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James Clapper: ODNI Considers Constant Cyber Intrusions a ‘Primary Concern’
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James Clapper: ODNI Considers Constant Cyber Intrusions a ‘Primary Concern’


James Clapper
James Clapper

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has said his office considers small cyber attacks and network intrusions that occur on a daily basis a major concern, Federal Times reported Thursday.

“They impose increasing costs to our businesses, to U.S. economic competitiveness and to national security,” Clapper told audience during the Naval Academy’s Cyber Lecture Series held Jan. 29.

Clapper also noted that cyber vulnerabilities have become the No. 1 threat to national security and will likely to continue in the next year, Aaron Boyd writes.

“A lot of people find this surprising in our post-9/11 world but in 2013 ‘cyber’ bumped ‘terrorism’ out of the top spot on our list of national threats,” he said.

“And cyber has led our report every year since then.”

Clapper said the Intelligence Community has initiated efforts to raise awareness on cyber threats, according to the report.

Mary Davie: GSA’s FAS Arm, DHA Forge $5B Health IT Procurement Partnership
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Mary Davie: GSA’s FAS Arm, DHA Forge $5B Health IT Procurement Partnership


health infosecThe General Services Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service and the Defense Health Agency have formed a seven-year partnership to invest $5.4 billion toward the procurement of health information technology services and systems.

Mary Davie
Mary Davie

Mary Davie, head of FAS’ integrated technology office, said in a Thursday blog post DHA will purchase new health IT services through GSA’s Schedule 70 and the Alliant, Alliant SB, 8(a)STARS II and VETS government-wide acquisition contracts under the partnership.

DHA also intends to procure professional services via GSA’s One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services vehicle.

After DHA posted its requirements on the Office of Management and Budget’s MAX system, GSA started to work with DHA to develop an agreement for the use of GSA’s IT contracts and electronic tools to conduct market research, acquisition planning, solicitation development and reporting.

During a Jan. 20 industry day, DHA and GSA shared development work on the Schedule 70 Health IT Special Item Number with the goal to help DHA pick health IT companies.

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DoD IG: Transcom Contracting Staff Need Training to Better Monitor GPC III Contractors’ Performance
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DoD IG: Transcom Contracting Staff Need Training to Better Monitor GPC III Contractors’ Performance


PentagonThe Defense Department‘s inspector general has called on U.S. Transportation Command to equip its contracting staff with system tools and training in order to properly track the performance of vendors under the Global Privately Owned Vehicle Contract III program.

DoD IG said in a report published Wednesday it performed an audit of Transcom’s GPC III in response to a congressional request.

The IG said it found that the command’s contracting personnel and Surface Deployment and Distribution Command staff have not implemented certain measures designed to ensure proper administration of the contract.

The report cited that contracting officers and their representatives did not adopt procedures stipulated in quality assurance plans that aim to monitor the performance of vendors.

Invoices that were certified by contracting officer representatives lack total billing amount or unit prices, according to the report.

The IG also noted that Transcom has set up customer response and fusion teams in a move to address client concerns and evaluate the contract.

“However, both teams were a temporary and unique means to address GPC III contractor performance concerns and were not intended as a substitute for the normal contract oversight process,” the IG report said.

Keith Hall Testifies at House Committee Hearing on CBO’s Federal Budget Outlook
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Keith Hall Testifies at House Committee Hearing on CBO’s Federal Budget Outlook


Keith Hall
Keith Hall

Keith Hall, director of the Congressional Budget Office, told House Budget Committee members Thursday the agency has forecast the U.S. deficit will grow over the next 10 fiscal years if the current government spending authority and a package of tax cut extensions remain unchanged.

Hall said in a written testimony CBO projects a cumulative 10-year federal deficit of $8.5 trillion, about $1.5 trillion more than the projection the agency made six months ago.

“Half of that increase stems from the effects of laws enacted since August — especially the extension of tax provisions that reduce corporate and individual income taxes,” he told the committee.

“About 30 percent of the increase is caused by changes in the economic forecast.”

“The remainder of the increase is primarily in our estimates of outlays.”

He noted that overall federal spending is projected to increase by $2.5 trillion from fiscal 2016 to fiscal 2026 and nearly half of that increase will be driven by Social Security and Medicare investments.

CBO also forecasts government revenues will remain stable relative to the size of U.S. economy in the next 10 fiscal years, Hall added.

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Breaking Defense: Frank Kendall Forms New Electronic Warfare Office
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Breaking Defense: Frank Kendall Forms New Electronic Warfare Office


Frank Kendall
Frank Kendall

Frank Kendall, defense undersecretary of acquisition, technology and logistics and co-chair of the executive committee on electronic warfare, has created a new EW office within that committee, Breaking Defense reported Wednesday.

Sydney Freedberg Jr. writes Kendall also picked a Senior Executive Service official to lead the newly created office.

Jay Kistler, Pentagon’s director of EW and countermeasures, told a National Defense Industrial Association breakfast that the selection of Bill Connelly for the SES took place in December, according to the report.

“We needed an office that could act as the secretariat for this, that could be the focal point for gathering that information,” Kistler told reporters.

Kendall and Gen. Paul Selva, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serve as co-chairs of the executive committee on EW, with senior civilian acquisition executive and uniformed four-star vice chief representing each service, Breaking Defense reports.

