FCW Insider: Oct. 29
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
While Amazon Web Services might seek redress in the $10 billion, 10-year JEDI procurement, a fast-changing market may be the biggest challenge to Microsoft fully capitalizing on its DOD cloud win. Adam Mazmanian explains.
The president of the nation's largest government employee union is taking leave in the wake of sexual harassment allegations published in a news report on Sunday. J. David Cox, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, says the charges, from at least 10 employees, are "scurrilous, politically-motivated attacks." Lia Russell has more.
Ted Davies, CEO of Altamira Technologies Corporation, is taking over as vice chair of the Industry Advisory Council. Davies replaces the departing Tony Scott, who resigned as vice chair in September. Adam has the story.
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) wants Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney to explain recent news reports that indicate the White House's cybersecurity team has been gutted. Get more on this story from Derek B. Johnson.
The Navy has ramped up its use of other transaction authorities, according to Cindy Shaver, the service's deputy assistant secretary for procurement. But sprawl among consortia used to promote OTA projects is a potential problem. Lauren C. Williams reports.
Quick Hits
*** The Thrift Retirement Investment Board saw a 372% year-over-year spike in in-service withdrawals from qualified federal employees from Thrift Savings Plan funds in September 2019, thanks to new withdrawal options, project manager Tanner Nohe said at an Oct. 28 board meeting. Partial withdrawals are up among retirees while fewer are emptying accounts, also thanks to new rules.
*** The General Services Administration is looking to make it easier for agencies to buy human-centered design and customer experience services. In a new request for information, GSA wants industry to share how these services can be added to existing contract vehicles and how to best code and characterize relevant experience in HCD and CX.
*** The Federal Communications Commission will take up a rule designed to get Huawei and ZTE gear out of U.S. telecom infrastructure through control of certain federal subsidies.
"The FCC has a part to play in combatting this risk by ensuring that its $8.5 billion Universal Service Fund does not underwrite national security threats," FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement introducing the proposed rule.