April, 2024

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Better bike lanes in the Philippines: Civic groups won a budget for bike lanes, then followed the money

Open Contracting Partnership

When the pandemic began, the Philippines government suspended all public transport. With only 6% of Filipinos owning private cars, the decision affected many – including doctors and nurses on the frontline fighting the virus. “There were healthcare workers who needed to walk for around three to four hours to get where they needed to go,” says Kenneth Isaiah Ibasco Abante, President of WeSolve Foundation , a youth-led coalition accelerator for systemic change in the Philippines.

Budget 135
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Even with +1, China is still #1

Art of Procurement

China’s role in the global supply chain is changing right before our eyes, leaving foreign buyers to feel the discomfort. The post Even with +1, China is still #1 appeared first on Art of Procurement.

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Trending Sources

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Breaking Down the DOD’s New Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Strategy

GovCon Wire

The cyber domain is constantly evolving, and as its importance in federal operations has grown, the number and variety of cyber threats has also increased. Technological advancements have made it possible for adversaries to get creative with new types of cyberattacks, and U.S. supply chains are now at risk.

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ICE pursuing privacy approvals related to controversial phone location data

FedScoop

Back in January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it had stopped using commercial telemetry data that government agencies buy from private companies. That practice has been frequently criticized by civil rights groups that argue that by purchasing the phone location data from third parties, the government is essentially side-stepping the Fourth Amendment and violating peoples’ privacy.

Data 127
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How to Create a Blueprint for Fleet Resilience

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,

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There Goes the Sun: NASA Upgrades Technology to Prepare for a Total Solar Eclipse

FedTech Magazine

To prepare for the total solar eclipse in 2017, NASA focused on technology that would keep its livestreams running for those who couldn’t see it in person. This time, the agency has looked at how to spend less money for even better service. About 12 million people watched the eclipse on NASA sites on Aug. 21, 2017, the first to cover much of the U.S. in more than a century.

IT 127
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HPE Lands DISA Distributed Hybrid Multi Cloud Prototype Development OTA

ExecutiveBiz

Hewlett Packard Enterprise has secured an other transaction authority agreement from the Defense Information Systems Agency to build a prototype capability as part of a program that seeks to modernize the x86 server architecture to “achieve a unified operating experience” while supporting secure hybrid cloud and multicloud deployments. DISA announced the OTA award in a LinkedIn post published Friday.

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How EdTech and workforce development companies drive business success through AWS Marketplace

AWS Public Sector

Educational institutions around the world seek reliable options that allow administrators, professors, teachers, and students to maintain connectivity and productivity on- or off-campus. Amazon Web Services (AWS) Marketplace provides a curated digital catalog to help institutions navigate evolving situations and quickly deploy solutions. In 2023, more than 2,000 education customers around the world subscribed to software in AWS Marketplace.

Education 117
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A Look Into Key Policies & Strategies Shaping US Cybersecurity Efforts

GovCon Wire

In today’s digital world, staying at the forefront of cybersecurity practices is critical for national security. Continuous increases in both the number and variety of cyberattacks now characterize this domain, and the U.S. government has taken many steps to keep pace with this constantly transforming environment.

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Generative AI could raise questions for federal records laws

FedScoop

The Department of Homeland Security has been eager to experiment with generative artificial intelligence , raising questions about what aspects of interactions with those tools might be subject to public records laws. In March, the agency announced several initiatives that aim to use the technology, including a pilot project that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will deploy to address hazard mitigation planning, and a training project involving U.S.

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Metrics that Matter for Critical Infrastructure Cyber Resilience

FedInsider

Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | 2:00PM EDT | 1 Hour | 1 CPE Critical infrastructure services in North America face accelerating threats from both nation-states and other sophisticated threat actors. Governments globally are grappling with how to best balance incentives, support, and direct oversight. Meanwhile, critical infrastructure owners and operators face significant challenges with technology, staff resources, and expertise to better manage cyber resilience.

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How to Celebrate National Park Week

GovLoop

National Park Week is April 20-28 — and there are so many ways to celebrate. Take a look at the National Park Service’s main site for National Park Week events , kicking off with waived entrance fees on Saturday, April 20. The nine-day lineup includes days for volunteering, getting to know parks staff, events for kids, and more. That’s in addition to fun and educational events that parks host throughout the year: You can find them on the NPS calendar.

Media 114
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Women-owned small businesses win record $25.5B in federal contracts

Federal News Network

Women-owned small businesses won more federal contracting dollars in fiscal 2023 than ever before. New data from FedMine, a government business intelligence platform, shows women-owned small firms won more than $25.5 billion in federal contracts last year, up from $22.6 billion in 2022. FedMine said that 13% year-over-year increase represents about 3.3% of all federal contract dollars going to women-owned small businesses.

