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ASRC Federal Data Network Technologies Awarded TSA ‘DISCOVER’ Data Security Contract; Carlo Uchello Quoted
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ASRC Federal Data Network Technologies Awarded TSA ‘DISCOVER’ Data Security Contract; Carlo Uchello Quoted

ASRC Federal Data Network Technologies announced on Friday that the subsidiary has been awarded the Dynamic Integrated Secure Connectivity for Operational Value and End Point Resiliency (DISCOVER) contract from the Transportation Security Administration. 

“We are excited to partner with the TSA to improve the nation’s transportation systems and advance their important mission,” said Carlo Uchello, ASRC Federal Civilian & Health group president. 

Through the DISCOVER contract, ASRC Federal Data Network Technologies will support the advancement of TSA’s Security Technology Integrated Program (STIP) by helping to evolve the STIP application suite and meet the demands of end-users and fielded security equipment. 

The DISCOVER team will also execute the technical tasks necessary for STIP’s migration to geographically distributed data centers. The contract is valued at approximately $17 million and has a base period of one year, followed by three one-year option periods.

“ASRC Federal brings the institutional knowledge and technical expertise needed to enhance this complex security environment by creating efficiencies at checkpoints and improving agility,” Uchella added. 

DISCOVER is the system that integrates TSA screening equipment to automate data collection and management, improve security agility, and increase operational efficiency. 

About ASRC Federal

ASRC Federal’s family of companies delivers successful mission outcomes and elevated performance for federal civilian, defense and intelligence agencies while building an enduring enterprise focused on customers, employees, and shareholders. 

4 Basic Requirements for Government Contracts
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4 Basic Requirements for Government Contracts & How to Be a Contractor
Photo by Ground Picture / Shutterstock

Government procurement is fiercely competitive as the government awards the most qualified companies to provide cost-effective products and services. With the Buy American Act in place, the U.S. government’s purchasing decisions are limited to American suppliers.

So, new and aspiring government contractors must know the basic federal government requirements to navigate the landscape effectively. Learn about the basic requirements for government contracts to kickstart your business

What Are the Basic Requirements for Government Contracts?

What Are the Basic Requirements for Government Contracts
Photo by Cagkan Sayin / Shutterstock

Unlike commercial contracts that are governed by Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), government contracts comply with strict rules and regulations under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA).

Further, government contractors deal with federal agencies, while commercial contractors deal with private businesses.

 

4 Basic federal contractor requirements set by the Small Business Administration (SBA)

 

Register Your Business and Obtain ID Numbers

The Unique Entity Identifier is a unique alphanumeric identifier consisting of 12 characters required before bidding on a government proposal. You will get one assigned to you after registering with SAM. Before, businesses had to obtain their nine-digit DUNS number from a third-party website. In April 2022, the UEI replaced the DUNS number as the primary identification for federal awards to make it easier for entities to contract with the government.

In addition to the UEID, you must identify your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code to match it with your products or services. Entities may either have one to multiple codes applicable to their diverse offerings. Note that these codes often undergo revisions. You can check the latest information in the U.S. Census Bureau’s history section.

 

Meet Size Standards

Businesses must meet the SBA’s size standards to be qualified for contracts set aside for small businesses. The size standards include the number of employees, affiliates, and average annual receipts (AUR). Manufacturing firms with 500 employees or less and non-manufacturing entities with AUR of $7.5 million are considered small.

However, as per Title 13 Part 121.201 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), exceptions vary for every industry. You can refer to the SBA’s Size Standards tool to determine if your business qualifies as small for government contracting.

Some small business programs you can be eligible for are the following:

      • Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program
      • Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program
      • Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) program
      • Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program
      • Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) programs

 

 Accomplish SAM Registration

SAM registration is important for small businesses because it helps them to expand their market share in the competitive market. This serves as the first step in engaging with the U.S. government. Think of your SAM profile as a résumé.

Provide accurate information and make it appealing with descriptive terms about your business to attract contracting officers and military and civilian government agencies. SAM registration is free. If rejected, you will receive a letter containing the reasons and instructions to resolve the issue. You can also get help from PTAC counselors.

 

Pass the Cybersecurity Standards

Small businesses like technology and cybersecurity firms, engineering companies, and aerospace and defense manufacturers who want to secure contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) must prove their ability to handle sensitive information and secure their systems.

The defense department requests for a proposal have a specified level of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, which can be determined as outlined in the request for information (RFI) or request for proposal (RFP).

