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CISA’s Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Votes on Recommendations for Optimizing Cyber Defense Collaboration
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CISA’s Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Votes on Recommendations for Optimizing Cyber Defense Collaboration

Members of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, or CSAC, held its second quarterly meeting of 2024 to discuss and vote on recommendations for building an operational cyber defense collaboration.

Jen Easterly, director of CISA and a 2024 Wash100 awardee, joined the discussions with CSAC members to finalize recommendations for enhancing the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative, a public-private initiative aimed at boosting the cyber defenses of the critical infrastructure sector, CISA said.

“I am excited about the recommendations discussed today and look forward to reviewing them,” Easterly said. “I know they are thoughtful and innovative ideas that align with CISA’s priorities and mission as the previous recommendations have been.”

During the meeting, the members also heard updates from subcommittees, including the Building Resilience for Critical Infrastructure subcommittee’s efforts to promote cybersecurity and resilience programs across the critical infrastructure sector.

Established in 2021, CSAC comprises industry and government leaders who advise the agency on cybersecurity policies and programs.

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Energy Department Announces Voucher Program Opportunities, Eyes Accelerated Clean Energy Technology Adoption
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Energy Department Announces Voucher Program Opportunities, Eyes Accelerated Clean Energy Technology Adoption

The Office of Technology Transitions within the Department of Energy is reopening five voucher opportunities and launching two new ones worth $15 million under the Voucher Program.

Established in 2023 and financed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act as part of the Technology Commercialization Fund, the Voucher Program seeks to facilitate clean energy technology commercialization and address risks associated with technology adoption, the OTT said Tuesday.

Under the program, recipients apply for the capabilities they need to overcome challenges related to energy technology adoption. The recipients are matched with providers that possess those capabilities. The providers are paid by the government for the work they perform in support of the recipients.

The reopened voucher opportunities cover the following needs:

  • pre-demonstration commercialization support
  • performance validation, modeling and certification support
  • clean energy demonstration project siting and permitting support
  • commercialization support

The two new voucher opportunities cover the following needs:

  • planning and validation of industrial decarbonization projects
  • manufacturing conversion, retooling and retrofitting support

Organizations that are interested in becoming capability providers for these opportunities have until July 9 to respond.

A second submission period will be opened this summer for organizations that seek to become recipients for these opportunities.

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DOD Issues Memo on Assessing Joint Force Readiness to Accomplish Missions in Contested Cyber Environments
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DOD Issues Memo on Assessing Joint Force Readiness to Accomplish Missions in Contested Cyber Environments

The Department of Defense has released a memorandum to provide guidance for DOD components to develop standard metrics, terminology and policy to evaluate the readiness of the joint force in conducting assigned and designed missions in congested and contested cyber environments.

Ashish Vazirani, who performs the duties of undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness at DOD, signed the directive-type memo issued Wednesday.

The document expands the readiness reporting policy by including a unit’s ability to operate in congested and contested cyberspace environments and directs the joint force to incorporate the risk of operating in such environments when evaluating and exercising their operational plans.

The memo outlines the responsibilities of the DOD component heads, undersecretary of defense for policy, directors of combat support agencies and secretaries of military departments.

According to the document, the secretaries of military branches should implement joint force standards in the Defense Readiness Reporting System, a.k.a. DRRS, incorporate the challenges of operating in contested cyber environments into training exercises and update doctrine to include how to achieve designed and assigned missions in such environments.

The directive states that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be responsible for updating readiness reporting guidance and policy, supporting combatant commanders in joint training programs and exercises to perform missions in congested and contested cyber environments and implementing joint force standards and conditions in DRRS for operating in such environments.

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Bipartisan House Bill to Reauthorize, Expand Federal Government’s Counter-Drone Authorities
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Bipartisan House Bill to Reauthorize, Expand Federal Government’s Counter-Drone Authorities

House lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that would extend through Oct. 1, 2028, existing authorities that provide the departments of Homeland Security and Justice with key tools to counter the increasing threat posed by unmanned aircraft systems.

