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ONCD Seeks Input on Open Source Software Security Areas of Focus
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ONCD Seeks Input on Open Source Software Security Areas of Focus

The White House Office of the National Cyber Director has released a request for information inviting public feedback as the federal government develops and implements policies meant to further build up the open source software ecosystem.

In 2021, the White House formed an interagency working group called Open-Source Software Security Initiative to advance the adoption of memory safe programming languages and identify policies to promote open-source software security, according to a fact sheet published Thursday.

OS3I identified three focus areas in the past year: increasing the proliferation of memory safe programming languages, developing implementation requirements for privacy-preserving security attestations and identifying new focus areas for prioritization.

The federal government plans to engage with interested stakeholders in three phases through the RFI: addressing respondent questions about the RFI; submittal of responses to the request by respondents; and government review.

ONCD is asking respondents to share their thoughts on potential areas and sub-areas that should be prioritized for any potential action and areas of focus that are time-sensitive and should be developed first.

The potential areas of focus listed in the RFI are secure open-source software foundations, behavioral and economic incentives to secure the open source software ecosystem; research and development/innovation; and international collaboration.

Responses to the RFI are due Oct. 9.

DSCA Devises New Policy to Provide Financing Options on FMS Deals
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DSCA Devises New Policy to Provide Financing Options on FMS Deals

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has introduced a new policy that enables eligible foreign military sales customers to finance procurements using bank loans.

DSCA said Wednesday the Bank Letter of Credit policy provides financing options for arms customers by allowing them to use a letter of credit to make payments to the U.S. government.

A letter of credit may be used to make routine payments on an FMS deal, supplement national funds on existing letters of offer and acceptance and secure payment schedules on new LOAs.

FMS customers may secure loans from a U.S. bank with a minimum “A” credit rating or a foreign bank operating in the U.S. with a license from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

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Army Wants to Update Vehicle Maintenance Training System With AR & VR Tech
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Army Wants to Update Vehicle Maintenance Training System With AR & VR Tech

The U.S. Army will host an industry day on Aug. 24 to engage with vendors as the service branch looks to integrate augmented and virtual reality technology into its Family of Maintenance Trainers.

In a notice posted Tuesday on SAM.gov, the Army said its Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation will facilitate the event with the goal of identifying potential contractors that could modernize the FMT product line used to train military vehicle maintainers.

The suite is designed with a government-owned architecture, a common baseline for hardware and software.

Diagnostic troubleshooting, part task and hands-on training applications make up the product line, the notice states.

An Army product director is reportedly developing a multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract vehicle for support services necessary to update the trainers.

The service branch said the target award date is the third quarter of the government’s 2025 fiscal year.

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USAF Initiates Utah-Based Accelerator to Meet Remote Workforce Tech Needs
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USAF Initiates Utah-Based Accelerator to Meet Remote Workforce Tech Needs

The U.S. Air Force has put out a call for technology companies to propose solutions that would enable an active and effective yet secure data and information sharing environment for its geographically disparate workforce.

Once submissions are screened and reviewed, the USAF will select eight companies to form a cohort that will participate in a three-month accelerator program at the Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation in Ogden, Utah, the latter organization announced on Wednesday.

The service branch is looking for systems that will enhance productivity and user experience while engaging and establishing unified lines of communication in remote and hybrid work set-ups. They are open to proposals that implement elements of generative artificial intelligence, the Metaverse, augmented reality and virtual reality and automation, as well as aspects of real-time collaboration tools, productivity visualization or metrics, cybersecurity and employee engagement strategies.

Candidates may apply through Aug. 22 and the eight approved cohort participants will be named on Sept. 1.

Officially commencing on Sept. 18, the Catalyst Accelerator wraps up with a demonstration day on Jan. 25, 2024, where government and industry members will be invited to view the progress and end results of the cohort’s work. The cohort provides an opportunity to collaborate directly with the Department of Defense and its slew of aficionados, as well as representatives from both government and commercial industry. This cross-sector involvement is intended to allow the companies to promote their products and gain a sense of what stakeholders are looking for.

The project is fully funded by the Air Force and is being carried out in partnership with its Digital Transformation Office.

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GSA’s Laura Stanton Offers Update on EIS Telecom Contract Transition
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GSA’s Laura Stanton Offers Update on EIS Telecom Contract Transition

General Services Administration official Laura Stanton said of that of 222 evaluated agencies, 123 had migrated from legacy contracts such as WITS 3 and Networx to the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract vehicle for telecommunications and information technology products and services as of April.

By June 26, eight agencies had sought a two-year extension to complete their transition to EIS, giving them until May 31, 2026, to finalize their adoption of the contract, Stanton, assistant commissioner for the office of IT category at GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, wrote in a blog post published Thursday.

She noted that by the end of May 2024, continuity of service will end for agencies that signed a memorandum of understanding with GSA.

