FedTech Magazine

OCTOBER 21, 2024

With the most recent Federal Information Security Modernization Act report cataloging 11 major incidents among government agencies in fiscal 2023, there is a clear need to continue improving overall cybersecurity. A key component is the federal identity credential and access management program created in 2009. FICAM supports modernized security policies and solutions, allowing risk-based decision-making, automating identity and access management processes and moving access protections closer to

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IT Management Data Government 294

Public Procurement Intl

OCTOBER 21, 2024

Around the world, governments are embracing “green procurement” – environmentally sustainable strategies to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution. A number of webinars we have held at GW Law School, including a July 2024 series on emerging international best practices, confirmed that there are many parallels between these “green procurement” strategies.

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Procurement Procurement Strategies E-procurement Bidder 147

Art of Procurement

OCTOBER 20, 2024

There are two weeks to go until the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. Interest, speculation, and tension have been building all. The post 2024 U.S. Presidential Election Special Series appeared first on Art of Procurement.

Procurement 141

Procurement 141

Whistleblower Network News

OCTOBER 24, 2024

In August, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched its Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program. So far, the program has received over 200 whistleblower tips according to a DOJ official. On October 23, Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Marshall Miller delivered remarks at the New York City Bar Association Compliance Institute. “In the first few months of the Justice Department’s whistleblower awards program, we’ve already received more than 200 tips,” he stated.

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Whistle-blowing Networking IT Government 131

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

FedTech Magazine

OCTOBER 22, 2024

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has updated its Digital Identity Guidelines to address new methods of identity and access management (IAM). NIST’s draft guidance addresses modern digital pathways — such as biometrics, passkeys and user-controlled wallets — as well as more traditional forms of identification, including in-person identity proofing and applicant reference.

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Management Government Government IT 200

FedScoop

OCTOBER 23, 2024

In the pre-GPT era of artificial intelligence, there wasn’t a ton for the National Archives and Records Administration — and its billions of unstructured documents — to do with the technology. According to Gulam Shakir, NARA’s chief technology officer, those more nascent AI tools “did not really fit” with the agency’s needs — namely the processing and management of massive “free-form” datasets lacking any logical formatting or rules.

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IT Inventory Efficiency Management 131

Whistleblower Network News

OCTOBER 22, 2024

In a ruling that could shake up the landscape of whistleblower litigation, a federal district court struck down a key provision of the False Claims Act as unconstitutional. The decision, which came out on September 30, 2024, in United States ex rel. Clarissa Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates, LLC , found that the FCA’s qui tam provisions violate the Appointments Clause of the U.S.

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Influencing Networking Government Government 128

FedTech Magazine

OCTOBER 23, 2024

Data Center as a Service is gaining traction with agencies seeking the flexibility to gradually adopt cloud services while maintaining control over critical data and infrastructure. The DCaaS market is projected to hit nearly $290 billion by 2031, marking an 18.3% increase over 2024 numbers, according to Coherent Market Insights. Agencies already use DCaaS to enhance their data center capabilities and ensure compliance with increasingly stringent regulations around sensitive data handling.

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Data Management Government Government 195

FedScoop

OCTOBER 23, 2024

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health is seeking information about how autonomous artificial intelligence systems, known as agentic AI, might be used in the health care space. A recent request for information posted by the Department of Health and Human Services agency specifically asks for information on implementations of agentic AI, how multiple agentic AI systems work together, scalability, risks, and how autonomy is decided, among other things.

IT 130

IT 130

American City & Country

OCTOBER 24, 2024

There are an estimated 20.3 million public sector employees in the United States, representing a significant 13% of the country’s active workforce. The implications for turnover are staggering, as several thousand of these employees retire each year on average as others constantly join. Technologies once relied on to manage this process and reduce knowledge loss are no longer able to do so in an efficient, transparent way—skyrocketing costs, zapping institutional knowledge and worse.

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Government Government Budget Transparency 115

Federal News Network

OCTOBER 23, 2024

Listen carefully and you can hear the buzz in the federal market about a new contract from the General Services Administration. It’s not another big governmentwide contract like Alliant 3 or the ASCEND cloud blanket purchase agreement. This one is the second generation of the COMET blanket purchase agreement that is going to be used only by GSA. “GSA saying this contract is a modernization effort and I think that is drawing a lot of interest from a lot of companies.

Bidder 114

Bidder Bidding E-procurement Purchasing 114

FedTech Magazine

OCTOBER 21, 2024

While private sector organizations are racing to implement use cases for artificial intelligence, federal agencies are carefully weighing the opportunities they can leverage to take advantage of the emerging technology. The federal government is a bit more hamstrung when it comes to AI. Limited budgets and underskilled staffs are challenges that private organizations must contend with, but not at quite the same level as federal agencies do.