As a starting point, entities must have at least a level 1 (foundational) CMCC certification. This was first introduced in January 2020 by the DOD and underwent significant revisions based on evaluations and feedback. In November 2021, the DOD released CMMC 2.0 to outline the significant changes to the CMMC program.

 

How to become a government contractor?

 

How to Become a Government Contractor
Photo by Ambient Ideas / Shutterstock

Before diving into becoming a government contractor, it’s essential to understand some of the basics of federal contractor requirements.

Establish a Business

The first step to starting a government contracting business is to contact your state government agency that handles corporate filings, often the secretary of state’s office or the business department. Ask for guidance from reliable business or legal advisors for valuable information regarding the different organizational structures suitable for you, such as sole proprietorship, corporation, or limited liability company.

After deciding which business type, complete the necessary documents for a local occupational license and ask an insurance agent for advice on liability policies and bonding. Then, research on how to do a business plan. The SBA provides support and resources, and universities with business schools have business incubators for entrepreneurs targeting to do business with federal agencies.

Determine What to Sell

Market research is one of the first steps before selling to the government. Utilize the online resources to determine if there is a demand for your offerings in the government sector. Only bid on products and services within your scope of work. Targeting the government market is advantageous because of the accessibility of data on federal contract awards. The Federal Procurement Data System contains contract details previously awarded to help you identify potential opportunities for your business.

Research for Contract Opportunities

Given that you are already registered as one of the federal contractors with SAM, obtained a UEID, and determined your NAICS codes, research the government opportunities that fit in your industry and look for relevant agencies. Introduce your business to procurement specialists and key personnel within such agencies to familiarize them with your company before submitting a proposal. You can find a list of agencies and their contact details at USA.gov

Use search filters for opportunities on websites such as SAM.gov, SubNet, and Dynamic Small Business Search. Filter results by posted dates and keywords and have someone check new listings weekly. You wouldn’t want to come across a perfect RFP due the next day.

Contact a Small Business Specialist

Small business specialists assist small business enterprises (SMEs) with their procurement activities by instructing how businesses should engage with federal agencies, including the requirements. They guide SMEs on set-aside programs and other accessible resources. On the other hand, larger government contractors must build connections with contracting officers and program managers to secure contracts and deliver products and services within time and budget.

Consider Subcontracting

Consider applying as a subcontractor for larger companies with a prime federal contract if your business isn’t fully prepared for direct government contracting. Build relationships with prime contractors looking for joint ventures. Subcontracting is easier as it provides references for future prime contracts and past performance. The Small Business Administration’s SubNet is a great resource for finding subcontracting opportunities.

Build a Network

Networking for federal contractors can be helpful if you want to expand your business in the government marketplace. Build relationships not only with federal agencies but also with potential teaming and subcontracting partners. Gather small businesses in your target federal agency and offer complementary products and services. During networking events, make a lasting impression in a short time. Highlight your expertise and demonstrate how your offerings can benefit your desired contractor or agency.

Have Realistic Goals

Start by setting realistic goals if you are new to the government market. It is true that aiming to win five government contracts at once can be ambitious. So, on average, companies submit up to 25 bids before winning their first project. Contract win rates for most government contractors are typically around 20-50%. You can target one or two contracts on your target niche. Working on government projects often requires operational enhancements, so avoid taking on overhead expenses too soon. Therefore, you have to learn the ropes before submitting the basic right requirements for government contracts your company had been pining for.

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Senate Approves Space Acquisition Nominee Frank Calvelli
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Senate Approves Space Acquisition Nominee Frank Calvelli

Frank Calvelli, a senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, has received confirmation from the Senate to serve as assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition.

He was nominated by President Biden in December 2021 and the nomination was approved by U.S. senators through a voice vote Thursday.

At a February confirmation hearing, Calvelli told Senate Armed Services Committee members he believes commercial innovation could help the Department of Defense outpace strategic competitors and that he would prioritize space architecture resilience efforts.

Calvelli has more than 34 years of government service experience that included eight years as principal deputy director at the National Reconnaissance Office before he joined Booz Allen in 2021.

He received the NRO Distinguished Performance Medal and the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service, among other recognitions.

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J5 Unveils Intelligence Bulletin to Warn of Risks Linked to Non-Fungible Tokens
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J5 Unveils Intelligence Bulletin to Warn of Risks Linked to Non-Fungible Tokens

The Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement has issued a bulletin to warn financial institutions, law enforcement employees and citizens of risks associated with non-fungible tokens.