The House Homeland Security Committee said Tuesday the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety and Reauthorization Act of 2024 would prohibit DOJ and DHS from authorizing the use of counter-UAS platforms produced by certain foreign companies.

The proposed measure would direct DHS to establish a counter-UAS mitigation pilot program, authorize the procurement, deployment and operation of counter-drone systems by operators or owners of covered sites and critical infrastructure and work with DOJ to develop standards for counter-drone system training programs.

Under the legislation, the Federal Aviation Administration should develop counter-UAS system minimum performance requirements, establish a plan for counter-UAS operations at airports and ensure the safe operation of the National Airspace System.

The bill intends to clarify and improve coordination requirements between DOJ, DHS, FAA and the Department of Transportation and strengthen U.S. privacy and civil liberty protections.

“This legislation meets the moment by ensuring DHS and DOJ have the appropriate authorities to act swiftly and decisively to detect, track, and mitigate hostile drone use, and to coordinate effectively with other agencies like the FAA or law enforcement partners in this pursuit,” said Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Counter-UAS authorities are set to expire in October and Green said he expects the bill to pass through the House and Senate quickly.

Green introduced the measure with Reps. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., Sam Graves, R-Mo., Rick Larsen, D-Wash., and Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.

AFWERX Project Vanguard, DIU Advance Defense Technology Transition Through Funding Opportunities
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AFWERX Project Vanguard, DIU Advance Defense Technology Transition Through Funding Opportunities

A program under the Capital Initiative Division of the U.S. Air Force’s innovation arm is working with the National Security Innovation Network, a Department of Defense program office under the Defense Innovation Unit, to connect small businesses with funding resources to transition their technologies from laboratory to full-scale production.

The partnership between Project Vanguard and NSIN/DIU aims to advance small business projects and technologies by facilitating connections with government and private investors.

Small businesses with a Phase II or higher funding history under the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs can participate in the effort.

“Our ability to connect the innovation ecosystem is paramount to transitioning critical technologies,” said Col. Elliott Leigh, AFWERX director and chief commercialization officer for the Department of the Air Force. “Project Vanguard will facilitate these connections and help small businesses navigate our complex environment.”

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DIU Seeks Commercial Nuclear Micro-Reactors for Deployment in Army Installations
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DIU Seeks Commercial Nuclear Micro-Reactors for Deployment in Army Installations

The Defense Innovation Unit and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment are working together to ensure energy resilience at U.S. Army installations via the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations program.

To this end, the DIU has issued a commercial solutions opening to solicit commercial nuclear micro-reactor capabilities that can be scaled up for use at Army and other defense facilities, according to an article published Wednesday on the agency’s website.

The CSO envisions a prototype on-site nuclear power plant that can begin operations before the end of calendar year 2030 at an Army facility within the continental U.S.

Interested parties have until June 21 to submit solution briefs, which should describe the entire lifecycle of the nuclear power plant.

The solicitation may result in a prototype other transaction agreement, which in turn may result in a follow-on production OT agreement or contract.

DIU Seeks Commercial Nuclear Micro-Reactors for Deployment in Army Installations

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CDAO, Defense Innovation Unit Partner to Accelerate AI, Digital Tech Adoption; Radha Plumb Quoted
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CDAO, Defense Innovation Unit Partner to Accelerate AI, Digital Tech Adoption; Radha Plumb Quoted

The Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office and Defense Innovation Unit will speed up the adoption of AI, analytics, data, software and other digital capabilities under a memorandum of agreement codifying the collaboration between CDAO and DIU.

CDAO Radha Plumb signed the agreement with DIU Director Douglas Beck, the two agencies said in a joint release published Wednesday.

The agreement covers four key collaboration areas: scaling commercial AI into DOD; accelerating autonomy development and fielding; experimenting with digital technologies for the Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control initiative; and collaborating on department-level policy and governance efforts to accelerate AI and autonomy development and deployment, along with digital technology adoption.

Plumb said the partnership with DIU will enable CDAO to integrate industry tech platforms into its enterprise architecture to provide critical AI and digital capabilities.

