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GSA Issues Final Transactional Data Reporting Rule; Tom Sharpe Comments
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GSA Issues Final Transactional Data Reporting Rule; Tom Sharpe Comments


GSAThe General Services Administration has released a final rule on its transactional data reporting process in an effort to help simplify the tracking and disclosure requirements for federal contractors.

GSA said Wednesday the rule will be published on Thursday and is applicable across the agency’s contract vehicles for information related to government purchases of goods and services such as descriptions, part numbers, quantities and prices.

GSA sought to remove the Commercial Sales Practices disclosures and Price Reductions Clause basis of award tracking requirement from GSA’s Federal Supply Schedules Program.

“Collecting and sharing transactional data is essential in order for GSA to provide information that federal buyers need to conduct meaningful analysis and successful negotiations on behalf of the taxpayers,” said Tom Sharpe, commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service.

Contractors must report via electronic means the key procurement data such as prices paid, quantity, standard part number and product description for all purchases made through GSA contract vehicles.

GSA also intends to help further the government’s transition to category management through the collection and analysis of information on federal agencies’ buying behavior and purchase costs.

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DISA Holds First Symposium on Command, Control Interoperability; Stephanie McMillan Comments
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DISA Holds First Symposium on Command, Control Interoperability; Stephanie McMillan Comments


Defense Information Systems Agency DISAThe Defense Information Systems Agency conducted its inaugural symposium on the command and control interoperability program at DISA’s headquarters from June 13 to 15.

DISA said Tuesday that the symposium’s goal was to help share information across combatant commands, develop a flexible approach to the program and standardize the management of the Command and Control Interoperability Boards.

“The symposium fulfilled a requirement in our governing documents,” said Stephanie McMillan, chief of the International Relations and Engagements Office.

DISA’s international relations and engagement office serves as the lead agent that oversees the CCIBs designated to the agency as part of the program.

“We are required, as a lead agent, to annually coordinate CCIB activity with the combatant commands in order to prioritize our support,” McMillan added.

The command and control interoperability program aims to implement information standards with allies and partners to support combatant commanders and to assist in interoperability testing through the Joint Interoperability Test Command.

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Lt. Gen. Joseph Lengyel: Current Global Threats Call For More Agile Forces
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Lt. Gen. Joseph Lengyel: Current Global Threats Call For More Agile Forces


Joseph Lengyel
Joseph Lengyel

Air Force Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel has said transregional challenges in the global security environment require the military to become more agile and the government to use all components of national power, DoD News reported Tuesday.

Jim Garamone writes Lengyel testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday for a confirmation hearing to become vice chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Lengyel noted the National Guard mobilized approximately 780,000 times since 9/11 to support the war while 3,000 to 4,000 guardsmen conduct domestic operations every day, Garamone quoted.

Lengyel added he will lead the National Guard to support the global security efforts as well as train leaders to motivate the force once he gets the Senate’s confirmation to become vice chief.

President Barack Obama nominated Lengyel in April to succeed Army Gen. Frank Grass and lead 453,000 service members of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.

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Thomas Atkin: DoD Cooperates with Federal, Industry Partners to Secure Cyberspace
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Thomas Atkin: DoD Cooperates with Federal, Industry Partners to Secure Cyberspace


cyberThomas Atkin, acting assistant secretary for homeland defense and global security at the Defense Department, has said DOD collaborates with federal agencies, companies and foreign allies to increase security against cyber risks, DoD News reported Wednesday.

Jim Garamone writes Atkin told House Armed Services Committee members Wednesday he believes the department must establish a culture of cybersecurity to protect its computer networks.

“More broadly, preventing cyber attacks against the U.S. homeland requires a whole-of-government, and a whole-of-nation approach,” Atkins told the committee.

“The strategy depends on the totality of U.S. actions, to include declaratory policy, overall defensive posture, effective response procedures, indications and warning capabilities and the resiliency of U.S. networks and systems.”

Atkin added the department is part of the country’s defense against cyber threats and deterrence measures will play a key role in the overall cybersecurity strategy of the U.S.

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House Committee Asks GAO to Assess OMB’s Management of Top 10 IT Priority Programs
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House Committee Asks GAO to Assess OMB’s Management of Top 10 IT Priority Programs


DataCenterThe House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has requested the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the Office of Management and Budget’s oversight of the top 10 priority initiatives for information technology.

House panel members told GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro in a letter published Tuesday to assess how the U.S. Digital Service prioritizes its resources and activities and how it collaborates with chief information officers of federal agencies to provide assistance on the implementation of the 10 highest priority investment projects in IT.

The lawmakers also asked Dorado to identify possible changes that OMB and USDS could make to their quarterly reports to Congress with regard to the status of those IT investment projects.

Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Will Hurd (R-Texas) signed the letter with Reps. Robin Kelly (D-Illinois), Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland), Mark Meadows (R-North Carolina), and Gerald Connolly (D-Virginia).

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Lt. Gen. James McLaughlin Briefs House Committee on Cyber Mission Force Structure
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Lt. Gen. James McLaughlin Briefs House Committee on Cyber Mission Force Structure


James McLaughlin
James McLaughlin

Air Force Lt. Gen. James McLaughlin, deputy commander of U.S. Cyber Command, has provided details of the Cyber Mission Force’s formation to lawmakers Wednesday during a House committee hearing, DoD News reported Wednesday.