Contract 118
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New AWS survey reveals the link between AI fluency and the next education revolution

AWS Public Sector

Education leaders are eager for solutions to the difficulties facing schools across the country. With strained local resources impacting educators, it is more critical than ever for the education community to adapt and evolve to meet student needs and address challenges. Educators know that more resources can help provide personalized approaches that better address students’ individual learning needs.

Education 117
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Leidos Lands Army National Guard Contract for Aviation Training Support

ExecutiveBiz

Leidos has secured a one-year, $13.7 million contract from the U.S. Army National Guard to provide aviation institutional training and operations support. The award covers flight and simulation training, classroom instruction and information technology support, the Reston, Virginia-based company said Tuesday.

Contract 114
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Bipartisan House bill calls on DHS to leverage AI for border security

FedScoop

The Department of Homeland Security would be charged with figuring out how artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies could be used to secure the border under a bipartisan bill introduced Tuesday in the House. The Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act from Reps. Lou Correa, D-Calif., and Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, calls on DHS to deliver a plan to Congress for how the agency can leverage AI, machine learning and nanotechnology to “enhance, or address capability gaps in, border

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IT and Cybersecurity: Pioneering the Federal Tech Transformation

USFCR

INavigating the swiftly evolving realm of IT and cybersecurity, the federal government earmarks substantial investments to bolster its technological defenses and capabilities. This proactive stance unveils expansive avenues for tech firms ready to lead the charge in securing and advancing federal IT infrastructure. Our discussion here focuses on the indispensable role of IT and cybersecurity services within federal contracting, highlighting how your business can become a crucial ally in the gove

IT 113
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State Department OKs Potential $101M MIDS Terminal Sale to Saudi Arabia

GovCon Wire

The State Department has approved the government of Saudi Arabia’s request to procure communications and navigation terminals and associated equipment from the U.S. government under a potential $101.1 million foreign military sales agreement.

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How DOD Can Maintain Zero-Trust Momentum

FedTech Magazine

The Department of Defense reports strong momentum toward meeting its goal of implementing a zero-trust security architecture departmentwide by 2027. DOD’s Zero Trust Portfolio Management Office recently approved implementation plans from all military components. One key takeaway from this milestone moment: Agencies that leveraged commercial solutions got a big head start on their zero-trust efforts.

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UK Biobank enables medical research worldwide through vast database powered by AWS

AWS Public Sector

UK Biobank is the world’s most comprehensive source of health data used for research. It houses a vast, continuously growing dataset of biological, health, and lifestyle information. From 2006–2010, UK Biobank recruited 500,000 UK citizens between the ages of 40 and 69 to supply biological samples (blood, urine, and saliva) and information about their lifestyle regularly on an ongoing basis.

Data 117
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Top CSOs to Watch in 2024

WashngtonExec

The security landscape is constantly evolving — sophisticated cyber tactics create new challenges, requiring companies to constantly strengthen networks, adapt protocols and protect stakeholders. GovCon is in a never-ending fight to proactively detect threats, shape policy and defend office and home systems, networks and enterprisewide IT infrastructures to ensure the security of its own systems [.

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Cybersecurity executive order requirements are nearly complete, GAO says

FedScoop

Just a half-dozen leadership and oversight requirements from the 2021 executive order on improving the nation’s cybersecurity remain unfinished by the agencies charged with implementing them, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. Between the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Office of Management and Budget, 49 of the 55 requirements in President Joe Biden’s order aimed at safeguarding federal IT syst

Budget 114
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CACI Secures $1.3B Communications & IT Support Task Order for EUCOM, AFRICOM; John Mengucci Quoted

ExecutiveBiz

CACI International has booked a potential $1.3 billion task order to provide U.S. European Command and Africa Command with communications and information technology expertise over a five-year period. Commenting on the award Monday, John Mengucci , president and CEO of CACI and a 2024 Wash100 Award recipient, said, "We are uniquely positioned to equip the warfighter to successfully execute their missions and enhance communication, collaboration and coordination with partner nations.

IT 111
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State Department OKs $140M Sale of Aircraft Contractor Logistics Support to Iraq

GovCon Wire

The Department of State has approved the government of Iraq’s request to buy from the U.S. government C-172 and AC/RC-208 aircraft contractor logistics support, training and related equipment through a potential $140 million foreign military sales agreement.

Logistics 111
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When It Comes to Integrating AI Into Agencies’ Work, the NAIRR Is a Start

FedTech Magazine

The National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource pilot is an important but limited step in getting agencies to start planning to integrate AI technology into their work, according to an NVIDIA spokesperson. Led by the U.S. National Science Foundation in partnership with 10 other agencies and 25 companies, the two-year pilot devotes a shared research infrastructure for responsible AI discovery and innovation.

