The General Services Administration‘s 18F organization has introduced an interagency project to help federal agencies implement commercial software products faster through an updated authority-to-operate certification process, FCW reported Thursday.

Project Boise aims to update the federal government’s software security compliance process that require an agency to obtain an ATO and comply with additional requirements prior to adoption of new commercial software.

The report said 18F also seeks to collaborate with agency chief information security officers, cybersecurity policymakers and private sector organizations in efforts to accelerate turnaround time of ATO certifications.

GSA partnered with the White House’s Office of American Innovation and the American Technology Council to automate the ATO process under the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program.

The Department of Homeland Security has hosted a weeklong event for public safety and private organizations to test multiple strategies and technologies designed to identify, locate and address illegal communication systems jamming.

DHS said Tuesday nearly 300 participants from across the U.S. took part during the 2017 First Responder Electronic Jamming Exercise that was held from July 16 to 22 at the Energy Department‘s Idaho National Laboratory.

Representatives from the Customs and Border Protection agency, the Marine Corps Warfighter Laboratory and the Federal Emergency Management Agency also participated in the event.

“Americans rely on first responders, and responders rely on their ability to communicate,” said William Bryan, acting undersecretary for science and technology.

“Mitigating the potential impacts of jamming is vital to ensure the security of American communities,” Bryan added.

DHS S&T and JamX 17 participants will collaborate to analyze data from the exercise as well as offer recommendations and operational tools to public safety and law enforcement personnel.

The Government Accountability Office has issued a report that describes efforts of select federal agencies to help communities plan and deploy projects related to internet of things.

GAO said Wednesday it reviewed data and interviewed leaders from 11 federal agencies that assist in research or community IoT projects or have direct authority over IoT matters.

The watchdog agency determined that eight of the 11 agencies reviewed perform broad research efforts on IoT-related technologies and concepts that include communications systems, wired and wireless network systems.

GAO also found out that the Transportation Department provided $40 million to help a community implement smart technologies designed to boost surface transportation service.

The Environmental Protection Agency allocated $40,000 for two communities to establish methods of deployment for air quality sensors, GAO added.

Officials told GAO that an interagency task force has drafted a Smart Cities and Communities Federal Strategic Plan and aims to finalize the plan this summer.

The National Research Council of Canada has met with leaders from the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security and Navy to discuss model testing and evaluation efforts under a U.S. heavy polar icebreaker acquisition program.

NRC said Wednesday it works to characterize the environment of ice conditions with the use of physical modeling techniques as part of the initial phase of the project.

The council also evaluates the models’ maneuverability and icebreaking resistance to help expand the team’s operational knowledge and establish baseline requirements for the future U.S. heavy polar icebreakers.

Rear Adm. Michael Haycock, assistant commandant for acquisition and chief acquisition officer at the U.S. Coast Guard, said that data gathered from the model testing efforts at the NRC will support the development of the heavy polar icebreaker system as well as help mitigate potential risks to the program.

Defense Research and Development Canada’s center for security science and DHS’ science and technology directorate co-manage the U.S.-Canada partnership that was established via the Critical Infrastructure Protection and Border Security Agreement.