The General Services Administration has launched several efforts to manage cybersecurity of information technology products and services that vendors provide to customer agencies.

Mary Davie, assistant commissioner of the integrated technology service office at GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, wrote in a blog entry posted Monday the agency will establish a supply chain risk management program office to develop SCRM guidelines and review IT Schedule 70 contracts.

“The implementation of a SCRM capability will give customers confidence that our IT products come from original equipment manufacturers, their authorized resellers, or other “trusted” sources,” Davie stated.

She added her office collaborates with GSA, the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Homeland Security to identify a cost-reimbursable contracting tool for incident response services.

Davie’s office has also introduced a project that aims to categorize cybersecurity/information assurance offerings based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology‘s Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity.

GSA also works to help federal civilian agencies obtain access-control credentials through its USAccess shared service program as well as address identity management issues through the Federal Public-Key Infrastructure,  according to Davie.

She said the agency also integrated security requirements into the Alliant 2 and Alliant 2 Small Business contract vehicles and the Network Services Programs.

A team of researchers at the Air Force Institute of Technology has developed a prototype of a camera system designed to detect and locate individuals during surveillance, aerial search-and-rescue missions through skin detection, the Air Force reported Friday.

The multispectral camera platform works to distinguish human skin from common materials through the skin’s melanin content, Sandy Simison writes.

“Since melanin is the primary element contributing to skin’s color, it’s a valuable piece of information to extract,” said Michael Mendenhall, lead researcher at AFIT.

The research team plans to integrate mirror-like reflection that emanates from the skin with the algorithms for the camera system and consider in the future the presence of hair on the skin in an effort to improve skin color detection.

The U.S. Naval Education and Training Command has launched a new mobile application designed to provide uniformed personnel information on career development, credentialing and civilian career opportunities, the Navy reported Jan. 28.

The Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online mobile app was launched Thursday by NETC and is available for use on both iOS and Android-based mobile devices.

“This new app provides an expanded capability for sailors to help them translate the skills they’ve learned on the job into civilian credentials, career growth opportunities and related civilian occupations,” said Keith Boring, Navy COOL program manager.

The Navy COOL app has several tools, including Learning and Development Roadmaps to sailors’ career advancement, U.S. Military Apprenticeship Program trades and Rating Information Cards.