“DIU’s mission and proven track record in identifying and adopting commercial technologies will allow CDAO to further accelerate the adoption of data, analytics, and artificial intelligence getting the best tech capabilities into the hands of our warfighters,” she added.

FAR Compliance: What You Need to Know Before Delivering Goods to the Government
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FAR Compliance: What You Need to Know Before Delivering Goods to the Government

FAR compliance is crucial for government contractors to maintain their ties with the federal government. Complying with these regulations allows companies to establish their trades, deliver goods and services and maintain honest and transparent transactions. 

If you’re looking to provide services and solutions to the government, read on to learn more about FAR compliance.

 

What is FAR?

Book with Federal Acquisition Regulation title
Photo by Yuriy K/ Shutterstock

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the primary set of regulations encompassing all government procurement aspects of executive agencies. It was formed through the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act of 1974, which created a standard for acquiring goods and services for federal agencies in the executive branch.

FAR ensures the delivery of top-caliber products and services while maintaining public trust and fulfilling public policy objectives.

As stated in section 1.102, the main goals of FAR are to:

(1) Satisfy the customer in terms of cost, quality and timeliness of the delivered product or service by, for example –

(i) Maximizing the use of commercial products and commercial services

(ii) Contracting with companies who have a track record of successful past performance or who have demonstrated the ability to perform

(iii) Promoting competition

(2) Minimize administrative operating costs

(3) Conduct business with integrity, fairness and openness

(4) Fulfill public policy objectives

Simply put, FAR compliance is a manual that government contractors must follow to deliver goods and services to federal agencies. It outlines what contractors can and can not charge in a federal contract. 

 

FAR Compliance Components: Where to Start?

Government contractors having a meeting
Photo by Ground Picture/ Shutterstock

Reading and understanding all eight subchapters and 53 parts of the FAR can be daunting, but there’s a handful of components that fledgling contractors can begin with. 

Outlined below are the key parts to help you get started in FAR compliance:

 

FAR Part 31 – Contract Cost Principles and Procedures

FAR Part 31 defines the procedures and principles involving contracting costs, such as establishing reasonableness, determining allocability and accounting for unallowable costs.

 

FAR Part 52 – Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses

FAR Part 52 covers the clauses and provisions on allowable costs and payments, including:

  • Reimbursement
  • Direct labor
  • Invoicing
  • Travel expenses
  • Bill payments
  • Warranties
  • Termination
  • Supplies and services
  • Indirect expenses

 

FAR Part 15 – Contracting by Negotiation

FAR Part 15 establishes the policies and processes for contract negotiations. It guides agencies in preparing proposals and contracts.

At the same time, it gives contractors an estimate of how long a contract negotiation takes to determine the final costs and pricing. It can help contractors gauge their submissions to agencies accordingly.

 

FAR Part 17 – Special Contracting Methods

FAR Part 17 encompasses specialized contracting arrangements, such as options, leader company and multi-year contracting. Multi-year contracts aim to lower costs, ensure production continuity, stabilize contractor workforces and reduce the administrative burden of contracts.

Moreover, FAR Part 17 clarifies the multi-year agreement requirements for the DoD, NASA and the Coast Guard, including:

  • Substantial cost savings
  • Unchanged procurement needs
  • Stable supply designs
  • Reasonable funding expectations
  • Realistic cost estimates

 

FAR Part 19 – Small Business Programs

FAR Part 19 covers many elements related to small businesses, including participation through HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned small businesses (WOSB) and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSB).

Additionally, section 19.202-1 promotes the involvement of small businesses in acquisitions and ensures equal opportunity to compete for federal contracts. 

 

FAR Part 36 – Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts

FAR Part 36 delves into the contracting procedures and policies for construction and architect-engineer services. It sheds light on standard form requirements and clauses for demolition, dismantling or removal of improvements.

 

Other Components to Consider

Besides the six essential FAR components, contractors also need to consider provisions for labor standards, intellectual property rights and other clauses.

