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GSA Publishes Contract Vehicle Guide for Purchasing ICT/OT Supply Chain Risk Management Tools
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GSA Publishes Contract Vehicle Guide for Purchasing ICT/OT Supply Chain Risk Management Tools

The General Services Administration issued a guide on government contract vehicles that agencies can use to procure cybersecurity supply chain risk management — or C-SCRM — tools and advisory services.

The document covers information and communications technology and operational technologies, or ICT and OCTs, which are faced with threats that are evolving in sophistication and can put government information at great risk, GSA said Saturday.

Global ICT/OT supply chains have been hit with deliberate and unintentional disruptions in recent years. Weather events as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by attacks such as zero-day vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange and the SolarWinds Orion breach have affected tens of thousands of organizations and businesses.

GSA stressed to agencies that effective C-SCRM software and hardware cover all of ICT/OT design, development, production, distribution, deployment, purchase and distribution until their disposal. Organizations should conduct cybersecurity risk assessments prior to acquiring such products to specifically address their operational vulnerabilities.

GSA provided a list of risk factors addressed by the multiple-award schedule and other government wide acquisition contract vehicles, including specific contract types for purchasing anti-counterfeiting and value chain management systems to protect ICT/OT supply chain.

The Potomac Officers Club is gathering experts from government and industry to discuss the expanding role of cyber in the public sector. Register early for the 2024 Cyber Summit on June 6.

POC - 2024 Cyber Summit
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EY Audit Affirms Accuracy of Marine Corps Financial Statements, Notes Deficiencies in Internal Controls
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EY Audit Affirms Accuracy of Marine Corps Financial Statements, Notes Deficiencies in Internal Controls

The financial statements of the U.S. Marine Corps truthfully and fairly represent the military service’s financial information for fiscal year 2023, according to Ernst & Young.

EY issued its unmodified opinion following the conclusion of a two-year audit of the Marine Corps, for which the professional services provider was selected to serve as an independent accounting firm, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General said Friday.

Despite the unmodified opinion, EY noted material weaknesses within the Marine Corps’ internal financial reporting controls, resulting in the need to implement substantive-based testing, which began in fiscal year 2022.

The entire audit ultimately covered $46.3 billion in Marine Corps assets, with EY checking over 3,000 documents, evaluating more than 25 million sample items and performing over 70 site visits. Three reports were produced:

  • Report on Audit of the Financial Statements
  • Report of Independent Auditors on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
  • Report of Independent Auditors Compliance and Other Matters

EY carried out the work under the oversight of the DODIG.

Inspector General Robert Storch described the audit as “unprecedented” and touted the “tremendous amount of work” that had to be done to complete the process.

Storch also called on the Marine Corps to address the material weaknesses identified during the audit, saying, “These efforts will be important for the U.S. Marine Corps to improve audit efficiency and establish sustained financial reporting and operational readiness.”

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William Dunlap Named Acting Deputy DOD CIO for Information Enterprise
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William Dunlap Named Acting Deputy DOD CIO for Information Enterprise

William Dunlap, most recently principal director within the information enterprise office at the Department of Defense, has been appointed acting deputy chief information officer for information enterprise at DOD, Federal News Network reported Friday.

He has taken on the interim role after Lily Zeleke “took over new responsibilities” within the office of the DOD CIO, Cmdr. Tim Gordon, a spokesman for the Pentagon, told FNN in an email.

Dunlap previously served as CIO and director of the information technology directorate at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

His two-decade career at DARPA included time as chief of classified IT operations and Special Access Program CIO.

He also served in the U.S. Air Force as a Security Forces member.

POC - 5th Annual CIO Summit

Register here to join the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual CIO Summit on April 17 and learn more about the latest modernization strategies and how industry can help meet the priorities of federal CIOs.

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DOD, GSA & NASA Release Interim Rule on SDVOSB Certification
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DOD, GSA & NASA Release Interim Rule on SDVOSB Certification

The Department of Defense, NASA and the General Services Administration have issued an interim rule to implement the final rules by the Small Business Administration with regard to the certification of service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

The provisional rule was introduced as an amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement sections of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal years 2021 and 2022, according to a Federal Register notice published Friday.