The J5 NFT Marketplace Red Flag Indicators document also lists several best practices adopted by J5 countries when it comes to NFTs, the Internal Revenue Service said Thursday.

“This paper provides a suite of indicators that financial institutions can reference to help them identify illicit financial activity concerning NFTs. It’s intended to be the first of many that can be used by financial institutions to assist in the fight against tax crime and money laundering involving virtual assets,” said Will Day, chief of J5 and deputy commissioner at the Australian Taxation Office.

“This report is a unique and progressive initiative and the J5 looks forward to working closer with the virtual assets industry to meet the rapidly evolving and highly complex environment which we share,” added Day.

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US, Global Partners Announce Declaration for the Future of the Internet
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US, Global Partners Announce Declaration for the Future of the Internet

The U.S. and 60 international partners unveiled a declaration aimed at pursuing a positive vision for the internet and digital technologies. 

The principles of the Declaration for the Future of the Internet include commitments to safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people; promoting a global internet that advances the free flow of information; advancing affordable and inclusive connectivity in order for people to benefit from the digital economy, the White House said Thursday.

Other commitments are promoting trust in the global digital ecosystem and strengthening the multistakeholder approach to governance to facilitate the operations of the internet.

The declaration also reaffirms a single internet worldwide that advances privacy and fosters competition.

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Lawmakers Urge House Panel to Address Funding for National Defense Stockpile
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Lawmakers Urge House Panel to Address Funding for National Defense Stockpile

A group of lawmakers headed by Reps. Scott Franklin, R-Fla., and Seth Moulton, D-Mass., called on the House Appropriations Committee to include funding for the National Defense Stockpile of rare earth materials.

The lawmakers wrote a letter to the House panel’s leadership urging them to back the president’s fiscal year 2023 budget request that seeks to include an additional $254 million for the NDS transaction fund, Franklin’s office said Wednesday.

The Defense Logistics Agency – Strategic Materials oversees NDS, which ensures that the Department of Defense has access to titanium, aluminum, tungsten, cobalt, rubber and other key materials to maintain military readiness in the event of a major disruption to supply chains.

According to the letter, the total value of the stockpiled inventory fell from $9.6 billion in 1989 to $888 million in 2021.

The letter was also signed by Reps. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn.; Greg Pence, R-Ind.; Doug Lamborn, R-Colo.; Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C.; Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.; and Michael Waltz, R-Fla.

GSA Seeks Info on Construction Sector Equity Practices
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GSA Seeks Info on Construction Sector Equity Practices

The General Services Administration has requested information from the private sector on resources and opportunities to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in federal construction projects.

GSA on Thursday released DEIA RFIs for companies that design and build facilities as part of the agency’s commitment to implement its Equity Action Plan.

“The public and private sectors should be learning more from each other about what is catalyzing DEIA actions – and what’s actually working – to impact positive change in industries like design and construction,” said Charles Hardy, acting chief architect at GSA’s Public Buildings Service.

Specifically, the agency seeks to understand how DEIA programs could affect underserved or disadvantaged business groups and what practices or processes would support DEIA outcomes across contracting opportunities.

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GovCon Expert Chuck Brooks: Public, Private Sector Partnerships Addressing COVID-19 Are A Cybersecurity Model
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GovCon Expert Chuck Brooks: Public, Private Sector Partnerships Addressing COVID-19 Are A Cybersecurity Model

Chuck Brooks, a highly esteemed cybersecurity leader as well as an influential member of Executive Mosaic’s GovCon Expert program, recently published a recent feature in the fifth edition of the Security & Tech Insights newsletter.

In the feature story, GovCon Expert Chuck Brooks explored the implications and significant challenges of cybersecuring the Internet of Things. In addition, he also revealed how partnerships in the public and private sectors can provide a model for the federal government’s implementation of cybersecurity standards.

Here’s a snippet from the feature from GovCon Expert Chuck Brooks:

“A higher level of public-private collaboration is needed to address the growing cyber-threat landscape through Public-Private Partnerships,” Brooks explained. “The global threat actors targeting critical infrastructure are terrorists, criminals, hackers, organized crime, malicious individuals, and, in some cases, adversarial nation-states.

Addressing the threats requires incorporating a robust calculated security strategy of public and private sector partnering based on layered vigilance and protections, readiness and resilience.”

You can read the full article from GovCon Expert Chuck Brooks on LinkedIn.

