Emerging Tech
Defense Innovation Unit Initiated 35% More Projects in 2020
The group initiated 23 new projects and transitioned 11 capabilities to Defense Department partners last year, according to its annual report.
Modernization
VA Wants Help Creating a ‘Strategic Planning Ecosystem’ to Guide IT Modernization Efforts
A contractor will support the development of several strategic plans for the Office of Information Technology.
Modernization
GSA Drops 5 Vendors, Adds 9 to $5.5B 2GIT Contract
The IT hardware and software contract vehicle was built with the Air Force in mind but will be available to all federal buyers.
Digital Government
Microsoft President Calls for Bid Protest Reforms
As the company awaits a decision on the embattled JEDI contract, its president told senators the contract-dispute process could use streamlining.
Cybersecurity
SolarWinds CEO Recommends Liability Protections for Sharing Information about Incidents
The new CEO had a couple of other asks for Congress too.
Cybersecurity
Marine Corps Looks for Insider Threat Monitoring Capability
And another Marine Corps application addressing a specific kind of insider threat—suicidal ideation—will be established as a system of records.
Modernization
Former 18F Official Returns to Lead Next Phase of Technology Transformation Services
The tech team is about delivering services to the public, not just disruption, General Services Administration alumni Dave Zvenyach told Nextgov.
Modernization
Census Bureau Opts for Small Business to Support Digital Communication Strategy
The bureau is planning a virtual industry day ahead of the release of a formal request for proposals.
Modernization
DOD Secured Fair Prices Despite Rapid Shift to Mass Telework, Audit Finds
The department also was able to reduce cybersecurity risks as it bought IT products and services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, an inspector general report concluded.
Modernization
State Department Wants a Small Business to Manage Its Cloud Office
The vendor will support the relatively new Cloud Program Management Office.
Modernization
Army Command and Control System Must Be Modernized But Maintain Backward Compatibility
Leidos will handle an adjustment to the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System 7.0 that will ensure it can support JADC2 and sensor-to-shooter frameworks.
Digital Government
GSA Leadership Talks Priorities and Future of Trump-Era Initiatives
The General Services Administration’s acting administrator and commissioner of the acquisition division discuss its technology programs, the beta.SAM migration, D-U-N-S transition, SolarWinds and more.
Cybersecurity
Army Awards $5M Bridge Contract for Cyber Training
The service justified skipping a competitive bidding process citing urgent need.
Digital Government
Air Force Buys Streaming Data Warehouse for Pathfinder, JADC2 Concepts
Data company Kinetica will ingest trillions of records of sensor data to create visual representations of the operating environment across domains.
Digital Government
GSA’s Central Procurement Hub Will Keep the ‘Beta’ A Little Longer
Users will see a new beta.SAM.gov come April but the final transition is still to come.
Emerging Tech
FEMA’s Acquisition Office Aims to Embrace More Bots and Automation
A recently released matrix highlights a few RPA-driven improvements the agency might pursue.
Modernization
Federal Cloud Spending Tops $6.6 Billion
It’s the most the federal government has ever spent on cloud computing services.
Emerging Tech
COVID-Cleaning Robots, GPS Abnormality Detectors Top DOT’s Small Business Wishlist
The agency is now accepting applications for the first phase of its 2021 SBIR program.
Artificial Intelligence
Homeland Security Wants AI to Help Realize a 5-Year-Old Financial Services Mandate
The Financial Systems Modernization Program hasn’t met its requirements, but officials hope an injection of artificial intelligence and automation can help.
Modernization