GovCon & Trade

DECEMBER 22, 2023

On November 17, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued a final rule , implementing Section 874 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), clarifying that certain DoD-unique statutes and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clauses are inapplicable to DoD commercial item procurements, including acquisitions of commercial off-the-shelf items and commercial services.

Procurement 147

Procurement Innovation Contract Capacity 147

Inside Government Contracts

DECEMBER 20, 2023

In keeping with the trend of increased attention on the False Claims Act’s (“FCA”) qui tam provisions, the Second Circuit recently weighed in on a seeming conflict between the statute and the relator’s obligations under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“FCRP”). Under Rule 4(m) of the FRCP, the court generally must dismiss a complaint if the plaintiff fails to serve the defendant with a complaint and summons within 90 days of filing.

Balance 147

Balance Government Contracts IT Contract 147

Open Contracting Partnership

DECEMBER 19, 2023

At 2 am on Saturday morning, the day after the 10th Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) was meant to end in Atlanta, exhausted negotiators finally adopted a resolution on “ Promoting transparency and integrity in public procurement in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ”. We should pay credit to the remarkable tenacity and leadership from the French government who proposed the resolution and who pushed for the most ambitious and i

Public Procurement 140

Public Procurement Procurement E-procurement IT 140

FedScoop

DECEMBER 20, 2023

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is looking for feedback on its “secure by design” white paper, which pushes software manufacturers to follow more stringent security principles in the design and development of all products shipped to customers. CISA initially published its white paper — “ Shifting the Balance of Cybersecurity Risk: Principles and Approaches for Secure by Design Software ” — in April but released updated joint guidance with 17 domestic and foreign partners in

IT 142

IT Manufacturing Balance Education 142

Speaker: Jeff Dickinson - President and CEO of Railgistixs Transport, Supply Chain and Logistics Thought Leader

Despite the ongoing transformation of the supply chain and logistics landscape, the steadfast importance of carrier safety remains a core principle. From prioritizing preventative maintenance to optimizing fleet utilization, the fundamentals persist. If you’re overlooking and neglecting essential safety precautions today, this could result in expensive repairs and potential safety hazards in the future. 🚧 Join Jeff Dickinson for a conversation on how to mitigate risk, enforce compliance,

Logistics

GovCon & Trade

DECEMBER 21, 2023

I recently authored an article for Law360’s Expert Analysis column outlining a joint notice issued by the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), which offers guidance to government contractors regarding entity eligibility determination (EED) requirements for joint ventures. Separate decisions from the Small Business Administration and the Government Accountability Office created confusion about whether the joint venture itself or the individual entities must hold an Entity Eligibility D

Government 147

Government Government Contract Accountability 147

Inside Government Contracts

DECEMBER 19, 2023

Since its creation in 2006, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority has funded the development of medical countermeasures for pandemic influenza, anthrax, smallpox, Ebola virus disease, Zika virus, and, of course, COVID-19. In just the last year, BARDA has made more than 35 new awards to partners, assisted its partners in achieving 20 FDA approvals of their products, and launched Project NextGen, a $5 billion program it leads alongside the National Institute of Allergy and In

Manufacturing 130

Manufacturing Innovation Collaboration Data 130

Federal News Network

DECEMBER 22, 2023

The Defense Department’s long-awaited proposed rule for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program lays out DoD’s plan to introduce the CMMC requirements over the next three years. The proposed rule, released today and scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Dec. 26, would establish requirements “for a comprehensive and scalable assessment mechanism” to ensure defense contractors are implementing required security protections.

Contract 124

Contract Capacity Data Networking 124

GovCon & Trade

DECEMBER 20, 2023

On December 14, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Freepoint Commodities LLC, a Connecticut-based commodities trader, had agreed to a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) to resolve a DOJ investigation into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). In addition to the DPA, Freepoint agreed to pay over $98 million in penalties.

Corruption 147

Corruption Consulting Transportation Transportation 147

GovCon Wire

DECEMBER 22, 2023

Jeff Bezos-owned space company Blue Origin and private equity firm Cerberus have made bids for United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

Bidding 122

Bidding Finance 122

FedInsider

DECEMBER 19, 2023

Wednesday, January 10, 2024 | 2:00PM EST | 90 Minutes | Training Certificate Ransomware, malware, phishing, DDoS, social engineering, zero-day exploit, botnets – the list of types of attacks out there is long enough to keep even the most seasoned cybersecurity expert awake at night. And with the increased use of remote computing, the cyber attack surface grows as more edge devices are added to networks.

Budget 131

Budget Participation Networking Leadership 131

FedScoop

DECEMBER 22, 2023

Dozens of journalists and staff at Voice of America are strongly opposed to the state-owned news organization’s plan to use AI-generated synthetic voices, documents obtained by FedScoop show, with employees expressing concerns that the tool could breed mistrust with its audience, cause misinformation to spread and potentially eliminate jobs within the newsroom.