Here are other FAR clauses to consider:

 

Termination for Convenience

This clause allows the government to end a contract at any time for any reason. While it gives the government flexibility in its procurement process, it poses a risk for contractors if they’ve already invested time and resources into fulfilling the contract’s orders.

 

Changes

Under this provision, the government is allowed to change the contract’s terms and conditions. That said, contractors must be prepared to adapt to these adjustments, whether small or drastic, to fulfill their end of the agreement.

 

Disputes

This clause defines the protocols for resolving disagreements between the government and contractor. It’s designed to promote fairness and transparency in the contracting process.

 

Small Business Subcontracting

Under this clause, large contractors are required to include smaller businesses in their subcontracting plan. It promotes small business participation in the government contracting process.

 

The Davis-Bacon Act

The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts oversee prevailing wages, regulations and standards that federal agencies must observe. This provision protects workers from being underpaid and prevents contractors from gaining an unfair advantage.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What Are the Different Types of FAR Contracts?

The six types of contracts governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation are:

  • Fixed-price
  • Cost-reimbursement
  • Incentive
  • Indefinite-delivery (requirements, definite-quantity and indefinite-quantity)
  • Agreements (basic and basic ordering)
  • Time-and-materials, labor-hour and letter

 

Does FAR Apply to All Government Agencies?

No, it doesn’t. FAR only applies to contracts awarded by agencies within the executive branch, such as the DOD, DOJ and VA.

Contracts from the legislative and judicial branches are subject to separate regulations.

 

What is DFARS?

FAR and DFARS may look and sound familiar, but they differ greatly in how they’re used. 

Any contracting entity working on a federal contract is subject to FAR compliance. Meanwhile,  only entities working with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must comply with the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement.

Additionally, DFARS is a supplement to FAR; contractors must still comply with FAR when working on contracts from the DoD.

 

You might also want to read: Beginner’s Guide to Becoming a Government Contractor

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Denise Oberndorf, Others on Army-Wide Capabilities Protection Initiative’s Role in Protecting Financial Data
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Denise Oberndorf, Others on Army-Wide Capabilities Protection Initiative’s Role in Protecting Financial Data

The Army-Wide Capabilities Protection initiative and Sensitive Activities Working Group play key roles in protecting the service branch’s critical financial data from threats posed by adversaries seeking to leverage U.S. military resources.

“Together, the AWCP initiative and SAWG’s efforts will better protect our data and prevent our adversaries from gaining leverage against the Army’s warfighting capabilities” according to an article co-written by cBEYONData’s Denise Oberndorf and Kelsey Buchanan and Tim Kuhl, chief of the Sensitive Activities Secure Financials division within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management & Comptroller).

The AWCP initiative is a multi-disciplinary team dedicated to facilitating collaboration across the Army to support operations and innovations while keeping data secure. The team aims to provide data protection while advancing the Army’s analytical and technological capabilities.

The Army’s financial domain is among the top priorities of the AWCP initiative, which aims to identify and mitigate data vulnerabilities that could leak information about Army capabilities.

POC - 2024 Army Summit

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 9th Annual Army Summit on June 13. Register here to reserve your seat and hear from Army officials about their most urgent priorities for 2024 and beyond.

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Air Force Global Strike Command Conducts Minuteman III ICBM Test
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Air Force Global Strike Command Conducts Minuteman III ICBM Test

A test launch involving an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, equipped with a reentry vehicle was conducted on June 4.

The ICBM took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and its reentry vehicle flew to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on the U.S. Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, over 4,000 miles away, according to an article posted Tuesday on the U.S. Air Force website.

The test was carried out by airmen from Air Force Global Strike Command with support from U.S. Space Force guardians. AFGSC commander Gen. Thomas Bussiere said the test sought to demonstrate the safety, effectiveness and readiness of the strategic deterrence capability of the U.S.

Various sensors were used to monitor the performance of the ICBM during the test.

The Air Force seeks to ensure the viability of the Minuteman ICBM until its successor, the LG-35A Sentinel, achieves full capability in the mid-2030s.

Air Force Global Strike Command Conducts Minuteman III ICBM Test

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