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Executive Spotlight: Khalid Syed, Senior Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton
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Executive Spotlight: Khalid Syed, Senior Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton

Khalid Syed, a senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, recently spoke with ExecutiveGov regarding the latest trends in technology such as AI, 5G, cloud and others in order to drive our federal agencies to stay ahead of innovation and establish the U.S. as THE global leader.

In addition, Syed also discussed how Booz Allen is supporting the Department of Defense’s (DoD) vision for JADC2 as well as his strategic goals for the company’s growth in the coming year and new markets in the federal landscape to keep an eye on during the latest Executive Spotlight interview.

“There are a lot of innovative and clever ways of doing things, but innovation for innovation’s sake often doesn’t get to an operation-relevant solution. Developing a solution a warfighter can use and apply to a mission right away—to me that’s the key missing part. At Booz Allen, we try to marry how we innovate to meet that mission need. And this is not a trivial thing. It’s something you learn from experience.”

You can read the full Executive Spotlight with Khalid Syed below:

ExecutiveGov: Give us a rundown on what you’re focused on these days at Booz Allen. What are your responsibilities and major challenges? Who are your clients?

Khalid Syed: “Over the course of the past 25 years with the firm, I’ve been in pretty much every market and client space, and for the past 10 years, I’ve led our C4ISR business in Aerospace and across Global Defenses.

We have several initiatives and strategies focused on bringing the Booz Allen value proposition to the forefront to help address several pain points where DoD has continued to face challenges: achieving joint command and control and shortening the decision process—through AI, machine learning, and data—from weeks and months to the speed of battle.”

ExecutiveGov: How is Booz Allen supporting the DoD’s JADC2 vision, and what are the challenges and opportunities in that ecosystem?

Khalid Syed: “One big part of Booz Allen’s support of the JADC2 vision involves working with the DoD and all stakeholders to address the challenges: helping the forces achieve interoperability across their disparate, monolithic systems and helping them modernize legacy systems, some of which are beyond their end of life and many that were built for missions and operational needs that have long evolved.

At the same time, we’ve been supporting JADC2 through our vision of a Digital Battlespace. As JADC2 envisions a force that is interconnected and information-advantaged, we’re using emerging technologies (big data analytics, AI, machine learning, augmented reality, edge computing, etc.), open-source architecture, DevSecOps and Agile practices, and modern procurement methods to help the nation’s armed forces and partners meet these goals with flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

In doing so, we’re helping the DoD achieve an integrated digital battlespace where the military drives information to the edge for faster decisions, uses mobile networks to enable independent yet coordinated operations, delivers warfighters’ data for superior knowledge of force locations, and safeguards military intelligence with advanced cybersecurity.”

ExecutiveGov: What are your strategic goals for the coming year? What do you hope to accomplish, and are there any new markets you’re keeping an eye on in the federal sector?

Khalid Syed: “We want to build mission solutions that are open, connected, smart, and to the edge to meet the future challenges of command and control that will enable services to better to connect to one another – and perhaps just as importantly, connect to our allies and coalition partners to be prepared for today’s great power competition.”

ExecutiveGov: With the influence of emerging technologies impacting every aspect of business, how has your company been able to drive digital transformation efforts to stay ahead of innovation in the federal landscape for yourself and your customers?

Khalid Syed: “Booz Allen has been pursuing M&A and partnership strategy for quite some time toward our latest VoLT (Velocity, Leadership, and Technology) strategy, such as the acquisition of EverWatch, a leading provider of advanced solutions to the defense and intelligence communities, Reveal Technology, a visual analytics and edge artificial intelligence (AI) company, and an investment in end-to-end AI Synthetaic.”

ExecutiveGov: How has your team developed its workflow and ability to drive success in such a competitive market, amidst geopolitical volatility and the pandemic?

Khalid Syed: “In March of 2020, I was in Germany for a meeting on Wednesday and the following Monday, everything shut down. Panic hit for about 30 seconds, then our CEO Horacio Rozanski took the approach of “We’re all in this together,” and we extended that approach to everybody we touched in our ecosystem: colleagues, staff, clients, and teammates.

It’s been a huge, huge gamechanger and it’s what helped us pivot the business at a speed and pace we didn’t think was imaginable. We figured out how to keep the mission going in terms of performance, contractual obligations, getting staff safely and securely onsite to work at classified facilities.

It was an indelible experience for all of us, and fundamental to all of it was working on the challenges together, figuring out what works best, failing quickly, and course-correcting along the way, resulting in even stronger client relationships, business outcomes, and team connections.”

