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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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Report: State Dept Launches Cybersecurity Directorate
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Report: State Dept Launches Cybersecurity Directorate


Report: State Dept Launches Cybersecurity DirectorateThe State Department has formed a new cybersecurity office within the Diplomatic Security Service in May to help address cyber threats, The Hill reported Monday.

A department official told the publication that the new Cyber and Technology Security directorate will deliver cyber threat analysis, incident detection and response, cyber investigation and emerging technology support.

The office will also help the department’s chief information officer ensure that embassies, consulates and foreign affairs officers meet cybersecurity requirements, the report noted.

The establishment of CTS follows reports of a planned cybersecurity reorganization at the State Department.

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Army’s Microsatellite Demonstrator Launches Aboard SpaceX Rocket to Support Tactical Comms
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Army’s Microsatellite Demonstrator Launches Aboard SpaceX Rocket to Support Tactical Comms


Army's Microsatellite Demonstrator Launches Aboard SpaceX Rocket to Support Tactical CommsA U.S. Army microsatellite lifted off aboard SpaceX‘s Falcon 9 rocket Monday to demonstrate collection and delivery of real-time imagery data from space to tactical warfighters on ground.

Kestrel Eye launched from NASA‘s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of SpaceX’s 12th cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, the Army said Monday.

The 100-pound microsatellite demonstrator is built by Adcole Maryland Aerospace and designed to help troops send and receive electro-optical images from the satellite.

“We have every expectation that placing Kestrel Eye into orbit will confirm our premise that an electro-optical microsatellite, tasked directly by the warfighter, will fill a critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance gap for brigade combat team and below tactical users,” said Tom Webber, director of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s Tech Center.

Webber added the service branch will perform a series of functional checks on the satellite once deployed from the space station.

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