For those authorized to use extended CoS beyond May 31, 2024, the end of service will occur on May 31, 2026.

According to Stanton, agencies that have completed their EIS transition have implemented Trusted Internet Connection 3.0 architectures and improved their cyber resilience.

In the post, Stanton also announced the appointment of Jake Marcellus as executive director of the Office of Enterprise Technology Solutions in February.

She said Marcellus brings to the role his experience managing telecommunications initiatives at the Department of Defense and oversees GSA’s enterprise telecommunications, satellite communications and mobility services, including the EIS program.

“I have asked Jake, as lead executive for EIS, to place his initial focus on improving the customer agency EIS transition experience and outcomes. His team developed a system to use disconnect data to identify the most significant transition risks and make the appropriate executive engagements with agencies,” Stanton wrote.

She noted that Marcellus’ team is helping agencies identify problems, consult on technical platforms and facilitate requests for 2026 extensions.

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CISA’s Jen Easterly, FEMA’s Deanne Criswell Announce $375M in Funding for FY23 State & Local Cybersecurity Grant Program
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CISA’s Jen Easterly, FEMA’s Deanne Criswell Announce $375M in Funding for FY23 State & Local Cybersecurity Grant Program

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will distribute $374.9 million in grants to help state, local and territorial government agencies develop capabilities to protect critical infrastructure and the public from cyberthreats, CISA Director Jen Easterly and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell shared in a blog post published Tuesday.

Established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program provides $1 billion in funding over four years to help SLT agencies build up their skills and platforms to manage cyber risks.

Criswell and Easterly, a two-time Wash100 awardee said FEMA and CISA awarded $185 million in grants through SLCGP in August 2022.

“Under the FY 2022 SLCGP, states and territories focused on developing and establishing appropriate governance structures, including developing, implementing, or revising cybersecurity plans, to improve capabilities to respond to cybersecurity incidents and ensure continuity of operations,” they noted.

For FY 2023, the grant program will focus on ensuring organization staff are appropriately trained in cybersecurity, enacting security protections and understanding current cybersecurity postures, as well as versed in identifying areas for improvement based on continuous evaluation, testing and structured assessments.

SLT agencies have until Oct. 6 to submit their applications for the grant program’s second year, the two agency officials noted.

Avril Haines Unveils National Intelligence Strategy for Boosting IC Resilience
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Avril Haines Unveils National Intelligence Strategy for Boosting IC Resilience

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines has unveiled a new document outlining strategic direction, priorities and objectives for the 18 elements of the intelligence community over the next four years.

The 2023 National Intelligence Strategy sets six goals to boost the IC’s capabilities to better prepare and respond to a range of threats posed by adversaries and transnational challenges, such as climate change and health security, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said Thursday.

The NIS aims to strengthen partnerships, develop a better understanding of supply chains, identify implications of emerging technologies and use economic statecraft tools to prevent strategic competitors from undermining U.S. competitiveness and national security.

“Together, we are developing capacity, capability, and resiliency to meet the pacing challenges of our nation and partners. The 2023 National Intelligence Strategy is geared toward making this process a robust reality,” said Gen. Paul Nakasone, director of the National Security Agency.

Haines said the strategy underscores the expanding role of the IC in supporting the resilience of the U.S. national critical infrastructure.

Both Haines and Nakasone are 2023 Wash100 Award honorees.

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ASRC Federal Business Wins Placement on $8B NOAA Satellite Services Contract Vehicle; Jennifer Felix Quoted
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ASRC Federal Business Wins Placement on $8B NOAA Satellite Services Contract Vehicle; Jennifer Felix Quoted

An ASRC Federal business has secured a spot on a potential $8 billion contract vehicle from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Under the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity vehicle, Data Networks will compete for awards focused on satellite attainment, deployment and ground system creation and surveillance, the Reston, Virginia-based company said Thursday.

“Our team brings technical expertise across the entire satellite mission lifecycle,” commented Jennifer Felix, president and CEO of ASRC Federal and a past winner of the Wash100 Award, government contracting’s most prestigious honor.

The ProTech 2.0 IDIQ vehicle is meant to retain companies who can adeptly perform services for weather forecasting and natural disaster prediction satellites. The satellites built and implemented through the program are also built for environmental and climate assessment. The contract vehicle starts this year and will last for 10 years.

“This win extends our work with NOAA and supports the critical mission of better understanding of our evolving planet,” Felix added.

Indeed, last year, another ASRC Federal subsidiary landed a NOAA contract for similar work: a $44 million award offered to ASRC’s Netcentric Technology in June 2022 for repair and functionality assistance services on a ground satellite system.

Data Networks specifically has a reported two-decade history with the NOAA. Its team is performing ongoing work with the agency’s National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service on the financial management systems, engineering mission operations support services and the Fairbanks Command and Data Acquisition Station.

