GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (8/10–14)

This week's Weekly Debrief is chock full of news, including the NDAA, a Russian hacking tool, Space Force doctrine, Army's new communications tech, FPDS to beta.SAM.gov by October, and expert commentary on SBA's loan forgiveness FAQ.

Congress

• NextGov – What the Rest of Government Should Watch When the Defense Authorization Bill Goes to Conference

• ​"An amendment that would codify the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, with some major new stipulations, is one of several areas where the next National Defense Authorization Act could shake up technology policy across the federal government and private industry."

Cybersecurity

• FCW – FBI, NSA reveal undisclosed Russian hacking tool

• "In a joint alert, the National Security Agency and FBI warned that Fancy Bear, a group of hackers from Russia's General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), are using a previously undisclosed piece of malware targeting Linux operating systems to conduct cyber espionage."

Defense

• SPO – U.S. Space Force's First Space Doctrine Signals Expansive Plans

• ​"The U.S. Space Force released its first space doctrine today, the foundation upon which future doctrine will evolve and “serves as a key guidepost for the ethos and values of the nation’s newest armed service.” The “capstone” doctrine, Spacepower, envisions an expansive role for Space Force far beyond Earth orbit."

• DefenseOne – Here’s the Theme Driving the US Army’s New Communications Tech

• ​"A common theme emerges from the U.S. Army's efforts to field several new communications technologies: for the foreseeable future, the service's comms programs are about pushing more data to and from the front lines in the face of increasingly aggressive electronic-warfare activities."

IT Modernization

• NextGov – FPDS Reports Will Officially Move to beta.SAM by Mid-October

• ​"As of October 17, federal vendors, contracting researchers and watchers and any other interested party, will no longer be able to run or access contract award data reports through the Federal Procurement Data System at FPDS.gov."

Expert Commentary

• GovCon Legal Forum – SBA Issues PPP Loan Forgiveness FAQ, Providing Further Guidance

• ​"On August 4, 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA) released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) addressing numerous technical issues on PPP Loan Forgiveness. On August 11, 2020, the FAQs were updated to include additional guidance for recipients of both PPP Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans."

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