mandated President’s annual budget.

 

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