McLaughlin told the House Armed Services Committee that the Cyber Mission Force currently has 46 operational teams and 59 teams with initial capability status as of June 10.

“These teams currently comprise 4,684 total people that we will build eventually to 6,187 when we finish,” he noted, according to the publication.

McLaughlin said at the meeting the Cyber Mission Force will work to help protect Defense Department information networks and support combatant commander missions.

He added the command continues to provide training to the cyber force and cited a recently concluded annual Cyber Guard exercise.

The force aims to form 133 teams comprised of active-duty personnel and reserve component service members, according to DoD News.

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DoD Unveils Policy for Voluntary Phased Retirement of Full-Time Civilian Personnel
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DoD Unveils Policy for Voluntary Phased Retirement of Full-Time Civilian Personnel


workforceThe Defense Department has issued a policy for a voluntary program that aims to permit DoD civilian employees who are eligible for retirement to submit applications to work on a part-time basis at the department as well as receive a part of their retirement annuity, DoD News reported Wednesday.

DoD said in the directive-type memorandum released Tuesday that full-time civilian staff who plan to participate in the Phase Retirement Program will need to seek approval from authorized officials within DoD components.

The policy will also require component officials within the Pentagon to approve phased retirement requests based on written criteria that adhere to the regulations of the Office of Personnel Management, according to the document.

Civilian personnel that intend to participate in the program will work to facilitate knowledge transfer by mentoring “other employees for at least 20 percent of their working hours,” the document said.

DoD officials said components could also set timeframes for receipt of phased retirement requests through the development of implementation guidelines, according to DoD News.

Reports: House, Senate to Begin Work on Fiscal 2017 NDAA Reconciliation
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Reports: House, Senate to Begin Work on Fiscal 2017 NDAA Reconciliation


Capitol_BuildingA conference committee of House and Senate members will meet to discuss reconciliation of the chambers’ defense policy bills for the 2017 fiscal year, Defense News reported Wednesday.

Joe Gould writes Senate Armed Services Committee Staff Director Chris Brose and his House Armed Services Committee counterpart Bob Simmons said at an American Enterprise Institute-hosted event Tuesday that both House and Senate versions of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act seek to increase agility, innovation and readiness of the U.S. military.

“The objectives are the same, the intent is the same,” Brose was quoted as saying by Defense News.

A House-approved defense bill would provide $575.7 billion to support Defense Department operations in FY 2017 while the Senate version would allocate a $602 billion budget for DoD.

The report said Defense Ashton Carter and the White House oppose the House’s strategy to shift $18 billion in war funds to the defense base budget and the Senate’s proposal to parcel out the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics between two posts.

Brose indicated that SASC Chairman John McCain (R-Texas) may agree to redirect a portion of the overseas contingency fund in the upcoming conference negotiations on the NDAA, Breaking Defense’s Sydney Freedberg Jr. reported Tuesday.

“The majority of both the House and the Senate, bipartisan, voted that the funding was not adequate,” Simmons told the publication.

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Mike Poth Offers Updates on FirstNet’s Acquisition Process for Public Safety Broadband Network at Senate Hearing
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Mike Poth Offers Updates on FirstNet’s Acquisition Process for Public Safety Broadband Network at Senate Hearing


wireless-communicationsMike Poth, CEO of the First Responder Network Authority, has testified before the members of a Senate Commerce subcommittee to discuss the procurement process for the proposed national public safety broadband network for first responders.

Poth said in his testimony Tuesday that FirstNet’s source selection team has started the evaluation of bids from interested vendors after it closed the request for proposals process for the NPSBN program May 31.

He told lawmakers that FirstNet plans to make a contract award by Nov. 1 once it completes the review of proposals through a multi-phased approach.

FirstNet also aims to present to state and territorial governors in 2017 the final versions of “state plans” that detail how FirstNet plans to deploy the Radio Access Network in each state and territory, Poth said.

He also noted that FirstNet has conducted follow-up meetings with single point of contacts and public safety officials in 54 states and territories to discuss planning and implementation issues related to the proposed national wireless network during the second phase of the consultation process.

Poth also offered an update on FirstNet’s data collection efforts, outreach programs with tribal communities and consultation process with public safety personnel at federal agencies.

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Army Missile Center Develops 6 Component Tools for Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile Systems
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Army Missile Center Develops 6 Component Tools for Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile Systems


MissileDefenseThe U.S. Army‘s Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center has developed and tested six component technologies under the Small Organic Precision Munition Program to help meet Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System requirements.

The Army said June 16 the AMRDEC-built Small Warhead, Small Electronic Safety and Arming Device, Power, Secure Micro Digital Data Link, Image Stabilization/Autotracker and Laser Ranging Height Of Burst Sensor components were developed for LMAMS designed to disrupt enemy snipers or improvised explosive devices.

“If the capability doesn’t exist, AMRDEC invests missile science and technology funds to help create a solution, and work with our partners at the Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space throughout the system lifecycle once it becomes a program of record,” said Mike Richman, associate director of missile development at AMRDEC.

AMRDEC has created a battery technology that exceeds previous battery endurance requirements as well as an autotracker feature co-developed with the U.S. Air Force designed to help address operator workloads and meet Technology Readiness Level 6 standards.

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