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Budget Government Government IT 162

FedScoop

OCTOBER 25, 2024

The nuclear physics program in the Energy Department’s Science Office wants to use artificial intelligence to help control its advanced accelerators, according to a new solicitation posted to the agency’s website. The request for applications comes as the Energy Department continues to use artificial intelligence to advance its research endeavors, which includes deploying the technology at some of the world’s fastest supercomputers.

IT 127

IT 127

American City & Country

OCTOBER 25, 2024

No question, more local governments are facing cyber threats in 2024, says Tim LeMaster, vice president, worldwide systems engineering at Lookout. His firm is a data-centric cloud security company. It uses a defense-in-depth strategy to address the different stages of modern cybersecurity attacks, which now start with infiltrations of mobile devices.

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Dwell Time Engineering Accountability Data 111

Federal News Network

OCTOBER 21, 2024

The Army is putting a lot of focus on fixing its housing this year. The service has allocated $2.1 million for various barracks projects. The plan includes constructing six new barracks, undertaking 20 renovation and modernization efforts and funding full sustainment of all barracks. The Army has also contracted third-party organizations to inspect barracks to provide an unbiased assessment of the state of the barracks.

Networking 111

Networking Management Sustainability Collaboration 111

Whistleblower Network News

OCTOBER 23, 2024

Matthew Decker, the former chief information officer for Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory, is set to receive $250,000 as his share of a False Claims Act (FCA) settlement stemming from his qui tam whistleblower suit. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the $1.25 million settlement with Penn State on October 22. The DOJ alleges that Penn State violated the FCA “by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in fifteen contracts or subcontracts involving the Department of D

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Demand Accountability Government Contracts Networking 109

FedScoop

OCTOBER 22, 2024

The Technology Modernization Fund on Tuesday announced four new investments, totaling $50.2 million, aimed at meeting user needs for housing and enhancing Social Security Administration operations. This round of TMF investments will enable the Department of Housing and Urban Development to modernize the agency’s digital infrastructure and keep up with cybersecurity needs, and allow the Social Security Administration to digitize documents and forms, update beneficiary notifications and use artifi

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Electronics Efficiency Management Data 116

USFCR

OCTOBER 25, 2024

Learn how the Uniform Contract Format structures federal solicitations. Discover tips for navigating SAM.gov and how USFCR’s APP helps you find contracts faster.

Contract 105

Contract 105

GovCon Wire

OCTOBER 25, 2024

At Fearless, a Baltimore-based digital services integrator, the power behind the tech they create comes from the people who build it. Fearless was founded in 2009, but the company hit a growth streak in 2022 after a strategic pivot towards digital services.

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Integration Integrity IT 105

Whistleblower Network News

OCTOBER 25, 2024

On October 23, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) awarded $150,000 to an international whistleblower who disclosed information about significant issues at an early-stage firm, leading to a successful enforcement action by the OSC. According to the OSC, the whistleblower was not an employee of the firm, but “had access to non-public and hard-to-detect information that was brought to the attention of the OSC.

Networking 106

Networking Management IT 106

FedScoop

OCTOBER 21, 2024

A top technology trade group is nudging the leadership of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Oversight and Accountability committees to advance a bill aimed at modernizing the federal procurement process. In a letter sent Monday to Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Reps. James Comer, R-Ky., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the Alliance for Digital Innovation threw its support behind the Federal Improvement in Technology Procurement Act ( H.R. 9595 ),

Procurement 112

Procurement Thresholds Innovation Price 112

SmallGovCon

OCTOBER 25, 2024

A recent OHA decision reminds us that it’s important to show and tell the SBA how a company seeking certification is meeting the SBA’s requirements for control of a socioeconomic company. Like many of these decisions involving SBA’s programs, it comes out of the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) VetCert program. That’s because the SDVOSB program allows appeals of denials of certifications.

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Management Electronics Accountability Government Contracts 105

FedInsider

OCTOBER 24, 2024

The concept of “continuous” protection, inspired by continuous software development, is gaining traction among federal tech leaders in response to rising cyber-attacks. This week on Feds At the Edge, we sit down with subject matter experts who provide guidance for transitioning from the basic “Authority to Operate” snapshot in time to a “Continuous Authority to Operate.

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Supply Chain Leadership Education Engineering 105

USFCR

OCTOBER 24, 2024

In the competitive world of federal contracting, large businesses are always on the lookout for opportunities that provide stability, long-term growth, and the flexibility to expand their operations. One of the most powerful tools at their disposal is the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity ( IDIQ ) contract, particularly those available through the General Services Administration ( GSA ).