Most recently, another ASRC business, Data Solutions, won a five-year, $90 million contract to provide the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences with assistance on an environment and public health study.

Top Government Contracts Won by Amazon Web Services
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Top Government Contracts Won by Amazon Web Services
Photo by greenbutterfly on Shutterstock

Top government contracts won by Amazon Web Services have been some of the most lucrative and coveted contracts in the cloud computing industry. These contracts have been beneficial in streamlining the agencies’ initiatives to migrate to the cloud, enhance cybersecurity, and access training materials and professional services.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is Amazon’s subsidiary that provides cloud computing services to enterprises, consulting firms, and government agencies. A key player in cloud computing, it has been a trusted contractor for governments in the U.S. and overseas. Furthermore, AWS is known for its expertise and track record in delivering innovative cloud solutions, making it undefeated despite contract disputes from other companies. 

Top Government Contracts Won by Amazon Web Services

National Security Agency's "Wild and Stormy" Cloud Contract
Photo by g0d4ather on Shutterstock

National Security Agency’s “Wild and Stormy” Cloud Contract

  • Contract award date: July 2021; February 2022
  • Contract type: Single-award
  • Contract amount: $10 billion
  • Contracting activity: National Security Agency
  • Contract duration: 10 years

In July 2021, the National Security Agency awarded Amazon Web Services an estimated $10 billion contract. It is one of the top government contracts won by Amazon Web Services so far. The NSA plans to utilize cloud computing and transfer its intelligence data from a local system to the cloud. NSA needed a reliable partner hence the creation of the “secret” cloud computing contract. After winning the contract, Microsoft was notified and filed an administration protest, causing the “secret” contract into much limbo, with its final decision expected by October 2021.

The Government Accountability Office requested that the NSA take a second look at the submitted proposals of both companies submitted for the contract, which the NSA subsequently did. The result is the same, though, with Amazon being selected to provide the cloud service again in February 2022.

 

Department of Defense’s Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) Contract

Department of Defense's Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) Contract
Photo by Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jacob Osborne from U.S. Department of Defense, licensed under Public Domain
  • Contract award date: December 2022
  • Contract amount: $9 billion
  • Contracting activity: Department of Defense
  • Contract duration: 6 years

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense unveiled the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) contract. The contract involves multiple vendors providing cloud services across various security domains and classification levels, from enterprise to tactical edge. Drawing from lessons learned from the JEDI contract that highlighted the importance of having multiple cloud providers and a varied cloud strategy, the Defense Department chose four companies—Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle, and Google. The contractors compete for the contract throughout its lifecycle.

AWS recognizes the significance of national security, is updated with the latest adversaries, and has assisted the Department of Defense in deploying cloud services that align with mission requirements.

 

U.S. Navy’s Cloud Contract

U.S. Navy's Cloud Contract
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Josue L. Escobosa from DCD
  • Contract award date: December 2022
  • Contract type: Single-award, firm-fixed-price
  • Contract amount: $724 million
  • Contracting activity: Naval Information Warfare Center
  • Contract duration: 5 years (three-year base period with one-year options)

In December 2022, Amazon Web Services won an estimated $724 million contract award from the Department of Navy. The blank purchase agreement includes access to AWS Professional Services, AWS commercial cloud environment, and AWS training and certification courses. This agreement follows the Department of Defense’s selection of AWS as one of its providers under the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) cloud contract.

AWS is a long-standing partner to the Navy, providing cloud services for Project Overmatch in 2021, a DevSecOps initiative that streamlines secure software development. The Navy’s involvement with AWS continues through its specialized military contracting products, which are  AWS GovCloud (US), and AWS Secret Region. 

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Affirmative Action Ruling Could Have Impact on SBA Contracting Dollars
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Affirmative Action Ruling Could Have Impact on SBA Contracting Dollars

The Supreme Court voted 6-3 against affirmative action programs at colleges in June and some experts say the decision could put the Small Business Administration’s billions in federal contracting dollars at risk, the San Antonio Business Journal reported Wednesday.

The Supreme Court decision on affirmative action suggests that treating individuals based on their race violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause.

Experts say SBA’s 8(a) business-development program for small disadvantaged businesses and other government set-asides could end up being challenged at the Supreme Court.

“The 8(a) program, which has been challenged more than once, is probably going to be challenged,” said Tinley Carp, a government contracting attorney and partner at law firm Arnall Golden Gregory. “It all depends on how disadvantaged persons is defined. But in the regulations, one could argue it’s based on race.”

Carp said the 8(a) program intends to address the effects of bias or prejudice that have restricted groups from taking part in government contracting, a condition that could possibly result in a legal challenge.

The federal government allocates at least 5 percent of its contract spending to the 8(a) program each year. In 2022, nearly $70 billion in contracts went to small disadvantaged businesses.

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