Rep. Bill Shuster’s Air Traffic Control Privatization Bill Draws FAA Modernization Concerns
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Rep. Bill Shuster’s Air Traffic Control Privatization Bill Draws FAA Modernization Concerns


Rep. Bill Shuster
Rep. Bill Shuster

Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) has introduced a bill that seeks to privatize the U.S. air traffic control system amid what he calls “inefficient” modernization efforts by the Federal Aviation Administration, USA Today reported Wednesday.

Bart Jansen writes that Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said the proposed Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act would protect the air traffic control system from potential budget uncertainty.

“[The problems] will only get worse as passenger levels grow and as the FAA falls further behind in modernizing the system,” the lawmaker said, according to the report.AirportRunway

Jansen reports that supporters believe the bill aims to help accelerate the upgrade of air traffic control equipment and changes in flight path, while some lawmakers and groups have expressed concerns over oversight, accountability and costs.

The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists said Wednesday it opposes the proposed privatization due to its potential impact on FAA’s ongoing modernization program.

“It is paramount to ensure that the FAA has a consistent and adequate funding stream,” PASS said in the joint statement with the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

“However, this does not require changing the entire structure and turning it over to a private corporation to make funding and governing decisions,” they said.

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ICF-NAPA Study: 87% of Federal Managers Want Agency Access to Digital Tech
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ICF-NAPA Study: 87% of Federal Managers Want Agency Access to Digital Tech


digital governmentEighty-seven percent of more than 10,000 senior federal managers who responded to a survey by ICF International and the National Academy of Public Administration  said they believe their agencies should have access to digital technology.

ICF and NAPA surveyed agency officials for their Federal Leaders Digital Insight Study between Aug. 19 and Sept. 24 last year in order to determine how well government organizations adopt and utilize new technology.

Participants in the survey were responsible for agency digital environment, strategy, workforce training recruitment, retention and acquisition functions.

Almost three-quarters of respondents reported digital technology has helped  increase employee productivity at their agencies, up 10 percent from the previous iteration of the survey.

“While 2015 was a challenging year, with a renewed and intensified interest in cybersecurity, agency leaders continue to see the benefits of a digital workplace,” said Jeff Neal, an ICF senior vice president and a NAPA fellow.

A panel of NAPA fellows made eight recommendations following the survey in an effort to help government address digital technology goals without new legislation or change of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

The panel recommended that the Office of Management and Budget develop an innovation playbook and case studies on how agencies can adopt new processes with digital technology.

Texas Seeks Input on Small Surveillance Balloons
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Texas Seeks Input on Small Surveillance Balloons


operational-security1The Texas Department of Public Safety has kicked off search for small surveillance balloons intended to help detect drug trafficking and smuggling on the border, Valley Central reported Friday.

Dave Hendricks writes the department released a request for information in December for what it describes as light-weight and “rapidly deployable persistent surveillance systems.”

State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, expressed support for the plan, according to the report.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency currently deploys surveillance balloons over the Donna, Peñitas, Sullivan City, Roma and Falfurrias areas to watch for immigrants and drug smugglers, Valley Central reports.

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GAO: DHS Should Modify Testing, Evaluation Process for Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter Program
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GAO: DHS Should Modify Testing, Evaluation Process for Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter Program


US-Coast-Guard-cutterThe Government Accountability Office has urged the Department of Homeland Security to modify the administration process during the testing and evaluation phase of the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter program.

GAO said in a report published Wednesday the Coast Guard should work to define key performance parameters for the operation of cutter boats under the NSC program.

Auditors made the recommendations after the U.S. Navy’s Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force found 10 major defects related to the cutters’ weapons systems and other equipment during the initial tests on the NSC program in 2014.

According to GAO, DHS’ guidance on acquisition does not mention procedures that should be conducted by program offices in response to the results of follow-on tests nor the timing for such tests.

Regarding the Offshore Patrol Cutter and Fast Response Cutter programs, the Coast Guard has made changes to its initial testing schedules, competition process and other aspects of procurement, according to the report.

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Jane Jarcho Adds SEC Compliance Inspections & Examinations Deputy Director Role; Marc Wyatt Comments
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Jane Jarcho Adds SEC Compliance Inspections & Examinations Deputy Director Role; Marc Wyatt Comments


Securities and Exchange CommissionJane Jarcho, national director of the investment adviser and investment company examination program within the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, has added the role of OCIE deputy director.

Jarcho previously served as an associate director of the investment adviser and investment company examination program at SEC’s regional office in Chicago before she was named the national director, SEC said Wednesday.

“Her deep experience with the national exam program, industry knowledge and proven managerial skills will be a tremendous asset in her new role,” said Marc Wyatt, OCIE director.

As head of the investment adviser and investment company examination program since 2013, Jarcho’s work focused on cybersecurity, unexamined investment advisers and investment companies, fixed-income and alternative mutual funds and retirement accounts.

She joined SEC in 1990 and has since held various roles such as branch chief, senior trial counsel and assistant regional director.

OCIE reviews investment advisers, investment companies, self-regulatory organizations, broker-dealers, clearing agencies and transfer agents registered with the SEC.

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