Leadership 127

Leadership Media Management Transparency 127

GovCon & Trade

DECEMBER 18, 2023

By: Richard Arnholt On November 8, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) denied an unsuccessful bidder’s protest that asserted the Veteran Administration’s (VA) evaluation of Texas Waste Company’s past performance was unreasonable and reflected the Contracting Officer’s (CO) bias. The GAO decision provides an in-depth look at the high evidentiary bar associated with proving governmental bias in bid protests and the need to have definitive evidence before making such a claim.

Bidding 147

Bidding Contract Evaluation Price 147

GovCon Wire

DECEMBER 21, 2023

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has updated its planned recompetition of the Cybersecurity Division Operational Support Services contract, which was issued under the One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services vehicle and is currently held by Deloitte Consulting.

Consulting 119

Consulting Integration Integrity Contract 119

FedInsider

DECEMBER 19, 2023

Thursday, January 11, 2024 | 2:00PM EST | 1 Hour | Training Certificate Recent headlines have been full of stories about state and local governments and school systems being targeted by malicious actors. And these organizations are likely to face tight budgets and limited manpower to deal with a cyber threat. For many agencies, the reality is it’s a matter of when – not if – they will be attacked.

Participation 122

Participation Engineering Networking Budget 122

FedTech Magazine

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Many federal IT priorities have been set by executive order; among them, the move toward zero-trust security and the effort to improve citizens’ digital experience with government. These orders are guiding the technology trends expected for 2024, as agencies work to meet zero-trust deadlines and look forward to metrics by which they’ll be able to measure their progress toward the customer experience goals of the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (21st Century IDEA).

Influencing 117

Influencing Integration Integrity Government 117

Federal News Network

DECEMBER 19, 2023

An acting commissioner for the Federal Acquisition Services. Two governmentwide acquisition contracts to be awarded and a third launched. Dealing with the FBI relocation mess. The General Services Administration you might say, has a lot on its plate. To dive deeper into what contractors are watching, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with federal sales and marketing consultant Larry Allen.

Contract 108

Contract Leadership IT Professional Services 108

GovCon Wire

DECEMBER 22, 2023

The U.S. Navy has awarded Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. a pair of cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts worth $889 million in total for naval nuclear propulsion components. The first contract is worth $706 million while the second is valued at $183 million, with both having an expected completion date of September 2033, the Department of Defense said Thursday.

Contract 116

Contract 116

FedInsider

DECEMBER 22, 2023

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 | 2:00PM EST | 1 Hour | 1 CPE Zero trust revolutionizes network security architecture because it is data-centric and designed to stop data breaches. While that is its primary purpose for government, it also increases agility for modern networks that traditional network designs can’t emulate. It has been almost two years since the Office of Management and Budget issued its federal zero trust architecture strategy, which set out specific goals for agencies to achieve by t

Networking 119

Networking Participation Leadership Telecommunication 119

FedTech Magazine

DECEMBER 20, 2023

Many agencies don’t realize that going multicloud is easier than it sounds. It’s another way to control costs and ensure that applications are nimble enough to move anywhere they’re needed. Agencies that already rely on multiple cloud service providers (CSPs) likely made the transition after a major cloud contract expired and built containers with their apps to move from one CSP to another with little difficulty.

Contract 111

Contract IT 111

ExecutiveBiz

DECEMBER 22, 2023

Allied Technologies & Consulting will provide the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity with product management and command support services under an $87.5 million contract from the Defense Health Agency. Work is aimed at supporting program lifecycle across all product development and acquisition areas of USAMMDA, the Department of Defense said Wednesday.

Product Management 105

Product Management Contract Consulting Management 105

GovCon Wire

DECEMBER 18, 2023

The Defense Intelligence Agency is set on operationalizing artificial intelligence as part of its recently unveiled strategy for responsibly implementing the technology, Breaking Defense reported Thursday.

IT 116

IT 116

Kluwer Arbitration

DECEMBER 20, 2023

In a recent decision, the General Assembly of the Dubai Court of Cassation (“General Assembly”) decided that non-payment of the advance on arbitration costs does not affect the arbitration clause which remains in force and can continue to be relied upon by the parties. This decision reflects a complete reversal of the prior majority view of the Dubai courts which have consistently declared that non-payment of the advance on costs renders the arbitration clause inoperable and that, as a result, t

Corruption 105

Corruption IT Import 105

FedTech Magazine

DECEMBER 22, 2023

Cloud vendors support the White House’s proposed updates to the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program as essential to its modernization. The updates would scale the program, strengthen its security review process, and expedite agencies’ adoption of cloud products and services. FedRAMP empowers agencies to securely use modern cloud technologies, and the White House released a draft memo Oct. 27 outlining desired changes to the program’s vision, scope and structure.