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Contract Quantity Capacity Management 105

FedScoop

OCTOBER 22, 2024

Addressing artificial intelligence problems within research and development will cost the United States tens of billions of dollars and a stronger commitment from the federal government, the White House’s top science adviser said Monday. Speaking at a Washington AI Network and Global Win event, Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhakar said the $32 billion annual figure for non-defense AI R&D floated by the National Security Commission on AI and the Senate’s bipartisan

Networking 109

Networking Import Innovation Data 109

American City & Country

OCTOBER 21, 2024

The 2024 presidential election is in two weeks, and early and absentee voting is already well under way for many states in an election that, by all accounts, promises to be a close race. This past week, TargetSmart, a Washington D.C.-based data firm, launched a dashboard to track 2024 absentee and early voting across states and counties. Using data generated by the new tool, American City & County pinpointed which 10 counties across the U.S. have cast the largest number of early and absentee

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Data Accountability Innovation 105

SmallGovCon

OCTOBER 25, 2024

Happy Friday! I just got back from presenting at the 35th Judicial Conference for the United States Court of Federal Claims. It was a great experience and I got to learn from some very smart folks. But the wheel of federal contracting keeps turning, and this week was no different. Important stories included updates from a recent OIG SBA report, a bill to modernize federal cloud procurement, and the Army seeks to cut contract award times to six months.

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Government Contracts Consulting Procurement Contract 104

Federal News Network

OCTOBER 22, 2024

Don’t say they didn’t warn you. Contractors are on notice that the General Services Administration’s Schedules programs will be under examination next year. It’s all outlined in the 2025 plan of the GSA inspector general. What to do with this information? The Federal Drive with Tom Temin turned to federal sales and marketing consultant Larry Allen.

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Government Government Price Supply Chain 104

Redstone Government Consulting

OCTOBER 21, 2024

The Department of Defense (DoD) Comptroller announced the new Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Director on October 21, 2024 , as Ms. Jennifer Desautel. Ms. Desautel was previously the Assistant Director, Policy and Quality was responsible for the formation, development and issuance of contract audit policy and quality assurance within DCAA and its over 4,000 employees in nearly 300 locations.

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Quality Contract IT Government 104

Government Contracts

OCTOBER 25, 2024

The Biden administration on Friday said it's handing out approximately $4 billion in combined grants and loans for clean energy purchases and grid upgrades for a slew of states, tribes and electricity co-operatives.

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Purchasing IT 98

SmallGovCon

OCTOBER 21, 2024

We are excited to announce that Nicole Pottroff will be attending the Fall NAPEX conference in Washington DC and will be presenting on legal updates on October 30. The conference gives agencies and primes the opportunity to promote supplier diversity programs and learn how the APEX Accelerators can partner and assist in meeting contracting goals. The Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) is the professional organization of and for the DoD APEX Accelerators nationwide.

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Government Contracts Supplier Networking Import 103

Kluwer Arbitration

OCTOBER 23, 2024

On May 17, 2024, Guyana passed the Arbitration Act 2024 (Act No. 6 of 2024) (“AA”). The AA repealed the outdated Arbitration Act, Cap 7:03, Laws of Guyana (Act No. 17 of 1916) , passed more than a century ago, and makes Guyana the latest Commonwealth Caribbean country, after Trinidad and Tobago, which passed new legislation in 2023 , to modernize its arbitration laws.

Bidding 98

Bidding Corruption Import IT 98

Redstone Government Consulting

OCTOBER 23, 2024

I wrote an article in 2022, “ The Future Does Not Look Good For COVID-Related REAs. ” Well, it looks like things may have changed. On October 2, 2024, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) issued its decision in the Appeals of Chugach Federal Solutions, Inc. ASBCA Nos. 62712, 62713, and 62877. In this case, the Board “rule[d] the government … failed to carry its burden to establish the sovereign acts defense.

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Contract Government Government IT 103

Government Contracts

OCTOBER 23, 2024

Three nonprofits dismissed their Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement seeking records related to unnecessary and "nonconsensual" gynecological procedures performed on immigrant detainees at an ICE detention center in Georgia, according to a notice filed Wednesday in D.C. federal court.

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GovCon Wire

OCTOBER 20, 2024

BAE Systems has won two U.S. Navy contracts worth about $222.6 million combined to provide maintenance, repair and modernization support services for an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and a multipurpose amphibious assault ship. The Department of Defense said Friday work on the firm-fixed-price contracts will occur in Norfolk, Virginia, through February 2026.

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Contract Price 97

Holland & Knight: Government Contracts

OCTOBER 24, 2024

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a proposed rule aimed at increasing small business participation in multiple award contracts (MACs) by expanding the application of the Rule of Two to multiple award task and delivery orders.

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Contract Participation 96