Section 862 of FY 2021 NDAA moves the verification of SDVOSBs from the Department of Veterans Affairs to SBA and establishes a certification requirement for such businesses seeking set-aside and sole-source awards under the SDVOSB program within the federal government.

Meanwhile, section 863 of FY 2022 NDAA requires that a small business determined ineligible by SBA for SDVOSB certification to update its status in the System for Award Management within two days of the eligibility determination.

The interim rule intends to implement SBA’s governmentwide certification program for SDVOSBs and update protest procedures for such business concerns.

Interested stakeholders have until April 23 to submit comments that will help inform the final rule.

Executive Mosaic Celebrates 5th Wash100 Wins for Chris Brady & Dave Levy
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Executive Mosaic Celebrates 5th Wash100 Wins for Chris Brady & Dave Levy

Chris Brady, president of General Dynamics Mission Systems, and Dave Levy, vice president of worldwide public sector at Amazon Web Services, were honored by Executive Mosaic on Monday as winners of the 2024 Wash100 Award.

The annual accolade recognizes the 100 most inspiring, impactful and accomplished executives working in the U.S. federal government and the government contracting industry. The 2024 Wash100 lists the executives to watch in the coming year, as they are sure to make meaningful strides within their organizations and positively contribute to government missions.

Brady secured his fifth consecutive Wash100 Award for his outstanding leadership of General Dynamics’ Mission Systems subsidiary and for his unwavering support to U.S. military missions. Brady has been with GDMS for more than two decades and has served as president for the past five and a half years. Executive Mosaic CEO Jim Garrettson said Brady “embodies the core principles of effective leadership.” 

Read more about why we selected Chris Brady to this year’s Wash100 list here. 

Like Brady, Levy also earned his fifth Wash100 Award this year. Levy was named to the 2024 Wash100 list for driving the adoption of cloud, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies across the public sector. 

“I am honored to win the 2024 Wash100 Award, and I look forward to continuing to innovate and develop solutions that help our customers overcome some of the world’s biggest problems,” Levy said, commenting on his win. Read Levy’s Wash100 profile here. 

Vote for Chris Brady and Dave Levy as your favorite 2024 Wash100 winners at Wash100.com! Voting closes April 30, and the winners of the popular vote competition will be announced in May. 

4 Reasons You Don’t Want to Miss POC’s AI Summit
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4 Reasons You Don’t Want to Miss POC’s AI Summit

Artificial intelligence thought leaders, government decision makers and senior industry executives will come together on March 21 to share their insights into the future of AI in the public sector at the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual AI Summit — register here.

4 Reasons You Don’t Want to Miss POC’s AI Summit

AI has undoubtedly taken both the public and private sectors by storm in the past couple of years, especially with recent major advancements in generative AI. Today, executives in the government contracting sector can’t afford to be behind the curve in AI.

Here are four reasons why you should attend POC’s AI Summit in March:

1. Harness unparalleled networking opportunities

The AI Summit is one of the Potomac Officers Club’s largest events of the year, bringing out hundreds of AI experts from government and industry. As an attendee, you’ll have a unique opportunity to meet other leaders in your field, expand your network, create lasting partnerships and unlock potential business opportunities.

Potomac Officers Club events are only open to senior executives who are director level or above, meaning you’ll be networking with only the most elite representatives industry has to offer.

2. Stay up-to-date with rapid AI advancements

AI developments are occurring at rapid speeds, making it more important than ever for GovCon executives to stay in-the-know and updated on the latest news, research and breakthroughs. At POC’s AI Summit, you’ll have the chance to hear directly from government leaders about the AI challenges, opportunities and threats they find most relevant and important today and into the future.

Attendees will hear perspectives from the Department of Defense, the CIA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, DARPA, the Department of Homeland Security, the Defense Intelligence Agency and more at the day-long event.