ExecutiveGov: With federal agencies working to implement the latest trends in technology such as AI, 5G, cloud, and many others, what are your thoughts on the success and challenges that government agencies are dealing with to stay ahead of innovation to establish the U.S. as THE global leader?

Khalid Syed: “Federal organizations are looking for an easy button: how can I accelerate requirements through innovation? But too often they implement commercial applications with zero DoD relevance.

Innovation done for commercial or business purposes, and not necessarily with the federal or DoD mission in mind, often falls flat in terms of meeting mission needs. Systems developed for commercial applications often just don’t translate.

You spend the same amount of energy, resources, and funding making a system operation-relevant as you do simply engaging with the industrial base to develop something that’s closer to mission needs.

Fortunately, we’re seeing a shift as clients recognize the benefits of the latter approach. Booz Allen brings the ability to get to operational relevance at speed, and we have done that on many, many occasions.”

ExecutiveGov: We often discuss innovation from the technical or capability side. What are some of the unique challenges that you’ve seen on the business side of innovation that hasn’t been addressed or discussed enough?

Khalid Syed: “There are a lot of innovative and clever ways of doing things, but innovation for innovation’s sake often doesn’t get to an operation-relevant solution. Developing a solution a warfighter can use and apply to a mission right away—to me that’s the key missing part.

At Booz Allen, we try to marry how we innovate to meet that mission need. And this is not a trivial thing. It’s something you learn from experience.”

ExecutiveGov: In recent years, what are some of the biggest improvements you’ve seen in the way we talk and think about innovation across the federal sector since the rise of cybersecurity, AI/ML, 5G, and other emerging technologies?

Khalid Syed: “Not only has technology improved and matured quite a bit, but we’re also seeing more expertise, more tradecraft, and more attainable costs, as well as improved adoption. These innovations promise great things.

For example, 5G will enable operation-relevant applications faster than any other generation of wireless. But along with all the promises come challenges, such as security and spectrum co-sharing with 5G.

And we still have a way to go with the maturity of technologies such as AI given we are seeing more learning and automation rather than true AI. Siri is roughly 10.5 years old. Would you trust a 10.5-year-old to run your car—or a battleship or tank?”

ExecutiveGov: What keeps you up at night, in terms of worries and ways to make a difference in the defense sector and America’s position in the world?

Khalid Syed: “What keeps me up at night is how to create value. For example, how can we leverage our nation’s big, broad industrial base for defense and our position in the world, and how can we work with teammates and partners to create differentiated value for our warfighters in a way that is operationally relevant?”

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Serco Secures Naval Sea Systems Command Contract for Undersea Surveillance System Support; CEO Dave Dacquino Quoted
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Serco Secures Naval Sea Systems Command Contract for Undersea Surveillance System Support; CEO Dave Dacquino Quoted

Professional services company Serco Inc. has received a potential five-year, $39.8 million prime contract from the Maritime Surveillance Systems Program Office.

Under the Naval Sea Systems Command Integrated Undersea Surveillance System Product Support Facility contract, Serco will be expected to perform logistics aid and product support facility maintenance for IUSS ship and shore vessels, the Herndon, Virginia-based company said Thursday.

“The Serco team is proud to have been selected to support IUSS and their mission. We understand how critical the IUSS component is to the Navy’s anti-submarine and undersea warfare capabilities,” said Dave Dacquino, CEO and chairman of Serco Inc. and a multiple Wash100 Award winner.

While the contract work will service an international array of IUSS apparatuses, it will predominantly take place in Virginia Beach, Virginia at the IUSS Operations Support Center.

Serco Inc. has partnered with the IUSS organization for 15 years. The latter group aims to surveil maritime jurisdictions on a global scale and report on antisubmarine warfare via long-range, fixed mobile strategies. Their approach entails the detection, classification, tracking, reporting and distribution of data on surface ships, submarines and relevant aircrafts.

The IUSS is also involved in retrieving long-term oceanographic and geophysical information, administering environmental assessment efforts and research on underwater mammals, as well as supporting anti-narcotics initiatives.

Serco’s latest IUSS project, funded through the PMS 485 PEO Undersea Warfare Systems, is contracted for one base year and four option years.

It comes on the heels of two Navy contracts announced in February: a $21.9 million award to design, build, test and outfit a class of guided missile destroyers and a $64 million award to install, update and modify close-in weapon systems for the branch, in addition to those of the Army, Coast Guard and foreign allies.

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