GAO Calls for Big Changes to Cybersecurity
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has prepared testimony on how the federal government can better defend itself from cyber attacks, including through acquisition. The report specifically identifies the need for the Department of Homeland Security to improve incident detection, response and mitigation capabilities. “The Department of Homeland Security needs to expand the capabilities and support wider adoption of its government-wide intrusion detection and prevention system,” the report states. “In addition, the federal government needs to improve cyber incident response practices, update guidance on reporting data breaches, and develop consistent responses to breaches of [personally identifiable information]. The report states that over the past several years, GAO has made about 2,500 recommendations to agencies regarding cybersecurity, with 1,000 not being implemented.
Building Trust Between Industry and Government
Former Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Administrator Steve Kelman writes about a recent roundtable discussion, in which a number of experts discussed the importance of post-award contract management to driving value. Kelman offers a number of recommendations, specifically around opening up lines of communication, and getting executives involved in large projects with key contractors. Available after free registration.
GSA Issues RFI to Replace DUNS
The General Services Administration (GSA) has released a request for information (RFI) as it considers adopting a new numerical identification system for companies. The federal government has been moving away from using the proprietary DUNS business numbers of Dun & Bradstreet. According to RFI, GSA “is exploring all viable means of continuing to meet its ongoing need for entity identification and validation services after the contract’s expiration.” Last year, any references to DUNS numbers were removed from the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Cloud Procurement a High Priority for State and Local Governments
An executive with Cisco tells StateTech Magazine that state and local governments will be looking more and more to the cloud in 2017, and will find cost savings through the consolidation of data centers. The article notes that both cloud procurement technology, and the procurement of cloud technologies, will be savings drivers this year. It also highlights the use of the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) collaborative cloud contract as a means to save.
A Look at the Danger in Navy Shipyards
In the latest episode of Reveal, the Center for Investigative Journalism’s podcast, reporter Jennifer Gollan looks into the safety standards at Navy shipyards. The episode looks at “how lax safety has been allowed to persist at shipyards that thrive on military contracts, using a tugboat explosion at VT Halter Marine, a shipbuilding company in Mississippi, as a launching point. The episode also considers President Donald Trump’s call for increasing the Navy’s fleet size.
Judge Throws Out Whistleblower Suit on $1 Billion Contract
A California federal judge has thrown out a whistleblower lawsuit against Raytheon, alleging the company defrauded the government during the execution of a $1 billion weather satellite contract. The judge claimed the complaint was “incomprehensible,” and did not follow along the lines of the Supreme Court’s ruling this summer. The judge also claimed the whistleblower did not provide enough evidence to support the claim. The case had made waves last fall, due to the size of the contract.
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