3. Learn more about upcoming contract opportunities

Many of the agencies represented at the AI Summit have open requests for information or requests for proposals for a wide range of AI contract opportunities. And furthermore, some of our confirmed speakers deal directly with acquisition and procurement for their agencies. The AI Summit is the perfect forum to find out more about what agencies are prioritizing now and into the future and get a better understanding of what they’re looking for from industry.

4. Represent your company at one of GovCon’s largest AI conferences

More than 110 GovCon companies will be represented at POC’s 5th Annual AI Summit — will yours? Join the conversation and position your company as a leader in AI by attending the summit and participating in the Q&A and networking sessions.

Did you know POC membership offers you access to Executive Mosaic’s industry-leading media footprint and discounted or waived registration for events like the AI Summit? Learn more about POC membership here.

Leslie Beavers: DoD Principal Deputy CIO Keynotes the 5th Annual CIO Summit
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Leslie Beavers: DoD Principal Deputy CIO Keynotes the 5th Annual CIO Summit

Leslie Beavers is the Department of Defense’s Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer (CIO). With over 30 years of experience in IT and intelligence across commercial and defense sectors, she is poised as an effective opening keynote speaker for the 5th Annual CIO Summit on April 17, 2024.

 

Discover how the DoD Principal Deputy CIO stepped up to become one of the pivotal leaders in information security, communications, and cybersecurity.

 

Register for the 5th Annual CIO Summit. Learn more about the innovative solutions from prominent CIOs in transforming the public sector’s digital landscape.

 

About Leslie Beavers

 

Leslie Beavers has an impressive career, having worked for equal amounts of time in the private sector and the Department of Defense. This gives her a unique perspective on intelligence, operations, and decision-making in a wide array of industries, such as defense, media, healthcare, and oil. Leslie brings this culmination of expertise as the DoD Principal Deputy CIO.

 

Back when she was the Director of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Enterprise Capabilities (ISREC), Leslie Beavers led the OUSD(I&S) ‘s Defense Intelligence Digital Transformation Campaign Plan, also known as Project Herald.

 

Project Herald aims to advance the DoD’s delivery of intelligence to warfighters through a holistic shift in applying enterprise-wide management functions and existing capabilities into current organizational services. The project provides a unified focus to realize next-generation facilities at the speed of war.

 

Leslie Beavers: Opening Keynote at the 5th Annual CIO Summit

 

Banner of the 5th Annual CIO Summit

 

  • When: April 17, 2024 (7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m./ ET)
  • Where: Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, VA 22311

 

Leslie Beavers is the opening keynote speaker for the 5th Annual CIO Summit, hosted by the Potomac Officers Club. Her position as the DoD Principal Deputy CIO makes her among the most credible leaders to deliver a message about the latest exploration efforts, modernization strategies, and emerging federal markets that the public sector can leverage in the digital age.

 

The 5th Annual CIO Summit is one of the most important gatherings of GovCon chief information officers. Other executives joining the event include:

 

  • Dr. Adele Merritt, Chief Information Officer of The Office of the Intelligence Community at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
  • Eric Lazerson, Vice President, Technology Solutions at Acuity, Inc.
  • Tricia Fitzmaurice, Vice President of Sales at Rancher Government Solution
  • Robert McNamara, Partner of Digital Solutions and IT Strategy Practice Leader at Guidehouse
  • Kaschit Pandya, Chief Technology Officer at the Internal Revenue Service

 

Read more: Gen. Stephen Whiting on Top 5 Priority Requirements for USSPACECOM

 

Leslie Beavers’ directives as the DoD Principal Deputy CIO

 

Leslie Beavers joined the DoD as the Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer in May 2023. She is responsible for assisting the DoD CIO, John Sherman, in advising the Secretary of Defense on Information Management / Information Technology (IT) and Information Assurance. 

 

“I’d like to welcome Leslie to the DoD CIO! Her most recent experience in OUSD(I&S) as the Director of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Enterprise Capabilities leading the Defense Intelligence Digital Transformation Campaign Plan will enable her to hit the ground running on initiatives such as Zero Trust, JWCC, Software Modernization, and EMSO,” DoD CIO John Sherman said as he welcomed Ms. Beavers.