Management 109

Management Government Government IT 109

ExecutiveBiz

DECEMBER 22, 2023

A BAE Systems business has won an $86.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy for engineering and technical services in support of systems used by the service branch, Special Operations Forces, homeland security, defense and non-Department of Defense organizations. The DOD said Thursday that services are for command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems and platforms.

Engineering 105

Engineering Contract 105

GovCon Wire

DECEMBER 18, 2023

The State Department has approved a possible $1.95 billion sale of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to the government of Greece. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) subsidiary Sikorsky will complete the order as lead contractor, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Friday.

Government 116

Government Government 116

GovLoop

DECEMBER 20, 2023

The start of the new year is a great opportunity to make sure that your agency’s software and systems are up to date. Agencies that don’t implement the latest and greatest technology run the risk of falling short of customer and employee expectations and of collecting technical debt. One area where this could happen is collaborative technology. The COVID-19 pandemic may be behind us, but the way it digitally transformed the workplace remains.

Collaboration 105

Collaboration Participation Management Integration 105

GovSpend

DECEMBER 18, 2023

In June 2023, Nate Haskins was named CEO of GovSpend. With an extensive background in data management, Nate brings a unique skillset to the helm and is well-equipped to lead GovSpend into a new chapter of data delivery and AI technology. In the following Q&A, Nate gives us a peek into what’s top of mind for him as we head into 2024. What excites you about GovSpend and the advantage it gives to professionals in the public sector marketplace?

Data 105

Data Quality Purchasing Transparency 105

ExecutiveBiz

DECEMBER 21, 2023

NASA has awarded the PBG FedSync joint venture the Glenn-Langley Administrative Support Services contract. The space agency said Wednesday that the awardee will provide administrative support services to various organizations, programs and projects at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and Langley Research Center in Virginia.

Contract 105

Contract 105

GovCon Wire

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Mireille Estephan, a technology development executive with two decades of industry experience, has been appointed chief technology officer at digital transformation firm Ardent.

Engineering 111

Engineering Innovation Data 111

FedScoop

DECEMBER 22, 2023

The Federal Communications Commission is reinstating its Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council, with plans for this iteration of the ninth CSRIC focused specifically on artificial intelligence and machine learning. The council, in compliance with the White House’s AI executive order , will be tasked by the FCC with considering the role that the technology plays in enhancing communication networks and the reliability risks it poses for emerging technologies like 6G net

Networking 118

Networking Innovation Management IT 118

FedTech Magazine

DECEMBER 21, 2023

The advent of DevOps processes created an entirely new paradigm for application development by integrating the work of software developers and IT operations professionals. While the merger greatly improved the speed and quality of the software development life cycle, DevOps is not without its challenges. Agencies run into some common obstacles that slow down development and frustrate developers, as they begin to deploy this approach.

Engineering 103

Engineering Quality Integration Integrity 103

ExecutiveBiz

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Phillip Pickens has been named vice president of quality and mission assurance at BlueHalo , an Arlington Capital Partners portfolio company, he announced on LinkedIn Wednesday. He joined the Arlington, Virginia company from Leidos subsidiary Dynetics, where he worked as quality manager.

Quality Management 105

Quality Management Quality Management 105

GovCon Wire

DECEMBER 21, 2023

ESGI, Korn Ferry, JDG Associates, McCormick Group and Odgers Berndtson are among Hunt Scanlon Media’s current top 20 recruiting firms that provide assistance to local, state and federal governments.

Government 111

Government Government Media 111

FedScoop

DECEMBER 20, 2023

The Department of Energy is seeking information about the available technologies, approaches and business models for counter-drone capabilities until the end of January. DOE’s Sandia National Laboratories, on behalf of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Center for Security, Technology, Analysis, Response and Testing within the Defense Nuclear Security Office (NA-70), released a request Monday for information on counter uncrewed aircraft systems (cUAS), more commonly known as “drones.

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Transparency Supplier Data Integration 109

FedTech Magazine

DECEMBER 19, 2023

Well aware of complaints about the state of office technology across the defense and intelligence sectors, CIOs are taking steps to refresh as much tech as possible to improve user experience. The Defense Department recently stood up a new user experience portfolio management office, run by Savanrith “Savan” Kong, which has been charged with fixing UX shortcomings.

Management 103

Management IT 103

ExecutiveBiz

DECEMBER 21, 2023

The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence within the National Institute of Standards and Technology has announced its technology collaborators for a project that seeks to demonstrate an approach meant to help organizations detect, respond and recover from a cyberattack within an operational technology environment. NCCoE said Tuesday it expects the Responding to and Recovering from a Cyber Attack: Cybersecurity for the Manufacturing Sector project to result in a free NIST Cybersecurity Prac

Manufacturing 105

Manufacturing Collaboration IT 105