GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (6/29–7/3)

This week's Weekly Debrief covers GSA's cancellation of A2SB, malware aimed at federal agencies, DoD withdrawals DPA small launch awards, 2021 NDAA, IT modernization, and FEMA's need for robotic process automation bots for payments.

Happy Q4! Happy 4th of July!

GSA

• NextGov – After Years In Limbo, GSA Cancels $15B Governmentwide IT Contract

• ​"The General Services Administration is canceling its small business IT governmentwide acquisition contract, with plans to reissue a new solicitation. Thursday, the agency announced the cancelation of Alliant 2 Small Business, the $15 billion companion to the $50 billion Alliant 2 Unrestricted GWAC."

Cyber

• FCW – CISA's hit parade of malware aimed at federal agencies

• ​"Remote Access Tool exploitation, fileless Trojan malware and cryptocurrency mining software accounted for 90 percent of the observed threat activity against civilian federal systems and networks in May, according to insights pulled from the Department of Homeland Security's Intrusion Detection System."

Defense

• SpaceNews – DoD withdraws Defense Production Act small launch contract awards

• ​"The Defense Department has reversed its decision to award contracts funded under the Defense Production Act to six small launch companies.DoD announced on June 16 it selected Aevum, Astra, X-Bow, Rocket Lab, Space Vector and VOX Space to receive noncompetitive contracts to launch two rideshare missions for government customers over the next 24 months."

• FCW – House panel advances NDAA with labor protections, spectrum rules

• ​"The House Armed Services Committee unanimously passed its version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act with a slew of tech provisions, including a limited ban targeting Ligado 5G networks, new artificial intelligence initiatives, and more cybersecurity oversight. But collective bargaining protections for DOD employees was also highlighted."

IT Modernization

• FNN – No printing from home? Agencies unaccustomed to telework navigate culture change

• ​"Agencies faced with mandatory telework received tens of billions of dollars from Congress in the CARES Act to scale up telework, and those that made IT modernization a top priority in recent years have seen those projects pay dividends."

FEMA

• FedScoop – With a pandemic and hurricane season crushing FEMA, the agency could use some bots

• ​"The Federal Emergency Management Agency‘s various grant programs have made more awards more this year than the past 30 years combined, a top official says, and now the agency is considering how robotic process automation (RPA) bots could help improve the payment process."

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