 

As the DoD Principal Deputy CIO, Ms. Beavers handles strategic resource planning across various defense agencies, as well as federal IT and cybersecurity domains. She also advises on non-intelligence space systems, space communications, telecommunications, and navigation and timing systems.

 

Additionally, Leslie Beavers is a career member of the Senior Executive Service.

 

Leslie Beavers’ 4 Focus Areas in 2024

 

Leslie Beavers' Leslie Beavers' 4 Focus Areas as the DoD Principal Deputy CIO
Photo by rawpixel.com/ Freepik

 

In 2024, Leslie Beavers pledges to focus on four key areas: 

 

  1. Cloud modernization: Upgrading the cloud capabilities of the DoD and partnering with allies via the Stratus private cloud service
  2. 5G connectivity: Connecting the DoD with 5G connectivity, particularly in remote environments, by 2028
  3. Zero trust cybersecurity: Streamlining the 40 zero trust that the DoD has acquired for its many components and fully implementing a zero trust state by 2027
  4. Software supply chain security: Enrusing the development, security, and operations of software are secured in the supply chain

 

Since joining the DoD as the Principal Deputy CIO, Leslie Beavers has made significant contributions and delivered consistent results. These efforts have won her first Wash100 award in 2024, further exemplifying her proven leadership as a chief information officer.

 

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s membership today! Don’t miss out on opportunities to participate in summits exploring various faces of the defense sector. 

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Final GSA Rule Updates Requirements for Use of Federal Supply Schedule Contracts by Non-Federal Entities
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Final GSA Rule Updates Requirements for Use of Federal Supply Schedule Contracts by Non-Federal Entities

The General Services Administration has released a final rule to update and better explain the requirements regarding the use of Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts by state and local government agencies and other eligible non-federal entities.

Under FSS, also referred to as the GSA Schedule and Multiple Award Schedule, qualifying government agencies can gain access and procure commercial products and services, according to a Federal Register notice published Thursday.

According to GSA, the changes outlined in the rule could improve the FSS program by removing antiquated and redundant information, clarifying the authorities providing use of FSS contracts by non-federal organizations and listing some of the programs established for the purpose of implementing certain authorities.

The final rule, which was issued as an amendment to the GSA Acquisition Regulation, is set to take effect on March 25.

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NSF Looking Into Availability of Capable Vendors for Potential Technical, Administrative Services BPA
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NSF Looking Into Availability of Capable Vendors for Potential Technical, Administrative Services BPA

The National Science Foundation seeks to establish a blanket purchase agreement titled Unified Network for Innovative Technology and Engineering and has issued a request for information to determine industry interest and capability in addressing the requirement.

Through the UNITE BPA, the NSF aims to consolidate, streamline and modernize its procurement processes for business administrative services, technical and engineering services, training and marketing and public relations, according to the RFI posted Thursday on SAM.gov.

The BPA allows the NSF to acquire services from pre-qualified teams of small business contractor teaming arrangements vendors. It is also expected to help the agency address the challenges it faces in terms of technology adoption and procurement management.

Interested parties are invited to submit capability statements by March 22.

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NARUC, DOE Release Cybersecurity Baselines for Electric Distribution Systems, Distributed Energy Resources
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NARUC, DOE Release Cybersecurity Baselines for Electric Distribution Systems, Distributed Energy Resources

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners has released a set of cybersecurity baselines to help strengthen the security of electric distribution systems and distributed energy resources infrastructure.

The cybersecurity baselines were developed based on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s cybersecurity performance goals under a new initiative funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response, DOE said Thursday.

“Americans want to know our electricity systems are safe and cyber secure. And companies want uniform expectations when it comes to cybersecurity,” said Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser and a two-time Wash100 awardee.

“The Department of Energy and NARUC have taken the first step to achieving both, with the release of these cybersecurity baselines,” Neuberger added.

In a separate announcement, NARUC said it will begin Phase 2 implementation of the cybersecurity baselines initiative by the end of 2024 to help operators prioritize assets to which the baselines might apply and set the order of implementation based on cyber risk assessments.

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