GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (9/2–6)

This week's Weekly Debrief brings some interesting news for defense contractors, as the Department of Defense unveiled its Draft Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). With increasing importance on cybersecurity in the defense sector, contractors should pay close attention to the CMMC because it will likely appear in RFP's by Fall 2020 (i.e., RFP's will likely contain a "go/no-go" threshold to be eligible to compete).

Also, the 2019 National HUBZone Conference was this past week in Chantilly, VA. I had a great time seeing friends, making new friends, and attending a number of great sessions.

Special thank you to the committee for inviting me to speak on Debriefings and Bid Protests!

Homeland Security

• Fifth Domain – Here are the 2020 priorities for DHS’ cyber initiative

• "The Department of Homeland Security’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program will be introducing its new dashboard in the next few months, according to CDM manager Kevin Cox, allowing agencies better insight into their overall cybersecurity."

Cybersecurity

• Federal News Network – DoD unveils new cybersecurity certification model for contractors​

• ​"On Wednesday, DoD released a new draft of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), the Pentagon’s most recent to attempt to create a simpler, more consistent framework for the cyber demands it imposes on its contractors and subcontractors."

Defense

• Federal News Network – Do DoD’s 2020 budget requests reflect National Defense Strategy?

(Radio) ​"For more than a year, the Defense Department has been, at least nominally, operating under a new doctrine. Namely, that the U.S. is back in the game of great powers competition. But do the budget requests for 2020, much less what results when Congress is through with it, reflect the priorities of the National Defense Strategy? For one angle on this question, two data analytic experts from Govini joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin in the studio. Jim Mitre is senior vice president, and Tara Murphy is president of Govini’s National Security Practice."

FEMA

• GovExec – FEMA Officials Confident About Dorian Response Despite Shortage of 2,000 Reserve Workers

• "Pete Gaynor, who has been leading FEMA in an acting capacity following former administrator Brock Long’s resignation in February in the wake of several controversies, confirmed on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that FEMA is still more than 2,000 employees short in its “incident workforce,” a reserve of employees who help on the ground before, during and after disasters, but do not work for FEMA year-round."

M&A

• GovConWire – Dovel buys AceInfo Solutions

• ​"Through the transaction, Dovel will now operate with more than 2,200 scientists, technologists and support personnel to support federal clients’ IT modernization efforts"

• GovConWire – Sev1Tech Expands Into C4ISR Market Through ESP Acquisition

• ​"Sev1Tech CEO Robert Lohfeld said in a statement published Wednesday ESP’s C4ISR and tactical field experience will help Sev1Tech build up its enterprise IT capabilities and provide a wider range of IT modernization services to the departments of Defense and Homeland Security."

Justice

• Department of Justice – Defense Contractor Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Defraud U.S. Department of Defense

• "The owner of two defense contracting firms was sentenced to 36 months in prison for providing non-conforming parts for military equipment, illegally sharing sensitive technical information and evading income taxes Assistant Attorney General John Demers and U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today."

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