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Disaster response and risk management using PNNL’s Aether framework on AWS

AWS Public Sector

Characterizing disaster risk and developing strategies for resilience and response to natural event hazards is core to the mission of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The science of event simulation and emergency response is based broadly on physics and earth science for climate simulations. These processes rely heavily on domain-specific data ingestion and processing for batch and continuous data sources.

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A zero-trust approach to space cybersecurity could be the answer

Federal News Network

You hear a lot about zero trust controls in government tech circles, especially here on Federal News Network. Could this approach to cybersecurity which requires constant verification before access to a system, be applied to protecting space assets? The U.S. Space Force certainly seems to think so. It recently granted a a $17 million contract to the company Xage Security to help the branch achieve zero-trust access control and data protection.

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State Department is launching an internal chatbot

FedScoop

The Department of State is rolling out a chatbot for internal use, in a move that the agency’s top IT official said is largely in response to employee requests for help in streamlining processes such as translating. Kelly Fletcher, State’s chief information officer, said during a speech Tuesday at Palo Alto Networks’s Public Sector Ignite event that the creation of a generative AI chatbot is something that the agency’s workforce is asking for as publicly available tools like ChatGPT become more

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Arcfield Chairman & CEO Kevin Kelly Among 42 New Inductees of 2024 Wash100 Award

ExecutiveBiz

Kevin Kelly , chairman and CEO of defense services provider Arcfield , has been deemed as one of the 100 most outstanding leaders in the government contracting sector in 2024 by Executive Mosaic. As one of the 42 first-time inductees into the Wash100 league, he is credited for his role in the company's recent milestones including the acquisition of Strategic Technology Consulting and Orion Space Solutions.

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Accenture Federal Services to Buy Federal Health Tech Company Cognosante; John Goodman Quoted

GovCon Wire

Accenture Federal Services has agreed to purchase federal digital transformation and cloud modernization platforms provider Cognosante for an undisclosed sum. Since 2008, Cognosante has been providing cloud migration support, program management and technology platforms for federal health care programs supporting veterans, active-duty personnel, providers and other beneficiaries, Accenture said Monday.

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SAIC CEO Toni Townes-Whitley Recognized with Women in Technology’s Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award

WashngtonExec

Women in Technology will present its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award to SAIC CEO Toni Townes-Whitley on May 9, during the 25th Annual Leadership Awards Gala at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, Virginia. This award recognizes women who significantly impacted the technology industry and advanced women’s careers. “I am deeply grateful to Women in Technology for [.

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Educause launches generative AI readiness assessment tool for higher education with AWS

AWS Public Sector

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most disruptive technologies in history, offering higher education institutions the opportunity to re-imagine a world where learning is highly personalized, seamless, and available to everyone. With this in mind, there’s one question that is a point of conversation across campuses: how can we leverage this technology and realize its potential while preparing our institutions, faculty, staff, and students for responsible use?

Education 112
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Building Responsible AI Workflows with AI Governance

FedInsider

Tuesday, April 30, 2024 | 2:00PM EDT | 90 Minutes | 1.5 CPE Generative artificial intelligence (genAI) has arrived with the force of a tsunami across the federal government. In October, Executive Order 14110 on the safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of AI established the broad outlines for how agencies should evaluate and implement their AI use cases.

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Federal cloud modernization bill passes through Senate panel

FedScoop

A bipartisan Senate bill intended to modernize and streamline the federal government’s adoption of cloud technology sailed through committee Wednesday, setting the stage for a full chamber vote. By a 12-1 margin, the Multi-Cloud Innovation and Advancement Act of 2023 ( S. 2871 ) passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, with ranking member Rand Paul, R-Ky., as the lone vote against the motion for final passage.

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Garret Goldstein Offers a Look Into Red Hat’s Partner Ecosystem

ExecutiveBiz

Garret Goldstein , vice president of North America Public Sector Partner Ecosystem at Red Hat , has an extensive background in the information technology market. He is a strong advocate for partnerships between companies with shared goals, something he views as highly beneficial for serving public sector clients. Goldstein recently participated in an Executive Spotlight interview in which he detailed Red Hat’s approach to partnerships and highlighted the ways the company is changing how it eng

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Bernhard Capital’s DOE Services Platform Buys Nuclear Security Consulting Firm SMSI; Chris Dillon Quoted

GovCon Wire

The Department of Energy services platform of private equity management firm Bernhard Capital Partners has acquired federal technical consulting services provider Strategic Management Solutions for an undisclosed sum.

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Clearing Things Up? A Quick Look at the Proposed Plain Language in Contracting Act

SmallGovCon

In 2010, Congress passed the “ Plain Writing Act, ” which essentially requires that federal agency communications to the public must be in language that “the public can understand and use” and is “clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience.” In other words, the idea was that agencies should stop using so much jargon and legalese.

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